February, 2014

February, 2014

The Voice of the National Benchrest Shooters Association

Let’s Go Hunting!

In This Issue: Solving the Hunter Class Puzzle Hunter & Group Benchrest Halls of Fame Score Shooting & Group Benchrest World Records Ask The Pros...

2

Precision Rifleman

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February, 2014 Precision Rifleman

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Advertising Index Hodgdon/IMR 2 Gradient Lens 3 PMA Tool 4 Darton International 5 Haverkamp Actions 6 Marsh Industries, LLC 7 Berger Bullets 7 Lilja Rifle Barrels 9 Accugauge/6mmPPC 10 21st Century Shooting 12 Hoehn Sales 14 Berger Cactus Classic 15 BAT Machine 20 Butch’s Reloading 24 Benchrite, LLC 25 2014 Long Range Nationals 26 Anneal-Rite 27 East West Show Me Shootout 30 Kelbly’s Back Page On the Cover: NBRSA 200 yard score targets. Photo by David Halblom.

Table of Contents Arizona Benchrest’s SW Regionals 2nd Leg Sahuaro 1000-Yard Benchrest Solving the Hunter Puzzle, by Jason Stanley Score Shooting World Records Hunter Class Hall of Fame Standings Sloughhouse 1000-Yard Benchrest Columbus 600-Yard Benchrest World Record Procedures, by David Halblom US Group Benchrest Hall of Fame 2014 NBRSA Registered Match Schedule World Records for Group Shooting Ask The Pros, by Patrick Kennedy Bart & Billy Battle at Brock’s Gap Ranges, Clubs & Contacts NBRSA News Officer & Director Contact Information

4 7 8 10 11 13 13 14 15 16 18 19 27 28 30 31

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Precision Rifleman

Arizona Benchrest Shooters’ SW Regionals: Murdica wins 4-Gun, Cottrell wins 3-Gun

by Art Clegg & Ed Maxwell

We shot the 2nd half of the Southwest Regional Championship on November 2-3, 2013 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix AZ. There were 25 shooters at the match. This was a Sporter and 10shot Unlimited 100 yard match on Saturday and 200 yards on Sunday.

We had nice weather and mild wind conditions for the entire weekend.

Keith Cottrell won the 3-Gun and Lou Murdica won the 4-Gun. Pictured above are some of our shootNeck Turning Equipment

ers. From L-R: Larry White, Tom DeBacco, George Lozano, Lou Murdica, Gary Ocock, Bob Brackney, Chuck Miller & Keith Cottrell. We would like to thank everyone for their continuing support of our matches. Don’t forget the Cactus Classic Warm-Up is this month in preparation for the Berger Cactus Classic in March. This is a WBC13 qualifying event, so if you’re planning to attend, please consider visiting us.

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Rifle Maintenance Scope Rings & Bases

Shooting Equipment

Sporter 100-Yards Keith Cottrell...................0.2470 Gary Ocock....................... 0.2622 Walt Berger...................... 0.2648 Bob Brackney.................... 0.2714 Garret Atkins.................... 0.2738 Joe Pipola........................ 0.2760 Dan Sutton....................... 0.2784 Lou Murdica...................... 0.2838 Larry White...................... 0.2938 George Lozano.................. 0.2970 William Marsh.................... 0.3056 Jim Gardner..................... 0.3098 Tom DeBacco.................... 0.3104 Chuck Miller..................... 0.3176 Dana Andrus...................... 0.3222 Sporter 200-Yards Bob Brackney...................0.2630 Lou Murdica...................... 0.2713 Gary Ocock....................... 0.2967 Larry White...................... 0.3041 Chuck Miller..................... 0.3128 Keith Cottrell.................... 0.3169 William Marsh.................... 0.3190 George Lozano.................. 0.3394 Joe Pipola........................ 0.3454 Gene DeLoney................... 0.3533 Walt Berger...................... 0.3616 Jim Gardner..................... 0.3645 Dana Andrus...................... 0.3694

February, 2014 Precision Rifleman Tom DeBacco.................... 0.3865 Lowell Frei....................... 0.3883 Sporter Grand Bob Brackney...................0.2672 Lou Murdica...................... 0.2775 Gary Ocock....................... 0.2794 Keith Cottrell.................... 0.2819 Larry White...................... 0.2989 Joe Pipola........................ 0.3107 William Marsh.................... 0.3123 Walt Berger...................... 0.3132 Chuck Miller..................... 0.3152 George Lozano.................. 0.3182 Jim Gardner..................... 0.3371 Gene DeLoney................... 0.3428 Dana Andrus...................... 0.3458 Tom DeBacco.................... 0.3485 Dan Sutton....................... 0.3600 Garet Atkins...................... 0.4025 Doug Seib......................... 0.4295 Unlimited 100-Yards Gary Ocock......................0.2402 Bob Brackney.................... 0.2972 Lou Murdica...................... 0.2976 Tom DeBacco.................... 0.3010 Gene DeLoney................... 0.3166 Dave Woodward................. 0.3266 Lowell Frei....................... 0.3478 George Lozano.................. 0.3528 Garret Atkins.................... 0.3584 Larry White...................... 0.3664 Dana Andrus...................... 0.3680 Chuck Miller..................... 0.3736 William Marsh.................... 0.3814 Walt Berger...................... 0.4252 Doug Seib......................... 0.4414 Unlimited 200-Yards George Lozano..................0.2858 Larry White...................... 0.2976

Bob Brackney.................... 0.2982 Dana Andrus...................... 0.2992 Lou Murdica...................... 0.3347 Tom DeBacco.................... 0.3488 Chuck Miller..................... 0.3695 Walt Berger...................... 0.3742 Gary Ocock....................... 0.3767 Gene DeLoney................... 0.3831 Dan Sutton....................... 0.3904 William Marsh.................... 0.4063 Jim Gardner..................... 0.4232 Garret Atkins.................... 0.4281 Dave Woodward................. 0.4346 Unlimited Grand Bob Brackney...................0.2977 Gary Ocock....................... 0.3080 Lou Murdica...................... 0.3162 George Lozano.................. 0.3193 Tom DeBacco.................... 0.3249 Larry White...................... 0.3320 Dana Andrus...................... 0.3336 Gene DeLoney................... 0.3498 Chuck Miller..................... 0.3715 Dave Woodward................. 0.3806 Garet Atkins...................... 0.3932 William Marsh.................... 0.3938 Walt Berger...................... 0.3997 Dan Sutton....................... 0.4374 Jim Gardner..................... 0.4675 Lowell Frei....................... 0.4717 Joe Pipola........................ 0.5085 Hector Elias, Jr.................. 0.5142 Doug Seib......................... 0.5185 Two Gun Keith Cottrell...................0.3862 Lou Murdica...................... 0.3965 Chuck Miller..................... 0.4093 Gary Ocock....................... 0.4263 Dave Blazzard................... 0.4805

Bob Brackney.................... 0.4819 Dana Andrus...................... 0.4839 Stephen Everson................ 0.5123 Joe Pipola........................ 0.5213 Dan Sutton....................... 0.5224 George Lozano.................. 0.5451 Gene DeLoney................... 0.5787 William Marsh.................... 0.5975 Scott Smith...................... 0.6528 Tom Debacco.................... 0.6624 Three Gun Keith Cottrell...................0.3515 Lou Murdica...................... 0.3569 Gary Ocock....................... 0.3774 Chuck Miller..................... 0.3779 Bob Brackney.................... 0.4103 Dana Andrus...................... 0.4379 Joe Pipola........................ 0.4511 Dan Sutton....................... 0.4683 George Lozano.................. 0.4695 Stephen Everson................ 0.4965 Gene DeLoney................... 0.5001 William Marsh.................... 0.5024 Larry White...................... 0.5536 Tom DeBacco.................... 0.5577 Hector Elias, Jr.................. 0.5988 Four-Gun Lou Murdica.....................0.3467 Gary Ocock....................... 0.3601 Chuck Miller..................... 0.3763 Bob Brackney.................... 0.3822 Keith Cottrell.................... 0.4001 Dana Andrus...................... 0.4118 George Lozano.................. 0.4319 Dan Sutton....................... 0.4605 Gene DeLoney................... 0.4625 Joe Pipola........................ 0.4655 William Marsh.................... 0.4982 Larry White...................... 0.4982

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Precision Rifleman

Ben Avery Range: Southwest Regional Championship 2nd Leg Equipment List November 2-3, 2013 Sporter Class: Name Bob Brackney Lou Murdica Gary Ocock Keith Cottrell Larry White Joe Pipola William Marsh Walt Berger Chuck Miller George Lozano Unlimited Class: Bob Brackney Gary Ocock Lou Murdica George Lozano Tom DeBacco Larry White Dana Andrus Gene DeLoney Chuck Miller Dave Woodward

Action Marsh LM-1 Marsh Bat Bat Bat 3-lug Marsh Marsh Marsh Bat

Barrel Krieger Shilen Krieger Bartlien Krieger Krieger Krieger Krieger Krieger Krieger

Stock Brackney Larson Brn-Mcm Dickson Scoville Brn-Mcm Brn-Mcm Brn-Mcm Brn-Mcm Brn-Mcm

Caliber 6ppc 6ppc 6ppc 6ppc 6ppc 6ppc 6ppc 6ppc 6ppc 6ppc

Remington Marsh Grizly Bat 3-lug Bat 3-lug Marsh Bat Bat Marsh Panda

Krieger Krieger Shilen Krieger Krieger Krieger Krieger Krieger Krieger Bartlein

Brackney 6ppc Young 6ppc Kensler 6ppc Young 6ppc Young 6ppc Young 6ppc Hasecuster 6ppc R.F.D. 6ppc Miller 6ppc Kenslar 6ppc

GunSmith Brackney self Ocock Ocock Scott Ocock Marsh Ocock Miller Ocock

Stocker Brackney self Ocock Dickson Scoville Ocock Ocock Ocock Ocock Ocock

BulletWgt Miller 66 Column Ocock 66 Rubright Miller Pipola 67 Berger 65bt Column 64-6 Miller 65bt Miller 66 bt

Brackney Ocock self Ocock Ocock Ocock Ocock DeLoney Miller Nielson

Brackney Miller 66 Young Ocock 66 self Column Young Column Young Miller 66 Young Miller Hasecuster Miller 65 DeLoney Column Miller Miller 65bt Nielson Woodward 65

PowderWgt 8208 29gr LT32 28-5gr 8208 N-133 LT-32 8208 28.5 133 26.5gr T32 28-6gr 133 27gr LT32 27-3gr

ScopePower Leu 35 March - 50x BL - 55 March - 40x March March - 50xRR Leu 45 Nightforce 15-55 Leu 45 Leu 45

8208 29gr 8208 LT32 28.8gr LT32 27-3gr 8208 LT-32 LT32 28gr LT32 28.4 gr 133 27gr V 133

Leu 35 BL - 35 March - 8-80 Leu 45 Sightron -36 Nightforce Leu-Brackney 45 Sightron - 55 Weaver 36 March - 50x

February, 2014 Precision Rifleman

Sahuaro 1000-Yd Benchrest

Powder H4831 H4831 Retumbo RL15 H4350 H4831 H1000 H1000 H4831

Bullet/Wt 139 Berger/210 JLK/210 Amax/120 Berger/180 JLK/210 Berger/140 Berger/140 Sierra/142

The Berger 6mm BR Column Target bullet uses the physics of dispersion mitigation to provide BR Berger offers a full line of match grade rifle shooters with a reliable option that offers the widest and lowest tune valley. This means the bullet bullets for varmint, target, hunting and tactical shoots best in the widest variety of loads and seating depths. In this case, overall balance of the applications. Ask your dealer if they stock Berger bullet is more important than overall weight, so there is no listed weight. Rather, Bullets or visit our website for full details. the 6mm BR Column bullet achieves a specific internal lead column height, resulting in minor weight differences from lot to lot.

Sahuaro 1000-Yard Benchrest December 14, 2013 Equipment List Action Barrel Gunsmith Stock Scope Case Savage Savage Savage Savage Nightforce Lapua McMillan Classic Wells McMillan Nightforce Norma Sako Lilja Sam McMillan Nightforce Lapua Panda Krieger Brackney Borden Leupold Lapua Nesika Krieger Brackney McMillan Leupold Winchester Nesika Krieger Wells Tracker Nightforce Lazzeroni McMillan PacNor Lazzarini McMillan Nightforce Remington McMillan PacNor Lazzarini McMillan Nightforce Norma Remington Krieger Beginski Tracker Leupold Lapua

These bullets are being tested by top BR shooters, with great success. Lou Murdica has won matches in both Florida and California, Don Nielson won Two Gun Aggs three weekends in a row and Tony Boyer shot a 200 yard HV Agg of .1928 at the 2012 East/West match in Missouri.

Caliber 6.5x284 30wsm 300wambo 6.5x47 284 30Patriot 6.5x57Lazz 6.5x57Lazz 6.5/284

Wayne McDonald................. 125 Hal Byrd............................ 124 Steve Everson...................... 123 John Benz.......................... 111 Jeff Billotte........................ 103 High Score Ross Herrick......................... 47 Heavy Gun Total Score Steve Everson...................272-2X Jeff Billotte........................ 268 Ross Herrick....................... 264-X High Score Steve Everson......................96-X

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Light Gun Aggregate Ross Herrick......................7.25” Hal Byrd........................... 8.17” Lon Persun........................ 9.48” Steve Everson..................... 9.83” Wayne McDonald................ 10.63” Small Group Ross Herrick..................... 5.1875” Heavy Gun Aggregate Steve Everson....................8.15” Ross Herrick....................... 9.35” Jeff Billotte...................... 10.33” Small Group Ross Herrick..................... 5.0625”

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Precision Rifleman

Solving The Hunter Class Puzzle

by Jason Stanley

This writing is not meant to be a complete history lesson on the NBRSA Hunter Class. Rather, it is more like putting a puzzle together. Each piece has its own unique story and importance to Hunter Class. The pieces of this puzzle were found scattered all over the United States. Many thanks go to Randy Robinett from Iowa, Terry Meyer from Iowa, Lynn Wood from New Mexico, Al Nyhus from South Dakota, Wayne Corley from Missouri, Chad Schmidt from Wisconsin and to the late Bob Pease for writing a similar article which can be found on Bench-Talk.com.

The purpose of this article is more of a discussion starter when shooters are socializing after a match.

There are still many hidden pieces to the puzzle. Use this information along with other information to fill in some of those missing pieces or dive deeper into each piece.

Sometime in the early 1960’s, small groups of hunters/shooters got together around the country and had some friendly competitions at their local clubs. Group shooting was already established by this time, so shooting off a bench was not a new concept.

Each club had their own set of rules and targets. Mainly through the works of Precision Shooting magazine, the rules somewhat unified. In 1966, the NBRSA, which was the only benchrest organization at the time, adopted Hunter Class among its shooting disciplines. The original rules were simple and straight forward:

1. The scope could not exceed a magnification of 6.

2. The rifle cannot have a total weight of more than 10.0 pounds 3. Each rifle must have a magazine capable of holding 2 loaded rounds.

4. Each rifle must have a working safety.

5. The caliber must be 6mm or greater.

6. The cartridge must contain same or greater case capacity as a .30/.30 (later defined as 45.5 gr of water).

The original intent of Hunter Class was to provide an economical way for hunters to try the sport of Benchrest. Hunters could bring their deer rifle to the range and compete.

For those shooters to which shooting off a bench did not appeal, they could simply walk away with no serious loss of money or time; and those who enjoyed the sport could then upgrade their equipment and dedication.

Early chamberings were .30/.30, .243 and .308 Winchesters and 6mm Remingtons. The .308 Win was favored because it made a bigger hole giving a slight advantage over the smaller bullet diameters. Of the 30 caliber shooters, 168 Sierra HPBT were the favorite choice. Remington actions were the staple along with laminated wood stocks. Steel-tube Weaver T-6 scopes were on top of most of these rigs.

It did not take long for shooters to start customizing their equipment to gain a competitive edge. Rem-

ington actions were pillar bedded and trued. Many of these Remington actions were sent to Larry Smart in Meta, Missouri to work his magic.

These super-accurate actions became known as Smart actions. Custom barrels were usually of the Hart or Shilen variety. McMillan and Lee Six stocks quickly became the choice of stocks. Wildcatters soon started making cartridges such as 6HLS and 6-250. In short, it did not take long for the original intent of Hunter Class to be forgotten.

In 1969 the split in the NBRSA happened. Hunter class dwindled in the NBRSA, yet flourished in the IBS. In the mid 1970’s, shooters started pushing for more of an influence of Hunter Class in the NBRSA. In 1977, NBRSA president Walt Berger came together with the very influential Bob Pease and agreed to world records and registered matches.

The original world records were all set by Francis Broussard. On July 10, 1977 Francis shot 250-15X at 100 yards. Later that same year, Francis shot a 246 – 13X at 200. Combining that score with his 100 yard score earned Mr. Broussard the Grand Aggregate record of 494-19X. These records were all set using the “old style” 200 yard target. The 100 yard targets have remained the same. The “old style” 200 yard target is different from the currently used target in several ways. First, the X ring was 1/2”, not the currently used 1/8” dot, making it easier to

February, 2014 Precision Rifleman score an X. Second, the ten-ring remained the same; however the subsequent scoring rings were spaced ¼” apart, making it harder to shoot a higher score. If someone shooting on the current 200 yard target has a wide nine it would most likely be a solid eight on the old target. Randy Robinett called the old 200 yard target “a man’s target!” The currently used 200 yard target was not used in a National event until 1985.

In 1978 Marcy Lyons became the new NBRSA Hunter Class Chairman and, largely through his efforts, the first ever NBRSA Hunter Class Nationals were held in New Braunfels, Texas in 1980. Carroll Green won the first NBRSA Hunter Nationals with a score (100/200 Grand) of 493-19X. In 1981, Carroll won the 2nd Hunter Nationals with a score of 481-21X. Carroll Green is the only person to win back to back Hunter National Championships.

The 100/200 yard Grand Agg scores remained in the low 490’s until 1987 when custom bullets hit the scene.

The late Guy Chism was one of the pioneers of the 30 cal custom bullet.

Lois Gonzalas (wife of Speedy) and Ralph Council also started making custom 30 cal bullets shortly thereafter. Guy Chism’s bullet dies are still in use by Chad Schmidt and Dick Baier of 10X Bullets.

To give you an idea of how important custom bullets were to Hunter Class, of the first 7 nationals (100/200 Grand Agg winners) before custom bullets, there was only one year the Grand Agg winner shot a 250 at 100 yards. In the following 27 years’ National events, 20 Grand Agg winners have shot a 250 at 100 yards. It did not take shooters long to figure out that if you wanted a chance to “take home some wood” then you better shoot custom bullets.

Another change that had some influence on higher scores was the use of lighter triggers. Early Hunter Class rifles were simply out-of-thebox rifles that had non-adjustable 3-4 lb triggers. Shortly after, shooters started using Burns, Saunders, or Jewel HVR 2 oz. triggers.

Yet another factor to the higher scores was when scope manufactures started offering ¼” clicks then 1/8”

clicks adjustments on their scopes.

The original Weaver T-6 scopes were ½ minute clicks. The above mentioned changes along with the evolutional consequences of competition led to the outstanding scores we are seeing today.

A quick look at the Hunter National equipment list shows an overwhelming majority of shooters picking one of the 30 cal varieties. The currently popular Hunter calibers, 30x44 and 30x47, really started becoming popular in the mid 1980’s.

Many people use the date of 2007 when Lapua came out with 6.5x47 brass as the beginning date of the current version of the 30x47. However, it is very apparent that the 30x47 and its variants were in use long before this date. The exact date is hard to find. There were many wildcatters in the Hunter Class. Art Freund was making a .308x47. Larry Smart and Danny Jarvis were making their version of the 30x47 based off the 300 Savage case. Wayne Corley and Clark Greene had theirs. Many mid-westerners traveled to Louisiana to see what those shooters were doing with their version of the thirty.

What one person was experimenting with in one area another was tinkering with in a different area. Several shooters independently made a vari-

9

ant of the 30x44 or 30x47.

Not all shooters picked the popular thirty caliber, however; and in 2013, Randy Robinett used a 25 HBR to win the 100/200 National Grand Agg with a score of 499-18X. The last person to win a Hunter National with something other than a thirty was Huck Hutson in 1985 shooting a 6 HLS. This may become more common in upcoming years. In 2013 the NBRSA Hunter Class narrowly voted to delete the caliber restrictions and case capacity. This will allow shooters to use any caliber they want for a two year trial period.

Early Hunter class numbers started out relatively low then flourished. At the 1994 Nationals there were upward of fifty shooters. At the 1996 Nationals there were over sixty. In 1997 there were over ninety. One of the highest attended Nationals was in 2000 where there were slightly over one hundred shooters.

In the mid 2000’s there started a gradual decline in participation.

Looking at it numerically, the decline of the 2000’s pretty much mirrors the incline in the 90’s. In 2007, there were around sixty shooters at the Nationals but by 2013, the numbers were down to thirty seven.

Many late nights have been spent discussing the reasons for the decline

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10

Precision Rifleman

of shooters in Hunter Class. Some believe that numbers in all benchrest disciplines are decreasing. The numbers are just more noticeable in the relatively small Hunter Class. Others believe the root of the problem lies in the fact that more shooters are leaving due to age than new shooters coming in. The younger, new shooters have a hard time balancing finances, travel, and family commitments with shooting. Still others see a correlation between the decline in the TCL and six power shooters.

Virtually everyone agrees that it is not one reason, but a combination of reasons for the decline in Hunter Class shooters.

The same can be said about increasing the numbers in Hunter Class. It will not be just one thing that will increase the numbers. It will have to be a marriage of many “pieces of the puzzle” that will have to come together. The biggest piece of that puzzle lies in the shooters themselves.

One area where this is already happening is in Van Dyne, Wisconsin. Van Dyne is the home of the Wisconsin State Hunter Championships. Despite having only twelve benches, this is the largest gathering of Hunter Class shooters other than the Nationals and is often called the “Mini Nationals”. Van Dyne consistently has

around fifty shooters. Chad Schmidt believes they get so many participants because it is more than just a shoot. It is an event. Advertisement and entry forms are sent out months ahead of time. All shooters take home some type of prize. Many vendors donate great items to be given away. The target and scoring crews are top notch. The food is outstanding. The camaraderie before, during, and after the shooting is a major draw. It is not just one thing that makes the shoot as popular as it is. It is all the little things added up that make the WI State Hunter Championship an event worth returning to.

Hunter Class shooting is tough. It always has been tough and will continue to be tough. The shooter is trying to hit something they cannot see.

That defining characteristic of Hunter Class has not changed since 1966.

This, however, is also the appeal.

Hunter shooters embrace the challenge of the six power scope. They enjoy the camaraderie with others who share the same passion for doing something so incredibly difficult.

Come on out and shoot a Hunter Tournament. Who knows? Maybe you will become a piece of the Hunter Class puzzle too.

NBRSA WORLD RECORDS FOR SCORE SHOOTING CENTERFIRE BENCHREST

Aggregates

Hunter

Varmint For Score

5 shot 100-yds

250-23X

250-25X-17W/O

Craig Nagel

Larry Kuse

5/13/2006 250-14X

9/16/2012 250-14X

Tom Hencken

Lou Murdica

7/15/2012 250-7X

10/17/2013 249-8X

5 shot 200-yds

5 shot 300-yds

2-Gun

X X X

Bill Small

Tim Naugle

6/29/1997

8/22/2013

Grand Aggregates

Hunter

Varmint For Score

2-Gun

100 - 200 yds

500-27X

500-34X

999-47X

Lee Keller

Lynn Gibson

Tom Peyton

9/13/1998 498-9X

9/22/2013 498-13X

5/13/2012 993-21X

Leroy Nethercott

Tim Naugle

Tim Naugle

5/2/2004 748-26X

8/22/2013 747-32X

8/22/2013 1494-61X

Leroy Nethercott

Greg Swezey

Greg Swezey

5/2/2004

8/22/2013

8/22/2013

200 - 300 yds

100 - 200 - 300 yds

*Updated 12/18/2013

February, 2014 Precision Rifleman

11

Hunter Class Hall of Fame Standings Name Wayne Corley Greg Swezey Cody Haslett Leroy Nethercott Bill Small Rich Carpenter Elzie Scott Carroll Green Marcy Lyons Roland Potter Richard LeBlanc T. K. Nollan Guy Chism R.G. Robinett Joe Hemkens Jim Angle Ron Bertrand Ron Hoehn Tim Naugle Charlie Fajkus Clark Greene Jeff Lotto Larry Smart Speedy Gonzales Steve Brewer David Flaskey Don Feltman Gary "Ben"Peters Huck Hutson James Lederer Jim Hostetler John Porter Larry Bryant Larry Kahle Mike Bigelow Paul Weller Tom Hencken Don Mulhall Marvin Roberts Russell Walterman Bob Maedgen Bob Seymour

1970's 1980's 1990's 2000's 2010's 1980 World World World World World to Records Records Records Records Records 1989 6

2 2 2 3

1

1 1 3

3 10 7

1

9 2

1

2

5 2 1

5 5

1

4 5 5

5

2 3

2

1990 2000 to to Total Year 1999 2009 2010 2011 Points Inducted 15 10 33 1999 14 9 10 33 2010 10 12 24 2000 15 17 2003 9 12 1999 10 2 12 2004 6 2 12 2008 11 1999 11 1999 3 8 11 2002 10 1999 10 10 2009 5 2 9 2001 2 7 9 2008 9 9 2010 8 8 8 8 2 3 8 8 8 7 7 2 7 5 2 7 7 6 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Hon.2004 4 4 4 4 4 Hon.2004 3 3 3

12

Precision Rifleman

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February, 2014 Precision Rifleman

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Sloughhouse 1000-Yard Benchrest Ken Schroder..................... 9.712 Two Gun High Score (6) Jerry Tierney...................406-4X

November 24, 2013

Light Gun Group (3) Raymond Garric.................9.048 Jerry Tierney..................... 9.272 Ken Schroder..................... 9.826 Heavy Gun Group (3) Gabe Neola.......................9.573 Jerry Tierney.................... 11.417 Bob Landis....................... 11.861 Light Gun Score (3) Jerry Tierney...................137.1X Bob Dorton......................... 131 Ken Schroder...................... 127 Heavy Gun Score (3) Gabe Neola......................273-3X Jerry Tierney.................... 269-3X Ken Schroder.................... 269-2X Two Gun Group Aggregate (6) Jerry Tierney....................7.991 Bob Dorton........................ 8.685

Bob Dorton....................... 398-1X Ken Schroder.................... 396-2X Meet Billy Copelin.

Billy holds the 1000 yard World Record in Light Gun 5-Shot Agg (4.6042), 2Gun Agg (6.5724) & 2Gun High Score 839-10X all set in 2009. He’s also a member of the Long Range Hall of Fame.

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Columbus 600-Yd Benchrest Tom Esser.......................... 3.116 Jeff Tomoro....................... 3.635 Donald Bucholtz.................. 3.774 Bob Loepfe........................ 5.036 Mark Merten...................... 7.120 Ron Kuhn......................... 30.021 Heavy Gun 3-Target Score Tom Esser.......................... 251 Fred Thruman..................... 248 Donald Bucholtz................... 234 Mark Merten....................... 150 Bob Loepfe......................... 131

October 19, 2013

Light Gun 3-Target Score Fred Thruman..................125-1X Donald Bucholtz................. 120-2X Tom Esser......................... 113-3X Mark Merten..................... 112-4X Bob Loepfe....................... 110-5X Jeff Tomoro...................... 103-6X Ron Kuhn..........................27-7X Light Gun 3-Target Group Fred Thruman.................. 2.818

Heavy Gun 3-Target Group Fred Thruman...................5.503 Tom Esser.......................... 5.887 Donald Bucholtz.................. 7.585 Bob Loepfe....................... 17.346 Mark Merten..................... 20.121 Factory Class 3-Target Score Donald Bucholtz.................. 121 Jeff Tomoro......................... 99 Factory Class 3-Target Group Jeff Tomoro......................5.234 Donald Bucholtz.................. 6.529

Columbus 600-Yard Benchrest October Equipment List Name Light Gun: Jeffrey Tomoro Ronald Kuhn Thomas Esser Robert Loepfe Mark Merten Don Bucholtz Fred Thruman Heavy Gun: Thomas Esser Robert Loepfe Mark Merten Don Bucholtz Fred Thruman Factory: Jeffrey Tomoro

Caliber

Action Barrel

Gunsmith

Stock

Stocker

Scope

Powder

Weight Primer

Case

Bullet

6mmBR 30-06 6MM Dasher 6BRX 6mmBR 6BR 6BR

Savage n/a BAT Borden n/a Nesika Savage

Savage 1903 Bartlein Muller Shilen Muller Krieger

Savage self Stummeier Muller n/a Bucholtz self

Savage Facan McMillan n/a Bell & Carlson Tracker SSS

Savage self Stummeier Muller n/a Bucholtz Self

Bushnell 8x32 Pentax Nightforce Nightforce Weaver Nightforce Nightforce

Varget 4064 H4895 Varget H4895 n/a IMR4007

30 47.8 39.8 33.5 29 n/a 32

CCI 450 Winchester CCI 450 FED 205 Remington 7.5 n/a CCI450

Lapua Remington Lapua Lapua Lapua n/a Lapua

Nosler 105 Horad BIB 108 105 hybrid Sierra 105 Berger 105 Berger

6MM Dasher 280 6mmBR 6BR 6BR

BAT BAT n/a Nesika Savage

Bartlein Muller Shilen Muller Krieger

Stummeier Muller n/a Bucholtz Self

McMillan MBR Bell & Carlson Tracker Self

Stummeier Muller n/a Bucholtz Self

Nightforce Schmidt & Bender Weaver Nightforce Nightforce

H4895 4831 SL H4895 n/a IMR4007

39.8 55.2 29 n/a 33

CCI 450 CCI BR Remington 7.5 n/a CCI 450

Lapua Lapua Lapua n/a Lapua

BIB 108 SMK Sierra 105 Berger 105 Berger

6mmBR

Savage Savage

Savage

Savage

Savage

Bushnell 8x32

Varget

30

CCI 450

Lapua

Nosler 105

14

Precision Rifleman

So You Think You Shot A World Record...

Now What?

by David Halblom

First, let me say congratulations.

Next let me say don’t touch your targets. There is a very well defined submission process for potential world record targets, whether they are group, score or long-range. Mr. Match Director, prior to your match weekend, do yourself and the shooters a favor and print out the current records for the discipline you are going to shoot. They are on the NBRSA website. While it is the shooters responsibility to know the record he is breaking, it is never bad to have the most recent record list available to check.

I have personally seen a potential world record go out the window because no one was aware and the targets left the range in the hands of the shooter. Nothing can be done with them at that point. The game is over.

All of the various disciplines have similar processes for handling potential record targets, but I must stress that the initial responsibility for these targets lies with the shooter himself. The shooter cannot take custody of the targets or the chain of custody will be corrupted. If you think you have shot a record, make the match director aware BEFORE you take the targets off the wailing wall.

If you are shooting a multiple day set of aggregates, the match director needs to take custody of the targets.

Once it is determined that the targets are a potential record, a number of steps must be taken before they leave the range. For group targets, the target(s) and the moving backer(s) must be signed by 2 Match Officials, typically referees, and the Match Director. For score, the targets must be signed by 2 Match Officials and the Match Director. The same goes for Long-Range targets. The targets and a copy of the shooters match registration form, along with a completed World Record Submission Form for the particular discipline are to be sent on to the Regional Director in which the record was shot. The Regional Director then verifies the data on the

various forms, inspects/measures the targets, and if it looks like they are a potential record, sends the targets and forms on to the Group, or Score or Long-Range Records chairman.

The world record committee then determines whether the target or aggregates are records. This is the time consuming part of the process.

Committee members are scattered around the country and it takes time to ship targets around as well as time to score them. The Chairman keeps track of where the targets are and when they arrive back.

He then records the score/measurements of the target(s). If it is determined the target or aggregate is a new record, the Business Manager and President and magazine editor are made aware. The targets are returned to the shooter along with a letter outlining the measurement/ score. If no record has been shot, the Chairman sends the targets and scoring information to the shooter.

All of this information is outlined on the NBRSA website. The various forms and instructions are under “Forms”.

The current World Records are on the

site under “Recognition”. I know that all of us try our best to make sure that the Records are up to date, but in the middle of the shooting season, there is potentially an overlap in the time a potential record is shot and when the new records are posted.

No way to avoid it. That is why, even if a record only stands for 1 hour or 1 day, ALL records are recognized.

If it looks to be a record based on what is posted on the website that day, start the process of submission.

Match Directors, before the season gets rolling, do yourself a favor and take the time to look at the website and familiarize yourself with the submissions procedures for the disciplines your range competes.

Shooters, the same holds true for you, especially since the responsibility to begin the records process is in your hands. Try to familiarize yourself with the various records. Better yet, print out a copy and stick it in your reloading box. You may be able to help someone by having a current list handy. Now for those of you who shoot score, go shoot lots of bug holes and lots of X’s.

February, 2014 Precision Rifleman US GROUP BENCHREST HALL OF FAME TONY BOYER

164

LESTER BRUNO

48

ALAN EUBER

47

GARY OCOCK

34

ED WATSON (D)

28

DON GERACI

26

RON HOEHN

26

TOM GILLMAN (D)

25

LOWELL FREI

25

WAYNE CAMPBELL

24

PERRY MORTON (D)

22

GENE BUKYS

22

DON POWELL

21

CHARLES HUCKEBA

20

WALT BERGER

19

JEF FOWLER (D)

18

LEE EUBER

17

RUSSELL BOOP

17

JACK NEARY

17

JACK DEMMING

16

JIM STEKL

16

PAUL GOTSCHALL (D)

16

JOE KRUPA

16

BOB SCARBROUGH, JR

16

L.E.(RED) CORNELISON (D)

15

SMILEY HENSLEY

15

BILL FORRESTER

15

RICHARD MARETZO

14

FERRIS PINDELL (D)

14

WARREN PAGE (D)

14

P.J. HART

14

JIM BORDEN

14

ALLEN ARNETTE

14

BART SAUTER

14

MYLES HOLLISTER (D)

13

ED SHILEN

13

DAVE HALL

13

TOM "SPEEDY" GONZALEZ

13

FRED HASECUSTER

13

REX RENEAU

12

PAT BYRNE

12

FAYE BOYER

12

LARRY COSTA

12

GERALD MASKER

11

HARLEY BAKER

11

RICHARD BAKER

10

JOHN BROWN JR.

10

DWIGHT SCOTT

10

MIKE RATIGAN

10

15

16

Precision Rifleman

2014 NBRSA Registered Match Schedule SOUTHWEST REGION

June 7-8

LV/HV

300/200

Long Range Varmint Nationals Palomino Valley Gun Club

June 14

LG/HG

1000

Sahuaro 1000-Yard Benchrest Three Points Range, Tucson, AZ

June 21-22

HV/UNL-5

100/200

Unlimited SW Regional Visalia Sportsmen Association

June 22

LG/HG

1000

Sloughhouse Long Range Benchrest

July 5-6

LV/HV

100/200

Sloughhouse 200 4-Gun Challenge Sloughhouse Group Benchrest

Jan 4-5

LV/HV

100/200

Winter Warm Up Arizona Benchrest Shooters

Jan 11

LG/HG

1000

Sahuaro 1000-Yard Benchrest Three Points Range, Tucson, AZ

Jan 26

LG/HG

1000

Sloughhouse Long Range Benchrest

Feb 1-2

LV/HV

100/200

Berger Cactus Classic Warm Up Arizona Benchrest Shooters

Feb 8

LG/HG

1000

Sahuaro 1000-Yard Benchrest Three Points Range, Tucson, AZ

July 12

LG/HG

1000

Feb 15-16

LV/HV

100/200

Visalia Group Match Visalia Sportsmen Association

Sahuaro 1000-Yard Benchrest Three Points Range, Tucson, AZ

July 27

LG/HG

600

Sloughhouse Long Range Benchrest

Feb 23

LG/HG

600

Sloughhouse Long Range Benchrest

Aug 2-3

LV/HV

100/200

Sloughhouse Group Benchrest

LV/HV

100/200

Central Utah Benchrest Club Utah State Championship Part 2

Mar 1

VFS

100/200

Short Range Club Championship Desert Sportsman’s Rifle Club

Aug 2-3

Mar 1-2

LV/HV

100/200

Sloughhouse Group Benchrest

Aug 9

LG/HG

1000

Mar 8

LG/HG

1000

Sahuaro 1000-Yard Benchrest Three Points Range, Tucson, AZ

Sahuaro 1000-Yard Benchrest Three Points Range, Tucson, AZ

Aug 24

LG/HG

1000

Sloughhouse Long Range Benchrest

SP/LV/HV

100/200

Southwest Regional Championship Visalia Sportsmen Association

March 15-16

LV/HV

100/200

Berger Cactus Classic Arizona Benchrest Shooters

Aug 30-31

Apr 5

VFS

200/300

Long Range Club Championship Desert Sportsman’s Rifle Club

Sept 6

VFS

200/300

NV State Long Range Championship Desert Sportsman’s Rifle Club

Apr 5-6

LV/HV

100/200

Sloughhouse Group Benchrest

Sept 13

LG/HG

1000

Apr 12

LG/HG

1000

Sahuaro 1000-Yard Benchrest Three Points Range, Tucson, AZ

Sahuaro 1000-Yard Benchrest Three Points Range, Tucson, AZ

Sept 28

LG/HG

600

Sloughhouse Long Range Benchrest

4Gun

300

Palomino Valley 4Gun Palomino Valley Gun Club

April 12-13

UNL5/ UNL10

100/200

Arizona Unlimited Match Arizona Benchrest Shooters

Sept 27-28

April 19-20

SP/HV

100/200

Visalia Group Match Visalia Sportsmen Association

Oct 4

VFS

100/200

Silver State Shootout Desert Sportsman’s Rifle Club

Apr 22

LG/HG

600

Registration & Prep Day: 2014 Long Range Benchrest Nationals Sloughhouse Long Range Benchrest

Oct 4-5

LV/HV

100/200

Sloughhouse Group Benchrest

Oct 4-5

LV/HV

100/200

Arizona State Championship #1 Arizona Benchrest Shooters

April 23-24

LG/HG

600

11th Sloughhouse 600 Nationals Sloughhouse Long Range Benchrest

Oct 11

LG/HG

1000

Sahuaro 1000-Yard Benchrest Three Points Range, Tucson, AZ

Apr 25

F-Class

1000

2nd Sloughhouse F-Class Bench

100/200

LG/HG

1000

6th Sloughhouse 1000 Nationals Sloughhouse Long Range Benchrest

Oct 18-19

UNL-5

April 26-27

Visalia Invitational Visalia Sportsmen Association

200/100

LV/HV

100/200

President’s Cup Holton Gun Club

Oct 25-26

SP/UNL

April 26-27

Nevada State Championship #2 Palomino Valley Gun Club

Oct 26

LG/HG

1000

Sloughhouse Long Range Benchrest

May 3

VFS

100/200

Nevada State Championship Desert Sportsman’s Rifle Club

Nov 1

VFS

200/300

Glitter Gulch Long Range Champ.

Desert Sportsman’s Rifle Club

May 3-4

SP/LV

100/200

CA State Championship Part 1 Sloughhouse Group Benchrest

Nov 1-2

LV/HV

100/200

Sloughhouse Group Benchrest

May 3-4

SP/UNL

100/200

Central Utah Benchrest Club Utah State Championship Part 1

Nov 8

LG/HG

1000

Sahuaro 1000-Yard Benchrest Three Points Range, Tucson, AZ

May 10

LG/HG

1000

Sahuaro 1000-Yard Benchrest Three Points Range, Tucson, AZ

Nov 8-9

SP/UNL5

100/200

Arizona State Championship #2 Arizona Benchrest Shooters

May 17-18

LV/HV

100/200

Visalia Group Match Visalia Sportsmen Association

Nov 23

LG/HG

600

Sloughhouse Long Range Benchrest

Dec 6-7

UNL5/UNL5

100/200

May 24-25

LV/HV

200/100

Nevada State Championship #1 Palomino Valley Gun Club

Arizona Invitational Unlimited Arizona Benchrest Shooters

Dec 13

LG/HG

1000

May 25

LG/HG

600

Sloughhouse Long Range Benchrest

Sahuaro 1000-Yard Benchrest Three Points Range, Tucson, AZ

June 6-8

HTR/VFS

100/200 300

Southwest Regional Two Gun Desert Sportsman’s Rifle Club

Dec 28

LG/HG

1000

Sloughhouse Long Range Benchrest

June 7-8

HV/UNL

100/200

CA State Championship Part 2 Sloughhouse Group Benchrest

NORTH CENTRAL REGION Apr 12

LV

100/200

Oak Hill Gun Club, Blue Grass, IA

May 18

HV

100/200

Oak Hill Gun Club, Blue Grass, IA

February, 2014 Precision Rifleman

17

2014 NBRSA Registered Match Schedule June 21-22

LV/HV

100/200

Briar Hail Memorial Shelby County Deer Hunters

July 4-6

LV/HV/UNL

100/200

Eastern 3-Gun Championship Fairchance Gun Club

July 19-20

LV/HV

100/200

PA State Championship Kane Fish & Game

July 26-27

LV/HV

100/200

Michigan State Championship Holton Gun Club

Sept 22-27

4-GUN

100/200

2014 Group Benchrest Nationals Holton Gun Club, Holton, MI

Columbus Sportsmen Assn, WI

Oct 11-12

LV/HV

100/200

Fall Classic WWCCA

600

Columbus Sportsmen Assn, WI

LV/HV

100/200

LG/HG/Fac

600

Columbus Sportsmen Assn, WI

Oct 18-19

Fall Finale Shelby County Deer Hunters

LG/HG/Fac

600

Columbus Sportsmen Assn, WI

June 14

LV

100/200

Oak Hill Gun Club, Blue Grass, IA

June 21-22

HTR/VFS

100/200

Wyoming State Hunter/VFS Match Casper Benchrest Shooters, WY

July 13

LG/HG/Fac

600

Columbus Sportsmen Assn, WI

July 19-20

HTR/VFS

100/200

Trail Run Shoot Casper Benchrest Shooters, WY

July 20

HV/UNL

100/200

Oak Hill Gun Club, Blue Grass, IA

Aug 17

LV

100/200

Oak Hill Gun Club, Blue Grass, IA

Aug 4-7

HTR/VFS

100/200 200/300

2014 Hunter/VFS Nationals Casper Benchrest Shooters, WY

Aug 17

LG/HG/Fac

600

Sept 20

LG/HG/Fac

Oct 11 Nov 8

GULF COAST REGION

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY REGION Mar 1-2

LV/HV

100/200

Benchrest Rifle Club of St Louis 10:30AM Sat, 8AM Sun

Feb 9

VFS

100/200

Southwest LA Rifle & Pistol Club

Mar 16

HTR/VFS

100/200

Benchrest Rifle Club of St Louis

Feb 22-23

4-GUN

100

Tomball Gun Club, TX (It’s back!)

April 6

HTR/VFS

100/200

Benchrest Rifle Club of St Louis

Mar 23

VFS

100/200

Southwest LA Rifle & Pistol Club

April 12-13

LV/HV

100/200

Benchrest Rifle Club of St Louis Sat 12 noon, Sun 8AM

Apr 5-6

4-GUN

200

Tomball Gun Club, TX

May 10

HTR

100/200

Van Dyne Sportsmens Club

Apr 27

VFS

100/200

Southwest LA Rifle & Pistol Club

May 18

HTR/VFS

100/200

Benchrest Rifle Club of St Louis

May 3-4

LV/SP

100/200

Central Texas Benchrest Shooters

June 7

HTR

100/200

Van Dyne Sportsmens Club

May 17-18

UNL/HV

100/200

Texas State Championship Seymour Stool Shooters

June 15

HTR/VFS

100/200

Benchrest Rifle Club of St Louis

May 18

VFS

100/200

Southwest LA Rifle & Pistol Club

June 20

LV/HV

100/200

East-West Show-Me Set-Up Day

May 31June 1

LV/SP

100/200

Gulf Coast Region Showdown North Texas Shooters Assn

June 21-22

LV/HV

100/200

Benchrest Rifle Club of St Louis East-West Show Me Shootout

June 14-15

UNL/HV

100/200

Gulf Coast Regionals Seymour Stool Shooters

July 12-13

HTR

100/200

Van Dyne Sportsmens Club WI State Championship

June 21-22

VFS/HTR

100/200

VFS/HTR San Jacinto Tomball Gun Club

July 13

LG/HG

600

Columbus Sportsman’s Assn

HTR/VFS

100/200

June 29

VFS

100/200

Southwest LA Rifle & Pistol Club

July 19-20

Benchrest Rifle Club of St Louis MO State/Jarvis/MVR Chism

July 5-6

SP/HV

100/200

Texas Shootout Midland Shooters Association

July 26-27

LV/HV

100/200

Benchrest Rifle Club of St Louis Sat Night Match 5pm, Sun 8AM

July 19-20

4-GUN

200

Central Texas Benchrest Shooters

Aug 17

LG/HG

600

Columbus Sportsman’s Assn

Sept 13

VFS

100/200

Van Dyne Sportsmens Club

LG/HG

600

Columbus Sportsman’s Assn

July 27

HTR/VFS

100/200

Louisiana State Score Championship Southwest LA Rifle & Pistol Club

Sept 20 Oct 5

HTR/VFS

100/200

Benchrest Rifle Club of St Louis

Aug 17

VFS

100/200

Central Texas VFS Match

Oct 11

LG/HG

600

Columbus Sportsman’s Assn

Aug 30-31

LV/HV

100/200

Buffalo Midland Shooters Association

Oct 18-19

LV/HV

100/200

Benchrest Rifle Club of St Louis Mississippi Valley Regionals

Sept 21

VFS

100/200

HTR & Gulf Coast VFS Regionals Southwest LA Rifle & Pistol Club

Nov 8

LG/HG

600

Columbus Sportsman’s Assn

Oct 26

HTR/VFS

100/200

VFS & Gulf Coast HTR Regionals Southwest LA Rifle & Pistol Club

Mar 22-23

LV/HV

100/200

Shamrock, MGGOA

Apr 12-13

LV/HV

100/200

River Bend Gun Club, GA

Jul 12-13

LV/HV

100/200

Unaka Rod & Gun Club, TN

Aug 23-24

4-GUN

100

Southeast Region Champ Leg 1 Brock’s Gap Training Center

Sept 6-7

4-GUN

200

Southeast Region Champ Leg 2 Unaka Rod & Gun Club, TN

Oct 11-12

LV/HYV

100/200

River Bend Gun Club, GA

EASTERN REGION Apr 12-13

LV/HV

100/200

Spring Tune Up WWCCA

Apr 26-27

LV/HV

100/200

President’s Cup, Holton Gun Club

May 3-4

LV/HV

100/200

Hog Roast, Fairchance Gun Club

May 17-18

LV/HV

100/200

Super Shoot Warm-Up, Chippewa

May 21-24

LV/HV

100/200

Kelbly’s Super Shoot

Jun 7-8

LV/HV

100/200

Wolverine Challenge WWCCA

SOUTHEAST REGION

18

Precision Rifleman

NBRSA WORLD RECORDS FOR GROUP SHOOTING CENTERFIRE BENCHREST

Single Groups

Unlimited

Heavy Varmint

Light Varmint

Sporter

5 shot 100-yds

0.049 inches Gary Ocock 10/17/2009 0.0846 Mark Walker 7/3/2009 0.355 Jim McGowin 6/16/2008 0.097 Tom Libby 4/17/2004 0.202 Fred Hasecuster 9/16/1989 0.512 Larry Costa 9/16/2006

0.027 inches Ralph Landon 9/13/1975 0.096 Mark Buettgen 8/22/2009 0.149 Gary Ocock 4/5/1998

0.0077 inches Mike Stinnett 6/8/2013 0.075 Johnnie Stewart 7/17/2009 0.291 Brady Knight 8/27/2005

0.041 inches Jerry Thornbrugh 10/21/1978 0.086 Tom Libby 9/25/2009 0.247 Robert Dodd 7/17/2004

0.1242 Jerry Lahr 8/18/2012 0.1233 Gary Ocock 9/1/2008 0.1801 Lee Andrews 5/28/1983 0.1808 Jeffrey Yost 7/4/2008 0.1941 Tony Boyer 9/21/2009 0.199 Rick Graham 7/3/2009 0.1928 Lester Bruno 9/27/2005 0.266 Jeff Graves 9/20/2003

0.1399 Rex Reneau 9/6/1982 0.1485 Dennis Thornbury 3/3/1996 0.184 Pat Byrne 7/17/2005

0.1441 Jim Carmichel 5/11/2012 0.147 Rabon Stewart 5/2/2010 0.1518 Bart Sauter 9/20/2003

0.1573 Dick Katchmar 4/14/1985 0.1523 Larry Cohen 10/26/2003 0.2203 James Carstensen 6/13/1999

0.1486 Eric Stanton 7/10/2012 0.2491 Ben Peters 4/18/2009 0.2238 Ben Peters 4/18/2009 0.2148 Tony Boyer 9/2/2000 0.2096 Lester Bruno 9/27/2005 0.3567 Ed Watson 7/15/1984 0.3555 Walt Berger 6/26/1982

0.1773 Clarence Hammonds 7/2/1995 0.2497 Jeff Summers 9/1/1984 0.2468 Jerry Kloeppel 4/19/2009

0.1719 Tony Boyer 9/25/2009 0.2621 James Jarrett 9/4/1982 0.2732 James Jarrett 9/4/1982

0.1777 Gene Bukys 10/9/2012 0.2496 Tony Boyer 9/3/1983 0.2425 Tony Boyer 9/3/1983

5 shot 200-yds

5 shot 300-yds

10 shot 100-yds

10 shot 200-yds

10 shot 300-yds

Aggregates 5, 5 shot groups 100-yds

5, 5 shot groups 200-yds

5, 5 shot groups 300-yds

5, 10 shot groups 100-yds

8, 10 shot groups 100-yds

5, 10 shot groups 200-yds

8, 10 shot 200-yds

5, 10 shot 300-yds

Grand Aggregates 5, 5 shot groups 100 yds + 200 yds 5, 5 shot groups 200yds + 300 yds 5, 5 shot groups 100, 200 & 300 yds 5, 10 shot groups 100yds + 200 yds 8, 10 shot groups 100yds + 200 yds 5, 5 shot groups 200yds + 300 yds 5, 10 shot groups 100, 200 & 300 yds

X X X

X X X X X

X X X X

X X X

X X X X X

X X X X

X X X

X X X X X

X X X X

February, 2014 Precision Rifleman

Ask The Pros, Being a newer shooter bitten by the benchrest bug, I have gone to great lengths to learn more about the sport.

It has become an obsession for me. I have spent hours reading books and whatever else I could find related to benchrest. I am a history buff and also have a love and obsession for history.

Because of the marriage of these two loves, I enjoy learning where we have come from and anticipate where we are going. I truly believe to understand the future we must learn from the past. I have learned that shooting a match is much more that just shooting. It is the relationships we build with each other. One of my fondest memories happened not too long ago, as I was shooting a match and loading near Stan Buchtel. I remember time just listed by as I sat in amazement as Stan talked about Warren Page, matches that he attended and other things. I wish the moment would have never ended.

As I thought about this later on, I thought that it would be great if such conversations could be put down in a magazine. I thought about the tiny library of benchrest books I have, I then thought about “The Benchrest Primer” and all of the articles I have read in Precision Shooting magazine. Then it dawned on me that my favorite articles were the surveys that Dave Brennan had put out, asking various shooters, gunsmiths, and others about subjects and then reading their responses. I thought maybe this could be the way to bring out these conversations; into a format that would be acceptable to a magazine. I got favorable responses to this idea, so I decided to go forward. I picked out four people that I admired and learned from. These people are ones that have helped me in various different ways. I asked these fine gentlemen two questions, with a few suggestive questions in-between.

What I asked them was: Question #1 Please describe how you got into benchrest.

Suggestive questions: Did you have a mentor? What equipment did you start out with? (ie: Powder, Bullets, Rest etc.) Are you still using any equipment

19

by Patrick Kennedy

that you started out with? Were there any hard lessons you had to learn?

Was/is there anyone you admired? Is there anything you would have done differently? Any specific dates or significant events that changed you? Did you ever get discouraged? Was there anything someone told you that always played in the back of your mind?

Question #2: During your time of shooting what aspect of benchrest do you feel has gotten better, or worse, or do you feel things are the same?

Suggestive questions: Do you think that equipment used is better, worse, or the same from when you started until you finished/now? Is there anything that used to be made that you prefer to what is currently available?

What makes these things better or worse? At what point do you feel that things changed the most? Were there any rule changes that you liked or disliked? Why are the old records still standing and so hard to beat? Is there anything you would like to change or improve upon? From when you started until now/when you last shot, do you think that it is easier or harder to get into benchrest?

With that all being said, I give you the responses that I received from these gentlemen, in alphabetical order starting with Walt Berger, Thomas (Speedy) Gonzalez, Glenn Newick and finally Randy (RG) Robinett. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

Walt Berger’s reply; Hi Patrick, Keep in mind I started shooting competitive BR in 1951 or 1952 and started making my own bullets in late 1953 or early 1954. My quest for accuracy started when I purchased a Model 70 257 Roberts Super grade in 1948/49 to use as a varmint and hunting rifle.

To make this happen, four of us my (brother and two cousins) got permission from a farmer to build some shooting benches along a creek bank and we were able to shoot to 300 yards. This humble beginning is now the Chippewa Rifle Club.

I had no mentors the only class was

the unrestricted class and it was the only class I shot until the early 70’s and it was a 222 Rem and the powder of choice at that time was BL-C(1) H335 and IMR 4198. The Beecher and Wichita rests were popular and there were some homemade rests and sand bags used. Sometime later the return to battery rest was brought into use.

I shot very poorly but for some I reason never got discouraged. I enjoyed making bullets and the shooting and the fellow shooters were always friendly.

I moved to the Kansas City area in 1959 and met LF (Bud) Carden who was an excellent unrestricted shooter with a good rifle and he played a major role in making me a competitive shooter. We both made our own bullets and his bullets shot better than mine I had a new base punch made for my core seater and I won the 100 yard and grand in the first match I shot them in.

No question the equipment is better now than when I started shooting.

From an equipment stand point there are so many good gunsmiths that can put together a competitive package that you should be competitive. Does this mean you will be competitive?

Most likely not. This is a mental game and there is a lot of work required to tune that new equipment into a match winning piece of equipment.

In my humble opinion, there is little difference in the way our matches are run now as compared to how they were run 50 years ago. Our components are better now then they were some years ago and this is as it should be as we, as group shooters are recognized as the elite accuracy oriented shooters and we should be making improvements in this area.

Why are old records still standing?

Think about this. This is the only sport that I know of that ONE mistake will keep you from winning. It is unlike any other sport score shooters can make a mistake and still win you can play golf and still win you can get knocked down boxing and get up and still win but you cannot make that mistake and win in group shooting. Take a look at the group and aggregate records

20 Precision Rifleman and think about what has to happen to make these kind of groups and aggregates happen and the smaller they become, the harder they are to break.

Yes there is something that I would like to change and I have tried to get it changed but it has fallen on deaf ears.

We complain about match attendance being down as well membership.

What I feel we need is a classification for our new shooters so they do not have to beat the best group shooters in the world before they get to take something home to show the family. I do not feel a classification should be used for our National matches but for all other matches we need a classification for our new shooters. Take care, Walt Berger Thomas (Speedy) Gonzalez’s Reply; Benchrest History 101 Question #1: Please describe how you got into benchrest.

Wow Pat, you really want us to go that far back? I think Fred & Barney were carving out the first benches out of granite in those days and we had to watch out for pterodactyls flying across the range. Ok,it may not have been that long ago, 1975, August, Dietz Range in New Braunfels, Texas last match of the year, my first match and damn I shot small group of the year at 200 yards...a 0.438. I was hooked. It may as well have been crack cocaine, because the thirst for extreme accuracy and precision to this day has never been quenched.

I was fortunate to have two mentors in my entry into the sport of benchrest, Bob Pease a great competitor and gun writer for Precision Shooting magazine and Howard Dietz, owner of the Dietz range and a national level BR shooter of the time. Bob & Howard were instrumental in guiding my shooting career toward the first steps of my goal to become a member of the Benchrest Hall of Fame.

My first BR rig that was competitive on a national level was an original Shilen round action. This rig was originally chambered in 6x47 (the 222 Rem. Mag. case necked up to 6mm) made popular by Harold Broughton when he won the 3-Gun Championship at the NBRSA Nationals with it in the late 70’s. This was the first time a 6mm bullet and cartridge had dominated the Nation-

als. The rifle was that original Shilen converted to 6PPC and engraved by Norvell Foster, an engraver from San Antonio, Texas. My philosophy has always been, “If you can’t shoot good, at least look good doing it!”

I came into benchrest in the transitional period between the old school BR rigs with wooden stocks, conventional pillar bedding and externally

adjustable scopes such as the Unertls and Lymans and the introduction of the fiber glass stocks, internally adjustable light weight BR scopes, gluein bedding and the cartridge that changed the face of accuracy forever the 22 & 6mm PPC. The change was not easy for the old timers but for me, I embraced the wave of new products and technology with open arms.

Speedy Gonzalez’s first benchrest rifle: the Shilen round action

February, 2014 Precision Rifleman A funny example of how the PPC was shunned initially was, I ordered a Hart 2A action and asked Wally Hart for three bolts to go with it, a 222 bolt, a 308 bolt, and a PPC bolt, Wally said he would send me an invoice for the action. A week later the invoice came and along with the invoice was a note from Wally stapled to it saying he felt I should forego the PPC bolt because most veteran shooters felt it was going to be a flash in the pan. Little did we know the genie had been let out of the bottle never to return to it again with cartridges like the BR, WSM, RSAUM trying to mimic its performance.

These times were not without their growing pains. With the new developments and technologies came the learning curve on how to assemble these into a winning combination and how the shooters would employ them in a manner that was consistently competitive. The old smiths were reluctant to build these new rigs and some just did not know how to. The ones that did were so back-logged that an entire season would pass without your new rig even near completion.

This was the cause of me either learning to do it myself or to leave the sport that I had come to love.

At this time I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time and Pat McMillan took me under his wing and explained the secrets of the BR Universe to me. He opened my eyes to the world of blueprinting, bullet making, a philosophy of competitive shooting I had not considered and methods of assembling a rifle that was a world class rig as opposed to a club match rifle. In the evolution of the BR game, Pat McMillan was the rare breed who looked at the emergence of the new cartridges and technological advancements of the components and built rifles that were ahead of their time. His skills as a barrel maker and his brother Gale McMillan’s fiberglass stocks set the new bar of what the new modern BR rig was to become.

Question#2: During your time of shooting what aspect of benchrest do you feel has gotten better, or worse, or do you feel things are the same?

Hmmm. In the years I have been involved in benchrest, I have seen many products, techniques and methods improve; the sport rise, fall and be-

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Speedy Gonzalez come forgotten in the sands of time.

Many were ahead of their time. Others were fantastic ideas and products but were marketed very poorly or with not enough finances to allow them to become widespread and eventually dying a painful death. From my observation the sport although many say has stagnated since the advent of the 6PPC cartridge, “are more of observers looking into the window of benchrest, than true competitors”. My reason for this statement is the fact that if you have competed in the sport over the years as I have, there are not too many matches that one attends that you don’t see something new being introduced or campaigned on the line in an attempt to gain an advancement in accuracy. I can remember attending the BR matches held in Midland, Texas and every year a fellow Permian Basin shooter would bring out his latest version of an item he felt surely would change the art of accuracy for all BR shooters in the country and finally he hit on the right design. Some may have heard of him if they enjoy precision rifles; his name is Arnold Jewell. The rest is history.

The entire range of shooting sports have benefitted from the BR game, I will give you a short list. Sinclair International started by Fred Sinclair, Butches Boreshine, Shooters Choice,

Berger Bullets, McMillan Stocks, Nesika (now Defiance Machine) Shilen Barrels, Hart Barrels, Lilja Barrels, Stiller Precision, Borden, Actions, SEB Products, Kelbly’s Inc, John Loh’s front rest, Farley Inc, BAT Actions and I could go on and on. The BR gunsmiths have given us the modern blueprinting techniques and methods of chambering that are now breaking records long thought to be unbreakable, and are now breaking records at distances of 1000 yards and beyond.

The reloading methods and components have increased in precision unthought-of when I first purchased my first LEE Loader from Kenny Ekstrand at Nagel’s gun shop in San Antonio, Texas back in 1968. I really splurged and bought the full set of LEE powder scoops to load those first rounds for my 30/30 Win. Mod. 94. Oh yeah!

One-half inch groups at 50 yards with open sight, I was in heaven and still blame Kenny for the thousands I have spent since. We are still good friends and laugh about those days. I am sure you all have a similar memory.

Where do we go from here? I feel the movements forward may not be as dramatic as the introduction of the PPC case by Lou Palmisanno & Ferris Pindell, but more incremental through better understanding of the principles and dynamics of accuracy. We are only

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beginning to understand the effects of the harmonic displacements of bullets in the process of firing a round. We are looking at advanced powder dispensing techniques of volume vs. weight and results of shooting one vs. the other. Powder companies are striving to produce powders that deliver consistent performance and accuracy over extreme weather conditions and put it in the hands of veteran BR competitors such a Lou Murdica for verification in his underground 200 yard test facilities. Lou is the major contributor of test data for Berger Bullet’s new reloading manual.

I am just as excited today by what is around the corner for the sport of benchrest and always on the lookout for that new shinny gadget that is going to show up at the next benchrest match.

If there is anything I could or would change about our sport, it would be to promote it on a grander scale to make more people aware of local and regional matches and invite them out to become part of the “Brotherhood of Accuracy” be it for their own personal enjoyment or to possibly achieve a dream of a lifetime to break a world record or become a member of the Benchrest Hall of Fame. Keep’em Small, Speedy Gonzalez

A coy picture of Glen Newick Glenn Newick’s reply; I started in benchrest in a similar fashion to many shooters. I hooked up with a gunsmith able to produce the equipment needed to learn how to shoot. The group of us who hunted woodchucks spent weekends at a range in North Jersey. Mostly at 100 yards with 200 once or twice per year.

The best thing to come out was finding a contact who hooked me up with Bob White in December 1980. Bob took

me to a night 100-yard match in Englishtown, NJ. For those who remember those days, a January night match in the mud was something you will never forget. My range agg was in the .7’s, and that didn’t include a penalty for one target with four shots. They felt sorry for me. I still have the target to remind me why I help new shooters at every opportunity.

Bob became my mentor as we travelled to club and registered matches.

He sold me a 6BR and 24X scope which shot dots. He took me to the 1981 Super Shoot, where 106th place (iirc) won a donated Hart barrel, which became my tack driving I-Beam Sporter.

If I still had those rifles with the barrels they had when new, I think they would still shoot up a storm. The 6BR shot an agg in the .1’s at Johnstown back when .1’s weren’t that common.

It used H322 and the Bruno 68 grain boat tail. I still have several thousand of those boats and they still shoot a dot in my current rifles. The CPS I-Beam was a perfectly balanced Sporter rifle.

With an 18 ½” barrel it didn’t get velocity, but that stubby 1.250” shanked barrel was stiff. It shot .125’s all day if I did my part. It shot my first zero at the 1981 IBS Nats. That doesn’t sound like much now, but it range measured less than the IBS record at the time.

As a note, I still have the stock and am rebuilding it right now with a Shilen DGA in 222 Rem Mag as a fun shooter and Prairie Dog whacker.

The mentor was hugely important. All those drives back and forth to matches were filled with questions and answers about benchrest. With no suitable local range for practice the 38 range aggs I shot in 1981 were the foundation to build upon. It was one of the advantages in shooting IBS as there were so many ranges within a couple hours you could get to a club or registered match most weekends. That first year Bob and I went as far south as Staunton, VA and as far north as Stittsville, Ontario. The farthest West was the Super Shoot.

One of the huge advantages current shooters enjoy is good equipment.

When I started, there were shooters on the line with 308’s for goodness sakes.

There were wood stocks and lots of sleeved Remingtons (like my 6BR). I know right now I can order parts and

send them to many gunsmiths capable of building me a good rifle. Many of the advances have run costs up significantly, but items like rests, once you purchase the item it lasts. As an example: the Hart rest and Protector bags I currently use are the same as those I used in 1981. They could be replaced but still fit my needs.

One of the things that is different now; without any extra money I replaced one barrel per year for the first six years I competed. The example is the I-Beam. Its round count was over 3500 before I had the barrel cut off and rechambered. That wouldn’t work now unless the wind was blowing 40 mph. The good equipment continues with components. It might take some testing to figure your loads but you can find what you need to shoot dots.

My best competitive days are behind me. I’m teaching myself to shoot right-handed. Shooting several times a week while I work on a new book about hunting rifles, I still have the bug for accurate rifles. I’ve been trying to get to several fun benchrest matches per year and have penciled in next year’s Crawfish. Cheers, Glenn Newick Randy (RG) Robinett’s reply; My earliest recollections of rifle shooting revolve around precision. I could never stand missing because of inadequate accuracy. I grew up in California where at that time there was excellent varmint shooting. Property owners would readily grant access to people to shoot on their land in order to control them. The quest for precision commenced.

I began hand-loading at about 16 years old having shot exactly one box of [20] factory ammo in my entire life.

That was in 1976, and then only to obtain some scarce .257 Roberts brass for a new .257 Ackley Imp. In July, Donna and I had moved the family to Deer Lodge, Montana, where I had been hired to operate printing presses at the Silver State Post. Being a non-resident of Montana at the time meant that I would not be eligible to hunt big game until the following season in 1977. No problem. Rock chucks, ground squirrels and coyotes abounded! More importantly to this discussion, there were turkey shoots--a good many of them!

February, 2014 Precision Rifleman

Randy Robinett The shoots were hosted by the various town Chambers of Commerce. The shoots began about mid-July and ran most weekends until Labor Day. The format was pretty simple: $1.00 per shot. The shot closest to the center won usually 10 lbs of prime beef as opposed to a turkey! Those events were well attended and lasted from early morning through late afternoon. Using the aforementioned .257 Ack, I was able to win a few pounds of beef, but more importantly I was able to meet the local BR shooters: Dan Hanifen and Jim Monroe who invited me to participate in the local [club] $1.00 shoots--a buck a shot “winner takes all” deals.

Even with my “outclassed” rig, I was able to at least break even.

The following spring, I accompanied Dan to my first NBRSA registered Hunter Rifle tournament in Missoula, where I promptly took the bait and have enjoyed chewing on it ever since! After laying down $5, Match Director Bill Cote tracked me down and offered my money back stating, “you don’t know what you’re up against” to which I responded, “I won’t finish last” ...and I

didn’t. I became addicted to shooting the Hunter Class rifles and within my budget constraints, did well enough to stay involved until I could move up to competition rifles.

I always like a challenge: the six power scope; ten pound weight limit; and 2 1/4” foreend width provide plenty of that! At that initial event, my rig was a Remington 700 (un-trued), featured a re-bored/rerifled factory barrel by R.G. West and Leupold fixed 6X scope (without parallax adjustment) in a self bedded (no pillars) Fajen thumb-hole, walnut stock. It was a little short of the competition but it was a GREAT shooter...just not great enough! Though the ‘Ackley’ was a consistent sub .5” rifle, even in that era, a Hunter Class rig was something COMPLETELY different and remains so to this day.

In that era, the order of the day called for a Remington 700 pillar bedded into a laminated wood stock, fitted with a Hart barrel (usually a 1:14” twist), chambered for the .308 Winchester. Under NBRSA rules, custom actions were not allowed: operable safeties and magazines were required which was quite different from the contemporary Hunter Class rifle! synthetic stocks, and ‘trued’ actions were nowhere to be seen; at least not in Montana. That was soon to change.

At the next event, my second registered Hunter tournament again 1977, Gene Streitz of Missoula displayed a new Fred Sinclair built Remington 700/.308, complete with a Lee Six fiberglass stock. Gene proceeded to shoot a 245-X, which at that time at 100 yards was quite good. So good in fact that before the call to the line for match five, the crowd was mumbling, “if he can clean this last target, Gene will shoot a 245”. My, how things have changed! Only a few years later, a 245-XX wouldn’t even buy sympathy. I

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know I’m jumping around a bit. I’ll try to stay focused.

In retrospect, I have no regrets with how I began or ended up. Well at least to present. I do not recommend doing it my way, which was hard; not to mention expensive in the long run. I made due with what I could afford.

Looking back, purchasing more than I thought I could afford would have prevented spending twice as much!

On the positive side, by working with less than the best, I may have learned more about bedding, tuning, condition doping and execution than if I had purchased top of the line gear initially. I simply don’t know, but for initiates, I have long advocated getting the best and crying once.

What equipment did I start out with and am I still using it? Two for one as stated above, I began with a hunting rifle, chambered for the .257 Ackley.

Improved using CCI BR4 primers, Winchester 785 and Speer Hot-Core 100 Gr. HP. I still own that action; restocked and re-barreled several times, still a .257 Ack. It’s used only for mule deer, pronghorns and coyotes now, however, contrary to popular belief, I recently won both the 200 Yd. and the 100/200 Grand Aggregates at the NBRSA Hunter Nationals. Yep, shootin’ a .257 caliber cartridge. Circle completed, This rig is based upon a BAT action, bedded into a Lee Six stock and featuring a Bartlein barrel. A far cry from the ‘ole Remington.

Were there any hard lessons I had to learn? Wind doping and humility.

As for who I admired, the late Don Judd of Minneapolis, MN. He was a great mentor and advisor. A true emissary for the benchrest game. Don provided my first killer barrel and also fit & chambered it to my action before he sold his barrel business and machinery to Dan Lilja. With that rifle, I garnered a pretty fair pile of fake wood. That particular barrel remains in the top three of my all-time best barrels list: it was chambered for Don’s version of the 6HLS, which Don called the 6JBC. The difference between the JBC and the HLS being only the neck and over-all lengths: the JBC featured a 6PPC neck length, while the HLS used the 6mm Rem. neck-length. Regarding a .222 1/2 that he had barreled and sleeved for my initiation into the group shoot-

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ing waters, Don advised, “just shoot the 1/2 for a couple of years, paying attention to the flags before getting caught-up in the cartridge/caliber arguments and head games. To this day, sound advice! Valuable coaching from John Ambler, of Colorado stayed with me. Some of John’s best advice was that there’s plenty of time to admire an X while it’s hanging on the wailing wall. Don’t waste a good condition admiring the last X on a record target.

Long-time friend Terry Meyer always provided inspiration and sound competition advice. He always peruses my groups accusing me of having “score shooters mentality”! During the mid ‘80s through the late ‘90s, Terry and I did a lot of traveling together, but focused on different disciplines. Group for Terry and Hunter Class for yours truly, but we often practiced together performing drills which honed our condition doping abilities.

Do I feel benchrest has gotten better, worse or are the same? Of course, my opinions are slanted from an odd perspective, as I have been most involved in shooting in the NBRSA Hunter Class with a little group shootin’ thrown in when time permits. It remains puzzling that some still consider Hunter Rifles to be imprecise. I think that’s a pretty un-savvy notion.

I cannot say whether it is better or worse, but experimenters have become relatively uncommon. Most people want a rifle or cartridge which is all but guaranteed to work. Risk is not in the vocabulary. Equipment is monumentally better: actions, barrels, a plethora of suitable powders, bullets and scopes. Especially the first and last. The equipment playing

field is much more level, however, it is much more difficult to win/place/ show as human ability has escalated at a pace at least equal to if not faster than the equipment. There are a surprising number of people so bent on winning that if they aren’t spending their own money could be considered professional shooters. Way back when, there were few individuals so bent on winning.

Until Y2K, I stayed with a Rem. 700 based Hunter Rifle incorrectly believing that the custom actions may scare off potential initiates. At the 2000 NBRSA Hunter Nationals things changed.

Shootin’ my trusty Rem (30x47HBR, PacNor barrel, Burris 6X scope), while I was fortunate enough to have won the 200 and the 100/200 Grand Agg, my Remington was one of only 3 or 4 non-custom actioned rigs, with a total gun count of 100 plus. That was the end of my Remington toting days.

Once in a Blue Moon, I have dusted off the ole 700, but by the second or third match of an event was already longing for the BAT, with which I would have finished the card and removed the bolt while I’m just inserting round number four and hoping the condition will hold a little longer. A trued 700 may shoot, but it won’t run with a BAT, Borden, Kelbly.

Prior to the popularity of the .30BR for VFS and some group shooting, with the assistance of PacNor Barrels and our NBRSA Hunter Class rifles, some pals and I pioneered the just right twist rate some still call slow for the short/light weight thirty caliber bullets. Hunter shooters sometimes feel they are considered the village idiots of BR. By the time Ronnie Long brought

up the possibility of using the BR case for VFS and southern Hunter tournaments, (unregistered club matches shot with rifles not conforming to NBRSA equipment rules), my minions and I, in NBRSA registered events, had amassed a decent pile of plaques shootin’ our 1:18” twist PacNor barrels, chambered for the 30x47HBR, and shooting 112-118 gr. bullets. With these just right twist rate barrels, the hummer to bummer ratio is reversed.

We expect 8 to 9 very good barrels out of ten as opposed to the 1 to 2 of the 6mm model.

Getting the twist rate right remains a big thing. An area where group shooters still allow a little loose change to roll off the table. Long ago, two very smart men; Mike Walker and Dan Lilja advised that for the 6mm, the 14” twist-rate was too slow for the 68 gr. bullets based upon the .825” long jacket. Mr. Lilja suggested 1:13”, while Mr. Walker simply stated that for a 68 Gr. 6mm bullet and 1:14” twist barrel, the finished bullet, 0.81” should be the maximum bullet length.

So what’s a mere 1/32nd of an inch in bullet length? In this case a 1” faster twist rate or 1:13”!

For about 25 years, 1/2 step (1:13.5” twist barrels) in the right direction, monkey see, monkey do has been pretty much SOP. A stagnation which I believe has restrained the 6mm model. Interestingly, the most common response to a faster twist argument is if it worked, everyone would be using it. But when asked when the last time was they tried it, none can offer an example. Benchrest shooters can be extremely judgmental and poor analyzers of data, often rulingout a concept on a sample size of one. Still, a growing number of people continue to purchase 10 or more barrels. Chamber them and keep the one or two ‘hummers’ when a simple trip to the store and a return with a 1:12.5” to 1:13” may well reverse the bell curve. Putting bullets to sleep, especially in windy conditions, (the most frequent condition) is the lesser of two evils. Today there are few who will step out of line, so barrel selection has not changed much. It must be added though that a shift to a shorter jacket/bullet can produce the desired result, but then a 13” twist will put

February, 2014 Precision Rifleman the shorter bullet sound asleep with no measurable depreciation of precision.

Over the past 1/2 decade or so, the trend to 13.5” twist 6mm barrels is one reason for the much more frequent posting of teen aggregates and threats to many long standing records.

Aggregates below 0.20” have become common, even expected. Fifteen years ago such aggs were still news. By nature records are difficult to achieve, however back in the day, most of the 6mm bullets were shorter and the popular Hart barrels of that era were somewhat faster than the nominal/default 1:14”. Stability is a big deal.

Regarding equipment, we have nearly reached the limit of precision. Our technology is mature. Only tweaks remain and/or the elimination of human error/control. Even rail guns require initial aiming then judgement in when to shoot. On bag guns, altering stock dimensions to eliminate/reduce the need for re-aiming between shots could improve aggs or at least make it easier for us to shoot smaller aggs, but even that won’t guarantee more common assaults on the record book. The best competitors will still get most of the hardware. Collectively over the last decade and a half, we have gotten measurably better. The top individuals; those consistently in the Top 20 at the big group events, have gotten much better, but not for free. They worked at it.

Why are the old records still standing and so hard to beat? Simply put, statistics. Probability, chance, averages, anomalies, etc. Not so simply, the aggregate records are very near the probable average of what can be accomplished with the best bullets, jackets and barrels if shot in a vacuum! Record aggregates are generally shot outdoors. We’d need a statistician to sort the details. In the probability of besting a record, the number of attempts would be mind boggling. While an agg record does require a great deal of skill, it is none the less an anomaly. Otherwise it would be done every day and be much less amazing.

From when I started until now/ when I last shot do I think that it is easier or harder to get into benchrest? I believe it is more diffi-

cult to entice initiates, especially younger people. Having said that I was a bit of a freak in that I began as a relatively young man (about 29) and stayed around. In well over thirty years of active participation, I have seen no change in the age of recruits. Most are 50+ years old; a 40 year old being a mere pup.

Benchrest never has been, nor will it ever be widely appealing, or for that matter an enduring pursuit.

The turn over rate is pretty high.

One must have a passion for perfection and the objectivity to evaluate where he is, where he wants to go, and how to get there. Often this precludes winning at least on a regular basis for a several seasons.

Then, even after attaining some degree of success, may entail suffering through entire disappointing seasons. For individuals with the “winning is everything” attitude, the turnover rate is higher than for those who set realistic goals, measuring progress as opposed to winning as success. The latter sort may stick around and become a competitor. Benchrest is very much like golf, but way easier. Me against myself and the conditions. It’s about personal satisfaction, enjoyment, and recreation, not life and death; but golf course parking lots are full and registered benchrest events, not so much. I think it’s easier to get into benchrest with top notch equipment but more difficult to win and if winning is everything to stay involved.

Keep ‘em on the X! Randy Robinett.

Well there it is. All the answers to the posted questions. My hope is that this is a bit different than what is currently printed. I hope you enjoyed the responses as much as I.

WBC-13 Qualifying Events Cactus Classic, Phoenix, AZ March 15-16 Hog Roast, Fairchance, PA May 3-4 East-West Shootout, St Louis, June 21-22 Rattlesnake, Raton, NM August 16-17 Group Nationals, Holton, MI Sept 22-27

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February, 2014 Precision Rifleman

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Bart & Billy Battle at Brock’s Gap Birmingham, Alabama

Brock’s Gap Training Center held their 100-yard Four Gun on November 9-10, 2013. If you’ve been reading this magazine for the last few months, you might remember several honorable mentions about this guy named Bart Sauter. Bart won the 2013 Iron Man competition back in August. At the Group Nationals in Fairchance, Bart won the Light Varmint 200 yardage and the Light Varmint Grand Aggregate. Back in October’s issue, Bart was inducted into the Benchrest Hall of Fame. He’s gone to flight school, has a black belt and served his country in the Iraq war. This is not a man of minimal accomplishment for sure. He and fellow shooting buddy Billy Stevens are the dynamic duo of Brock’s Gap in this latest benchrest romp. Billy also deserves honorable mention as he is a former battalion commander; (that’s Colonel Billy Stevens to you and I) and the two have served our country together from early days in Fort Hood to Germany and in the Iraq war. They are definitely a team and continuing their team behavior where one pushes the other onward and upward, just look at these match results. The only person who came between Bart and Billy was Buddy Ross from Florida...and what’s with all these B’s anyway? They obviously brought their A game.

Congratulations Bart and Billy. Keep going strong in 2014.

Unlimited 5-Shot 100-Yards Billy Stevens................... 0.1490 Bart Sauter ...................... 0.1872 Don Hardeman .................. 0.1994 Gary Sullivan .................... 0.2102 Danny Morgan ................... 0.2182 Eddie Bowman .................. 0.2562 Glen Nelson ..................... 0.2598 Johnnie Webb ................... 0.2676 Randy Mitchell .................. 0.2842 Rick Salsman .................... 0.3058 Bud Crandall .................... 0.3122 Buddy Ross ...................... 0.3128 Scotty Grimes ................... 0.3128 Bill Greene ...................... 0.3534 Wayne Cree ..................... 0.3748 Heavy Varmint 100-Yards Bart Sauter......................0.1728 Billy Stevens..................... 0.2042

Bart shot every small group.

Unlimited:......................... 0.077 Heavy Varmint:.................. 0.093 Light Varmint:................... 0.117 Sporter:.......................... 0.131 Buddy Ross....................... 0.2234 Gary Sullivan..................... 0.2338 Scotty Grimes.................... 0.2368 Jeff Graves....................... 0.2522 Bill Greene....................... 0.2546 Bud Crandall..................... 0.2630 Gary Morgan..................... 0.2732 Danny Morgan.................... 0.2754 Don Hardeman................... 0.2866 Glen Nelson...................... 0.3014 Johnnie Webb................... 0.3076 Randy Mitchell................... 0.3148 Eddie Bowman................... 0.3168 Light Varmint 100-Yards Bart Sauter......................0.2044 Billy Stevens..................... 0.2476 Jeff Graves....................... 0.2610 Gary Morgan..................... 0.2618 Buddy Ross....................... 0.2708 Johnnie Webb................... 0.2842 Bud Crandall..................... 0.2882 Scotty Grimes.................... 0.2956 Rick Salsman..................... 0.2958 Gary Sullivan..................... 0.3060 Glen Nelson...................... 0.3092 Randy Mitchell................... 0.3102 Don Hardeman................... 0.3198 Eddie Bowman................... 0.3320 Danny Morgan.................... 0.3528 Sporter 100-Yards Bart Sauter......................0.2070 Buddy Ross....................... 0.2242 Billy Stevens..................... 0.2280

Jeff Graves....................... 0.2356 Don Hardeman................... 0.2552 Gary Morgan..................... 0.2626 Gary Sullivan..................... 0.2848 Rick Salsman..................... 0.2930 Bud Crandall..................... 0.3016 Bill Greene....................... 0.3100 Eddie Bowman................... 0.3230 Danny Morgan.................... 0.3274 Scotty Grimes.................... 0.3434 Glen Nelson...................... 0.3448 Randy Mitchell................... 0.3512 Four-Gun Bart Sauter......................0.1929 Billy Stevens..................... 0.2072 Buddy Ross....................... 0.2578 Gary Sullivan..................... 0.2587 Don Hardeman................... 0.2653 Jeff Graves....................... 0.2828 Bud Crandall..................... 0.2913 Danny Morgan.................... 0.2935 Gary Morgan..................... 0.2941 Scotty Grimes.................... 0.2972 Glen Nelson...................... 0.3038 Johnnie Webb................... 0.3043 Eddie Bowman................... 0.3070 Randy Mitchell................... 0.3151 Bill Greene....................... 0.3178 2013 Southeast Region Top 10 Billy Stevens....................717 pts Buddy Ross......................... 597 Wayne Campbell.................. 532 Jeff Summers...................... 511 Jim Carmichel..................... 497 Steve Lee........................... 496 Gary Sullivan....................... 461 Don Hardeman..................... 452 Jeff Thompson III................. 445 Jeff Graves......................... 440

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Ranges, Clubs, and Contacts ER—Eastern Region Camillus Sportsmens Club

5801 Devoe Road, Camillus, NY 13031 Club phone: 315 672-8331 www.camillussportsmensclub.com Contact: Gerald Malerba 315 458-0792 5932 East Pinegrove Rd, Cicero, NY 13039 gmalerba@verizon.net

Chippewa Rifle Club

www.chippewarifleclub.com GPS: N40 56.820 W81 44.583 Contact: Gerry Jajowka 330 603-5236 1290 Meadowbrook Blvd, Stow, OH 44224 gjajowka@neo.rr.com chippewarifleclub@gmail.com Contact: Randy Perkowski 330 472-0856 1259 Curtis Ave, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 perkosrk@sbcglobal.net

Fairfield Sportsmen’s Assn

6501 River Rd, Harrison, OH 45030 www.fairfieldsportsmen.com Contact: Rick Browning 513 738-0004 3943 Timberidge Ln, Okeana, OH 45053

Fairchance Rod & Gun Club

GPS: N39 48.704 W79 47.179 Contact: Bill Reahard 724 323-5044 PO Box 156, McClellandtown, PA 15458 reahard@verizon.net Contact: Jerry Van Sickle 724 569-2216 181 Guthrie Rd, Smithfield, PA 15478

Holton Gun & Bow Club

6201 Crystal Lake Rd, Holton, MI 49425 PO Box 128, Holton, MI 49425 www.holtongunandbowclub.com 231 821-9608 GPS: N43 23.742 W86 05.2566 Contact: Bruce Torrey, 231 288-4769 3951 Molly Blvd, Muskegon, MI 49444 Alternate: Nancy Scarbrough 231 638-6775 544 N Buys Rd, Muskegon, MI 49445 stocksunlimited@comcast.net

Isabella County Sportsmans Club

Corner of Winn & Millbrook Roads PO Box 383, Winn, MI 48896 www.isabellacountysportsmansclub.com Contact: Harry Ross 989 239-2738 3625 South Summerton Rd Mt Pleasant, MI 48858 heross@charter.net

Kane Fish & Game

Dwight Rd, 1 mile N of Kane on SR 321 www.kanefishandgameclub.org Steve Timpano – Group 814 837-9644 stimpano@verizon.net Ed Hanes - Group 814 837-9868 hanes329@comcast.net

Kelbly’s Rifle Range

7222 Dalton Fox Lake Rd N Lawrence, OH 44666 www.kelbly.com GPS: N40 52.9836 W81 40.6218 Contact: Jim Kelbly 330 683-4674 jim@kelbly.com

Shelby County Deer Hunter Assn

7988 Johnston-Slagle Rd, Sidney, OH 45365 937 492-2972

Contact: John Petteruti 937 654-7950 jpetteruti@woh.rr.com

WWCCA

6700 Napier Rd, Plymouth, MI 48170 734 453-9843 http://wwcca.com Contact: Dana Raven 734 748-5394 10930 Old 27N, Frederic, MI 49733-9734 dana_raven@yahoo.com Contact: Bill Gammon 519 453-6734 387 Speight Blvd, London, ONT N5V 3J8 Canada Bill.gammon@rogers.com

GC—Gulf Coast Region Austin Rifle Club

www.austinrifleclub.org PO Box 141399, Austin, TX 78714 Contact: Virgil Howarth 512 447-8968 2704 Inridge Dr, Austin, TX 78745 vhowarth@sbcglobal.net

Central Texas Benchrest

GPS: N29 44.695 W098 14.141 Contact:Sammye Dietz 830 885-4662 421 Range Rd, New Braunfels, TX 78132 Contact: Kris Whitman 830 660-0313 611 Viewcrest, New Braunfels, TX 78130 kwhitman@gvtc.com

Midland Shooters Association

4108 East County Rd 160, Midland, TX 79706 432 682-2332 www.midlandshooters.com Contact: Mike Conry 3212 E County Rd 136, Midland, TX 79706 432 528-8718 or 432 683-1332 MEConry@suddenlink.net

North TX Shooters Association

www.shootntsa.com GPS: N33 19.351 W97 08.938 Contact: Michael Stinnett 214 794-8006 6651 Blackjack Oaks Rd, Aubrey, TX 76227 mkstinnett@gmail.com

San Angelo Gun Club

2231 West Beauregard Ave, San Angelo 325 942-8991 www.sanangelogunclub.org Contact: Dan Batko 325 374-3015 PO Box 3992, San Angelo, TX 76902 Labs1@zipnet.us

Seymour Stool Shooters

448 Hwy 283 South, Seymour, TX 76380 Contact: John Horn 940 636-9984 924 Peterson Rd S, Iowa Park, TX 76367 John.Horn44@gmail.com

Southwest Louisiana Rifle & Pistol

www.swla-rifleandpistol.org Contact: Mike Guillot 337 249-3712 1600 Cappy Dr, Lake Charles, LA 70605 Guillot4555@suddenlink.net

Tomball Gun Club

Contact: Dwayne Pullum: 281 684-9004 Richard Pullum by email: richardpullum@embarqmail.com

NC—North Central Region Buffalo Outdoor Rifle Club

462 N Burritt, Buffalo, WY 82834 Contact Pete Eisele 307 217- 1155

Casper Benchrest Shooters Assn

2330 N Station Rd, Casper, WY 82601 307 265-2535 www.stuckenhoffshooterscomplex.net Contact: Tim Naugle 307 237-7185 1926 S Walnut St, Casper WY 82601 tnaugle@bresnan.net

Council Bluffs Rifle & Pistol Club

www.cbr-pc.org GPS: N41.39083 W95.37891 Contact: Gary Flury 712 328-0301 PO Box 1042, Council Bluffs, IA 50502 garysflury@gmail.com Contact: Ron Lee Miller 402 393-4536 8081 Dupont St. Omaha NE 68124 ncnbrsa@cox.net

Minnetonka Benchrest Association

8310 Hill n Dale Dr, St Francis, MN 55330 www.mgfc.org GPS: N45 23.42 W93 29.29 Contact: Scott Moser 612 961-6761 10412 Abbott Dr, Brooklyn Park MN 55443 samoser@comcast.net

Oak Hill Gun Club

12364 Coon Hunters Rd, Blue Grass, IA 52726 563 381-2677 Contact: Cecil Peterson 563 359-1988 2260 Cromwell Cir, Davenport IA 52807 peterson1@mchsi.com

Prairie Dog Target Club

Contact: Don Deckert 605 288-1919 HC 54, Box 3, Porcupine SD 57772 pdtc57772@yahoo.com

MV—Mississippi Valley Aurora Sportsmen’s Club

www.aurorasc.org GPS: N41.75038 W88.79677 Contact: Allison Hartman 773 324-5539 PO Box 414, Aurora, IL 60507 office@aurorasc.org

Bench Rest Rifle Club Of St Louis

2280 Kohn Rd, Wright City, MO 63390 www.shootingstl.com GPS: N38 53.353 W091 04.763 Scott Pieper - Group 636 745-2454 2280 Kohn Rd, Wright City MO 63390 pieper@shootingstl.com Wayne Corley - HTR/VFS 636 928-0882 2 Sheffield Ct, St Charles, MO 63304 waynecorley@sbcglobal.net

Columbus Sportsman’s Assn

W10924 Bryer Road, Columbus, WI 53925 www.csa12.com tabalding@gmail.com Contact Terry Balding 608 577-5193 1777 W Main St #203, Sun Prairie, WI 53590

Van Dyne Sportsmen’s Club

www.vdsc.org or info@vdsc.org Contact: Dick Baier 920 688-2433 PO Box 8, Van Dyne WI 54979

NW—Northwest Region Wenatchee Benchrest Club

2800 #2 Canyon Rd, Wenatchee, WA www.wenrrc.org, zaccs@televar.com Contact: Dan Zaccanti 509 733-1003

February, 2014 Precision Rifleman

29

Ranges, Clubs, and Contacts Rogue Valley Shooting Sports Assn

6900 Kershaw Blvd, White City, OR 97502 Contact: Phil Grammatica 714 749-7216 philgrammatica@yahoo.com

Lewis-Clark Wildlife Club

27007 South Tom Beall Rd, Lapwai, ID 83540 280 843-2987 www.lcwildlife.org Contact: Paul Gylling - HTR/VFS 40102 State Route 195, Colfax WA 99111 PGylling@gmail.com 509 553-1118 Denny Andrews - Group 13263 Snake River Rd, Asotin WA 99402 andrewslaw1@gmail.com 509 243-7039

Tacoma Rifle & Revolver Club

770 876-2351 www.rbgc.org GPS: N34 20.198 W84 14.819 Contact: Jim Andress Group/Score 3605 Blackwell Run, Marietta, GA 30066 jim@precisionrifles.co, benchrest@rbc.org 770 876-2351 or 770 971-5269

SW—Southwest Region

572 Long Branch Road, Reidsville, NC 27320 www.rockinghamcountygunclub.com GPS: N36 25.536 W79 31.864 Contact: Roy Darnell 336 595-9110 4811 Camp Betty Hastings Rd Walkertown, NC 27051 DarnellRM@embarqmail.com

Central Utah Benchrest

Rockingham County Gun Club

8503 Chambers Creek Rd W University Place, WA 98467 www.tacomarifle.org Contact: Jeff Lewis 206 407-8299 32310 6th Ave SW, Federal Way, WA 98023 varminthunter1@comcast.net

Unaka Rod & Gun Club

Hwy 12 to Pasco-Kahlotus Rd www.tcmsa.org Contact: Rick DeGroat 509 308-7213 or 509 396-3166 rem10x308@aol.com

Land’s End Benchrest Shooters

Tri-Cities Metallic Silhouette Assn

Whittecar Rifle & Pistol Range

90 Furnace Rd, Johnson City, TN 37601 423 926-0221 www.unakarodandgun.com Contact: Matthew Keller 423 202-6932 1013 Washington College Station Rd Limestone, TN 37681 mk6ppc4@yahoo.com

MC—Mid-Continent Region 4 mi East of Hwy 50 on Reeder Mesa Rd Contact: Tom Stiner 970 257-9160 1521 Divide Rd, Whitewater CO 81527 TSTooling@hotmail.com

578 Blodgett View Dr, Hamilton, MT 59840 www.whittecarrange.com 406 363-7078 Contact: Jeff Jetter 406 777-5326 4168 Foxy Ridge Rd, Stevensville, MT 59870 JLJ4HBR@msn.com

Mill Creek Rifle Club

7212 Molt Rd, Billings, MT 406 656-2775 www.yrc.org Contact: Russell Cree 406 252-2230 405 South 35th St, Billings MT 59101 RACreeMT@aol.com

Northern CO Benchrest Shooters

Yellowstone Rifle Club

SE—Southeast Region Brock’s Gap Training Center

www.scssa.org GPS: N33 20 19.25 W86 52 28.00 3721 South Shades Crest Rd Birmingham, AL 35244 Contact: Steve Lee 205 428-2191 Lee.Steven@att.net

Manatee Gun & Archery Club

1805 Logue Rd, Myakka City, FL 34251 775 358-5014 www.manateegunclub.com GPS: N27 29.3610 W82 09.2448 Contact: Buddy Ross 407 448-8393 1845 Coronado Rd, Ft Myers, FL 33901 bross6mm@hotmail.com

Middle Georgia Gun Owners Assn

www.mggoa.com GPS: N32 24.3732 W82 53.0574 PO Box 4096, Dublin, GA 31040 Contact: Matt Walker 478 304-2749 mggoa1@gmail.com

River Bend Gun Club

988 River Bend Gun Club Road Dawsonville, GA 30534

7215 Gardner Rd, DeSoto, KS 66018 www.millcreekrc.org Contact:Larry Kuse - Group 913 649-7344 LRKuse@juno.com Contact:Ronald Shultz - Hunter/VFS 913 557-9879 38967 CR 51, Eaton, CO 80615 www.wcfw.org Contact: Bud Schalles 970 224-3740 PO Box 83, La Porte CO 80535 budschalles@aol.com

Okie Shooters Range

Arizona Benchrest Shooters

4044 W Black Canyon Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85086 GPS: N33 27 12.22 W112 37 12.20 Contact: Art Clegg 623 878-4979 6210 W Mescal St, Glendale, AZ 85304 ahclegg@cox.net Contact: Dave Tunbridge 801 571-6755 966 Stacie Ave, Sandy UT 84094 drtunbridge@gmail.com

Desert Sportsman Rifle Club

12201 W Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89135 702 642-9928 www.dsrpc.net GPS: N36.1498 W115.3653 Contact: Keith Myers - VFS keithmyers@yahoo.com or 702 217-3591

Ojai Valley Gun Club

www.dock.net/ovgc Contact: Barry Bluhm 805 798-2473 608 E Oak St, Ojai CA 93023 TwiLiteZ585@hotmail.com

Palomino Valley Gun Club

Washoe County Shooting Facility 21555 Pyramid Lake Hwy, Reno NV 80502 palominovalleygunclub.homestead.com GPS: N39 51.374 W119 40.046 Contact: Robert Hoppe - Long Range PO BOX 4251, Sparks NV 89432 RobH@saturnnet.com 775 827-8679 or 775 397-3358 Contact: Steve Archibald - Varmint 5017 Pleasant View Dr, Sparks, NV 89434 775 356-5850 (h) or 775 742-1153 (c) nevadaswa@aol.com

Sahuaro 1000-Yard Benchrest

www.tucsonrifleclub.org Contact: Karl Hunstiger 602 971-4400 2901 E Cortez St, Phoenix AZ 85028 wfo13@aol.com

Contact: Rex Reneau 405 787-8529 7409 NW 28th Terrace, Bethany OK 73008 405 623-6019 or rreneau1@cox.net Ouachita Sportsmen’s Assn Contact: John Henry 870 326-5509 278 Maquire Ln, Pencil Bluff AR 71965

Sloughhouse Benchrest Shooters

Contact: John Henry 870 326-5509 278 Maquire Ln, Pencil Bluff AR 71965

Visalia Sportsman Association

Ouachita Sportsmen’s Assn

Rio Grande Benchrest Shooters

GPS: N 35.084129 W 106.648628 16001 Shooting Range Access Rd NW Albuquerque, NM 87124 Contact: Ed Adams 505 401-5071 7923 Victoria Dr NW, Albuquerque NM 87120 trished5@comcast.net

Whittington Center

34025 US 64, Raton, NM 87740 575 445-3615 www.nrawc.org Contact: Ed Adams 505 401-5071 7923 Victoria Dr NW, Albuquerque NM 87120 trished5@comcast.net

www.sloughhousebenchrest.com Contact: Craig St Claire - Long Range galtshtr@gmx.com or 209 744-2274 Contact: Dan Lutke - Short Range 408 241-9759 lutke5@sbcglobal.net Contact: Bill Mellor - Short Range 916 354-1782 rollem11@att.net

7398 Avenue 328, Visalia, CA 93291 599 651-3063 www.visaliasportsmans.com Contact: Dennis Thornbury 559 432-4401 PO Box 105, Visalia, CA 93279 559 280-6243 gunhandler@gmail.com

EU—European Region Benchrest Dolomiti

Via Alemagna 1/a, Dobbiaco, Italy 39034 info@alpenfuchs.it Contact: Americo Angaran americo.angaran@gmail.com

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Precision Rifleman

* Flash * NBRSA News * Flash * NBRSA News * Flash * NBRSA News * Nomination Time Is Here Again Eastern Region Mississippi Valley Southeast, Southwest European

If you reside in one of the above regions, it is time to send in your nominations for Regional Director. The deadline is Saturday, March 1, 2014.

Mail nominations to PO Box 6770, Sheridan, WY 82801 or you can email nbrsa.manager@gmail.com.

What are the Qualifications?

1. 18 years of age or more.

2. NBRSA Member for 3 years or more.

3. Must reside in the region to which they are nominated.

Who Can Nominate a Director?

1. Past NBRSA Regional Directors residing in the region.

2. NBRSA members submitting petitions containing signatures of 10+ members within that region.

3. Affiliated clubs within the region.

Thank you for supporting NBRSA!

Southeast Region Meeting

Regional Director Wayne Campbell has scheduled the 2014 SER Meeting to follow the Shamrock match on Saturday, March 22 after the competition.

The Shamrock is held at MGGOA in Dublin, Georgia.

New VFS World Record Set

Congratulations to Lynn Gibson from Burnet, Texas who set a new VFS World Record at Southwest Louisiana Rifle & Pistol Club at Lake Charles. He shot a 100-200 yard Grand Aggregate of 50034X. This supersedes the record set July 21st by Jerry Kloeppel of 50031X. While we’re on the subject of new VFS World Records, Lou Murdica has broken the 5 shot 200-yard record set on July 29, 2012 by Michael Louwien, which was 250-12X. Lou’s score was set at Desert Sportsman’s Club on October 17, 2013 during the VFS Nationals and was a 250-14X. Congratulations to Lynn & Lou. Well done!

Bob Prather Passed Away

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of fellow shooter Bob Prather. Bob was an avid benchrest shooter for many years and was a member of the Mid-Continent region. He had many friends at Porcupine, Northern Colorado, Springville and Land’s End ranges where he frequented the matches regularly along with his lovely wife, Mary. Our condolences and thoughts are with Mary and the rest of Bob’s family.

February, 2014 Precision Rifleman

Regional Directors Eastern Region

Staff Exp 2014

Jack Neary 6204 Wild Oak Dr, North Olmstead, OH 44070 H: 440 716-0600 C: 336 542-8711 jrneary@hotmail.com

Gulf Coast Region

Officers Dennis Thornbury, President 1114 S McAuliff St Visalia, CA 93292 H: 559 732-4401 C: 559 280 6243 gunhandler@gmail.com Term Expires 2014 Don Nielson, Vice President 20456 Hart St, Winnetka, CA 91306 H: 818 883-5866 pkin@sbcglobal.net Term Expires 2014 John Horn, Financial Officer 924 Peterson Rd South Iowa Park, TX 76367-7237 C: 940 636-9984 Term Expires 2014 John.Horn44@gmail.com

Committees World Records Committee: Group Gene Bukys, Chairman 2111 Silver Moon Trail Crosby, TX 77532 281 324-2605 egb243@msn.com Kent Harshman, Committee Member Ron Hoehn, Committee Member Lowell Frei, Committee Member World Records Committee: Score David Halblom, Chairman 4315 Ashby Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310 DavidHalblom-BugTyer@att.net 515 556-5833 Dan Zaccanti, Committee Member Larry Kuse, Committee Member Rich Carpenter, Committee Member International Representative Wayne Campbell 264 Benchrest Ln, Concord, VA 24538 H: 434 993-9201 C: 434 665-2066 wcppc@icloud.com Varmint For Score Representative (Southwest Region) Keith Myers 702 217-3591 keithmyers@yahoo.com Long Range Measuring Committee Karl Hunstiger, Chairman 602 971-4400 wfo13@aol.com

Mississippi Valley Region Exp 2014

Bud Mundy 5956 Old Hickory Trail Hillsboro, MO 63050 C: 314 805-1313 bcmundy@earthlink.net

Exp 2015

Terry Meyer PO Box 52 Thornton, IA 50479 H: 641 998-2860 C: 641 425-3397 tdmeyer6ppc@gmail.com North Central Alternate Rodney Brown PO Box 7218, Sheridan, WY 82801 C: 303 378-6085 rbrown@vanaire.net

Mid-Continent Region

Exp 2015

Butch Fjoser 7 Summerfield St, Woodward, OK 73801 C: 580 334-2643 W: 580 254-9764 butchsguns@att.net

North West Region

Exp 2015

Dan Zaccanti 1542 Tacoma Ave, Bridgeport, WA 98813 C: 509 733-1003 zaccs@televar.com North West Alternate Paul Holland PO Box 1498, Big Fork, MT 59911 406 837-5583 plumbing@centurytel.net

South East Region

Exp 2014

South West Region

Exp 2014

Wayne Campbell 264 Benchrest Ln Concord, VA 24538 H: 434 993-9201 C: 434 665-2066 wcppc@icloud.net Tom Libby 74056 Aster Dr. Palm Desert, CA 92260-2653 B: 760 341-7335 C: 760 774-5256 tomnbrsa@outlook.com

European Region

Philippe Riboulet 126 Avenue De La Timone 13010 Marseille, France priboulet@hotmail.fr

Business Manager, NBRSA Editor, Precision Rifleman Magazine Advertising Sales Contact Audrey Brown PO Box 6770, Sheridan, WY 82801 W: 307 655-7415 C: 307 217-1966 nbrsa.manager@gmail.com

Exp 2015

Scott Hunter 1612 Buchanan St, Wichita Falls, TX 76309 H: 940 723-5147 C: 940 631-4545 Shunter@NTS-online.net Gulf Coast Alternate Mike Bryant 7761 FM 592, Wheeler, TX 79096 806 826-5958, mike@bryantcustom.com

North Central Region

31

Exp 2014

Legal Representation

Elliot Law Office Al Elliott, 325 387-3529 albertelliott@mail.com

Change of Address: To change your address or report a damaged or undelivered magazine, write: NBRSA, PO Box 6770, Sheridan, WY 828017105. Do not return damaged copies. Change of address should include both new address and a mailing label bearing the old one. In case of duplication send both labels.

Contributors: The editor is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs.

Advertisers: Rate cards and terms are available online at www.nbrsa.org/membership-info. We appreciate your support!

Safety Disclaimer: The publication, writers, organization officers, staff, and directors explicitly advise the readers that they make no representation of safety for any loads, techniques, and procedures if reported herein.

The nature of participating in a shooting sport automatically requires caution at all times.

Given the many variables present—weather, equipment, and components— the information presented is for your reading enjoyment.

Printed in the USA

Publisher: NBRSA, Inc. Printed By: Lithotech, Phoenix, AZ 85009 Advertising, Classifieds & Membership: Audrey Brown, Editor 307 655-7415 Precision Rifleman (ISSN 1061950X) is published monthly by NBRSA Inc PO Box 6770 3647 US Hwy 87 Sheridan, WY 82801 Phone: 307 655-7415 Email: nbrsa.manager@gmail.com for the benefit of its members. Membership dues is $60 per year US of which $40 is designated for a magazine subscription. Canadian postage add $25/ year. All other International postage add $60/year. For Membership inquiries call 307 655-7415. Copyright 2013, National Bench Rest Shooters Association. All rights reserved except where expressly waived. Periodicals Class Postage paid at Sheridan, WY & additional offices.

POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Precision Rifleman, PO Box 6770, Sheridan, WY 82801.

32

Precision Rifleman

New KLP BR stock is a lot like a Scoville stock. The KLP features 1" forearm sidewalls, carbon fiber material and 24 ounces.

New Sako ejector ready Panda action.

Available in micro port or standard port.