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The modification of prone small-bore rifles for benchrest competition,
and the amateur building of one-off rifles.
.And further detail of Colchester Rifle Club's BR progression
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See also: ......SMALL-BORE TARGET RIFLES ...... - ......SMALL-BORE TRAINING RIFLES
If one wishes to move on from the traditional approach to BR shooting
with a proprietary Anschutz benchrest stock for example,
we illustrate options for modifying prone rifles of various generations
for benchrest competition, or even constructing your own.
One can use as a starting point any good prone rifle
adding the appropriate proprietary or home-made adaptations.
When planning the use of a prone rifle for benchrest competition,
an early rifle candidate could be such as a BSA Martini International Mk.III
shown here in a club's test bench.
So perfectly designed and manufactured were these
well-respected and accurate rifles, that they still perform extremely well
even after many years of excellent service.
Many were fitted with telecope mounting blocks from new.
Various simple and inventive butt configurations can be considered,
here being a design for a long under-butt hand-support
using an old BSA Martini International Mk.II butt-stock.
Susequently fitted to a MK.III International, the butt was further modified
using an Anschutz Supermatch adjustable cheek-piece, and an improved hand support.
A close-up of the design shows a further modification to the butt-plate,
to render it adjustable.
We were also made aware, a year or two ago, of a very professional refit
of another Mk.III BSA International for benchrest shooting,
and acquired a couple of images of this fine looking and beautifully finished rifle.
One particular reason for choosing these rifles is the simple method by which the barrels are clamped into the action, permitting the comparatively straightforward fitment of a replacement.
The Mk.III used a fully-floating barrel, with the fore-end mounted on a separate alloy "hanger" also clamped into the action below the barrel. It is apparent that the flate rest plate beneath the barrel on the rifle above has been fitted in that position, replacing the hanger.
On the Mk.I and II rifles the fore-end wood was fitted directly to the underside of the barrel with machine screws. Greater detail of this can be seen on the pages for the these rifles.
See: ......The BSA Martini International Mks. I & II ..... - ......BSA Martini International Mk.III
INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT
Ashooting bench is quite obviously needed and, if a club one is not available,
one can be home constructed.
A rifle rest is also required, and sophisticated ones can be particularly expensive,
but more economical models can be purchased for little over a hundred pounds.
The model shown here is the cheapest suitable Caldwell product.
Then you need a stool. This example was bought from a charity shop for £5.
The feet were later made finely adjustable
with the insertion of four bolts to accommodate uneven ground.
The stool can be made an integral part of the stability of the home-made
bench by which it stands; this arrangement later having an alloy link bar attached,
bolting the top tube of the stool to the corner of the table-top.
More usually, shooters use a three-legged model.
If not already available, a target frame can also be put together from plumbing parts.
The light-weight collapsible bench shown above can be seen folded in the background.
The three hinged legs were cut from a heavy telescope tripod,
with the linked stool forming a fourth stabilising leg.
Another shooter produced a really substantial version, with a milking stool,
later swapped for a new circular, height-adjustable three-legged model.
With an evident need for more stable tables, an approach was made
to a Yorkshire supplier, who kindly brought two down for this club to purchase.
Himself a worthy and successful benchrest shooter,
he brought his kit to demonstrate how their highly competitive teams operate.
Photographs were surrepticiously taken, in the F1 manner, to afford later scrutiny.
With close-up shots of the 'scope .....
......... and the sophisticated barrel tuner.
To convert a prone rifle for benchrest use,
it is possible to just switch around the cheek-piece and butt-plate units.
Perhaps surprisingly, a cheek-piece has proved to be not really necessary,
even getting in the way of a comfortable head position behind the scope,
thus keeping contact with the rifle to a minimum.
A borrowed barrel tuner was prepared for experimentation.
Should using a normal pistol-grip hold seem to cause
unwanted movement in the hold,
a "pinch" let-off between finger and thumb can be employed
with the necessary replacement here having being made for the pistol-grip.
Testing this modified Anschutz - a Model 1913 - on the 50mtr range
A Walther KK200 was also modified for benchrest use.
The lower butt support was the initial design.
Later, the butt hand-rail was lengthened and supported at its forward end.
The rifle is here shown under group testing.
The Walther's 50 mtr. test card during which weights were moved up and down the barrel,
while group testing with both R50 and Centre-X ammunition.
Yes; the position of the weight makes a huge difference
Below: the standard weight system supplied with the KK200.
The group testing target frame for the 50mtr. range.
Telescope sights already on hand ,were tried,
but a higher magnification than the usual 25x proved particularly worthwhile.
A (sadly Chinese produced) 'scope was the most economical option -
- a Vector Minotaur Gen II 46x60 model for less than £400, compared with the
more often favoured Sightron equivalent model at nearly four times the price.
The Vectron has an illuminated red dot reticle. but this has no advantage for benchrest,
unless you are trying to shoot after dusk, as the dot is large and blurred
compared with the reticle's basic target dot.
The plain target dot is far preferable.
The 'scope has 1/8th. minute clicks - just about sufficient.
(The costly Sightron now comes with 1/10 MOA adjustment.)
The Walther ready for the off.
Here shown fitted with a tubular attachment to the accessory rail for stability on the rest,
with no interference to height adjustment during a shoot.
It is within the 75mm width permissible by the NSRA rules.
The black tube behind is the rest's spirit level.
It is possible to purchase a rest, at a price, that permits both elevation and windage adjustment.
This was a type considered, but often costly even if one can be found second-hand.
One team shooter opted for a brand new item that would adjust in both planes,
although the windage and locking knobs are all but out of reach
without removing one's butt supporting hand from its position.
Returning to the rifles themselves, one determined shooter purchased
a quite late Anschutz rifle at auction, here shown on its arrival.
After a few adjustments in the butt area
it was put through its paces on the 50 mtr. range
An older Anschutz adjustable butt-plate has been used as a height-adjustable hand support.
Hover over or Click image to bring up hi-res file
Here the earlier Anschutz in the foreground has its cheek-piece used as a butt-plate,
and the butt-plate used as an adjustable hand rest.
The competitor who had acquired at auction that particularly good-value
almost new Anschutz "Precise" model, with a good 'scope included,
(retiring his trusty Leupold for the time being)
improved stability by the addition of a large aluminium beam to
replace the over-flexible and expensive proprietary
benchrest ladder frame that came with the rifle.
The consideration of "pinch' trigger let-off led to the modification shown below,
a component of which may be recognisable to historic rifle shooters.
Not entirely happy with the arrangement, an alternative pistol-grip was designed and tested.
Further consideration was given to the butt arrangement,
with a fine curved under-butt hand rest being engineered.
The above design allowed an unintended lateral "roll" to the hold,
and a flatter, warmer-to-the-touch amendment took place.
But proving too short 'front-to-back there came a further alteration;
lenghthening the hand-rest, which is also adjustable for horizontal angle.
One shooter's major project has been the building of a one-off BR rifle.
Requiring the removal of an Anschutz 2013/2007 square action from its donor rifle.
Along with the trigger unit .......
For which a slot needed to be cut in the proposed new steel stock.
A very important component involved the acquisition of a new 21" barrel by Lilja.
With its ability to rotate same to obtain the best harmonics regardless of extractor position,
with the need of the usual machined slot for the extractor in the breech face,
replaced with a coned breech-end.
The new barrel clamped into the action.
The purchase of the new all metal stock.
And a barrel tuner.
A sleeve had to be made to adapt the tuner to the lesser diameter of the new barrel.
The test fitting of the action to the new stock, prior to stock completion.
The careful bedding to permit access to the trigger!
Shaping of the stock.
Test fitting of action and 'scope.
And the simple butt-plate without the complication of adjustment,
the dimensions being derived from try-fitting on the bench.
The frontal view, with tuner in place.
The simple but solid trigger-guard, designed for a thumb/fore-finger 'pinch' let-off.
Trial on the rest, now modified to permit elevation adjustment
within reach of the right hand,
allowing the left hand to remain under the butt between shots.
Stock finishing in the spray-shop.
The barrelled action fitted into finished stock.
Trigger unit complete.
Showing the rear four of the action's six bedding bolts.
A first trial and 'scope setup was achieved prone at the local 15 yard indoor range.
The 10-shot 7.2mm group shown below, shot
on an NSRA 15 yd. diagram on that occasion.
The diameter of the 15 yard bull is 9.85mm.
Further group improvement and barrel tuning was undertaken using the test bench at 50 mtrs.
Then first target trials on the 50 mtr. range.
The bench setup - showing elevation wheel gear extension now within easy reach of right hand.
Already modified to permit height adjustment to be more easily made with the right hand,
as previously mentioned, it was decided to modify the inexpensive rest to also have
windage adjustment, by fitting a lead-screw underneath that linked to a sliding plate on top.
The sliding windage plate.
Arranging the gear linkage meshing to accommodate the accompanying
elevation adjustment proved tricky.
And although an ungainly sprung setup made this possible ..........
.......... the similarity to some of Roland Emett's and Heath-Robinson's inventions
was likely to cause mirth and unwarranted critical comment on the points!
So an alternative method was decided upon, using a right-angle gearbox
gifted by a friend who had motorised his previously hand-operated honey stirrer.
Operated by a model aircraft wheel, the system cunningly and
automatically adjusts position as the rest is raised or lowered.
As may have been spotted previously,
the new rifle has been named for the barrel, the action .....
............ and the 'girder' to which they have been mounted.
Here first used in competition on the indoor 25 yd. range.
And, outdoor at 50 mtrs. - showing the business section.
The most recent modification has changed the rifle from using a free-floating barrel
to a clamped type, approximately 2/3rds. of the distance from breech to muzzle.
A 1-inch telescope ring mount was used.
Twin o-rings are heavily clamped to the barrel,
permitting a flex of only about three 'thou' in each plane, rather than solid clamping.
After fitment of the barrel clamp, a 25 yard test provided a ten-round 8mm group.
This is NOT equivalent to a 16mm group at 50 mtrs,
as a group that would be formed at the muzzle at zero range starts at approximately 5.6mm!
The lower group was prior to a tuner adjustment, proving that, even with the barrel
heavily damped at approximately 2/3rds. along its length,
a tuner remains surprisingly effective.
A good 25 yard practice card, (sadly and typically not a comp. card), is shown below.
This elegant creature previously shown is already being challenged by a new development.
Here, the first showing of an in-build new design - bar none!
The beginnings of a prototype of the latest model of "LEK" rifle - the 'LEK BR Special'.
Not exactly a hole in one ........
....... as the aluminium bar for the stock was too long to fit across the lathe milling head,
so the slot for the trigger mechansim had to be chain drilled.
Small-bore activity?
The mounting holes for the Grunig & Elmiger R3 Racer action being drilled.
Are you cut out for benchrest?
The progressing attempt to Racer head in competition!
Who among us can see the similarity to a Swedish 1896 Mauser?
The long and the short of it ............
....... and a sneak view of the aerodynamics of the undertray,
with the array of what look like 'titanium' bump stops
that would shower sparks on a race track.
After tidying the slot.
The test rig on the 25 yard range!
No sign of any extraneous accessories;
just a clean-lined lightweight version of a heavy BR Rifle!
And, in the best tradition, the new product is not completely devoid of fine timber,
sporting a well-seasoned hickory 'pistol-grip'.
And, what's more, the rifle is living up to all prospective hopes,
with a first test card showing a score of "100.7",
worryingly challenging for competitors considering the rfle has yet to be "tuned"!
The next requirement was for a butt elevation system.
For which the builder, after drilling many more holes,
had to tap into all his resources .......
.......... including more cannibalised Anschutz parts for butt height adjustment,
and even some more wood for tradition's sake,
prio r to the assembly of the various stock components.
The "LEK" stock being finished and assembled.
AND FINALLY - "GERT" APPEARS IN COMPETITION
Hover over or Click image to bring up hi-res file
Mid April - 2024
Hover over or Click image to bring up hi-res file
Hover over or Click image to bring up hi-res file
LATEST
NEW BENCHES as of May 2024
This excellent professionally produced collapsible portable bench replaced the old home-made folding model that was frankly insufficiently stable, showing significant movement through the 'scope around the target, particularly when moving to adjust the elevation and returning to the firing position.
But even the heavy, stiffer new table showed more than ideal movement in the same way, with the rear of the bench table only being supported centrally. This allowed a warping twist across the bench near the elbow, arm and hand resting points that showed up in the telescope's sight picture.
Stiffening folding supports have been added either side to alleviate problem and reduce the movement.
Click image for explanatory video
Below: the bench as it would be unbolted for transport.
Left: the base frame and bench top with supports folded.
Right: the whole as it would be put in the car.
.............. 
Click HERE for video giving detail of the additional stiffening struts.
And the new bench's first range outing.
A well-known member's well-used and hitherto adequate home-produced bench on the right
is also about to be replaced by another of the fine Yorkshire sourced de-mountable bench on the left.
.See: detail of Colchester Rifle Club's BR progression
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