In this issue: Bedding an action / Crosman Grand Prix 2013 barrel weights Shooting glasses Walther air rifle for sale Need kneeling advice Re: Need requirements for machine rest Re: Need requirements for machine rest Shooting glasses ******************************************************************** I was just wondering if someone on the list could explain the pros and cons of bedding an action, and which types of bedding jobs work best on rimfire match rifles (i.e. glass vs. pillar). And on a similar and more touchy note, if it makes a difference! On a different note, I made it to Toronto this past Sunday to catch the finals at the Crosman Grand Prix. The method in which the finals were shot was rather .... interesting, to say the least. Having people cheer for 10's, clap for 9's, and snicker at 8's was quite unusual, and I wasn't really sure how to react. The finalists all seemed to take it stride, however, as there were some excellent scores posted. I also saw my first 100+, courtesy of Sharon Bowes (who also happens to shoot at my club - yeah, Sharon!), who fired a 102.8 in the women's air rifle final -- and beat all the guys as well, I might add! I'm not sure who was shooting what in the finals as I haven't had much exposure to airguns, although I think Feinwerkbau's dominated both air rifle finals. I couldn't tell you about air pistol though. Maybe Henry G. and Gary P. could fill us in more though, as I recognized their names from the relay sheets. Jason W. Jarvis Kitchener, Ontario marynjson@golden.net ****************************************************************** A member of my shooting league just bought a 2013 and asked why my 2013's barrel weights are mounted on top. I didn't have a good answer although I know Anshutz recommends this method. Does anyone know? Frankly I think mounted below looks more "correct" ****************************************************************** This is just a short note to the newsletter to thank all those shooters who offered their advice to me on whether or not to purchase shooting glasses. I did purchase a pair just before Christmas, although I didn't receive my lens until this week. This weekend was the monthly Lakeshore Smallbore Rifle Match organised by the Ontario Smallbore Federation, and I was able to shoot with the glasses for the first time today. Not an ideal way to break in a totally new piece of equipment, but I would deem it an unqualified success, as my overall score rose over fifty points (from 1056/1200 to 1111/1200). Mind you, I know I still have a long way to go, but being able to see both the front sight and target was just the greatest feeling. It's always easy to blame something other than yourself when a shot doesn't go where you expect it, but at least now with the shooting glasses, I can definitely tell when it's my fault -- and do something about it! Thanks again! Jason W. Jarvis Kitchener, Ontario ****************************************************************** For Sale Walther LGR Match Universal (Good Condition, one owner). This one has the adjustable check piece. Asking 475 USD Dave Woolridge Memorial University Sea~Hawks dwoolrid@gill.ifmt.nf.ca ****************************************************************** I have just started training for kneeling in free-rifle. I'll be spending a few weeks trying to build a hold without any firing as suggested in the New Position Rifle Shooting book. So far I have noticed a lot of left to right movement. This is not surprising. However, I am not sure of the cause of this motion. I suspect it is the left leg but at this moment I cannot sense any motion in that leg. Can someone tell me how I might go about reducing this motion? How about the importance of a "vertical" left shin? Why not have it pushed forward a little? How wide an angle should I have between the inner thighs? To wide hurts but is to narrow a problem? I do an awful lot of standing. In kneeling I am facing the target more and this feels unusual. Is this correct or should my torso be oriented more like in the standing position? Should I be hunched forward or more upright like when I sit on a chair and use a keyboard? How do I know if I have the correct butt length? Thanks Dave Woolridge MUN Sea~Hawks [Editor - your left leg doesn't have to be perfectly vertical, that's just the starting point. Your right leg should be where it feels comfortable - it's not important since there is hardly any weight on it. Yes, you should face more toward the target rather than across the position like standing. As for hunching over, that depends on your shape. Most lean forward to varying degrees and very few are really upright.] ****************************************************************** Besides shooting 3 position, I have shot BR-50 and now ARA which are rimfire benchrest competitions. I have tested both methods of fixed no recoil type rest and rest emploing delrin balls to ensure a smooth consistant recoil and see no difference. Just today I was working on adjusting the torque settings on my benchrest gun at an indoor range. Any of the available hard benchrest rigs will work satisfactorly for the stability for adjusting torque and testing ammo. Most important is getting wind conditions of near dead calm or indoors to eliminate this variable. By hard rest I mean a rest other than sand bags which require more skill to shoot well. Many use a 1 piece rest that is similar to a machine rest that cost about $750. Others use a two piece rest. Personally I use a Hart front rest and a Time precision rear rest of about $350. This cost could be reduced to about $300 by using a Richie rear rest. I use (don't laugh ) a thin layer of silly putty on the front rest that anchors the gun from sliding. Today I was able to get groups in the low 2's by adjusting the torque of the action screws. Then by installing the barrel tuner (an adjustable bloop tube similar to a BOSS) I was able to get groups down in the mid 1's. This was at 50 yards. Action screws need tobe adjusted with every lot number change for optimum accuracy. This system works well for ammo testing and cleaning method testing. For non-benchrest type stock to sit flat on the rest, a piece of plywood about 3/8 inch thick and 3x4 inches can be attached to the accessary rail the same as a forehand stop. Use a glossy paint. Rich ****************************************************************** The machine rests I've seen and used have all been for more powerful firearms, and they all have allowed displacement. (What I discuss below is from this experience, not from careful experimentation.) >[Editor - I don't see what a cushion behind the rifle would accomplish >since the rifle is clamped into position on the stock so it won't move >anyway. The usual "bench rest" rifle rest does not clamp onto the stock, rather it keeps it in place sideways and allows the stock to slide freely back/forth. I've been told that clamping the stock to an immovable rest or putting an immovable block behind the stock will keep the rifle from moving and thereby set up vibrations which decrease accuracy. Even the machine rests where the rifle is clamped securely allow the clamped rifle to move with its recoil. These are called "return to battery" rests. >Having a cushion would potentially vary the recoil also which would >defeat the purpose of using the rest in the first place. ... Or give the rifle a place to decelarate after the bullet leaves the barrel. I was instructed to have my shoulder just barely touching the stock, and to pull the trigger with as little touching of the stock as possible. Many shooters "pinch" the trigger with the ball of their thumb on the back of the trigger guard and the ball of their index finger on the trigger as a way to fire the rifle with the minimum amount of contact. -- --henry schaffer ****************************************************************** After having worked on this problem for several weeks, I thought I would share my experiences. Since I didn't receive any input from the group I thought I might save some others out there with old eyes some time. First I ordered a Gehman rear aperture with all the bells and whistles. The focusing seemed to help me see the target and front sight better, but still I had problems with the front sight becoming oval and a fuzzy area in the middle of the rear aperture when I closed it down. I then did some test of setting the gun on a chair so I could get my glasses up to the rear iris on the same plane. That eliminated the oval shape, sight and targets looked good. I ordered a pair of Knobloch glasses. They no longer make the rifle and pistol model but make a universal model. I took them to my optomitrist and his optician insisted I needed the focus set to my front sight and not my normal presciption. They set it -.5 diopters less than my normal prescription. Also added correction for my astigmatism. With these glasses set so the lense is in the same plane as my rear sight my problems are nearly solved. I still have a problem with the fuzzy area in the middle of the rear sight. I have went back to the optician and discussed this with him. He looked through the rear sight and does not see this image. He feels the problem must be with my eye. I will discuss this with my Optomitrist on my next exam. I would still be interested if anyone else has experienced this. Meanwhile I will line up the rear sight slightly offcenter. This should work if I can hold it exactly the same for each shot. In my limited experience I would suggest shooting glasses first for problems. They are also cheaper than a rear aperture. $103 from Champions choice and $35 for the lense. Also I got a plastic lense. It is light weight and provides better protection than glass. It is more scratch resistant than the more expensive lense that gives best shatter protection. Rich Lakey [Editor - sorry for not commenting. I must have been in a hurry or not paying attention. As for your fuzzy area, does it stay fuzzy no matter how big your rear iris is? Most people will see this when they crank it all the way down (0.8mm). Are you certain there isn't any lint in the way. It will do the same thing. Lastly I would check that your eye isn't too close. I prefer a short eye relief but notice the fuzziness can appear if my eye is really close like many have suggested is ideal. The lens on my Knobloch frames is about a 1/4" from the back of the sight now.] ****************************************************************** End of UIT Mailing List #18 Michael Ray - Systems Engineer Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. Rifle Coach UIT Shooting Page - http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/1190/index.htm