LR precision barrel length & stock choices

[Cypriss32]

The Manners T5 is a NICE stock. You might want to look into that is possibly a ADL trigger guard style, and just bed it. It would be useful for your uses. The front rides bags really well due to its width. It feels like a AICS thats lighter to me.

[russ69]

If you are going to shoot a 7mm instead of a 6.5mm, you'll need velocity to use the advantages of the 7mm. I'd get every inch of barrel I could get.

[Shakey]

If you are looking to eventually convert it to an F-Open gun you might want to look at the rules, there are some restrictions on weight, muzzle devices, and stock dimensions. http://compete.nra.org/documents/pdf...re/fb-book.pdf

[MongooseV8]

I second what Russ69 said

[bsumoba]

If you are looking to eventually convert it to an F-Open gun you might want to look at the rules, there are some restrictions on weight, muzzle devices, and stock dimensions. http://compete.nra.org/documents/pdf...re/fb-book.pdf

I definitely looked into this...

• 22 lb (10 kilo to be exact) weight for heavy
• no muzzle devices...so ill be using a threaded cap if matches dont allow brakes
• dimensions for me is not an issue as i am not using a f-class, wide forend rifle

[NorCalFocus]

How much weight are you really saving by cutting off a few inches? Get the speed!

[RobG]

Mobility with a 30" straight taper and AICS? That is a prone/bench gun. Anything else and it will be a PITA.

For that purpose there is no reason to go 28". You aren't losing enough weight to matter but it will help out with a touch more velocity.

Stocks are purely personal. I can stand the AICS myself. Others love it. Manners makes a killer stock as does McMillan. I know nothing of the F specialty stocks.

Go with the Shehane. If for nothing else than for me to find out how one actually runs

[bsumoba]

Mobility with a 30" straight taper and AICS? That is a prone/bench gun. Anything else and it will be a PITA.

For that purpose there is no reason to go 28". You aren't losing enough weight to matter but it will help out with a touch more velocity.

Stocks are purely personal. I can stand the AICS myself. Others love it. Manners makes a killer stock as does McMillan. I know nothing of the F specialty stocks.

Go with the Shehane. If for nothing else than for me to find out how one actually runs

RobG, since i'll be up in sac more often starting next month, you can get a crack at it.

The Manners T4-A is on the top of my list also along with the AICS, but the cost is whats preventing from pulling the trigger on it, its $1400 with bedding, folding stock, and bottom metal vs $950 for the AICS. I could go with the non-folder, which would make it WAY less, but damn that folding manners stock looks sick!

[pklin1297]

Since you mentioned it'll be mostly a "belly rifle", I'd just go with longer barrel for MV, but a nicely weighted stock to balance that barrel out. Sure you can get a heavy-fill Manners, but the AICS will always have a special place in my safe... For sure with either stock, your balance point will not be at the magazine, but since it is a prone rifle that shouldn't matter all that much.

I just got the KRG X-Ray stock also to compare to the AICS. It is a chassis stock that is about 3 lbs. lighter than the AICS so my rifle is definitely front heavy now, but ergonomically speaking it is pretty similar to the AICS if you wanted to give that a shot.

Either way, enjoy that rifle!

[ar15barrels]

understand. i think its more the weight if i wanted to take it out to say BLM land like you or do small hikes; there is a gun club in Avenal and they have a steel course where you walk through hills and valleys and engage 40-60 targets and I want to be able to somewhat bring this without getting too tired.

2" is not going to save enough weight to make a difference so you might as well have the velocity for F-class...
Build a heavy gun as a heavy gun.
Build a walking-around gun for walking around.
Trying to do both with the same gun is always a compromise.

Put an AICS on your heavy gun as it will help balance out the long/heavy barrel.
You should end up right close to 20lbs when it's done.
It will be a joy to lay behind and make stupid small groups at 1000yds with.

[ar15barrels]

my current 6.5 creedmoor is about 16 pounds with a 26" varmint barrel

See, you already HAVE a walking-around gun...

[LynnJr]

Bryan
Rick Duncan who posts as SwitchBarrel just won the NBRSA F-Class Bench and 1000 Yard Nationals.
He shoots a 7mm Shehane and is a no non-sense kind of guy.I would post to him asking about the 7 Shehane.He used 6 Dashers this year but he set a world record with his 7 Shehane last time I was at Sacramento.

I generally like straightline type stocks but in your example I would go with a Tooley MBR made by McMillan or a Shehane MBR made by McMillan for Bill.McMillan also makes that same stock with a 3/4 inch narrower forend for Huinter Class Benchrest use.The varmint guys who shoot longrange love it.

The forend on the Shehane stocks are purposely made longer so the rifle balances better and isn't muzzle heavy.A muzzle heavy gun is harder to shoot and if you get sloppy your groups will show a lot of vertical stringing.
You can give Bill Shehane a call at D-B Supply and he will give you the straight scoop on the chambering and the throat you need.Tell him Lynn says hello and if a lady answers that is his wife Dianne so just let her know you have a question for Bill and she will get him.

For bullets in 7mm you might want to consider GTB Bullets located in South SanFrancisco.Bob Cauterucio has been making bullets since 1954 and if you want Sierra bullet jackets for custom bullets and call Sierra they tell you to give Mr Cauterucio a call as he is there only bullet jacket dealer.

He makes a 189 grain target bullet that has many 1000 yard wins and records.He eats lunch with my uncle each week as they both went to school together and have been friends for around 70+ years.I had him measure some Spencer 103's in 6mm and he gave me the straight up truth with no minced words.At 83 years old he ain't shy.

If you think the necessary velocity isn't going to be there with the 189's You can tell Bob you want the same bullet but a little bit lighter.When he swages the cores he can shorten them up and use his same point up die.This will give you a lighter bullet with the same form factor plus the center of gravity will be farther back.This will give you more stability for the same rate of twist and often times better accuracy plus the additional velocity.

On the barrel I would use a #17 contour or what is commonly called the 1000 yard taper.You can get Bartleins without the long wait times from Shiraz at Grizzly Industries.He orders barrels by the pallet and is a avid longrange shooter so he has all the best twist rates and contours on hand.His prices are good and he usually keeps 800+ barrels at his 3 locations.

I like long barrels even on my hunting rifles but for another reason.On the big guns were you use a lot of powder they tend to firecrack the throat and the crown after a short period of time.If you start at 30 inches and accuracy goes away You can cut a new crown 1/2 inch back and have the chamber re-done after a setback.You now have a fresh chamber and muzzle and nothing will change as far as your load is concerned.If you were to start out shorter at 28 or 27 inches you would need a new barrel.

I have shot several AICS but never on a long barreled serious competition type rifle so I should not comment but that has never stopped me before.My only dislike is the bottom of the buttstock.
Lynn

[bsumoba]

Alright, so back to my research...

It appears the the LA Deviant Action might be okay with the size barrel I am using, but may require some barrel bedding. Whats your idea on this?

I can also get a BAT Model M action as well, which will be much beefier than the Deviant. I dont think I can go wrong with either, but the BAT will be single shot so it will be limited to that style shooting and the Deviant will be a repeater, which might give me more flexibility.

What's your opinions?

[kmullins]

Alright, so back to my research...

It appears the the LA Deviant Action might be okay with the size barrel I am using, but may require some barrel bedding. Whats your idea on this?

I can also get a BAT Model M action as well, which will be much beefier than the Deviant. I dont think I can go wrong with either, but the BAT will be single shot so it will be limited to that style shooting and the Deviant will be a repeater, which might give me more flexibility.

What's your opinions?

I really like BAT Machine actions for benchrest. Don't have any experience with them for prone shooting or any F-Class shooting. I do know that some shooters have had problems with dirt/grit that is blown around when your shooting prone getting in the BAT action and causing problems. Don't know if Defiance would have the same problem or not. Tolerances are definitely something that needs to be considered when choosing an action.

As far as repeater vs. single shot, I love single shot rifles and all my custom action benchrest/varmint rifles are single shot.

[LynnJr]

You can hang a 30 inch barrel of the contour you will be using on a BAT model M without having to bed an inch forward of the action.
On the other action I have no first hand experience.