Lock time data for smallbore actions?

[steve b.]

It is always an enjoyable adventure looking into the aspects for rifle building.

I have also been working with Eric Uptagrafft's new rimfire action, and it also has a very fast lock time, getting there wil a lighter FP than an Ans and a stronger spring as well. This action uses the 5018 trigger. The action is a twin front lug action, almost like a minature BAT action, but for rimfire. He has shot well enough to get a ticket to London for next year. He also got there with a rebarreled 1800 series Anschutz. If you are on a budget, this won't be the rifle action you are after. Keep in mind that alot of Gold Medals are won with Ans actions, or a similar animal ( FWB, Walther), so you may be reinventing the wheel on this quest.

Other actions to consider at the Beliker and G&E Racer actions, and maybe a Mannel. Problem is they are closer to 5 figures than 4. I point this out because unless you want to pour a bucket full of cash into a project, just get a 1913 and be done with it.

I may end up using one of Eric's actions for the Standard Rifle class, just to have something different.

[Jason]

Got the book and am loving it. Even if the articles are a little dated, the information and ideas are still solid, including lots of things I hadn't thought of. Thanks for the recommendation.

As I said, the primary use of the rifle is going to be silhouette so the accuracy I'm looking for here isn't what is required of a top-level benchrest or prone rifle. A slightly over-simplified summary would be that I'm looking to build a rifle with an action that is good enough to be accurate enough if built right to win any silhouette match that I go to and, most importantly, helps me to shoot it better in offhand position. That means trigger, lock time, and accuracy are important, but weight will also be important because I would rather have weight hanging out on the end of the barrel slowing down the wobble instead of sitting in front of my trigger hand in a much heavier action. In that case, even if the action did have higher accuracy potential it wouldn't help my silhouette scores as much as weight out front. Based on what I'm seeing here along with what I'm reading in that book and other sources, it does indeed seem like the best course of action is to use a very well-tuned Anschutz 1800 or 1900-series single-shot action. With the body of knowledge out there for making rifles with those actions shoot accurately, it's starting to be an obvious choice to go with that to get the gun done sooner and then spend the extra time/money that I would have spent on experimenting on practicing with the rifle. With that in mind, I'm assume that I'm looking for any 1800 or 1900-series model that doesn't end in "03" since that's the 64 action. Is that correct? I doubt that it will wear a factory barrel very long and I can always swap out stocks later, anyway.

[Daddio!]

It sounds like you've decided to go with the Anschutz action which I'm sure is a great choice.

FWIW, according to the Remington Rimfire Book, Remington claimed that the lock-time of the 541 is 1.4 milliseconds. I have a 541custom that, among other things, has a threaded action/barrel, match chamber, and a modified factory trigger that I can adjust down to as low as 6 oz. It's a fantastic shooter considering it's basically a low-budget build. That said, if price wasn't a big deal, I'd rather have an Anschutz build.

[steve b.]

Jason,

The targets in the game of Silhouette are so large when compared to any prone ISSF target or BR target that really there is no need to cut a new path for accuracy. Plenty of Anschutz rifles have been built both at the factory and by smiths in which the rifle's accuracy far surpasses the requirement. So in practical terms, with good ammunition and a quality rifle, it's you that is missing the targets - not the rifle. The trick is making the interface between the rifle and the shooter ( you ) work towards the same goals.

The only real difference is that the rifle is moving much more from the off-hand position, so indeed locktime ( on paper ) may matter. I see the barrel length issue far more relevant and pressing than locktime - when looking for the last few details to address in an offhand rifle.

If the Rem's made an actual difference with their faster locktime, they would be used at the big dances - and they are not, nor are Sakos, Coopers, ect.. If they worked, International 3p shooters would be using them. But, you do see some interesting ideas and differences in barrel length at the big events. To me the answer is obvious: Short barrel & long bloop tube. Get the bullet out before you move off target. The milliseconds difference in locktime is just noise on paper.






1907, 1913, - any of the 54 actions will be just fine. Just remember that for all the gains you are looking for, the overwhelming majority is in the barrel, and then how well the machine work is executed. Barrel, Barrel, Barrel, and Barrel. Get a good barrel.

s.

[Jason]

Love the idea of short barrel and long bloop tube to get the best of both worlds. I haven't decided if this one will eventually end up as a hunter rifle, though. I might just start with a 54.18 MS and stick a tube on it to play with for now and decide on barrel and prone stock later. Using an Anschutz action will simplify the process a lot. I didn't really expect to be shooting this rifle for a few months at least.

[steve b.]

That's exactly what I did, used a MSR and added a 4" bloop tube and some weights. It worked great for a few years, and it gives you options as you can see. One collar, different tubes and weights, and you can get alot of mileage out of that MSR. I have always felt if you could only have one quality rimfire target rifle, it should be a MSR. It can fill many different needs. I use mine as a squirrel rifle now - it's a hoot out in the field with subsonic HP ammunition.

Here is a photo of Eric's new tuner. It's the most versitile out there.

[jneihouse]

Looks familiar:)
Kitty

[Bob259]

Looks familiar:)
Kitty

It should ;) I just love that F model, I'd swap the wife for one of them