Target Shooter

TARGET SHOOTER MAGAZINE
April 2012 Issue
NOW ReAd WORLdWIde BY OVeR 10,000 dedICATed ReAdeRS IN OVeR
77 COuNTRIeS eVeRY MONTH
Contents
APRIL 2012 Issue
MDT TAC 21 Chassis Stock by Chris Parkin. When you start to shoot serious rifle and expect more in the way of precision and repeatability there are many stages - from a standard sporter for hunting, all the way to a full custom rifle for disciplines like F-Class. There are a few golden rules however - the three `Bs: Bullets, Barrels & Bedding. Page 6
Contents Continued
April 2012 Issue
Page 26
Hornady Rimfire Thickness Gauge - Extreme ammunition sorting for precision shooting by Pedro Mateus. As a Benchrest 50 (BR50) competitive shooter I (try to) keep track of all variables that can help keep consistency on my shooting and (try to) remove unexpected changes in results.
Page 68
Page 18 Looking Down The Barrel. Matthew Fairhurst visits Purdy. Making the sport of shooting into an art form is a tradition founded by Purdey. Head of Gun Sales, Ian Andrews tells Target Shooter why the historic gun makers have spent almost two centuries on top of the shooting world.
308 WINCHESTER RIDES AGAIN Part 4. (Conclusion). By Laurie Holland. We got into a slight tangle over photographs last month omitting one and inserting another twice. So, heres the one that compares standard large primer Lapua brass against its small primer Palma stablemate with the 175gn Berger BT Long-Range over Hodgdon H414 ball powder, a result that was the complete opposite of what Id expected. First Round of Four Islands 2012 Championship Series The Hardy Shotgun Match 1011 March 2012. The Hardy at Shield Shooting Centre in Dorset traditionally marks the start of the season for target shotgun, dynamic shotgun, action shotgun, practical shotgun, or whatever you like to call it. It is called The Hardy either to commemorate Thomas Hardy, the famous Victorian novelist, or because you have to be hardy to put up with the weather in Dorset in March, or because it is hard to shoot!
BeeSting Barrel Tuner by Ray Cockayne. In the July 2011 issue of Target Shooter I reviewed Page 36 the Centra Starik barrel tuner. In opening the article I stated that I wasnt an accuracy nut - I have a confession. Just as alcoholics dont recognise they have a problem, I think we shooters dont realise the depths we go to get greater accuracy, to that end I now have to admit Im a nut. Hopefully, now I recognise my problem, I will be able to come to terms with it and exert some control.
Page 86
Regulars
& more...
LATEST NEWS SMALLBORE BUSINESS RIMFIRE FROM THE BENCH
Page 112 Page 16 page 44 Page 64
Page 90
The Shooting Show Newark Showground 25/26th February 2012. Wow what a weekend! This Show just keeps on getting better and better! In four short years, it has outgrown its Newark Showground venue and next year will move to the prestigious Stoneleigh Park.
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QUIGLEY ASSOCIATION NEWS

2012 IWA & Outdoor Classics Show Nurnberg Germany. This years IWA was bigger and better than ever thanks to more exhibitors and yet more space allocated at the fabulous Messe exhibition centre, plus we had a separate Enforce Tac Show aimed at police and military users as an additional attraction.
Page 84 AND MUCH, MUCH, MORE...
77 COuNTRIeS eVeRY MONTH
Welcome to the new look April 2012 edition of Target Shooter Magazine
The Choice of Champions
March SCOPES
Tactical Turrets
This scope has the largest zoom ratio of any FFP scope ever made,additionalfeature is the 0.05 Mil centre dot, this was designed not to obscure the target on higher magnification.
A feature of First Focal Plane (FFP) design, also known as Front Focal Plane, is the reticle scale value does not change over the entire zoom range of the rifle scope. Also the POA does not change over the entire zoom range. This simplifies use of the reticle for ranging and holdover in conjunction with ballistic charts.
Webitorial April 2012

I would like to devote this months Editorial to a really great cause which deserves the support of all target shooters. One of the oldest and most famous ranges on the planet the ANZAC Range near Sidney Australia - is fighting the Government to stay open. To win this fight, the Aussie shooters desperately need our support. Many of you outside Australia will have fond memories of the ANZAC Range and the New South Wales Rifle Association, which has been in existence for 135 years since the reign of Queen Victoria no less! Yes, you may never be fortunate enough to shoot on the ANZAC Range but remember, next time it may be your range that is facing closure. Target Shooter is a global magazine read for free in 77 counties by thousands of dedicated target shooters every month. Readers, now is the time to put our hands in our pockets and make a small donation to fund this worthy fight! Why not organize a Save the Anzac Range shoot at your club and donate the proceeds? Please visit the website at http://www.nswra.org.au/ and you can read more about this fabulous Range and see how you can easily make a small donation to our Australian friends. Many countries have been subjected to unjust firearms legislation none more than the UK but, if we could form a global firearms fighting fund, who knows what we might achieve? Lets give the Aussies a helping hand with this one and keep the ANZAC Range OPEN! It would be really great to hear that Target Shooter readers have made a difference.
Side Focus 10 yards ~ Infinity 1 Click 0.05 Mil Turrets
NEW
March FX 5 - 40 x 56. The worlds most powerful first focal plane scope...

Push Button Illumination
For UK & EU: marchscopes.co.uk - Call 01293 606901 or info@marchscopes.co.uk For Australia & NZ: BRT Shooters Supply - PO Box 1124 - Springwood - 4127 Queensland, Australia. Phone. 07-3808 4862 - www.marchscopes.com.au
Editor - Vince Bottomley vinceb@targetshooter.co.uk Advertising and Office Manager - Yvonne Wilcock. yvonne@targetshooter.co.uk Compiled, Designed & Web Production by Steve Thornton. www.thorntonconnect.com Contributors - Vince Bottomley - Laurie Holland - Ken Hall - Don Brooke
Matthew Fairhurst - Pedro Mateus - Chris Parkin - Ray Cockayne - George Granycome Ken Hall & Carl Boswell.
Cover & Back Page Photographs by Steve Thornton

Disclaimer
Vince, Yvonne & Steve

Vince Bottomley - vinceb@targetshooter.co.uk Yvonne - yvonne@targetshooter.co.uk Steve - steve@stevethornton.co.uk
The website www.targetshooteronline.com is part of Target Shooter magazine with all contents of both electronic media copyrighted. No reproduction is permitted unless written authorisation is provided. Information, prices and data is believed to be correct at the time of posting on the internet which is on or around the 1st of each month. Advertisements that are firearm related are from companies or individuals that Target Shooter magazine believes are licensed to hold such firearms and accepts no responsibility if companies or individuals are not so licensed. Letters and photographs submitted by members of the public to Target Shooter magazine will be accepted on the basis that the writer has agreed to publication unless otherwise stated. Target Shooter magazine has no control over the content or ownership of photographs submitted. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the publishers and relate to specific circumstances within each article. These are the opinions and experiences of writers using specific equipment, firearms, components and data under controlled conditions. Information contained in the online magazine or on the website is intended to be used as a guide only and in specific circumstances caution should be used. Target Shooter Magazine does not except any responsibility for individuals attempting to recreate such testing using any information, data or other materials in its electronic pages. Publishers of Target Shooter magazine.
by Chris Parkin
MDT TAC 21 Chassis Stock

by Chris Parkin
When you start to shoot serious rifle and expect more in the way of precision and repeatability there are many stages - from a standard sporter for hunting, all the way to a full custom rifle for disciplines like F-Class. There are a few golden rules however - the three `Bs: Bullets, Barrels & Bedding.
TAC 21, does what is says on the tin, very well.

by Chris Parkin
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Click values were accurate, the turrets easy to adjust and read but those gaps underneath may accumulate dust...
The 700 SPS project tactical rifle with its Armalon heavy barrel fitted.
by Chris Parkin
MDT TAC 21 Chassis Stock Bullets - these blanket titles often

incorporate other key elements but essentially state that good ammunition tailored for your specific rifle or discipline is number one so usually handloaded.
- essentially means the quality of the kit you are using i.e match barrel versus factory barrel.
find the components do not move within whatever stock we use and this then carries through to day-today consistency of our rifles and, more importantly, how the assembly behaves during the firing and recoil cycle. Another pet theory of mine - what is the point going to these lengths to ensure reliability and consistency and then ignore how the rifle beds into its main recoil-absorber i.e. YOU, the shooter. Is there a doit-all solution? Personally, although Im involved in all sorts of shooting activities, my personal favourites always seem to revolve around a couple more `Bs - belly and bipod. Disciplines like Tactical and McQueens are my
favourites and coupled with my other field-shooting activities, all tie nicely together in terms of what type of equipment I buy or build. Rifle stocks of all types are of interest to me and my normal job involves a personal collection of tools and skills that lend themselves to being an addicted stock tweaker and Devcon junkie. Although I consider birch laminates a personal go-to solution, I have composite stocks which I have bedded and I find it hard now to

by Chris Parkin
A `Black Rifle` bolt gun.
Barrel
the polymer 10 round magazines holding ten 223 diameter cases. Although long-action models were available with magazine systems for the 300 Win.Mag. or 338 Lapua case, Im not sure anyone wanted to start rapid firing great quantities of these big barrel unfriendly thumpers (I personally own and love the 300, Im not a hater!) take any of my own guns seriously if they are not properly bedded. It just seems pointless not doing this fairly economic and simple job even on stocks with CNC machined aluminium bedding-blocks moulded-in, offering a perfect stress-free match to your action. But, are they perfect when the actions themselves often exhibit production tolerances? So, with just the AICS, a couple of mags, no gunsmithing costs and your Remmy 700 (or clone) is ready to go for rapid fire, tactical and to some, very cool looking..So what next?
to imply how well all these elements are finally put together and configured - if they are to perform well. To most accuracy nuts, some sort of disciplinespecific stock, combined with a reliable bedding job is absolutely mandatory and, when we bed a rifle, we are seeking to support the mechanics of barrel, action and trigger with as little stress imparted upon them as is possible. We want to be able to torque action bolts to varying degrees of pressure and
Bedding - the final B` could be assumed
Chassis systems
Black Rifles
Many of us have encountered the popular and effective chassis system for the Remington 700 action from Accuracy International. Recently updated, this home-grown system was designed as a drop-in for any short or long-action Remington 700 (pretty much everyones blueprint) offering the owner half of what an Accuracy International visually presented but with a significantly smaller price. They were popular for adjustable ergonomics - like length-of-pull spacers and height-adjustable cheek-piece. Coupled with a machined V-block bedding system and the hugely popular AI detachable magazine, offering perfect feeding with either 5 or 10 rounders for the 308 bolt face family of cartridges and more recently,
A `Black Rifle` bolt gun.

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In terms of mix n match component choices, adaptable to any physique or shooting discipline standing, kneeling, prone or truly tactical, shooting through window frames, letter boxes and the like, nothing comes close to the `Black Guns`. The initially infamous M16 and later derivatives such as the M4 and AR-15 have spawned a plethora of add on components - even in this country for the straightpull versions. Some of these are accessories for the mechanism but, a vast range of stocks, grips and the like meant that if a shooter wanted to combine elements of the bolt rifle chassis with currently available `ergonomic` ..well, you get where Im going here?
by Chris Parkin
(Below) No need for a gunsmith, just bolt it together in 30 minutes but dont lose any parts. (Below top) The rails upon which the action rests leave their tell tale mark. (Below bottom) TAC 21 sits nicely in a rear bag but the Magpul rear end allows no vertical aim adjustability.

by Chris Parkin
nooks and crannies a good clean. A light coat of oil is advised and can inhibit any future corrosion that could occur in a very small air gap between your action and the tubular innards of the stock.
MDT TAC 21 all comes in a box, big boys Mechano.
Next comes the only tricky part - the trigger. A couple of short
(Left) Steel helicoil inserts reinforce the forend attachment bolts, a nice touch...
MDT TAC 21
MDT or Modular Driven Technologies are a Canadian firm producing a stock that fulfils all these criteria. It is imported and distributed by Low Mill Ranges in Cumbria and I brought one home from the Newark Shooting Show to have a play with. The unit comes boxed up in its component parts and is available for both long and short-action Remington 700 or clones and can be specified in a left handed option. Although Low Mill offered me a complete gun already built up in 223 Rem., I had a new Rem700 SPS Tactical from Edgar Brothers at home in 308 calibre, waiting to have its legs stretched. I was also interested to see how much fitting and tweaking is required to assemble the chassis system and whether the home rifle builder can realistically complete the assembly or if it is best to pay Low Mill to do this for you.
The crossbolt QR pin allows easy buttstock removal for cleaning or bolt removal, note the safety catch bolt and small rubber packer to prevent stock wobble.
slave pins are supplied to dry assemble your trigger (something like a Jewel wont need these as it is fastened closed) allowing it to be positioned into the action without springs and levers popping out. The action/barrel assembly can now be slid into the central `action` section of the stock, helpfully clamped in the vice. A little wriggling around sees the trigger mate up with the action and also has its safety catch inserted into a small window on the right hand side of the stock for future operation.
Mechano
Detailed instructions come with the TAC 21 kit and the tools required are little more than a few Allen keys, a hammer and a pin-punch. Although it can be done on a table, a bench vice is always a useful third hand and as the first stage involved removing the trigger from your donor gun - a solid hold as you tap out the trigger retaining pins can prevent anything slipping. Be careful when you remove any type of Remington 700 trigger as you can easily drop a couple of small springs, sears or the bolt stop lever but otherwise, no worries, it is all carefully explained. Flip the gun, remove any scope mounts and bases and, whilst it is all disassembled, it never hurts to give the
Magpull buttstock offers lots of adjustability and a removable rear bag rider shows another pic rail for a monopod.
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by Chris Parkin

by Chris Parkin
A McRees Precision stock shows there is more than one way to skin a cat but shows no AR-15 compatibility or `Black Rifle` tactical styling.
Re-assembly of the bolt-stop and its release-spring is a little fiddly as it is in the bottom of the small trigger cut-out but, a pair of needlenose pliers helps - just dont drop a spring! When everything is in place, small holes in the walls of the Tac 21 allow the original trigger pins to be driven back through to fasten the trigger unit in place and the two small slave pins pop out the other side - fiddly part done! Now that took about 20 minutes, most of which was the trigger and from now on, things speed up. Up to this point the action/ barrel is still a loose fit within the stock and is now bolted in with the magazine well and trigger guard section. Two more steel pins locate the components together and supplied socket cap screws/action bolts drop through the trigger guard and locate and tighten the action in place. All that is left to do is slide on the forend, fastened with three bolts and attach the desired AR-15 compatible grip, screwed on via its base with the supplied bolt. At the rear of the chassis, where the bolt handle runs, we find a cap that has a quick detachable steel pin. When pushed out sideways, this cap can be removed to access the bolt assembly for cleaning or removal and also features the standard fitting profile for all AR-15 derived butt stock assemblies. Low Mill had kindly provided me with a Magpul system with adjustable cheekpiece and length of pull and, as this had been fitted to the end cap already, all I had to do was slide it over and insert the locking pin - job done.
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by Chris Parkin
Its all in the detail
So we now have a gun - a bipod was simply fastened on to the stud fitted to the underside of the stocks fore-end and all that remains is to mount the scope. The action section of the TAC21 features a full-length 1913 spec. Picatinny rail with a built-in 20 MOA incline. This Picatinny rail continues all the way to the tip of the fore-end BUT, there is a joint in its centre due to the two-part stock AND the fore-end section does not share the 20 MOA incline and therefore does not flow through. You wont visually notice it but beware whatever you fit to it will not optically or mechanically align precisely with your scope. The whole chassis is hard-anodised to Mil. Spec. type 3 standards and this does leave the Pic. rail a little oversized and hence tight for a slide-over ring like a Burris Signature Z but not a problem for a clamp-type Weaver or Picatinny ring. Due to the straight-line design, you will need high rings as the scopes objective lens does not of course fall above an exposed swamped barrel. I fitted some Badger 34mm extra high rings to hold my Schmidt Bender PMII and even they offered only half a millimetre of clearance - so no lens cap could be fitted. A replacement barrel of up to 1.35 inches in diameter - the diameter of the action itself - could be fitted and remain fully free-floating in the fore-end but be aware, the recoil-lug pocket machined into the chassis is profiled to fit standard Remington recoil-lugs and a thicker lug, often used by custom gun builders, may require the pocket to be enlarged.
When shooting a relatively snappy calibre - like a short barrelled 308 - recoil, although not at all problematic, is sufficient to disturb your point of aim and consequent return to target and repeat firing time. The joy found with the MDS is that with the moderator or brake fitted - or even with nothing up front - the gun, although still with felt recoil, did not jump around or lift the muzzle - it came straight back into the shoulder. One downside, for cleaning and bolt removal in a gun such as this, is the need for a quick-release butt. The lateral QR locking pin works well and a small rubber packer next to it prevents any play at what is effectively a pivot point but keep your eye on this as you dont want it to pop out or work loose. Again, the Magpul systems shows a butt-hook profile and, as it is parallel, offers no vertical movement during aiming other than bag squeezing although this is a personal matter. The underside will slide freely on a backbag and the cover can be removed to expose further picatinny rail, perhaps to add a monopod?
On the forend, rather than simply allowing the fasteners to thread into the aluminium chassis itself, all high-stress points featured steel helicoil inserts for added strength and durability and this is the kind of detail which indicates a good build-quality. Extra Picatinny rail sections are available to bolt on to the sides of the forend and all that air space around the barrel meant no worries about intermittent contact from clumsy gun handling and plenty of barrel cooling. The large octagonal section of the machined aluminium stock is very rigid but not overly heavy as large slots are machined out to reduce weight. An extended bolt handle is a must have on any Remington for rapid-fire or precision use and with the additional thickness of the chassis surrounding the action, even more so with the TAC 21. Although it is planned for this particular rifle its not done yet and would have been very beneficial for fast bolt-cycling on a larger than normal stock body. The AI mags slipped in and out of the mag well with better than usual precision and offered a smooth reliable mag. feed with a release-catch found to the rear of the mag well. Safety-catch operation - through a neatly machined slot on the right side of the stock was a little slower than usual but certainly not a problem.

by Chris Parkin
if you do, the ergonomics of the TAC 21 are the same - all the way down to the necessarily vertical grip and reach to the trigger combined with field use simplicity, like the large trigger guard allowing a gloved finger to fit in. You may consider the `Black` Rifle to be somewhat of a militaristic copy or fashion statement and this, for many, will be the attraction of the TAC 21. However, its proven functionability in Service and Practical rifle disciplines are not in doubt. Im not sure this necessarily translates to a precision bolt gun but beauty is in the eye of the beholder but functionally, the MDT TAC 21 does what it says it will - allowing you to build your own gun just how you like it to be its big boys Mechano!
Does a V-block work?
Specifications Price
During testing, for various reasons, I had needed to remove and replace the barrelled-action a couple of times and, other than the trigger, the process was simple enough. The point I found was that by using a torque wrench on all bolts and fasteners, zero on the scope was maintained and this is a fair sign that the v-block bedding system was reliably supporting the action stress-free and repeatably. Not that it matters as they stay hidden anyway, two easily visible lines were now clearly visible in the parkerised finish of the underside of the action, clearly showing the bedding-block was bearing along these two longitudinal contact points, usefully adding some stiffness to the action and thus offering good support for the barrel. Unlike some tube gun chassis systems, where the action is be bonded-in permanently, there remains a slight air gap around the action and some may doubt both this and the fact the scope is attached to what is effectively a tube surrounding a tube but, I found no cause for concern and again, my unnecessary rebuild of the gun reassured me that the system was working exactly as it should.
Takes Remington 700 (or clone) Short and Long actions - Black Anodised finish to level 3 Mil spec Left hand available - 20 MOA Picatinny rail built in.
How did it end up?
Stay on Target
Of course, the whole point to a chassis like this - or any similarly profiled `tube gun` - is that the recoil forces within the gun, as well as being ergonomically correctly fitted to you, are directed far more in-line with the shoulder and centre of the recoil pad. On a butt-system such as the Magpul, supplied with the TAC 21, the height adjustable cheekpiece allows a precise cheek-weld if you wish.
Throughout testing, the already proven Remington remained accurate and reliable, never missing a beat. The job of testing and reviewing rifles and accessories is often a case of de-bunking advertising claims and explaining the jargon of the essentially straightforward ideas used. For anyone looking at replacement stock like the TAC 21, I believe it to do what it claims, with precise build and reliable simplicity. It may not be your cup of tea but tastes are exactly those - personal. I like the idea that a gun can be based around a simple chassis system with the choice of butt and grip down to the shooters idea of perfection and not dictated to you by the designer - it leaves your personal mark on the gun. AR-15s are not something I shoot a lot but
Short action 560 Long Action 640 Grip and Butt compatible with all AR-15 designs (not included) AI magazine 55 Additional Picatinny rails TBC Website: www.mdttac.com
Contact Low Mill Ranges www.lowmillranges.co.uk 01946 814769
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FROM THE BENCH

VINCES REGULAR COLUMN WHEREBY ACCURACY NUTS CAN KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE ACTIVITIES OF THE UKBRA AND ACCURACY RELATED ITEMS
FROM THE BENCH
Competitions
The first Sunday in March saw the last of our 600 yard benchrest winter series. It was absolutely freezing and we even had a light snow shower but that didnt stop you turning out and it was our highest ever entry. The wind was thankfully light so penalties for shots off target were few and, sure enough, some tiny groups started to appear. Jack Gibb was the first to go under four inches with his 6mmBR Stolle but Jeanette Whitney took the small group award with a 2.15 incher using her 6mm Swiss Match. Ian Dixon was surprise Light Gun winner shooting his 308 F/TR rifle mounted in a benchrest stock. Ian shot four very respectable groups to end with a 3.5 inch agg. In Factory Sporter, it was Sean Broxham who took the win, just edging out Darrel Evans. Seans performance was good enough for third place in Light Gun Class time we got our act together guys!
Results Light Gun: 1st Ian Dixon 2nd Jack Gibb 3rd Sean Broxham Small group Jeanette Whitney Factory Sporter: 1st Sean Broxham 2nd Darrel Evans 3rd Dan Owen Small group Alan Seagrave Light Gun: 1st Darrel Evans 2nd Steve Barrett 3rd Bruce Lenton Small group of the year Factory Sporter: 1st Darrel Evans 2nd Sean Broxham 3rd Alan Seagrave Small group of the year
308 Walker Nesika 6mmBR Stolle 6.5-284 Savage 6mm SM Stiller 6.5-284 Savage 6.5x47 Accuracy Intl. 6mmBR Accuracy Intl. 6.5x55 Tikka
3.593 in. (av. Of four, 5-shot groups) 3.743 3.851 2.15 inches 3.851 inches 3.893 5.418 2.75 inches
Darrel and his rifle are true all-rounders as these pics show It was cold but youve just got to get on with it! Darrel Evans (top photo) has had a remarkable season and his achievements with his 6.5x47 Accuracy International have been acknowledged on both sides of the Atlantic. Although Darrels rig is hardly budget, with its Schmidt & Bender scope, its a long way off a full-house benchgun but Darrel now holds three UK 600 yard records. Other Factory shooters have also turned in great groups namely Sean Broxham, Alan Seagrave and Toni Young proving that you dont need expensive, exotic kit to have fun and win prizes. Over the Easter Weekend, we have a festival of benchrest shooting at Diggle. On Good Friday we will be having a 1000 yard test day, followed by the first UKBRA 100 yard shoot of the season on the Saturday, with the first 1000 yard benchrest shoot on Sunday and to finish off, a 50 yard rimfire benchrest shoot on Easter Monday.
That being the last shoot of the season, the 600 yard UKBRA Championship ends thus: 24 pts 22 20 Darrel Evans 28 pts 26 23 Darrel Evans
1.823 inches
1.823 inches
Any shooter is welcome to turn up and give it a go. E-mail vinceb@targetshooteronline.com for more details.
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PURDEY by Matthew Fairhurst
Looking Down The Barrel

Matthew Fairhurst visits Purdy in London
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Looking Down The Barrel - Matthew Fairhurst visits Purdy

Making the sport of shooting into an art form is a tradition founded by Purdey. Head of Gun Sales, Ian Andrews tells Target Shooter why the historic gun makers have spent almost two centuries on top of the shooting world.
In 1814, Napoleon was rapidly loosing his stronghold on Europe; Jane Austins Pride and Prejudice was the subject to great coffee house debate and monarch George III was in the late stages of madness. In the same era and of similar historical importance to collectors, James Purdey and Sons opened their London doors for the first time, producing the finest quality guns, rifles and accessories and supplying many of the worlds most distinguished and discerning people.
Now, almost two centuries later, Purdey is one of the worlds leading bespoke gun and rifle makers, priding them self with a legion of respected collectors, none more so than generations of the British Royal Family an accolade which is only fitting to the Purdey reputation. Speaking from the original London factory, which is still working today, is Head of Gun Sales Ian Andrews. What distinguishes Purdey is that we are streets ahead of our competitors in terms of attention to detail and, historically, Purdeys retain their value far better than any other gun maker. The name of Purdey is a very strong tool and as one of the most desired brands, people very much believe in that name. Some famed royal clients over the ages include Queen Victoria, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and HRH the Prince of Wales. Andrews states If a gun was personalised by royalty it would very much add to the value. Provenance, especially royal provenance, is always a huge benefit in terms of selling. One such royal to commission his own styling of Purdey guns was the Maharaja of India in the 1920s. Ordering a reported 18 separate Purdey pieces to be made, decorated with his own choice of elaborate large scroll and gold engravings, the Maharajas very own bespoke collection would probably have a 40 50 per cent premium added on to their value. However, the price of a Purdey gun does not only relate to the previous owners good name. The sheer quality of craftsmanship involved in making just one gun would take expert gunsmiths around 18 months to two years to finish. Andrews says The time taken is basically down to the number of man hours involved in the process. It starts with the initial machining of parts to finishing the gun, barrel making, trigger making and so on. Engraving certainly adds time to the process and, for multi-coloured gold, the process can be stretched to two years. In the mid 1850s, Purdey adopted as standard their now traditional fine rose and scroll bouquet engraving and colour case-hardening on all shotguns and rifles. When it comes to engravings, we will work through
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When it comes to engravings, we will work through various ideas with the client, looking at large scroll engraving if they want a leafy scroll work if they want a deeper, darker shade of background. He continues We will also take into account the clients local background and where they will be shooting. For example, if they are from Texas, they may want images of cacti engraved into their gun, whereas if they live in Cheshire, they may prefer the rolling country hills. One could be forgiven for thinking that such personalisation of a piece could have negative consequences if the buyer would eventually turn to a seller. However, Ian claims Most clients do tend to be more conservative rather than outrageous when it comes to the ornamentation of their gun. Aside from that, nobody can ever fault the guns design. After nine years with Purdey as the Head of Gun Sales and a previous life working in the gun department of highly regarded Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers, Bonhams, Ians experience with Purdey collectors is second to none. On discussing Purdeys in terms of investment, he reflects There are different collectors of different types of guns. Some would collect certain makes of Purdey guns, whereas others would prefer the gun to be used as a canvas for great artwork. The latter
would look for specific engravers who maybe excel in gold-work or possibly game scenes. There are now many specialist gun engravers at work round the world and some are so sought after that they have waiting lists spanning several years. Along with the intricate engravings, the steel is sourced from Sheffield and the wood, from Turkey. To put a price on such craftsmanship, the side-by-side guns start at 72,000 and the factory makes around 70 per year. In the current market, over and under guns are most popular and they start from 85,000. Large scroll engraving can add up to 15,000, whereas multicoloured gold work can add up to 50,000. However, Purdey is now planning to open their doors to a new affluent market with their latest creations built from Damascus steel. Excited by the very prospect, Ian declares Damascus steel is a mixture of forging different types of steel. They are bound together to give quite an ornate steel. It is wonderfully aesthetic and, in terms of composition, it is incredibly strong and something we look forward to exploring. The guns will be available for around 34,000 which very much gives people the ability to walk into Purdey and purchase part of the dream.
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After withstanding the test of time, and staying fairly stable throughout the recession, it seems that Purdey will continue build on their legacy with yet more master craftsmanship, delivering their constant seal of Purdey excellence. For more information on Purdey, visit www.purdey.com
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Hornady Rimfire Thickness Gauge

by Pedro Mateus.
Extreme ammunition sorting for precision shooting
Beside weighing ammunition (to sort out potential powder loads and/or bullet lead weight deviations), the measuring of the rim thickness follows the rational that a thicker - or thinner - rim will cause the bullet to sit at a slightly different position at the start of the rifling and thereby impact on internal and external ballistics.
Hornady, well known as a leading ammunition manufacturer, offers a gauge kit, to fit any standard 6 inch caliper (not included), that will enable the user to measure the rim thickness of common rimfire ammunition with two bushings included on the package: one for 22 LR and another for 22 Magnum and 17 HMR. Set-up takes just a couple of minutes, clamping the gauge elements (a body, one of two rim thickness bushings and an anvil) on the caliper (using the included set of brass finger-screws). After testing for alignment and proper hands on grip of all parts, measuring the rim thickness is made by simply inserting one round of ammunition at a time on the opening of the body, and closing the gauge, so that only the rim gets to be measured against the anvil section. Make sure to double check the zero of your caliper frequently and to remove any excess lubricant (present on rimfire ammunition) from the contact surfaces. The Hornady Lock-N-Load Rimfire Thickness Gauge, part number RF17, is priced around 20 GBP and can be found on many online retailers and specialized shops.

by Pedro Mateus.

by Pedro Mateus.
Hornady thickness gauge kit along with a standard 6 inch digital caliper
Pedro is one of our Portugese readers and recently, rimfire benchrest or BR50 - has really taken off in Portugal. We love to hear from our overseas readers - let us know if you have an article for publication
As a Benchrest 50 (BR50) competitive shooter I (try to) keep track of all variables that can help keep consistency on my shooting and (try to) remove unexpected changes in results. Weighting and measuring rimfire ammunition is one of the many routines used to keep shooting variables under control even if just to double-check that the manufacturers original quality control is up to the precision requirements of the extreme precision that BR50 requires.
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A 22 LR round is inserted Round full inserted and rim thickness measured with the caliper
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by Pedro Mateus.
Wind reading & plotting courses

Russell hasbeen the European Champion three times andis the current British Champion winning it three times in the last four years he hasalso helped to coach the GB Team to Gold inlast years European championships.
Testing - Measuring Data

The Hornady gauge was tested on four different batches of 22 LR ammunition products: Akah, Center-X (both produced by Lapua), CCI and Federal. For this test, 50 units of each product were used a total of 200 22 LR ammunition tested. It was no surprise to find that Lapua Center-X (the only match grade sample in the test) showed the lowest standard deviation. One of the most interesting results is the consistently small difference between the maximum and minimum thickness size on all products (the Max-Min column on the Data Table) it is a very tiny interval between 0.03 and 0.04 millimeters (0.0012 to 0,0016 inches)..
with world champion F Class shooter
Russell Simmonds
Testing Thickness Data Table:

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The Group - Learn to read the wind, spot the changes and you may achieve groups like this! Learn to plot your shots and make a perfect record of what the wind is really doing! Learn to read, adjust and understand mirage effects! Russell reading the wind at the European Championships enabling the GB Team to achieve Gold medals...
Testing Thickness Standard Deviation Chart:
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GB F Class 2012
APRIL 2012
New season starts
The long View

News from the GB F-Class Association by Les Holgate
The Long View by Les Holgate

This years GBFCA season is now only days away with our first shoot at Diggle Ranges on April 14/15th. Sorry if you havent entered, its now too late we have a full entry! If youre keen to shoot with the League, check out the GBFCA website at www.gbfclass.co.uk youll find our calendar of shoots, entry forms and lots more.
More importantly, we are now on the run-down to the World F Class Championships in 2013 at the Raton range in New Mexico USA. Teams of eight shooters for both Open and F/TR will be required and Team Captains David Kent (Open) and Stuart Anselm (F/TR) are already making plans, though the actual Teams will not of course be chosen until much nearer the event. In addition to shooters, plotters, wind-coaches, record keepers etc. will be required. However, many shooters will of course be hoping for a shooting place and a chance to represent their country at the highest level. With this in mind, Stuart has already circulated potential F/TR Team members and is planning a pre-shoot meeting on the Friday before the April Diggle shoot.
An advance party will also reccy the Raton venue this August to ensure that no surprises await us in 2013. Surprises? Well, in addition to the hotter than usual GB temperatures, plus altitude and windconditions that we are likely to experience, we need information on just about everything, bearing in mind that Teams will need accommodation, transport, food, somewhere to reload and a host of other things that can really only be gleaned by a visit. Remember, GB are the current F Class Open World Champions but the Americans will be more determined than ever to take it back! We cannot leave anything to chance! But, thats more than a year away and we have a whole season of shooting ahead of us at three venues Diggle, Blair Atholl and of course Bisley. F Class is steadily growing in popularity, which means that if YOU want to take part, you need to get organized now! Visit the website, plan your shoots and get your entry sent off. The next shoot is at the fabulous Blair Atholl range on the weekend of May 5/6th, then we return to Diggle on 9/10th June. I continue to read postings on the various shooting forums referring to F Class as an arms race - usually posted by those who rarely if ever - shoot in competition. Yes, you will see several purpose-built rifles in advantageous chamberings but believe me, we all started off shooting what we had. If the sport grips you, thens the time to think about a new gun but meanwhile, just come and enjoy the sheer pleasure and challenge of long-range rifle shooting with a bunch of great guys. Who knows you could make that GB Team!
F Class Just you, your rifle and 1000 yards plus to the target The ultimate challenge!
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Dolphin Gun Company - Southwold - Donington on Bain - Lincolnshire - LN11 9TR - England Telephone +44 (0) 1507 343898 or +44 (0) 774 7771962. www.dolphinguncompany.co.uk - mik@mikdolphin.demon.co.uk
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BeeSting Barrel Tuner

By Ray Cockayne

By Ray Cockayne

by Ray Cockayne
In the July 2011 issue of Target Shooter I reviewed the Centra Starik barrel tuner. In opening the article I stated that I wasnt an accuracy nut - I have a confession. Just as alcoholics dont recognise they have a problem, I think we shooters dont realise the depths we go to get greater accuracy, to that end I now have to admit Im a nut. Hopefully, now I recognise my problem, I will be able to come to terms with it and exert some control.
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By Ray Cockayne
Tarl Kempley, shooter and designer of the BeeSting, set up payment via PayPal then sent tracking details. Starting in Carson City, it traveled to Phoenix, then LA, in and out of US customs, then a couple of days later it arrived in GB - into our customs and out (3 days) finally arriving at ParcelForce where, having paid the import duty, I took delivery. On arriving home I eagerly opened the box. Together with the tuner/tube is the location ring, suitable allen key and a book of instructions. I also ordered an extra weight (optional). I have to say the BeeSting is as good looking and as well made as it looks on the web site but, would it produce the results I wanted? Following the instructions, I soon had the BeeSting fitted and ready to shoot. My friend called to say he had had problems getting a zero at 25 yards and was going to fit a riser block to the rear sight. On examination of the carbon fibre tube I found it to be about 2mm larger in diameter than the rifle muzzle accounting for the inability to get a zero at 25yards. Amongst all my bits I had an 8mm block, so fitted that ready to shoot the rifle that evening at 25 yards. As is normal when first shooting with a tube, its not always possible to have a zero from the word go - you will see my first shot was wide of the black by three quarters of an inch. Adjusting windage, my next was a quarter of an inch off the black. Giving windage a good wind by luck more than judgement, my third shot went inside the bull at 9 o clock. A couple more clicks and I shot another four rounds through the same hole. Moving to the left-hand middle diagram - five shots clean in. Then, starting top right to left, all shots clean in, then bottom right to left all clean in. So, once on target, I had shot 18 consecutive bulls. The next question was how would the BeeSting perform at 50m? Examining the rear sight elevation the following day I thought the 8mm riser to be a little high so replaced it with a 4mm unit. My first outing at 50m was a dull, windy day, the clouds were clearly rattling by right to left and the weather forecast gave wind speed at 12mph - not ideal.

By Ray Cockayne
I had acquired a couple of thousand rounds of Tenex at the right price and decided to use that. Looking at the batch number I seemed to recall testing it at Eley, so dug out my test results over the past couple of years and sure enough there it was. It had a consolidated score of 22.7mm edge to edge after forty shots and had been rejected - I had bought a batch that gave far better results. This would really test the effect of having a tuner, could it improve the ammo good enough to hold the bull? Following Tarls instructions, I shot using the mid setting - clearly the group was quite spread. Turning the weight five marks rearward gave little improvement, then another five and another, it seemed to be getting better but I wasnt happy. I was getting very cold so I eventually called it a day, a little disappointed not having found a good tune. My next outing was with my friend who also needed to tune his for 50m but, after expending another box and more of ammunition in very good conditions, it didnt seem any better. Today I went back to the range with Celia my shooting companion and decided to wind the weight forward of the mid setting. After fifteen shots I knew it was going in the right direction, I had it in tune just 17-18 marks forward and began to settle down to shoot some serious groups. I wanted at least a card scoring a ton, time and again I fluffed the odd shot scoring 99 with tight grouping then did what I had set out to do - a ton. Remember, this is with rejected ammunition and me shooting from my wheelchair - not the most stable of platforms because it has suspension. Having used the Starik tuner for the last year, I have come to appreciate its benefits but without any reference marks its just not possible to revert to a previous setting for a different batch or distance shot. I also like to shoot at 100 yards and this has a different point of tune. The BeeSting overcomes this with its micrometer setting marks, coupled with the ability to
Looking about the internet, the BeeSting barrel tuner came to my notice - you can find it at www.beesafeusa.com Its a very nicelooking piece of kit. It comes as a tube only or with the tuner and can be made to any length you wish up to 15 inches of tube for the same price. Interestingly, the tube itself is made from carbon fibre, giving a reduction in weight against any comparable length metal tube. ,Unlike the Starik, its tuning movement is, by comparison, minuscule and again, unlike the Starik, it has a micrometer to record settings, making return to any previously tuned setting for ammo batch or distance very easy. My weakness kicked in, the wifes jewellery would have to be pawned, I had to have one.
A good friend and fellow member of DTSGB and I have had a number of chats regarding the benefits of using a tuner. We showed, in the last article in July 2011, that very good batch-tested ammo could be tuned to shoot even smaller groups. In an international competition shot using electronic targets recording scores to 0.1, every 0.1 improvement counts and a tuner could make the difference between winning Gold or being an also ran. To many shooters, it will make the difference between scoring a ten or a nine. My friend has a 21inch Lilja barrel and was looking for a longer extension tube so, I suggested he take a look at the BeeSting. He placed an order for a tuner with a 15inch tube and I followed a couple of days later requesting an 8inch tube.
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By Ray Cockayne

By Ray Cockayne
have any size tube up to 15 inches and longer - if you pay the extra and it comes with an instruction book. Given a choice, despite the extra cost, the BeeSting is the better by far.
I think it self evident from this article that Im a fan of tuners.

Im not alone a number of top shots who will be using them at the Olympics - it will be interesting to see just how many. In time, I think all the major manufacturers will offer tuners as an add on but, in time, I can also foresee the day when barrel makers will also integrate a tuner, I wonder who will be the first?
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This SMALLBORE Business
So what am I chatting about? Says you!

OK, a question... How many of you shoot small bore with the bi-pod attached to the accessory rail on the fore-end? Even worse, how many use them on your fullbore rifle? Even worse again, how many have them attached to an alloy stock in BOTH disciplines? In the old days of timber stocks, there was quite an absorption rate and this mollified the characteristics for those using the bipod rest. But even then, there was some difference. For the modern aluminium stock, the affect is vastly different, believe me. So let me give you the results of an experiment (or a series of them) that I conducted in order to find out just what was happening with the bipod both on and off the rifle. I jury-rigged a small experiment where I suspended my smallbore rifle from the ceiling joists at my club with fine fishing line. It was attached to the rifle at the foresight and from the cheek-piece area of the stock. Once this suspension was complete, I fired the rifle down range carefully so as to not induce any direction on the recoil. This was repeated a number of times, and the rifle simply just swayed backwards and slowed to a stop, with the recoil moving straight backwards, after the initial rise at the muzzle. The information gave me the idea that the recoil was consistent enough and, to up the ante a little, I fired some R100 (supersonic stuff from RWS). This brew caused the rifle to lift further at the muzzle, rock backwards slightly further in recoil motion and take a little longer to cease, as you would expect. In each case of a new shot fired, I physically ensured the rifle was quite still. Satisfied with the set up, I then attached the bipod to the alloy fore-end of my Anschutz/Hart, alloy stock and fired another shot, carefully watching what happened. The effect was immediate, as the recoil pattern set up a jiggle motion, starting left first, (due to the r/h
This Smallbore Business

by Don Brooke
On the subject of bi-pods fitted to the accessory rail.

This may be interesting for the readers and particularly those who follow my experiment with these things.
OK, first and foremost, the bi-pod makes it easier to rest the rifle after competition, or training. The sling is released, bolt opened and the rifle stood on the two legs of the bi-pod. Obviously this keeps the rifle away from intrusion of dirt and grass clippings and certainly makes it easier to pick the rifle up and walk away from the firing point. For many years now, I have watched the recoil patterns of my rifles, both small bore and the full bore long-range stuff. In the follow through, I have been assiduous in this observation noting the shape, height, motion and where the recoil finished after the shot was fired.
I have been conscious that the recoil was the final indication that the shot you just fired was as consistent as the others. I believe that the recoil pattern does indicate there is no difference in your position platform. That your position (external) geometry is correct in that each shot is a repeat of the previous. That if any, even slight alteration has happened the recoil pattern will show it simply because there was some variation. I can assure you that with all my big scores came the fact that nothing was any different. The world prone records I shot particularly.. This is just attention to detail. It is crucial that when you are shooting standing with a 22, the recoil pattern is a significant section of shot analysis. It must return to normal aiming after shot release.
This photo shows the bipod on a full bore rifle. On an alloy stock, this is the absolute no no of a position. Under recoil strike, the sideways strike and figure eight pattern of the recoil indicated the use of a bipod was a huge mistake. After experimenting with these, I have never used a bipod on the rifle since, as it is a simple matter to remove it, and replace when the shoot is finished.
This photo shows the light-weight (corks) bipod fitted to the rail on my small bore rifle. It is placed just forward of the hand stop. (See text) Even with the bipod close to the forward hand, it still created problems with the recoil factors. These were only truly visible when viewed through a 20x telescopic sight. (See text). Further experiments indicated the recoil was affected no matter where the bipod was placed, and most particularly on an alloy stock. This was also affected severely when the accessory rail in the fore end is offset, as mine is on this rifle. I resolved to not use the bipod when actually shooting, and always take it off prior to the first sighter shots. rotation of the lands in the barrel) then swayed right, then left, then right again and so on till all movement ceased. This took considerably longer to settle and, even though the recoil, in terms of rearward movement, was slightly less than before, it gave me reason to think. I fired a number of shots through like this, and then fired the R100 again. Even with a 6.5 kg rifle, the recoil did not stop wriggling with the bipod attached. I was convinced I was onto something here. Further experiments with this issue saw the use of longer legs on the bi-pod with lighter balls on the ends. A shorter version with wine-bottle corks (lighter) and a shorter version again with the black balls favoured by many manufacturers. In every case, the bipod gave inconsistencies with the recoil of the suspended rifle.
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I did not have a timber stocked rifle to experiment with but, it was really obvious that the bipod altered the recoil characteristics of a rifle swinging free and that the longer legs on the bipod, gave more rotational movement, though they settled a little faster indicating the weight of the balls was significant. I did not try a fullbore rifle, as the neighbours would complain bitterly! Later on, I borrowed a timber Anschutz 1411 prone rifle to test and found the motion was less though the movements were similar. So armed to the teeth with information, I placed my 20X Lyman scope on the action and started to watch the effects through the magnification of this superb telescopic sight. Shooting prone, with the Lyman up top, I was able to hold the ten-ring easily, with a circular movement of the lee dot/cross-hairs reticule around the dimensions of the X-ring on a 50m target. On shot release, the cross-hairs rose to just inside the ten ring at 12 oclock and with the follow-through returned to the previous aiming around the X-ring. I loaded up again and fired another proof shot, the rifle behaviour was pretty much the same. Both shots were inside the ten-ring. The ammunition was Eley Tenex. So then I placed the bi-pod into the rail under the foreend and returned to the experiment. The hold dimensions were much the same with the cross-hairs rotating around the X-ring again, so I fired the next round of Tenex and I was stunned at the difference! The shot recoiled, setting up a shimmer in the hold, but the recoil lifted fractionally more and finished on the 2 oclock edge of the ten ring. This shot was a loose ten so I loaded up and went again. The second shot produced the same shimmer and the shot stayed inside the ten-ring at 8 oclock. I then moved the bipod further out and watched the next shot carefully again. The recoil stayed inside the ten-ring but the shot was a 10.0 at 11 oclock. The recoil moved even further with the same shimmering factor. I actually felt that I was not following the shot through, that there was something loose under the rifle.
I knew the bi-pod was tight, so I fired another and produced a 9.5 with that shot once more over the ten-ring. Shot number three with that bi-pod setting still produced the same rattling feeling, it sounded different (a lot sharper) and once more I lost the ten-ring with a worse 9.2 but on the bottom of the diagram. From that moment on I knew I was onto something! I got up from the firing-point and put a longer bi-pod into the rail, this time further back to just in front of the hand stop, laid back down and shot another group of five shots. The hold was pretty good, much the same as normal but the recoil system was far worse and took a long time to stop moving. Not only that but the recoil shape was a figure eight movement. Totally unacceptable, so I replaced the bi-pod with a shorter bi-pod with wine-bottle corks for rests on the end of the bi-pod steel. I placed this one just forward of the hand-stop about a centimetre and fired another shot. The movement of the recoil was worse and this did not settle quickly either. I shot a 47 x50 with those five shots. Then I changed to the R100 ammunition and watched the recoil destroy itself! So, taking the bi-pods completely off my rifle, I shot a solid 50 with the R100, and some R50 I had in my kit produced the same result. Returning to the Tenex, I watched the recoil stay inside the ten-ring, return to aiming centre and placed all five shots into the X-ring in a quite small one-hole group of shots. From that day onwards my readers, I have never used a bipod on my smallbore rifle while shooting from any position. It is a simple matter to remove it and place it near my ammunition box and the use of the 20X Lyman scope really painted a picture. This is just attention to detail! Brooksie.
NEW - THE DOLPHIN MODULAR RIFLE SYSTEM

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Dolphin Single Shot Rifles. (Two above). Dolphin Stock in Hard Anodise Choice of Long F/TR, Short or Open front forend With Morgan recoil pad Choice of colours available Barnard S or RPA Quadlite Timney Trigger (Jewel 40 extra) 17 or 25 moa scope rail Bartlein, Lilja or Krieger barrel Choice of twist & profile Choice of .223 Rem or .308 Win or any other calibre suitable for a 308 bolt. WEIGHT 6.5Kg (with med Palma Barrel)
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Dolphin Gun Company - Southwold - Donington on Bain - Lincolnshire - LN11 9TR - England Telephone +44 (0) 1507 343898 or +44 (0) 774 7771962. www.dolphinguncompany.co.uk - mik@mikdolphin.demon.co.uk 48
TARGET SHOOTER MAGAZINE VISITS EXHIBITS AT THE BRITISH SHOOTING SHOW THE IWA IN NURNBURG - GERMANY
TARGET SHOOTER MAGAZINE EXHIBITS TARGET SHOOTER MAGAZINE VISITS AT THE IWA IN NURNBURG - GERMANY BRITISH SHOOTING SHOW
Target Shooter Magazine exhibit at The British Shooting Show
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Target Shooter Magazine exhibit at The British Shooting Show at Newark UK

Wow what a weekend! This Show just keeps on getting better and better! In four short years, it has outgrown its Newark Showground venue and next year will move to the prestigious Stoneleigh Park.
Stoneleigh Park is slightly further south but is well located for easy access from most parts of the country and, no more tents the exhibition will be housed in proper halls with better facilities all round. However, all thats for next year, lets have a look at this years Show. We were blessed with excellent weather this year, so the many outdoor activities and demonstrations were not blighted by rain and underfoot the ground was firm and dry. Those of you who called at the Target Shooter stand told us that access was excellent with virtually no queuing so well done to organizer John Bertrand. Once again, we were located in the well-named Rifle Focus Hall and a fine array of rifles and equipment for target and tactical shooting was on display. Nowhere, will you find such a collection of custom rifles and equipment all under one roof even at the Shot Show or IWA and, unlike IWA and the Shot Show everything was for sale!
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The Target Shooter stand was also playing host to the Gallery Rifle/LBP guys, the rimfire and centrefire benchrest shooters and the 50 cal Association who always attract the most attention! We also had tactical and F Class rifles and equipment on display and Chris Parkin, Laurie Holland and myself spent an enjoyable two days chatting and answering your questions.
Was there anything new? Yes, there was. My scoop was the brand new F/TR bi-pod from Osprey Rifles. Proprietor Stuart Anselm is of course the European F/ TR Champion so, who better to design a bi-pod? It ticks all the boxes and I predict that this bi-pod will become the one to have amongst effers and I cant wait to try it out for Target Shooter readers.
Interestingly, Stuart also had a new all aluminium modular chassis on display which, although still at the development stage, will soon be on sale as part of a complete rifle package or a stand-alone chassis. Sharing a stand with Osprey Rifles, Dolphin Gun Company already have their own chassis system and they had some really wild looking rifles on display. Dolphin also make their own bi-pod and various other accessories the latest being Anschutz-style accessory rails. No one in the UK makes these so Im sure shooters and gunsmiths will welcome this. Once again, The Tunnel were exciting visitors with their long-barrel rimfire 1911 and Low Mill Ranges had their version on show, together with some very
nice tactical chassis systems for the Remington700 barrelled-actions. Of course, there was much, much more including new for this year a knife-making section which attracted a lot of interest. I hope we can keep this feature going for next year as it is a major feature of the German IWA Show where they even have a Knife of the Year award.
But, rather than me writing pages and pages, Ill let Target Shooters photographer Steve Thorntons pictures do the talking. Maybe you will see a snap of yourself...
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LATEST NEWS...
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Over the twelve months our aim is to ramp-up the level of activity all over the country, culminating in the closing celebration. That will be a gala event for as many as possible of the people who have been involved throughout the year, and which we hope will attract plenty of media attention.
From The Independent Newspaper Pistols at dawn as Britains top gun misses Olympic target
From The Independent Newspaper Pistols at dawn as Britains top gun misses Olympic target Britains top marksman, Mick Gault, who came out of retirement to take a pot shot at an Olympic place this summer, looks likely to miss his target on a technicality, despite the concern of the former sports minister, Kate Hoey, who is president of British Shooting. Record-breaker Gault, 58, awarded the OBE after becoming the nations most prolific Commonwealth Games competitor in any sport 17 medals including nine golds achieved a qualifying score for the free pistol but has now been told that the only host nation quota place available is for the air pistol, for which he does not have the required mark. Yet, as he points out, the irony is that should he be selected for Team GB, under Olympic rules he would be permitted to shoot in both categories. Even though Hoey, one of his greatest admirers, has made representations on his behalf, British Shooting will be sending only one pistol shooter to London, 27-year-old Georgina Geikie, a part-time Devon barmaid who is known as Britains Lara Croft for her prowess with the 25 metres sport target pistol. Says Gault, a civil servant with the RAF in Norfolk: I am disappointed and gobsmacked that we apparently are returning several host nation places, which seems a shame for myself and other British shooters. British Shooting say: This is nothing personal. We dont have a home quota place in free pistol, only air
pistol. As no one has achieved a qualifying mark in that event we have asked the British Olympic Association if we can change that place for one in a discipline where we have achieved it, like rifle or trap shooting. It seems only fair to allow someone who has the qualifying criteria to compete.
Shame though, that someone of Gaults calibre has to bite the bullet.
Target Shooter says: We thank The Independent for highlighting yet another blow for GB shooting but are we really surprised? British shooters have been treated shamelessly by both governments for the last twenty-odd years. It would be too embarrassing for Britain to win a pistol-shooting medal! The Olympic games will see hundreds of shooters from overseas converge on London with their rifles, pistols and shotguns. Does anyone in Parliament REALLY BELIEVE that British citizens sorry, subjects are less fit than the rest of the FREE world to be trusted with pistols?
Disabled Shooting Year. April 2012 to March 2013

April 1st might seem an odd date on which to launch the Disabled Shooting Projects biggest initiative yet but, we promise you, this is no joke!
The idea of having a year-long promotion of the disabled-friendliness of target shooting was one of the earliest objectives when the project was set up. To tie it in with the London Paralympics was an obvious step - reflected in the torch logo. Now here we are in 2012, with Sport England funding until this time in 2013, so that fixes our dates. The Disabled Shooting Year (DSY) will conclude with the biggest celebration we can manage at the end of March next year. If we dont manage to secure further funding, well definitely be going out with a bang!
DSY initiatives These are the key things that we want to achieve during the next twelve months: 1. Promotion of disabled target shooting at shows, fairs, open days, etc. 2. Regional conferences for anyone interested in developing disabled shooting. 3. Creation of new competitions in as many disciplines as possible. 4. Establishment of a network of disabled-friendly clubs, ranges and grounds throughout the country. 5. Awards for those people and organisations that do most for disabled target shooting. Please will you join in? Lots more information about our key objectives will be published on-line and in shooting magazines in coming months. Well also publicise suggestions that are passed on to us. If any of this inspires you to do something, or gives you an idea for something your club or organisation could do, please (a) do it and (b) tell us.
Its not that difficult to sign up for a disability coaching course, help your club seek a grant to improve disabled access, invite a local disability support group for a taster day, dream up a new competition and get some other clubs in the area to take part, or bring some club-mates to one of the conferences. If you feel your clubs in a rut, or you long for broader horizons, heres where you can do something about it. Our own experience is that disabled people involved in sport are great fun to be with and give a lot back to the sport whenever they can. And theres nothing to beat the feeling you get when someone tells you that what youve done has transformed their life.
This is the plan We are launching the DSY on-line, in the targetshooting media and via e-bulletins to everyone on our mailing lists. The mainstream media will also be kept informed; needless to say, if their interest is caught and they give coverage, that will be a success in itself.
Our key objectives (set out below) are quite straightforward and are all things that could make a big difference to the sport. Whether or not they do so will depend largely on how far they are taken up by shooters, clubs and other organisations. The hope is that a lot of people will see that if they each do a little it will all add up to that big difference.
The Disabled Shooting Year should lay out a nationwide Welcome mat for the disabled community.
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GALLERY RIFLE & PISTOL NEWS
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Raymond DEBEVEC (SLO) Won his 7th Olympic quota place with ELEY Tenex
To introduce ourselves we are the United Kingdom Association of Rimfire and Air Rifle Benchrest Shooting. By that we mean "True Benchrest Shooting". The Association is recognised by rimfire shooters across in the UK, with partners across Europe and the rest of the world, as the presentative body that promotes rimfire and air rifle benchrest across this country and with other partners in European and World events. Visit our website for news about national and international competitions that all can have a go at. From novice to champion shooter, everyone is welcome www.benchrest22.org 69
THE HANDLOADING BENCH 308 Winchester Rides Again Part 4

By Laurie Holland

By Laurie Holland
THE HANDLOADING BENCH 308 Winchester Rides Again

By Laurie Holland - Part 4. (Conclusion)
308 WINCHESTER RIDES AGAIN. Part 4. (Conclusion)

We got into a slight tangle over photographs last month omitting one and inserting another twice. So, heres the one that compares standard large primer Lapua brass against its small primer Palma stablemate with the 175gn Berger BT Long-Range over Hodgdon H414 ball powder, a result that was the complete opposite of what Id expected. (Figure 1)
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By Laurie Holland
Figure 1.

By Laurie Holland
Anyway, moving on, lets look at loading heavies in the 308 Winchester but theres always a BUT, isnt there we must address the related issues of rifling twist rate and chamber throat configuration too.
Everybody knows a faster (shorterpitch) rifling twist rate is needed to stabilise heavy bullets but many will be surprised by how relatively slow the required rates are for all but the longest of bullet designs. (Table 1).
Note I say longest, not heaviest as its the bullet length in relation to weight and calibre that determines how fast it must be rotated for stable flight a heavy but short bullet actually needs a slightly slower twist than a same length lighter model when fired at equivalent velocities (that produce an identical muzzle energy value). For example, the relatively short-for-weight 190 and 200gn Sierra MatchKings requirements bracket the 1-12 rate, not 1-10 as most people assume. Ill go further - by noting that until the exceptionally long 215 and 230gn Berger Hybrids appeared, 1-11 was as fast as youd need for everything other than the 240gn Sierra and this is the preferred twist for many Match Rifle competitors who load Berger and Sierra 210gn VLD-form bullets for 1200-yard shooting.
The five heavies mainly tried in the 2010/11 barrel. Left to right: 155gn Sierra Palma MK (for comparison); 200gn SMK; 208gn Hornady A-Max; 210gn SMK, 210gn Berger BT; 210gn Berger VLD. Ive used the Millers Twist Rule spreadsheet allied to the bullet lengths as measured by Bryan Litz for his excellent book Applied Ballistics for Long Range Shooting 2nd edition to calculate the twist needed to produce a Stability Coefficient (Sg) value of 1.4 at the MVs Id worked out for the different bullet weights (Table 1). Although the normally recommended minimum value, 1.4 is actually belt and braces and a lower value normally suffices for our shooting conditions in the British Isles, so a half or even full inch slower twist rate is usually fine. The benchmark 155.5gn Berger BT shoots very happily in a 1-13 twist barrel for instance (Sg = 1.29, higher still in thin warm summer temperature air, while any value above 1.00 theoretically produces stability). Even so, many readers will look at the optimal twist values for the first two bullets in the table and reckon Ive got something wrong. The 155.5 Berger and 190gn Sierra surely merit a much greater differentiation in their rates? Ive checked the calculations and thats what the formula says its thanks to their mix of calibre, weight, and length: the Berger is exceptionally long for its 155gn at 1.25 inches; the SMK adds just over a tenth of an inch length (8%) over the Bergers 1.25 inches while increasing the weight proportionately more by 34.5gn (22%). So, if you have a rifle with a 1-12 twist barrel, you can likely shoot much heavier models than youd supposed.
Deep Throat
However, twist rate is only half the story. If you want to shoot heavy bullets, especially the modern breed of super-long, super-pointy ones, you need a chamber with a suitable throat to avoid having the bullets base way down in the case-body when its seated with its front end touching the rifling leade, or lying just short of it according to bullet configuration and shooter preference. We want to keep the bullet above the case body to shoulder junction, if its lower we lose velocity through reducing powder capacity. There is also a feeling that some of these long bullets dont group well when seated over-deep. (Countering this, exceptionally long
The rifling twist rate required mostly depends on the bullets length. This 1.481 long Berger 210gn VLD needs a 1-11 twist, although 1-12 may just work in warm conditions.
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By Laurie Holland

By Laurie Holland
Seating dummies for the five heavies shows the 2010/11 barrel was throated a bit too short. The bullet base positions are marked on the cases. Left to right: 200gn SMK; 210gn SMK; 208gn A-Max; 210gn Berger BT and VLD. The 200gn Sierra MK is a bargain compared to the other heavies especially if bought as a 500-bullet box. 140gn match bullets often produce bug-hole groups when so loaded in the .308W based .260 Remington for magazine operation.) Anyway, the way to get the set-up we want is to increase the amount of freebore between the end of the case and start of the rifling lands, throat the chamber long to use the vernacular. The downside of this practice is that while lighter (155-175gn) bullets can still be used, theyll likely sit well short of the rifling even when barely seated into the case-neck. That may or may not affect their grouping performance but it will almost certainly incur a substantial MV penalty. Actually, its surprising how much jump some bullets will take and still produce small groups. I had a new barrel put onto my .308W Barnard/Eliseo tubegun over the winter and the replacement has been throated for 208gn Hornadys/210gn Bergers, whilst its predecessor had been chambered for 155 to 185gn bullets - around 0.110 inches more freebore on the new set-up. I fired some leftover 155gn BJDHBC bulleted rounds through this barrel expecting large groups as theyre making a 0.120-0.130 inch jump into the leade. Despite the bullet having an aggressive secant nose form (VLD type), six rounds promptly went into 0.4 inches at 100 yards no load development, no messing! Twist rate and freebore permutations are almost endless but I reckon there are four basic forms: two specialised, two multi-purpose. The specialised versions are 1-13 or 1-14 twist rate plus a short throat optimised for a single or small group of 155gn bullets. Thats what you get in a TR, Fullbore or Palma sling-shooting rifle and some F/TR competitors have stuck with the format. The other extreme is a 1-10 twist rate barrel throated out to suit 215 and 230gn Berger Hybrids. Other, shorter bullet designs may still work in it, but have to make a long jump into the rifling. In between, multi-purpose configuration #1 uses 1-12 rifling twist and is throated for the more efficient 155gn bullets seated shallow in the case and longer bullets up to and including Bergers 185gn BTLR and 190gn VLD seated near optimally, likewise the 190/200gn SMKs. (Change the twist rate to 1-11 and you can handle the 210gn bullets too, but theyre seated a bit deep.) Multi-purpose configuration #2 has a 1-11 twist rate barrel throated to suit the 185gn Berger BTLR seated shallow, the 200-210s optimally. Opt for 1-10 rifling twist and this set-up handles the 215gn Berger Hybrid / 225gn Hornady HPBT set a little deep, and might just cope with the 230gn Berger Hybrid. My old barrel, used for the test loads shown below, had the multipurpose #1 throat but allied to 1-10 rifling twist rate.
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By Laurie Holland

By Laurie Holland
(145.20 for the 500-ct box) while the others cost over 40 per 100, the 208gnHornady just over that, the 210gn SMK 223.60 for 500 and the Bergers 47.91 per 100. Incidentally, while on packet sizes, you may find that these Sierras are only available in 500-ct boxes being classed by their manufacturer as speciality bullets. Henry Krank stocks the 210gn SMK in 50-ct boxes if you want to try this model without splashing out well over 200 only to find it doesnt suit your barrel. Two new heavy .30 Hornady HPBT match bullets, 208 and 225gn versions alongside a 155gn Sierra Palma MK to provide scale. Thats not to say that theyll all perform the same in a particular barrel. Their bearing surface lengths vary for instance from a shortest value of 0.481 inches (Berger BT) to 0.592 inches (Berger VLD), the Sierra and Hornady models in between and close together at 0.541 inches and 0.555 inches respectively. The VLDs more than tenth of an inch (23%) increase over the BT will significantly increase chamber pressures and reduce potential MVs, all other things being equal. Throw in small differences in things like body diameter and jacket/core hardness and well likely find that a barrel has distinct preferences between models, also that available MVs coupled to suitably small groups may vary considerably within acceptable pressures. Thats a factor often ignored by armchair ballisticians. A bullet that is ballistically challenged on paper but produces small groups at 2,700 fps will usually outperform a same weight but higher-BC competitor that wont group well at any speed above 2,500 fps, or only does so at case-wrecking pressures. The final bullet in the quintet was the 200gn Sierra MK with a relatively poor BC of 0.285 - over 10% down on the 210s, around what we expect from a really good 185gn model. However, Ive already pointed out that the older MatchKings have a reputation for better than predicted performance at long ranges. The 200gn SMK has a price advantage too, Sierra importer Henry Krank listing a 100-ct box at 31.70 I gave another trio a brief try only 190 and 210gn SMKs; 190gn Berger VLD. All three were problematic in one way or another. The 190gn SMK offers no benefits other than cost over the Berger 185gn BTLR which shot so well in this barrel, in fact offered a performance reduction with its considerably lower BC. The 190gn VLD grouped very poorly in its one outing and therefore wasnt considered worth pursuing in this barrel. (It shoots very well in the replacement tube though.) The 210gn SMK had to be seated the deepest of any of the group to the point where it significantly affected pressures and performance.
Seating dummy for the 155gn BJD-HBC VLD for the old barrel alongside that for the 208gn A-Max in its successor. Despite a 120-130 thou jump to the leade six rounds of leftover ammo shot a 0.4-MOA group. The seating dummy on the right shows the COAL used for the 208gn A-Max in the more generously throated 2012 barrel and is much better suited to these bullets. 2010/11 barrel version alongside.despite testing in cool conditions. As you see in the photograph, four out of five 200210gn bullets tried were seated at least an eighth to tenth inch deeper than is desirable. The 210gn Berger BT Long-Range was the only one whose base was on the case shoulder to body junction. The newly fitted barrel has the longer-throat multi-purpose #2 form, again employing 1-10. When talking about rifling twist rates, not every barrel maker provides the full range. Bartlein will supply a twist to your specification to two decimal places but youll likely wait even longer than the normal six to eight months delivery time if you really must have 1-11.66 or suchlike! True-Flite offers 30 calibre blanks in 12, 13, or 14 rates (tight-bore); 8, 10, and 12 (standard bore dimensions) only.
Heavy Metal
I tried seven heavy bullet models during 2010/11 primarily Bergers two 210s (BT and VLD); Sierras old 200-grainer; Hornadys 208gn A-Max. (The new Berger Hybrid models in 200, 215 and 230gn weights and the heavy Hornady HPBT models had yet to appear.) According to Bryan Litz, the A-Max has the highest BC of this bunch at 0.323, only marginally above that of the Bergers. Unusually, the Berger VLD and BT LongRange have near identical G7 BCs of 0.320 and 0.321, the A-max so close to these values that Bryan would readily concede these small differences fall within the accuracy tolerances of his experimentally based measuring method. (You can increase the two Berger hollow-point designs BCs a little further by use of a pointing die, gaining another 2 or 3% to edge them up to the .330 mark, an option not available with the plastic tipped A-Max.) The 210gn Sierra also scores close to the others with 0.316, so we can say that in terms of simple external ballistics abilities, there is no winner here.
Powders
Ask top F/TR league competitors who shoot heavies which bullet and powder they use and you get a near unanimous answer Berger 210 plus Viht N550. When I say Berger 210 that means the BTLR form, users achieving smaller groups than with the VLD version. Some whove tried both also reckon that the BTLR displays more consistent elevations at 1000 yards and beyond. Match Rifle competitors are more catholic in their tastes with Hornady and Sierra models used alongside both Bergers, especially the 210gn SMK which no doubt partly reflects this group of long-range competitors association with and trust of Sierra products. Alliant Re17 and its cheaper Elcho 17 clone are used by many as an alternative to N550. Some Scottish long-range shooters based at the Blair Atholl range and shoot both F/TR and Match Rifle are fond of a 208gn Hornady/Re17 combination, although youll again find the 210gn Berger BTLR and/or N550 in use.
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What were trying to avoid by using heavy, high-BC bullets a bullet blown to the right barely in the Three-ring by a wind change. The competitors elevation isnt too hot either being a full MOA high!

By Laurie Holland
Potentially suitable powders for heavies in .308 Winchester. Newly arrived Elcho 17 is identical to Reloder 17 but much cheaper. Many readers will wonder about Elcho 17. Its the Swiss double-base extruded powder manufactured by Nitro-Chemie AG and packaged as Reloder 17 by Alliant ATK in the USA. A British importer buys it in bulk from the makers and packages it in 1kg tubs as Elcho 17. Alliant Re17 loading data can be used with it. Its recommended retail price is a bargain 55 / Kg. (24.95 / lb) Elcho refers to the famous 150 year old Elcho Shield Match Rifle 1000 to 1200 yard competition that is shot at Bisley each summer between 8-shooter teams from England, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Do a QuickLOAD Propellant Table Run and you find there are other powders that are capable of producing high velocities allied to a near 100% charge burn. Table 2 lists a dozen powders that are available in the UK and which produce a calculated MV of 2,550 fps or above with the 210gn Berger BTLR in a suitably throated 30 inch barrel. Producing good velocities is not the same thing as producing a good load of course. Few long-range shooters will use relatively dirty burning ball powders for instance, ruling H414/W760, H. BL-C(2), H380 out straight away. I concentrated on Viht N550 and Alliant Reloder 17 in my tests as they have proven track records but also loaded a small number of batches over IMR-4007ssc, Hodgdon VarGet, and Hodgdon H414. As with so many other .308 Win applications, VarGet is a firm favourite with American F/TR shooters. It not only gives a good all-round performance with this class of bullet, but is temperature tolerant, an important consideration to our American friends. We dont worry much about this in the British Isles given our temperate (cold!) climate but hot-shot powders that produce tiny groups, good velocities and small spreads at 60-70F are no good to Americans if they see group dispersion double, likewise velocity spreads and, worst of all, produce serious over-pressures when the mercury hits 90. My sole run with the powder produced higher velocities than QuickLOAD suggested. Ask our GB top F/TR heavy-users what brass they use and there is a near unified response the Lapua Palma match case. The exception to the rule is George Barnard who runs Norma cases with 210s.
Figure 2. A typical initial load development effort involving seven by 3-round groups starting very low. Note the number of 2+1 patterns and lateral spreads. (1 grid)
Why use small primer brass? Most users tell you its strong i.e. they can abuse it severely and nothing breaks! The perceived reason is that with a smaller primer pocket, there is more meat in the case-head/ case-web area giving a stronger structure that keeps its factory dimensions and structural integrity under full CIP pressures. Whilst Im sure this is correct, my testing also suggests the use of small primers (and the matching small dia. flash-hole which is also important) subtly change charge burn behaviours in some way, maybe smoothing the pressure build-up a little. This isnt just about usable maximum charge weight as all parties agree that you need a heavier charge in the Palma case to achieve equivalent MVs. It could be partly about case-wall and web thickness affecting internal capacity but, its not in my production lots. Both standard and Palma cases fired in my rifle produce an overflow water capacity of exactly 56gn so any given load combination should produce identical pressures. They also have the same neck thickness, so neck tension should be a constant. Yet, when I started testing heavies using both types of brass I soon found I could obtain higher MVs with the Palma version.
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By Laurie Holland
Blown!
Heres how I found this out. Almost exactly a year ago, I loaded my first batches using the 210gn Berger BT Palma case, CCI-BR4 primer, N550. Eight 3-round batches were loaded peaking at 45.3gn. Range conditions were good when the loads were tried on a cool April day at 10-12C (50-54F). The maximum load produced 2635 fps and groups/spreads showed promise. (The penultimate charge of 45.2gn saw all three produce 2629 fps, a zero spread!) There were no excessive pressure signs even with charges of 45gn and above. Building on this, I loaded 5-round groups with charges around that which had produced the most promising 3-shot results and tried them the following week. I also loaded up a second lot of eight 3-round batches rising 0.1gn higher than before to 45.4gn but now in standard Lapua cases with the F210M match primer, assuming that pressures would be OK having already used these charges in the Palma case and apparently retained considerable leeway within the pressure envelope. Not so! The second shot in the 45.4gn batch blew the primer and examination of the other cases showed primer leaks from 45gn, nearly a dozen having to be scrapped. The maximum charge weight that was usable on primer/case condition was 44.4gn for 2585 fps. Temperatures were as per the previous week, 10-12C, so that wasnt a factor. Thats at least 40 fps higher velocity available from the Palma case with the load combination, a considerable difference with this bullet weight and in this game. There are those who say that small primers dont show pressure signs like their large brethren, so people unwittingly run higher, perhaps even marginally dangerous, loads and pressures. Id agree that the signs arent as obvious but, youll still flatten, crater and blank small size BR/Magnum primers when loads are too hot.
The final proof of this particular pudding is case life. I downgrade standard Lapua 308W cases to lower pressure short-range loads after five long-range match loadings theyre still usable but primers now need noticeably less effort to seat them. My Palma brass has seen no primer pocket (hence casehead) expansion at all after seven firings, if anything some pockets are still tighter than I like needing considerable pressure to seat BR4s. F/TR league shooters using heavy bullets and this brass, some running serious velocities and pressures, have seen double-figure firings from these cases and Ive yet to hear of any being worn out in use. (This raises another issue work hardening of the shoulder and neck areas and the potential benefits of annealing with several people having acquired commercial equipment and offering the process at well below brass replacement costs.)

By Laurie Holland
Caveats and Results
So, onto loads and results but only after some warnings. Just as with 90s in .223 Rem, the loads you can use with these bullets are very dependent on the barrel throat configuration. If your barrel is short-throated for 155s, its hardly worthwhile trying heavies even if it has a suitable rifling twist rate. If they have to be seated very deep in the case, youll obtain such low velocities that the value of the higher BC is lost. A combination of 200gn or greater bullet weight and often compressed powder charges will likely produce a more rapid rise in pressures than youve experienced with lighter bullets once loads pass a particular level, so load development has to be undertaken with considerable caution. Variations in chamber dimensions and case capacities can have a noticeable effect on 308 Win peak pressures, but the use of very heavy bullets will likely exacerbate the tendency, so some thick-walled makes of case could see pressures take off. Conversely, roomy Norma and Winchester brass would have allowed me to run with slightly heavier charges than those listed for standard (large primer) Lapua brass.
Figure 3 . The 2010/11 Broughton barrel and shortish throat gave best results with the 208gn A-Max over Re17 in Lapua Palma cases. A 0.3 five-round 100yd group at 2,600 fps was exceptional with heavy bullets despite low temperatures and poor weather conditions on this occasion. (1 grid)
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loaded in eight by 3-round batches with charge weights deliberately starting low as this was new territory, especially in Palma cases. Promising combinations were run again finetuning weights around them in 5-round batches. I expected this rifle to put 155-185gn bullet 3-round combinations it liked into a single hole off the bench at 100 yards expanding to 0.25-0.35 inches with 5-round strings. Moving onto the heavies, 0.3 inch was a good result in 3-round strings and there were precious few sub-0.5 inch 5-round groups. Where good groups were obtained, all too often it was at too low velocities to make the combination usable. Lateral stringing allied to a 2+1 / 4+1 pattern was the main problem (Figure 2). Having had a few pressure problems with standard brass, I concentrated on the small primer Palma variety with these bullets I reckon this is the case forms forte. On powder choice, IMR-4007ssc gave promising results but is too bulky producing heavily compressed loads at lower MVs than N550 or Re/E17. H414 produced my best MV by a considerable margin but with undistinguished groups until the last (4-round) batch of a preliminary test, putting four 208gn A-Maxes into 0.4 inches at 2698 fps MV with a tiny 4 fps extreme velocity spread. Unfortunately, the barrel throat packed in shortly afterwards, so I didnt manage to investigate further and see if this was one of these unrepeatable flukes occasionally experienced. The Hornady was the favoured bullet in my barrel and, whilst bullet-barrel compatibility is a very individual relationship, others I know whove tried this bullet like it too. (My new barrel from a different maker, TrueFlite, seems to like the new 208gn Hornady HPBT a lot!) The Hornady projectiles, A-Max and HPBT are also cheaper than the Bergers, so Id recommend giving them a try. Overall, I reckon its much harder work to get the heavies to perform well in 308 Win, you need to use Lapua Palma brass and their pluses only give a real advantage in rough, changeable shooting conditions. They cost more, kick more and you wear your barrel out faster. If you want to keep life simple, specify my multi-purpose barrel throat and rifling form #1 to your gunsmith and stick to 155-190gn bullets.
Table 1
Heavy 0.308 Match Bullet Twist Rates Bullet
155.5 BT FB 190gn Sierra MK 190gn Berger VLD 200gn Sierra MK 200gn Berger Hybrid 208gn Hornady A-Max 208gn Hornady HPBT 210gn Berger VLD 210gn Berger BTLR 210gn Sierra MK 215gn Berger Hybrid 220gn Sierra MK 225gn Hornady HPBT 230gn Berger Hybrid

By Laurie Holland
Ive seen charge weights posted on American shooting forums that show charges running way above - 3-4gn sometimes - what would have been safe in my 2010/11 barrel. They are usually quoted for heavy-barrel tactical rifles from a particular American manufacturer with a reputation for being massively over-throated and given generous (slack!) chambers. Since my barrel was relatively short-throated, the loads quoted below should prove to be modest in rifles specially set up for these long projectiles but please, dont assume anything here. A chronograph is an invaluable aid in any load development programme but especially here as there is so much variation between barrels, chambers and the pressures/velocities produced. What sort of MVs should we be getting? Table 1 gives equivalent MVs to the Berger 155.5 at 3,000 fps, a good benchmark value in this exercise, so we hope to achieve around 2,600 fps with 210s in a 30 inch barrel. With the substantially increased recoil from these bullets, I didnt see any benefits in substituting them for 155-185gn loads unless I could achieve good groups allied to at least 2,550 fps MV, better still 2600. The load that gave the best combination of MV and group size in my barrel was the 208gn Hornady A-Max that produced MVs from just below 2600 fps up to 2625 fps depending on ambient temperature allied to small primer brass. But note that this was achieved using Reloder 17 and its unique burning deterrent infusion throughout the powder kernels allied to Lapua Palma Match small primer brass. I wouldnt expect to obtain these results safely with other powders or in standard large primer cases in that barrel. Conversely, Ive seen shooters trying out heavy bullet loads in barrels that have been throated really long for the Berger 210s who discovered on borrowing a chronograph that they were not getting high enough MVs from their loads, tight grouping combinations sometimes running under 2500 fps. The results tables mostly speak for themselves, but Ill make a few observations on them and the methodology. Test batches of 25 rounds were initially
MV (fps)
3,000 2,714 2,714 2,645 2,645 2,594 2,594 2,582 2,582 2,582 2,551 2,522 2,494 2,467
Length
1.250 1.353 1.386 1.393 1.500 1.532 1.510 1.490 1.467 1.478 1.582 1.489 1.583 1.662
Twist
12.5 12.1 11.7 11.9 10.6 10.5 10.75 11 11.25 11.1 10.2 11.2 10.3 9.7
Notes
MVs are representative based on all combinations producing 3108 ft/lb ME (benchmark 155.5gn bullet @ 3,000 fps MV) Lengths from Applied Ballistics for Long Range Shooting 2nd edition by Bryan Litz except for the Hornady 208/225gn HPBT and Berger 215/230gn models where sample bullets were measured by the author. The twist rate quoted is that which produces an Sg of 1.4 under standard ballistics conditions. 0.5-1.0 slower rates will normally suffice under UK all year round temperature and barometric conditions.
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By Laurie Holland
Table 3 RESULTS
Powder 190gn Sierra MatchKIng 42.0-44.0gn Viht N150 5x5-rounds 44.0-47.0gn Viht N550 5x5-rounds 200gn Sierra MatchKIng 44.0-45.5gn Allt. Re17 5x5-rounds 210gn Berger BT Long-Range 43.5-45.4gn 8x3-rounds 41.5-44.0gn Allt. Re17 7x3-rounds 210gn Berger VLD 42.0-44.2gn Allt. Re17 7x5-rounds 42.2-44.5gn Viht N550 9x5-rounds Batches Groups

By Laurie Holland
Table 2
QuickLOAD Predicted Heavy Bullet MVs
Powder H414 / W760* Viht N550 Re17 / Elcho 17 IMR-4895 Re15 H. BL-C(2)* H380* IMR-4320 H4895 IMR-4350 IMR-4007ssc H. VarGet % Fill 101 103 98 95 96 91 97 98 93 105 99 98 MV (fps) 2,651 2,643 2,642 2,602 2,593 2,589 2,588 2,574 2,572 2,566 2,558 2,555 % Burn 99.3 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 98.7 98.8 100
Standard Large Primer Brass (Lapua / Federal 210M primer unless otherwise advised) MV/ES Comments
0.4-0.6 0.3-1.1 0.3-0.9 0.3-0.95 0.1-0.5 0.2-0.5 0.5-1
2,677 / 5 2,798 / 18 2,634 / 21 2,624 / 10 2,559 / 17 2,577 / 11 2,620 / 20
Norma cases / CCI-200 Norma cases / CCI-200
Excessive pressures above 44.4gn (See text)
Over-high pressure indications at 44/44.2gn CCI-200 primers
Lapua Palma Brass (CCI-BR4 primer unless otherwise advised) Do not use top loads in standard brass with large primers Powder 190gn Berger VLD 45.1-46.5gn Viht N550 5x5-round 200gn Sierra MatchKing 45.4-46.7gn Viht N550 6x5-rounds 46.6-47.0gn Viht N550 5x5-rounds 208gn Hornady A-Max 44.4-45.5gn Allt-Re17 5x5-rounds 45.2-45.4gn Allt. Re17 3x5-rounds 45.2-45.4gn Allt. Re17 3x5-rounds 42.2-44.0gn Viht N550 8x3-rounds 40.4-43.0gn H. VarGet 8x3-rounds 42.8-44gn IMR-4007ssc 8x3-rounds 45.6-47.7gn H414 8x3-rounds 0.4-1 210gn Berger VLD 44.4-45.5gn Allt. Re17 5x5-rounds 210gn Sierra MatchKing 41.8-44.0gn Viht N550 8x3-round Batches Groups MV/ES Comments
0.9-1.35 0.5-1 0.5-1 0.3-1.2 0.4-0.9 0.6-1 0.2-1.25 0.45-0.95 0.5-1
2,788 / 43 2,720 / 16 2,757 / 23 2,611 / 25 2,615 / 21 (45.3gn) 2,615 / 26 (45.3gn) CCI-450 SRM primers BR4 2,587 / 15 Over-high pressure indications at 43.8 / 44.0gn 2,635 / 23 Over-high pressure indications at 42.8 / 43.0gn 2,579 / 30 Heavily compressed Charges. Too low MVs 2,698 / 4 Top load (4-rounds) Smallest group. Dirty necks 2,605 / 41 2,566 / 7
Bullet deep with barrel throating. Compressed chg.
0.6-1.1 0.3-1
Notes
210gn Berger BT Long-Range at 3.050 COAL Case H2O capacity: 56.0gn Max. chamber pressure: 59,000 psi
Max. charge fill-ratio: 105% (compressed) * = ball / spherical powder
MVs are for the highest charge unless otherwise advised. IMPORTANT NOTICE - These components and loads performed safely in the authors rifle: this cannot be guaranteed for other firearms. Good handloading procedures should be used working loads up from low starting levels while looking for signs of excessive pressure. Be aware that standard (large primer) cases may produce a rapid pressure increase as top loads are approached. Use small charge weight increases for the top 1-1.5gn weight (0.2 and 0.3gn steps) in both types of case. Be aware of the importance of barrel throat freebore length these charges are not to be used in short-throated chambers optimised for 155gn bullets. 84 85
QUIGLEY SHOOTING ASSOCIATION NEWS
QUIGLEY SHOOTING ASSOCIATION NEWS
Quigley Shooting Association

by Ken Hall
Cast Black-powder Cartridgerifle Bullets bottom-pour or Ladle? I am often asked by relative newcomers to bullet casting Which produces the best bullets, bottom-pour or ladle pouring?
The answer, to my thinking, is that when casting large bullets of 400 grains or more, the ladle gives better results every time. This does not mean that using a bottom-pour melter is detrimental to good casting - most pistol-calibre bullets weighing less than 200 grains can be cast with that method and behave quite well. However, large and heavy BPCR bullets have deep grease-grooves to hold as much lube as possible in order to keep the fouling soft and prevent barrelfouling build up. It is in regard to these grooves that I prefer using a well designed lead dipper, which will force the molten lead deep into the grooves and produce sharp edges rather than rounded edges as often occurs with bottom-pour systems. A common drawback with bottom-pour melters is that often, during a casting session, the pouring spout can get restricted by impurities etc and the flow of lead then becomes inconsistent, leading to a variation in bullet weight and a rounding of the sharp corners. This is almost impossible with the lead dipper. At this stage I would like to stress that I refer to one of the excellent dippers supplied by RCBS, Midway and Lyman. Whilst I am partial to Lee products and often recommend their dies etc, their lead ladle is not to be recommended for casting large bullets as it just cannot produce an adequate flow rate due to its open top, spoon-type design.
The RCBS-type casting dipper can be submerged in the molten lead and, when removed, will safely contain a large quantity of lead, enough for the largest BPCR bullet. The design then allows for the dipper spout to be held horizontal against the sprue-plate of the mould and both the mould and the dipper rotated together so that the mould is now upright. This uses gravity to force the lead quickly into the mould ensuring that the grooves are fully filled.
Whilst in this position, the dipper can be safely rotated away from the mould without spilling the remaining lead and any impurities or dross is retained in the bowl allowing only the clean mix to enter the mould. With practice this operation becomes very slick and many fine bullets can be produced in a short time. The illustrations overleaf hopefully show the difference between bottom-pour and the lead dipper when casting large bullets. You should notice an improvement even when casting small pistol bullets. If you intend to try ladle casting and you need more room on your melting pot, it is quite a simple task to block off the pouring spout with a suitable self-tapping screw, then you can remove the valve mechanism and retain it so you can later return to bottom-pour if you choose. Alternatively, if you have not yet purchased a melting pot and wish to cast only with the dipper, then plain melting pots without pouring mechanisms are available.
Comments and questions please to; khall6548@aol.com 86 87
The HARDY Shotgun Championship Series

The Hardy at Shield Shooting Centre in Dorset traditionally marks the start of the season for target shotgun, dynamic shotgun, action shotgun, practical shotgun, or whatever you like to call it. It is called The Hardy either to commemorate Thomas Hardy, the famous Victorian novelist, or because you have to be hardy to put up with the weather in Dorset in March, or because it is hard to shoot!
First Round of Four Islands

Championship Series The Hardy Shotgun Match
March 10/11 2012
By George Granycome
As an ex-matelot myself, I would like to think it commemorates Captain Thomas Hardy who lived nearby and who was with Nelson when he died at the Battle of Trafalgar and who gave him a big kiss (little ever changes in the Navy!) This year the weather was excellent - sunny and even warm and the shooting was very hard indeed but hard in that good way in that you can get so much satisfaction in shooting a difficult course of fire which presents problems you have never seen before. Shotgun targets are usually steel plates, which must be knocked down to score and each shooter shoots each stage against the clock under the close supervision of a range officer who wields an electronic timer which picks up the sound of the shots. When the shooter has finished shooting the stage - which can be anything from 6 to 30 targets - the range officer will check the gun is clear and will record the time and score. This Hardy match had ten stages, all were excellent and some were just brilliant. Formal practical shotgun these days has become somewhat vanilla and rule-bound, with the life squeezed out of it as the rule-book grows ever more restrictive as more mandatory constraints are piled on. It is these sad circumstances which have led to the formation of Four Islands as a league aimed at encouraging clubs, who would otherwise recoil from the overbearing requirements of formal practical shotgun, to put on competitions free from interference, with the shooting in accordance with their own club rules and to their own safety requirements. Fortunately, Steve Pike, who runs Shield Shooting Centre, has stepped free of the stifling controls and The Hardy now counts as the first match of the Four Islands season. Just like last year, Steve has put together a free-style competition aligned to what shooters themselves want to shoot and what they enjoy. And enjoy it we all did! As one competitor was heard to say, this competition was as much fun as you can legally have in daylight with your clothes on!
Linda Newman
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The key to a good shotgun stage is that it presents a problem - or series of problems - to the shooter. For example, perhaps there are two or three very different ways to shoot it. The shooter must decide which to go for and how to play to his own particular shooting strengths. For example, there was a stage of 28 plates which offered the shooter a choice of either crawling twice through a short tunnel and then running once down a longish path, or crawling once through the tunnel and then running twice along the longish path. Crawl twice or run twice? Which is quicker for you? There was more than one shooter who screwed it up and had to do both twice.
There was another stage where there was a row of six target plates with six orange clay pigeons attached by elastic bands to a rocking arm so that they all moved to and fro in front of the targets. Break one of the clays and it counted as a penalty. Hit the bar to which they were attached and the shock broke them all six penalties! It happened more than once and it happened to me! There was a stage which included an array of four moving clays, this time bona fide scoring targets for you to shoot but which appeared, disappeared and reappeared from behind a large steel plate. They were tricky to shoot but it was most satisfying when you dusted them. Fun was the second watchword of this competition the first watchword being of course, safety. Steve will never permit safety to be compromised on his range. There were ten stages in total, of which three were out-and-out speed shoots of about half a dozen steel plate targets, including the famous Texas Star which
is a wheel-like affair which rotates as you shoot the target plates from the arms of the star. The other stages were longer with between 12 and 28 targets. I will not go into a stage-by-stage description, although the mixed slug and birdshot stage was something I have never seen before and, dear reader, the writer can boast that he has probably shot as many shotgun competition stages as anyone in this country. Six paper targets had each to be shot twice with slug and there were six skittles which could be shot down with either slug or birdshot. Half the targets were visible from one position and half from another position. You had to pick up your gun and shoot. Simple, you say? The problem was that the gun had to be preloaded with eight birdshot and so, after shooting down the first skittles with birdshot, there was not room enough in the magazine for the slug you then needed, plus there was an unwanted birdshot cartridge in the chamber! I shot it particularly well and was the Saturday overnight winner of that stage. Unfortunately for me, the countrys superstar shotgunner Dyke Marby (name changed) turned up on Sunday and won the stage, indeed he went on to win the competition outright, just eclipsing Steel Miff (name changed). Will either be able to challenge Iain Guy, the winner of last years Four Island 2011 Championship? Sixty-two shooters shot the competition and the prizes were of the sort you want to win - fodder for your gun. There was not a plastic trophy in sight and every competitor won a prize. The results are posted on the Four Islands website at http://four4islands.org and there is also a new Four Islands Facebook page. Thank you, Shield Shooting Centre, Steve Pike, his build team and all the range officers, for a truly FAB - U - LOUS match, complete with excellent catering, world-class bacon butties and burgers to die for, plus a fine clubhouse with a wonderful ambience of friendly and welcoming shooters - especially welcoming to the newer shooters.
The ever-photogenic Linda Newman
Tony Saunders shooting as Mike Harvey ROs...
Sara Smith
Sean Amos in action...
Mike and Lorna Adams-Jones...
James Symes shoots the 28 plate. Dave Guppy is the RO
ROs F4i bikini bottom...
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TARGET SHOOTER MAGAZINE VISITS THE IWA IN NURNBURG - GERMANY
This years IWA was bigger and better than ever thanks to more exhibitors and yet more space allocated at the fabulous Messe exhibition centre, plus we had a separate Enforce Tac Show aimed at police and military users as an additional attraction.
2012
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Target Shooter Magazine visits the 2012 IWA & Outdoor Classics Show in Nurnberg Germany
Its interesting to compare IWA with the American Shot Show. My previous visit to the Shot Show in 1999 was mind-blowing, it was located in Atlanta in an enormous building. Compared to IWA, it was about four times the size but now, IWA has caught up 1200 exhibitors compared to the Shot Shows 1600 but, in terms of quality exhibition space, IWA wins hands down.
The Sands Convention Centre in Las Vegas looks really over-crowded by comparison and appears to have reached its maximum, whereas IWA will continue to grow. Unfortunately, its not only the exhibitors who are feeling the squeeze, catering and rest areas leave much to be desired compared to IWA, which has a large variety of excellent eating places and indoor and outdoor recreation areas.
Rather than doing another Shot Show type supplement, well have a look at IWA over the next few issues, starting this month with scopes.
Leupold Military contracts are certainly driving the development of scopes and even Leupold are now offering first focal plane or as they prefer call it front focal. Personally, Ive never been a fan of FFP its of little use to the target shooter who always knows his range and therefore has little use for a range-finding reticle. One of the other drawbacks of FFP is that the reticle is super-fine at minimum magnification almost too fine and then at maximum magnification it grows to the thickness of a telegraph pole and of course, most of the time the scope will be at maximum magnification.
Leupold have found a neat answer with their FFP scope. At minimum magnification, the reticle looks nice and fine but not too fine will it be too thick as you rotate the zoom ring? No, because as the reticle grows, another finer reticle appears in the centre hard to explain but very clever! Other scopes? Yes plenty but we have covered them already like the Burris tactical range which we just dont see in the UK where is our importer? Kahles, Zeiss and Schmidt & Bender have some interesting new stuff but again, we covered them in our Shot Show report.
Nightforce We touched on the new Nightforce reticle in our Shot Show edition but I got to have a better look at IWA. The idea is a stadia-type reticle but with the hash marks corresponding to your MOA trajectory in other words, the distance between the marks will be one MOA.
Of course, trajectories will vary with different catridges so to make it work, Nightforce offer a choice of eight reticles which should cover everything from the flattest-shooting WSM to the 308. Again, not of massive use to the target shooter and really aimed at serious tactical use but an interesting concept.
Sightron Sightron UK importer and all-round good guy, John Dean got yet another award for his sterling work in promoting Sightron scopes in the UK and we were there to get a pic. John is not just a faceless dealer, he is also a shooter and you will find him at most of the GBFCA League shoots and of course at his local range at Diggle.
Sightron were debuting a new little variable hunting scope at IWA and if stalking is your thing, it might be worth having a look.
Have a look over the next few pages. Steve Thornton has captured a few images of the IWA show for the magazine... Enjoy.
However, my real scoop was a Russian scope from ROS (Russian Optical Systems). It worked on the bi-focal principal look through the top part of the lens to see a wide-angle image as you would with a zoom at low magnification then, once youve located your quarry, look through the bottom bit of the lens to see a full-power image! Clever? OK, its in its prototype stage at the moment but the concept is interesting will all scopes be built this way eventually?
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Next month, well have a look at pistols even though we cant have em, there are plenty of interesting things happening. Until then, Ill leave you with the above picture is it real?
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Check out our NEW app for the iPad - iPhone or iPod Touch...
Apps and things! Have you had chance to have a look at Target Shooter via our new Apple app? If you already have an iPad, iPhone or iPad Touch, please give it a go. The app itself is free to download from the iTunes website . The app has lots of great features which make Target Shooter far more pleasant to read than from your computer screen and everything tends to work better and quicker. Its easy to jump to any page and a click brings up an advertisers website in an instance and we are hoping that this will be a real attraction for our advertisers. Yes, you will always be able to read Target Shooter on-line but we feel that the iPad is the way forward for magazines and newspapers and, in a very short time, I predict that this will become the acceptable way to read a magazine or book.
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Rimfire and Air-Rifle Benchrest

The Portishead Brass Monkey Open by Carl Boswell

Rimfire and Air-Rifle Benchrest The Portishead Brass Monkey Open.

by Carl Boswell
As the name implies, this match is at the colder end of the year but in fact we had good weather for the most of the weekend which was only marred by a slight mist on the Sunday morning that delayed the start of the 50 metre competition by about 30 minutes its really nice if you can actually see the target! In competitions like these, any day with a bit of sun and dry weather is good. However, we still have the wind to contend with and, depending on the weather website viewed, this was predicted as between 7 and 13 mph. This is in conjunction with the intricacies of the range, as wind patterns differed between the air and rimfire ranges significantly. Generally however, it was stress free and a lot of fun. Best of all, it was Ken Stockhams birthday on the Sunday - he is the secretary of Portishead club and the match director over the weekend. I will not reveal his age but you might guess from the cake the club members made for him. A hearty congratulations to him and many thanks for giving up his birthday to enable shooters to compete. With the number of classes (rifle specifications for weight, scope mag, etc) and the shortness of a two day event, each match was just two targets.
The all-important range crew
A few names have really started to pop up as new shooters to watch - like Tony Male, who stormed to take both the Light Varmint (Hunter) and Heavy Varmint air rifle matches with extremely good scores. Thea Bradley is Keenan wind-flag also a new junior who shot extremely good scores and another name to watch out for in the future. Being a proud father, my own son Achille shot extremely well in his first match after just three and a half months of shooting the sport. Not quite medal winning but his scores were comparable to a lot of adults - so chuffed for him! He has got a lot of time to develop! To be honest, you are likely to come across some extremely good shooters at an event like this, plus a few surprises when they get beaten by a new face. It happens in all sports and so the likelihood of learning something from your own and others shooting during a match is highly probable. Head-to-head matches are the key to this learning process, as this is where shooters share ideas, thoughts, new designs, show new rifles, etc. It is also where you start to make your own mind up about the direction you may take in the sport - what new piece of equipment you might buy or how you may train to be that little bit better next time. The scores represent some intense shooting, with some that were very close. It was nice to see Ron Harding picking up a silver medal in the air rifle events and Colin Renwick getting another gold in the air-rifle event.
Ken dishing out the medals
The air-rifle range Head-to-head matches like these are great fun and they are a brilliant way to develop your understanding of how to shoot the sport and how to improve in the sport. One example is the use of windflags and how to read these in different conditions. Andy Dubreuil brought in the first Keeney flags a number of years ago - I reviewed these for Target Shooter a few months ago. Now, most people use them - including me as I bought a set while I was out in the USA last summer. I fell in love with these flags as they are sensitive to almost any wind condition.
Ron Harding
Is it in or out?
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The air-rifle event was also part of a day postal match between the USA and the UK so, this is another reason to shoot in head-to-head matches - you can also compete against colleagues in other countries. The World Postal Championship for both Air Rifle and Rimfire Benchrest is taking place again this year, with matches being shot between April and November - taking into account some areas of the world have their calmer seasons at different times to us. Matches in the UK have yet to be arranged but, via these matches, competitors will have a world ranking for this year. So watch this space for details. As stated earlier, we have to thank Portishead club, the range staff, the support staff and Ken Stockham for another great weekend - especially as he gave up the chance of a quiet Sunday on his birthday to put on this event.
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Tony Male
Full results can be obtained via the Portishead or UKBR22 websites. The next open match using UKBR22 rules will be at Glevum club in Gloucester. This is quite a large range and again offering both rimfire and air-rifle events. If you wish to contact Portishead or Glevum about future air-rifle and rimfire benchrest matches please visit these links: http://www. portisheadshootingclub.co.uk/ http://glevumtsc.co.uk/
Andy Dubrieul won Bronze
For further internet info. the Brass Monkey shoot visit: http://www.facebook.com/ pages/Portishead-ShootingClub/133202726798015 http://www.benchrestshow.com/ http://www.portisheadshootingclub.co.uk/ competitions/brassmonkey-12/ www.ukbr22.co.uk
My thanks to Portishead Shooting Club for permission to use their photographs.
Need a posh ammo box !!! These will be available through Osprey Rifles very soon...Photo by Steve Thornton
Your scribe was fortunate enough to pick up a Gold
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6/16/10
7:16 AM
Page 1
Contact us today to see what we can do for you and make your products work to their full potential, in a way that is the future of magazines and advertising. With over 10,000 readers a month, in the UK and around the world.
Introducing Kelblys Tactical Rifles. bringing benchrest precision to the tactical market. With loads of options to choose from, and pricing that shatters the competitors.
Introducing the first hunting and tactical scopes with 10 times power ratio on a variable scope. March 1x-10x-24mm and 2.5x-25x-42mm. 1/4 clicks and 25 MOA per revolution. All lenses in scopes are cemented in place, and do not rely on O rings to hold point of aim. Argon gas purged.
Email Yvonne Wilcock at admin@targetshooter.co.uk
TARGET SHOOTER MAGAZINE

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Photograph by Steve Thornton
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TARGET SHOOTER MAGAZINE

April 2012 Issue

NOW ReAd WORLdWIde BY OVeR 10,000 dedICATed ReAdeRS IN OVeR

77 COuNTRIeS eVeRY MONTH

QUIGLEY ASSOCIATION NEWS

NOW ReAd WORLdWIde BY OVeR 10,000 dedICATed ReAdeRS IN OVeR

77 COuNTRIeS eVeRY MONTH

The Choice of Champions

Webitorial April 2012

The Choice of Champions

Cover & Back Page Photographs by Steve Thornton

Vince, Yvonne & Steve

MDT TAC 21 Chassis Stock

MDT TAC 21 Chassis Stock

TAC 21, does what is says on the tin, very well.

MDT TAC 21 Chassis Stock

MDT TAC 21 Chassis Stock Bullets - these blanket titles often

MDT TAC 21 Chassis Stock

A `Black Rifle` bolt gun.

Bedding - the final B` could be assumed

A `Black Rifle` bolt gun.

MDT TAC 21 Chassis Stock

MDT TAC 21 Chassis Stock

MDT TAC 21 all comes in a box, big boys Mechano.

MDT TAC 21 Chassis Stock

MDT TAC 21 Chassis Stock

MDT TAC 21 Chassis Stock

Its all in the detail

MDT TAC 21 Chassis Stock

Does a V-block work?

How did it end up?

FROM THE BENCH

FROM THE BENCH

PURDEY by Matthew Fairhurst

PURDEY by Matthew Fairhurst

Looking Down The Barrel

PURDEY by Matthew Fairhurst

Looking Down The Barrel - Matthew Fairhurst visits Purdy

PURDEY by Matthew Fairhurst

PURDEY by Matthew Fairhurst

PURDEY by Matthew Fairhurst

PURDEY by Matthew Fairhurst

Hornady Rimfire Thickness Gauge

Extreme ammunition sorting for precision shooting

Hornady Rimfire Thickness Gauge

Extreme ammunition sorting for precision shooting

Hornady Rimfire Thickness Gauge

Hornady Rimfire Thickness Gauge

Extreme ammunition sorting for precision shooting

Wind reading & plotting courses

Testing - Measuring Data

with world champion F Class shooter

Testing Thickness Data Table:

Testing Thickness Standard Deviation Chart:

The Choice of Champions

Zero Set or Free Dial Locking

Side Focus 10 yards ~ Infinity

Push Button Illumination

Available from - marchscopes.co.uk - Call 01293 606901 or info@marchscopes.co.uk

Scope rings, rails, moderators, bipods and much more!

New season starts

The long View

The Long View by Les Holgate

NEW - THE DOLPHIN MODULAR RIFLE SYSTEM