Another Hunter Class Question

[LesterF]

Can one use a 40X rimfire single shot action to build a legal Hunter Class rifle?    I seem to think this would be legal, but would it be frowned upon?
Thanks

[stsbuyer]

LesterF


Yes you can, here is a picture of mine. It has a 25" #5 Lilja barrel, Jewell 2 stage triiger, Brown Pres. silhouette stock, Burris rings with Leupold BRD 36 power scope. I am in the process of having another built by Mark Pharr, should be done soon.

Good luck to you, Paul

[GeoNLR]

Can one use a 40X rimfire single shot action to build a legal Hunter Class rifle?    I seem to think this would be legal, but would it be frowned upon?
Thanks

And I can not imagine why someone would frown upon it...

Hunter style stock,
2 pound trigger,
Tapered barrel,
8.5 pounds w/ scope...

Other than that... it's somewhat personal taste...

[blamethewind]

Your custom 40x sure does look sweet.  Have you ever shot this gun at an NRA approved or registered shoot.  That barrel doesn't look like a hunter barrel to me.  Hunter barrels are usually #3 or smaller.  I am wondering if it gets  by the match director.    

Blamethewind

[stsbuyer]

Yes, I have shot this rifle in 4 different state matches. It has passed tech since the new rules for hunter rifle went into effect. The barrel at the muzzle is no bigger than a Anschutz 1712 and smaller than the CZ 452 varmint. My 40-x is under the 8-1/2 lb weight limit and has the required 2lb minimum trigger pull. The gun passed tech at Texas and Louisiana state last year and Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Arkansas the year before.  Take a look at some of the Anschutz 54-18 hunter rifles that Marvin Pearson and Mark Pharr build and if they’re within the rules so is my 40x. Any questions or need any more detail feel free to contact me via email.
Good luck, Paul

Your custom 40x sure does look sweet.  Have you ever shot this gun at an NRA approved or registered shoot.  That barrel doesn't look like a hunter barrel to me.  Hunter barrels are usually #3 or smaller.  I am wondering if it gets  by the match director.    

Blamethewind

[blamethewind]

Yes, I understand the rules have been changed, and I have ordered a new rulebook.   I was aware that rules had changed for HP, but not smallbore as well.  I welcomed the changes in HP, and built a rifle for Hunter class- 700 in 7mm-08, #4 Douglas.  I rebarreled my 700 V which I used for heavy class, and now shoot one gun in both.  

How well does this gun shoot?  How much do you have into it?   I really can't see much accuracy improvement over a 1712- it would have to be very minimal and in silhouette it wouldn't matter as in would in benchrest.  But, I know how proud you feel when you go to matches with it.  I have built many, many rifles and think I may have finally gotten that out my system.  My wife would cringe if she knew what I have spent over the years.   :grin:

Good shootin'

Blamethewind

[stsbuyer]

Well you ask how well does it shoot? Let just say it is better than most and how much I have in it not much more than a 1712 with the fiberglass stock. All this boils down to, is what you prefer or want.  I have several smallbore hunter rifles and built the 40x because of the rules changing. Not because I thought it was better than my Anschutz 1712, Sako Finnfire, Remington 541, or Briley 10/22 but because I wanted it and could afford it. I guess it come down to you shoot what you like and the rest of use do the same. I don't believe that because we build custom equipment that it makes me or anyone else shoot that much better; in the end we still have to stand and deliver the bullet to the target.

Later, Paul Freeman

Yes, I understand the rules have been changed, and I have ordered a new rulebook.   I was aware that rules had changed for HP, but not smallbore as well.  I welcomed the changes in HP, and built a rifle for Hunter class- 700 in 7mm-08, #4 Douglas.  I rebarreled my 700 V which I used for heavy class, and now shoot one gun in both.  

How well does this gun shoot?  How much do you have into it?   I really can't see much accuracy improvement over a 1712- it would have to be very minimal and in silhouette it wouldn't matter as in would in benchrest.  But, I know how proud you feel when you go to matches with it.  I have built many, many rifles and think I may have finally gotten that out my system.  My wife would cringe if she knew what I have spent over the years.   :grin:

Good shootin'

Blamethewind

[blamethewind]

Your comments are right on.  I thought I said that in the previous post.  I certainly didn't mean to offend you, and admired your weapon.  The gun will not make the shooter, and a man's money is his to spend the way he wishes.  Like I said, I have spent thousands chasing equipement, and had lots of fun doing it.   I would not do it again, however, and money is the not the issue.    

A HP shooter friend of mine tells a neat story.  He was a high master shooter in his prime, and is still a very good shot.  He had just purchased a M14.  It was a club, ugly as sin.  He didn't do anything to it, but develop a good load.  He took it to a match.  A US Army team was present, and they all had tricked out rifles.  Their armorer was present, and upon examining my buddie's weapon, offered to let him shoot one of the Army's rifles.  My friend declined, and won the match.   Nuff said.  

Blamethewind.

[dave imas]

keep in mind that intrinsic accuracy (off the bench) is only a small part of the equation.  functional accuracy is, assuming the rifle actually shoots somewhat straight, far more important to performance.
dave

[stsbuyer]

Dave,

I agree with you about bench accuracy only being a small part or our needs. For me the most important thing is that the first shot from the rifle goes were your pointing. I have one gun that has a first shot that goes way off and then will put everything after in a nice tight group. If I was shooting benchrest it would not be a problem. But as a silhouette rifle to deal with it is more trouble than it's worth.
Paul

keep in mind that intrinsic accuracy (off the bench) is only a small part of the equation.  functional accuracy is, assuming the rifle actually shoots somewhat straight, far more important to performance.
dave

[blamethewind]

Was the flyer problem your 541?   Mine did the same thing.

Blamethewind

[stsbuyer]

No, flyer problem was with another 40x this one bedded into a McMillan thumbhole silhouette stock by them. It has a 17-1/2" Lilja barrel with 17 twist tite bore with bloop tube. It started off putting the first shot high about 1-1/2" at the chickens next shot a 1/2" then to point of aim. Not sure what the problem was tried every brand of ammo with the same results.  After several thousand round it is better but now if I shoot a standard rifle I use my 54-18 or just shoot my hunter gun twice.

Paul

Was the flyer problem your 541?   Mine did the same thing.

Blamethewind

[blamethewind]

My 541T-HB would print shot 1 of any 5 shot group 2" high at 40 meters.  The next 4 shots would be on zero and in one ragged hole.  My gunsmith said it was likely a bedding problem.  I tried everything- bedding and floating, a reverse recoil bedding lug, and forward pressure point. Nothing worked.  This gun only had 1 action screw, and no recoil lug.  I personally felt the barrel was too long for the action, and the stock was too small.  I got rid of it.  

I learned to shoot low on the first shot, but this was tough to compute at 4 different distances.  Once at a shoot, I was shooter #1 and on chickens.  I failed to compensate on shot #1 and missed.  I shot a 9 the hard way!    


Blamethewind :grin: [/i]