“Only accurate r i f les are interesting” - Col. Townsend Whelen

Volume I O , Number 4 JulyAugust 1978

Rifle The Magazine for Shooters

IN T.HIS ISSUE Custom Barrelmaking .................................. John Bivins

Proper Scope Mounting ................................. Don Lewis

2 4 3 Winchester. ..................................... Clay Harvey

Beautifying the Remington 600 ..................... W.S. Vickerman

Gelatin Tests on Grand Slams. ......................... Larry Ciejka

Unorthodox Slug Rifle. ............................. J.M. Wickenden

Combination Target Mounts ....................... George V. Weber

Cartridge Concentricity. .............................. James Nitsos

22

26

28

32

34

36

57

63

DEPARTMENTS Editorial.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

American Gunmakers ...... . 1 2 Dear Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Sighting Shots.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Aiming for Answers. . . . . . . . . 2 0

NBRSANews . . . . . . . . . . . . .34a

Classic Rifles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 3 Product Proofing.. . . . . . . . . . . 5 9

Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

Bench Report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 3

Trophy Pointers . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 6

This Month’s Cover John Bivins submitted th is month’s cover to acqgmpany h i s article “Profile of Custom Barrelmakers.” The tools are a deephole drill, a piloted reamer, and a rifling cutter head. The screw at the end of the head adjusts t h e height of the single cutter. The inset shows barrels in various stages of

Adopted in August 1969 as Official Publication production. Photos by H. Armstrong Roberts, 111. For National Bench Rest Shooters Association

Rifle Magazine, copyright 1978, is published bimonthly by Wolfe Publishing Co.. Inc., (Dave Wolfe. President), P.O. Box 3030, Prescott. Arizona 86302. Telephone (602) 445-7810. Second Class Postage paid at Prescott. Arizona, and additional mailing offices. Single copy price of current issues . $1.50. Subscription price: six issues . $7.75; 12 issues - $13.00; 18 issues - $17.00. (Outside U.S. possessions and Canada. $9.00, $15.00 and $20.00). Recommended foreign single copy price $1.75. Advertising rates furnished on request. All rights reserved.

Publisher of Rifle is not responsible for mishaps of any nature which might occur from use of published data, or from recommendations by any member of The Staff. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the editor. Manuscripts from free-lance writers must be accompanied by stamped self-addressed envelope and the publisher cannot accept responsibility for lost or mutilated manuscripts.

Change of address: please give six weeks’ notice. Send both old and new address, plus mailing label if possible, to Circulation Dept., Rifle Magazine, P.O. Box 3030, Prescott, Arizona 86302.

4

The Staff Dave Wolfe, Editor and Publisher Neal Knox, Editor in absentia

(On leave to the NRA) Ralph Tanner, Jr., Sales Director Ken Howell, Associate Editor Dave LeGate, Art Director Barbara Pickering, Production Supervisor Lynda Ritter, Editorial Assistant Richard Aldis, Staff Photographer Joyce Bueter, Circulation Manager Terry Bueter, Circulation Jana Kosco, Executive Secretary Wanda Hall, Accounting R.T. Wolfe, Ph.D., Consultant

Technical Editors

John Bivins Bob Brackney Bob Hagel Clay Harvey A1 Miller Maj. George C. Nonte, Jr . Homer Powley Ken Waters Don Zutz

RiFLE Magazine

Examines arms of 42 nations from 1900- present every chapter completely revised 5 new chapters follow small arms developments since W.W. II 672 pages over 2000 photos

Renowned military scholars consult i t to keep current with world arms capabilities . . . Faceless mercenaries, they say, use it as a “shopping guide.”

And weapons buffs-perhaps like yourself- read i t over and over,Fgain just for the sheer enjoyment of being hands-on” close to the finest in classic and modern military hardware.

The book is Small Arms of the World. And now, in i ts 11th Edition, you get completely revised chapters . . . new sections . . . new photographs.. . and hundreds of new weapons, many of which have only been whispered about in print unti l now. Truly international

Small Arms of the World is one of the few weapons references that is truly international in scope. In i ts more than 600 fully illustrated pages, you’l l f ind pistols, rifles, submachine guns and machine guns from 42 nations. Weapons ranging from Astras to Kalishnikovs. Armalites to Mausers. Brens to STENS. Hush Puppies to Uzis. They date from the turn of the century right up to today.

Small Arms of the World not only examines well-known and widely employed weapons, but also spotlights obscure and often bizarre arms. n exposes virtually useless weapons.. . praises truly outstanding ones . . . even points out proofmarks and minor modifications in design that help pinpoint dates and places of manu- facture. Act Now for Risk-Free Offer

If you’re a weapons buff-someone who appreciates the thought and technology that goes into engineering small armaments, we guarantee you’l l treasure the new 11th Edition of Small Arms of the World.

That’s why we make you this risk-free offer: examine Small Arms of the World for 15 days. If you don’t agree that it’s the closest thing to getting your hands on the actual weapons themselves, simply return the book within that t ime for a full, no-questions-asked refund.

h

Mail The Coupon Today.

1 I I I

I I

I $1.00 for overseas shipping. I I I

rllllllllllllll I Wolfc Publishing Co., Inc.

I Prescott, Ar izona 86302 I Y E S I’d like to examine the 11th Edition of Small I Arms of the World risk-free for 15 days. I enclose I I my check for only $19.95 and understand that if

I’m not completely satisfied with my copy within I 1 15 days, I may return it for a full refund.

U Check here for Deluxe Edition with gold em. I bossed leather-like cover . . . only $29.95.

P.O. BOX 30-30

i I

I Address 1 Name

I I Signature I LIIIIIIIllIIIIIJ

I city State - Zip ~

(order not valid without signature)

URING MY EARLY handloading D years I kept personal loading data in rarious places. I used targets, ammo )axes, and scraps of paper to record such jertinent information. A lot of it got nisplaced; my system was not a model of )r ganization .

Being aware of my haphazard “filing” ;ystem, shooting buddy Char Lee 3ardner presented me with an MTM Handloader’s Log one Yuletide. Rapture. Here, in loose-leaf binder form, was the mswer to my confusing filing system.

After months of usage, I became aware 3f several limitations inherent to the MTM system. First, there was room for n l y twenty loads per page. Secondly, ;uch important heading omissions as a load identification number or symbol, the number of loadings for a lot of brass, and 1 velocity column made the data less :omplete than it might have been.

Shortly after beginning my gun writing nternship, I became aware of another loose-leaf binder, called the Lazy-X Reloader’s Notebook. Offered by J.C. Hewitt, P.O. Box 007, La Crescenta, California 91214, it’s 8 1/2 by 11-inch pages are printed on very heavy stock and provide twenty separate headings. Each page has space for twenty-five loads and supplies lined-columns for such information as load number, quantity, date loaded, date fired, powder lot, firearm used for testing, velocity, et al. It’s a very complete system, furnishing space for a total of 1,800 loads on the pages included with the initial purchase. Naturally, additional pages are available.

I have come to use my two Lazy-X notebooks more than any similar piece of shooting-related equipment I own. In my opinion, any serious shooter is making it unnecessarily difficult for himself without one of these Lazy-X binders. I can’t think of a more useful way to spend $8.95.

* * * Some time back, Dave Budin of Del-

Sports, Inc., Main Street, Margaretville, New York 12455, sent me a pair of scope sights for tests. Fabricated in Austria by Swarovski-Optik K.G., one scope was a four-power, the other a six-power glass. I have no current price information, but considering the European origin and the

obvious quality of these scopes, I expect the price is rather high. Regardless, these are fine scopes.

The 6X glass has seen range-service riding the bridge of a Sako .243. The scope performed beautifully; it is clear and bright out to the edges of the field. The adjustments are crisp with no backlash; precise “clicks” could be both felt and heard. Leather lens-caps were provided on the six-power. The sample glass also contained a spirit-level, to enable the shooter to avoid canting the rifle. Interesting.

I mounted the four-power scope on a Savage Model 99 chambered to .358 Winchester, and took it hunting in Wyoming. That rifle/scope combo took the starch out of a running mule deer at about three hundred yards. Although he was mixed up with a batch of does, the clarity of that Swarovski glass enabled me to pick him out from the group and drop him. Instant endearment. I used the same outfit in search of North Carolina whitetails; found none but ladies, which were not legal.

Reticles in both scopes were of the increasingly popular “duplex” type, thicker on the outer sections of each crosswire, then thinned to a fin; line near the juncture. The thick outer sections were bulky indeed. The effect was like four opposing telephone poles connected by guide-wires. However, I’ve been told that much European big-game hunting is actually done by moonlight. If true, I can certainly understand this reticle; if there is any light at an, you’ll see those crosshairs!

Two problem areas. The scopes have tube diameters of twenty-six millimeters (1.023 inches), which limits your choice of rings somewhat. I used Weaver Quick- Detachable, though I also have a pair of Buehler. The other sore spot, which in some instances is a distinct advantage, is the tube-length of these Austrian scopes. It takes a short-actioned rifle to handle them. The medium-length Sako action worked fine, as did the short Model 99. Won’t work on such ordnance as the Winchester Model 70 or the Savage 110/111 series. Remember, Europeans love drillings and double rifles; I suspect these scopes were designed expressly for those guns.

If you dote on quality, if European craftsmanship is your bag, you will appreciate these Swarovski scopes. They have a full measure of each. 0

RIFLE Magazine 18

Cartridge Concentricity Does it really affect accuracy?

By JAMES NITSOS

HEN I FIRST got into benchrest W shooting, it didn’t take me long to figure out that there was all kinds of advice available from “experts” on how to make a gun shoot more accurately. The advice was there just for the asking. Sometimes the asking wasn’t even necessary!

After a while, though, two rather disturbing facts began to seep into my noggin; first, the experts often directly contradicted each other, and second, match results often showed the experts getting thoroughly beaten by non-experts. At that point, I decided to stop playing the role of a parrot and do my own research as much as possible. That’s how I got into the expensive and time- consuming task of determining how much (if any) effect the straightness of a batch of cartridges has on how small a group they will shoot.

A cartridge spinner, according to Chet Brown who makes the Little Wiggler, enables the reloader to “read the amount of bullet tilt in relation to the case.” In the Bonanza catalog, the Co-Ax indicator is said to “give a reading of how closely the axis of the bullet corresponds with the axis of the cartridge case.” They do what they say they’ll do. (In addition, the Wiggler measures case- neck thickness and has a l itt le mechanical jack that can be used to straighten loaded cartridges).

The theory behind the whole operation is to have the bullets’ axes coincide with the barrel’s axis. This condition is not met i f a cartridge is crooked because of an improperly seated bullet, tilted case neck, or crooked case body. Al l this assumes, of course, that the case neck is reasonably concentric and that the chamber, barrel, and bolt face are in proper alignment. Actually, i f there were a problem in the rifle itself, crooked cases might shoot better than straight ones i f they were all

.

JulylAugust 1978

aligned before firing to match their crookedness with the flaw in the rifle (such as an improperly reamed chamber). In a situation like that, I suspect that a case could look like a corkscrew and still group well - as long as the bullet was aligned with the barrel. That would be a hell of a way to run an airline, though, and obviously the proper cure would be to f ix the rifle.

If you spin a bunch of cartridges and some are too “crooked,” you can either junk them or mark their high spots so you can chamber each of them in the same orientation. (Brown suggests giving the bad ones to your competitors!) Being well aware of the cost of reloading components, I decided to align them rather than junk them, while finding out first whether3 is worth spinning them at all.

Ba.sically, I fired five five-shot, 100- yard groups out of four rifles, with both factory loads and reloads, with the high spot (marked with a felt-tip pen) at twelve o’clock, six o’clock, and a random orientation in the chamber. Groups were measured to the nearest hundredth of an inch.

The groups fired using various orientations were rotated so that weather, fatigue, barrel cleanliness, etc., would not affect the results. Barrels were cleaned every twenty- three rounds, and three foulers were fired after each cleaning.

I tried to select rifles with a wide range of accuracy potential and calibers and, used the most accurate

load found after considerable load development.

The first rifle I used was a Hart- barreled 40X light varminter in standard .222 built by Harvey Miller. The scope was a Remington 20X, and the load was 23.5 grains of Ball-C (2) with the 52-grain Detsch bullet. (Factory loads could-not be used because of the tight chamber neck in this rifle).

Number Two was a Savage 11OL in .22-250 with the varmint-weight 24- inch barrel (now discontinued) under a Weaver 4-12X scope. With the exception of some trigger and bedding tinkering, this rifle, as well as the next two, is “stock.” The load was 35.5 grains of 4064 behind Sierra 52-grain HPBT bullets. All loadlng, incidentally, was done with standard dies in an H-type press, except for the .222 loads, which were put together in Dewey benchrest dies. - -

Number Three was another 11OL in .243 (with the “old-style’’ bolt) and a B&L 2%x8 scope using forty-four grains of H-4831 and the hundred- grain Sierra and semi-pointed bullets.

The fourth and last rifle tested in the original experiment was a Remington 700L in 30-06 with a Redfield 3-9X, shooting forty-five grains of Du Pont 4895 and 168-grain Sierra match bullets.

Factory loads tested were all Remingtons, using the 55-grain Power-Lokt load, 80-grain Pointed Soft Points, and 150-grain Pointed Power-Lokt bullets in the .22-250, .243 and 30-06 respectively. Altogether,

MARKED WITH FELT-TIP PEN TO RID IN ORIENTING IN CHAMBER \

An interesting finding of the tests was that fairly crooked cartridges could be made to shoot well, provided they were uniformly oriented in the chamber. Nitsos observed that, apparently, being consistently crooked pays off in ballistics as well as politics.

63

Concentricity Tolerances Standards suggested by Chet Brown

Purpose

Maxlmum allowable

tilt

Benc hrest shooting .0005 Long-range varrninting .001 General hunting .004

525 rounds were fired in these comparisons.

In the .222, groups averaged around 0.30-inch no matter what the alignment was. I even tried some groups with the high point oriented at three and nine o’clock later and still couldn’t budge the 0.30-inch average.

The .22-250 groups with handloads ran around 0.68-inch for both random and six o’clock alignment, but the five groups aligned at twelve o’clock gave a ,very satisfying 0.46-inch average. The factory loads gave similar results but of a different magnitude; random and six o’clock cartridges went to about an inch-and-a-half, but twelve o’clock groups averages 0.71-inch.

The .243 reloads gave one-inch groups at both random and twelve o’clock orientations, but a good quarter-inch. was lopped off average group size with six o’clock orientation. Factory loads hovered between 1.00 and 1.11 inches in all alignments.

All reloads averaged a bit over an inch (1.08 to 1.17 inches) in the ’06 with all alignments, but the factory 2 1/44nch groups in the random and six o’clock trials were shaved almost a full inch by aligning at twelve o’clock.

In these four rifles then, there were seven major comparisons of six o’clock, twelve o’clock, and random alignments using both factory loads and reloads (except for the .222). In four tests, alignment shrunk group size from twenty-three to fifty-five percent. In three tests, alignment was wasted effort.

I felt that it might be a fluke when the .22-250 did best at twelve o’clock, while the .243 reloads showed a considerable preference for six o’clock alignment - especially since they were both of the same make and model - so I fired three more groups of each kind. The results were the same.

Is there really some kind of quantitative relationship between the amount of crookedness and accuracy (or lack of it)?

The .222 loads tested averaged 0.001-inch total run-out, with a very few going to 0.002. The .22-250, .243 and .30-06 handloads mostly ran 0.002 to 0.003, with the factory .22’s and .24’s both averaging slightly

64

Brown’s Little Wiggler (above) and Bonanza’s COAX indicator (below) show how closely the longitudinal axis of the bullet corresponds with the axis of the case - to indicate how well the bullet lines up with the bore when the cartridge is chambered. Nitsos found the indicators accurate and useful. But straightening crooked rounds with the little screwjack (arrow) on the Little Wiggler wasn’t so useful. B-Square makes a similar tool. Other companies specializing in equipment for competition have made tools of varying degrees of sophistication and cost.

above 0.003-inch. Factory .30-06 stuff shoot several groups of each. went up to an extremely bad 0.009 Five five-shot groups were fired inch. It’s not surprising that accuracy with straight cartridges (maximum improved considerably when I aligned run-out 0.0005-inch) and five groups the .30-06 factory loads! with a run-out from 0.003 to 0.004-inch

Chet Brown maintains that each with random alignment. The groups 0.001-inch of tilt moves the bullet out fired with the straight rounds of the group by 118-inch (ut, to the averaged 0.49-inch (not significantly l imits imposed by the chamber different from thoseoriginally fired at throat) and that the maximum twelve o’clock that wen?. into 0.46- tolerable tilt for benchrest shooting is inch). The crooked rounds averaged 0.0005-inch, for long-range varmint close to 0.70-inch (not significantly shooting 0.001-inch, and general above group sizes from those hunting 0.0044 nch. originally fired with a random

I decided to actually bend some alignment, and expected since a handloads by varying amounts and number of them were fired in the see how that related to accuracy in original batch). Enough bad apples the same four rifles. That sounded (above 0.004-inch) turned up so I good in theory, but so does the idea could fire two groups. Each went of a hollow bar of soap (instead of about 0.9-inch with random leaving a splinter, it just disappears). alignment. I don’t know why, but accuracy went My .22-250 doesn’t know the to hell so fast that the only thing I difference between straight learned was that one shouldn’t go cartridges and those with a run-out around radically bending or even up to a bit over 0.002-inch if they are trying to straighten cartridges, at aligned with the high spot at twelve least for fairly accurate rifles. o’clock. It sure as heck doesn’t like

Fortunately, I had a lot of good .22- cartridges that spin above 0.004-inch. 250 brass and the need for I wanted to see what effect considerable offhand practice (I’m aligning some extremely crooked addicted to metallic silhouette cartridges would have in this rifle, but shooting). So, rather than purposely another test opportunity arose with bending the cartridges, I decided to the purchase of a new rifle and some see which cartridges fell outside pretty grim-looking ammunition. certain limits naturally and how they I bought a Remington 788 in .308 shot from the bench. for my son, along with a case of eight

Over several months of shooting, I hundred GI-surplus rounds with managed to find enough .22-250 Israeli headstamps, which I figured cartridges that spun above and below would give us some low-cost offhand the average (0.002-inch) so I could practice as well as a good supply of

RIFLE Magazine

.308 and .243 brass. cartridgss have evidently been Some of the Trophy Pointers energetically worked ’ thtough (Continued from page66) automatic actions. The scratches and dents make them look like they were run through a hay chopper, and allow it to be centered - the same one good eyeball was enough to principle as used in sighting a handgun. indicate that some of them were obviously way out of line. I had found The fastest rear sight ever devised is the my “extreme case of misalignment,” very shallow V that covers the full width or rather, it found me. of the sight bar. A gold or white line in

the center below the notch will help speed yet tried’ up a centered sight picture. The top of the

this 788 groups from an inch to an bead or post is leveled with the top corners

action deer gun* The Israeli pistolshooting, but even faster. This is the

Not much good if not the Fourth that are designed for shooting dangerous

in the best position for this rifle with reasonably good accuracy is (twelve o’clock), groups shrunk to a paramount. three-inch average. With the cartridges StraightefIed to a But of all of the iron sights ever maximum run-out of 0.003-inch, designed for either hunting or target use groups shrunk even more - by a - that is, all hunting except the close-in good inch. Evidently, straightening dangerous game situation - the peep or cartridges can be beneficial in aperture sight is by far the most accurate extreme circumstances. and reliable. and if you use one enough to

It appears then, that for the chap get used to it, it is nearly as fast as the best who wants the tightest groups open sight, and faster than many. Many possible, there’s a better than even shooters who use open rear sights do not chance that checking alignment will like the peep rear because they have never pay off. i think that it’s hard to set up been taught how to use it. They do not a neat numerical correlation between know that the top of the front sight is the amount of misalignment and centered in the field of the peep - which group size, because of the many is automatic - but try to use the bottom variables involved, but Brown’s of the aperture as a U notch. No wonder maximums of 0.005, 0.001 and 0.004- they don’t like it! Some of them that do inch of tilt for benchrest, varmint and know how to use it choose an aperture general hunting rounds appear pretty that is too small for hunting, because they close. Extremely accurate rifles think the front sight will not be centered loaded with precision dies are least in a large aperture, which is in error, and likely to benefit appreciably (if at all) makes the peep slow and difficult to use in from spinning. On the other hand, poorlight.

With the best

inch and a half, so I guess it could be of the bar, and a fast, accurate sight ‘Onsidered a fairly average bolt- picture is achieved. Again, it is similar to

though, shot four to five-inch groups. kind of rear sight the British put on rifles

Of With the game at ,.lose quarters - where speed

tightening groups by even a paltry With an aperture rear, I much prefer a I find it few hundredths of an inch means a square-topped blade in front.

much easier to perfectly center its top on lot to a “stool shooter.” Most if not all Of the inaccuracy the target. If you don’t like a black blade,

resulting from crooked cartridges can you can usually find one with a white,

and loading in the OK with a rear aperture sight for hunting, chamber in the same orientation. but I fail to see any advantage. There is no single best (six o’clock, twelve o’clock or whatever) Some hunters prefer beads with orientation for all rifles. However, rounded faces to help gather light that pressures on the target shooter and makes them easier to see under poor hunter caused by time and lighting conditions. They are easier to see, excitement probably make i t but change point of bullet impact when advisable for him to change dies, the light hits them from different angles. I components or reloading techniques once experimented with a pair of .22 to get cartridges that meet his rimfire rifles with identical rear sights, but requirements and remove the nicety one having a flat-faced gold bead front, of having to slip each round into the while the other had a gold bead of the chamber just so. “Straightening” same size but with a round face. A target cartridges probably causes more was placed on a cardboard box that could problems than it solves for all but be rotated to face in any direction. At extreme situations. fifty yards I could move around the target

There are obviously some variables a full 360 degrees so that the bright sun beyond the well known “bedding, would hit the front sight from any desired bullet, and barrel” trio that the sawy angle. At the rather short range of fifty handloader would be wise to yards, it was found that when sighted to investigate. impact center with the sun directly behind

be eliminated by marking high spots gold or red insert. A flat-faced bead is

July/August 1978

the bead, point of impact could be shifted as much as two inches to either side of center by moving so the light came in at up to 90 degrees to right or left with the round-faced gold bead. With the flat- faced bead there was very little shift in point of impact. At three hundred yards, this means the bullet could miss the point of aim as much as a foot to one side or the other with a perfect hold. Plenty to miss a head-on deer, or wound one that is broadside.

The fact is, there seems to be very little use to put iron sights on most rifles today that are chambered for high velocity, flat shooting cartridges that will need a scope to bring out the full potential of the accuracy and range of both rifle and cartridge. Lever action rifles like the Model 94 Winchester are a horse of a different shade, because they are not suited or intended for scope sights.

Some hunters also feel they must have iron sights on any rifle just in case something happens to the scope. They have a point, and if you like iron sights for whatever reason, no great harm is done. But if you do like open iron sights on a hunting rifle in addition to a good scope, then by all means consider a rear sight with a folding leaf similar to that used by Savage on some of their rifles, and with a wide, shallow V notch. Then use a flat- faced bead or blade in front. A lot of open sight problems will be eliminated.

0

65