If there is any issues, it can also be gotten of www.benchrest.com
It is at the bottom of the forums.
DanO

I will be bring my spare front rest (Bald Eagle base) with a non windage top and a small leather bag for hunting stocks, and
a second top with a 3" bag and windage screw. If anyone need to borrow it, please feel free to do so.
I quess it will be, first to inquire gets first dibbs.

DanO

Mike,

For the reamer you are looking at getting, a couple of additional things to thinks about.
OAL length, you can specify a length which will determine you trim length.
As brass is fireformed and come out at approximately 1.495" you will want to get a neck
length that gives you a safety margin as well as less case trimming.
I have had them as short as 1.507" which means you have to pay attention to your case length, and trim
on a regular bases.
I now use a OAL of 1.525" as this enables the brass to grow somewhat normally, leaving .010" to .015"
safety margin considering this is where the carbon ring will be.
My first gunsmith used a 1.535" OAL which definitely gave him a safety margin with a beginner shooters
like myself.

The next area is the freebore for the reamer, the past norm was .060" as most folks were using 6 to 8 ogive
flat base bullets made on .825" jackets.
As this changed with the new double ogive bullets and or BT's. Now you will see reamers running at .000" to .060"
based on bullet selection. For the Bart"s, Bruno's, Hottenstein's which are double ogive bullets, .000" to .030"
would be the way to go. For the more traditional bullet style, I would look at .030" to .050" freebore.
Another factor that comes into play is jacket length, a lot more bullets are being produced on .790" length jackets.
This whole issue is about the bullet being gripped in the neck and being able to reach the lands/rifling.

As you are planning on buying a new sizing die this part is not so critical, but if you had a good sizing die, you
could have your reamer cut to enable you continuing to use it. I wonder how many reamer variations are based
on this detail?

If you are using FB bullets I would concider going with a .040" freebore on the reamer, this will push the bullet in the neck
a little more but may still let you get double ogive bullets out to the lands with some neck grip left. If it is a boat tail you
may have to ensure it is on the .825" jacket length.

DanO

I would also like to congratulate Bill on his shooting at the SS.
Mr. Steady and Quiet, does it again.
Well done Bill.

DanO

With Rick's approval, I am providing some information on my line of bullets.
All bullets are made on J4 jackets, which are imported (US restricted item).
For any other bullet makers in Canada, if you would like to get a few buckets of jackets,
I would be happy to add them to my order (usually once a year) to aid in the added cost
of permits and shipping.

Opel Bullets are custom hand swaged, on carbide dies, using modified RCBS presses.
The equipment was purchased from Rick Pollock in 2003, the original presses can be tracked
back to the bullet maker Terry McKracken.
Due to time and costs, we are only making 2 calibers of bullets presently.
.224" caliber at 52 gr. on .705" jackets, and 6mm 64.5 gr. on .790" jackets and a 6mm
66 gr. on .825" jackets.

These bullets are match grade hollow point, flat base bullets, they are also used in the field as
varmint bullets, and the feed back has been very positive for this application also.

Current pricing:
.224 cal. - $28.00/100
6mm - $30.00/100

For additional information contact:
Dan Opel
opel@telus.net
780-514-0917

This does not fall into alibis, but is similar to Bill's story.
At a match in Tacoma at 200 yards, it is match one of the morning, and I am at a favorable
bench on the left side. The line is called to commence fire and I do my usual couple of fouling shots
on the sighter.
Adjust the rig for the record and low and behold there is a shot on my record group.
I politely ask the shooter to my right if he would check and see that he was on his target.
He checks and confirms that he is on his target, so I call the range officer over and ask him
to remind everyone in the area to check there targets.
Okay, now it is time to shoot my group, I get all lined up again and DAMN I watched the first bullet hole got
a little bit bigger. Now as I have never had the pleasure of cross firing or being cross fired on I am starting
to get a little peeved. So again I ask the range officer to call for a target check, all reports come back as good.
Alright, now it is time to start shooting my group as time is now in the bottom half of the allowable limit.
Reset the gun look through the scope take aim and the damn bullet hole flew away.
Well that took care of the crossfire concern, now how do I handle the embarrassment factor that I will have
heaped not me in the next couple of minutes. We all had a good chuckle at the event.
In hind sight I was able to determine the fly shifted it's position which lead me to think another shot had hit the target.
The funny part of it is that the fly landed in almost the same spot as my point of impact.

I will agree with Bill, the Super Shoot is a must do event in this game.
It is a great event to gain knowledge from, the people, the equipment, the rotation of a big match.
If any Canadian goes they will be welcomed, and if you do not feel welcomed, then bring Busch Beer to
Bill's trailer or better yet to John/Arlene Inman's trailer, that will get you a big welcome, trust me on that one.

I agree with Bill again (stop talking sense Bill, you will ruin your rep.) watching seems like a great way to learn
but what are you really watching. One can never really know what the shooter is doing, holding off, using the sighter,
etc. I have tried to do this several times behind Tony B., Joe K., Mike R. and you end up guessing most of the time, which is
what we are watching for so we do not have to guess.

Oh, did I mention the pie(s) great pie at this match, you could almost live of them and Bill's beer.
Now I am really wishing I could make that trip this year.

DanO

We stopped in to talk to the fellows from Clark County and they were saying
that if some organization wanted to rent the space and run matches that would
be good.
As to them being the host and running said matches, that was not there intentions
at this time.
It may take a couple of years before someone steps up and organizes a match or two.

Here hoping that they get someone interested to do this soon.
DanO

As a user of a 3 lug, I have found that the ones made by BAT are not appriecatibly harder on opening.
Having said that, it did take some time to get the action run in to make only slightly harder opening
then the typical 2 lug. I now operate the bolt opening with one finger. (notice no bias here
The cam roller on the BAT may be the reason for the close to the 2 lug opening performance.

From a manufacturing stand point, not having to do the lug raceways seems like a good deal.
On the other hand, as Rick stated weight is always a concern. When you look at the diameter of
a 3 lug bolt it is noticeably larger, so trading off where one removes the material to keep the weight
down is an area to keep in mind.

As a fan of one piece scope ring (Marv Pearson style) I would be interested in this style of ring if
you are making them for sale. I believe Robert S. is also a fan of them.

If you go forward with this project(s), please keep use informed on this forum.

DanO

Calvin,
Let me know what they are and how much.

DanO