Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
First off, thanks to all the many 'nutz who have followed the post on my 6.5 Mystic project #2. The response and interest has been amazing and I hope more project rifles will come from this.
As I said in that post, I would build another similar rifle just to make sure #2 wasn't a fluke. Well, the rifle is assembled with a few differences to try more new ideas, has been shooting, and doing very well.
I tried to keep all the specs the same. The barrel a 8 or 8.5 twist Gaillard (whatever is his standard 6.5 twist) in a heavy palma contour finished at 30" mounted to a Stevens 200 LA. The chamber and installation was again done very well by Dennis Sorenson. The barrel has a crown flush with the front of the barrel. #2 has a recessed crown. Don't think either makes a difference except in potential damage due to handling. I throated for a longer OAL in a second step.
The action is an untouched factory Stevens. Bolt handle, trigger have been changed. The base is a 20MOA Farrell and a HiScore follower glued into the mag opening. Still not 'finished' but will look just like #2.
A new block is being finished up for this barrel. The barrel has been stepped to 6" in front of the receiver. Just to try something different - don't think it will change much.
At present, #3 barrel is shimmed into the block from #2. Not ideal but has allowed me to start load work up.
I have now shot roughly 200rds and there are some very interesting observations. First off, the loads working best in #3 were the ones that also worked best in #2. The lapua 139gr Scenar is again working wonderfully.
The chamber is a smidge larger then #2 so I will need a complete set of brass for each rifle. I was hoping to use one set for both.
Accuracy at 200yds with #3 has not been as amazing as from #2. Best 5 rds averages is 1/4 MOA. There are clusters that are smaller but there is always one or two just out of the group. This opens the groups to 1/2" C to C. I am wondering if the fit in the block has something to do with this.
For testing, instead of playing a lot with powder amounts (I wanted to keep the ammo the same for both rifles), I played with seating depths. Wow, this bullet is very sensitive to that. When just on or well on the lands, this bullets sprays in an almost straight line.
Backing off to about 10 thou off the lands, and most shots snug right up. The OAL is now the same as in #2. If only the cases were the same size....
I will also play with annealing as the brass has now survived over a dozen firings. Amazingly the primer pockets are still tight. The necks need a bit of trimming and a skim cut to remove some brass flow but otherwise, the brass looks great. There is little issue with the lock up on these Stevens.
I have only had one day to shoot at 300m. The first group was shot under almost calm air (temp around 3C). The 4 shots snugged right up inside 1" with three touching. Wind picked up pushing the next group horizontally a few inches but only 1" tall. Group 3 was a bit calmer with three in an inch, then number 4 off horizontally about an inch, with number 5 WAAAAYYY out.
The final 5 shots were in a wonderful 4" group. We keep reading the question 'how do I know when to clean my rifle?". Well, this is exactly when you know. It was very obvious seeing the groups open up dramatically over those last 6 shots. The barrel had digested 60+rds at this point.
I know that once cleaned, the groups will close right back up again. This barrel definitely needs to be cleaned more often then #2 and goes from shooting great to spray&pray right now.
Will try some light cleaning at each 20rds and see if I can keep it shooting longer. Important to know as an F Class day is usually 50 to 75rds.
Although not shooting the type of bughole accuracy of #2, this rifle is capable of shooting 1", maybe better at 300m which is more then enough to shoot a clean score in F class.
I am now playing with the stock and rests to set this rifle up for prone shooting. The rear bag is now a Protektor front bag (#17) which works great with the 2" wide flat buttstock. This should really help with tracking. Something new to get used to.
Due to a recurring shoulder injury, I am forced to shoot free recoil now. Really weird when you first start but am getting used to it. Quality and alignment of bag and stock is now even more critical or you do get flyers. Will be interesting to see how shooting this rifle prone with free recoil works out.
So for now, I can say that my idea of using a barrel block to aid in a Savage/Stevens action shoot like a custom actioned match rifle has been verified. It does work and with the generous F class weight, a great way to control barrel and barrel heat.
Both rifles are capable of shooting clean scores even with the new 1/2 MOA X ring IF you can drive it.
The Gaillard barrel is very consistent and accurate. I would love to have had this second barrel shoot as well but being able to shoot solidly in the 2's out to 300m, I can't really complain.
When the new block arrives, I will post pics and give a full test report. I hope the snow will not be too deep by then or else in the spring. Maybe groups will get better?????
If the goal is to take up F class or other forms of LR competition, the Savage/Stevens action is more then capable of being competitive at very low cost IF you can use something to help with barrel support. You do need a top notch barrel and it is nice to have so many great makers in Canada. After properly installed, a careful test and work up with quality components especially bullets will lead to satisfying results.
Pay attention to your stock shape and fit. Ensure the bedding is solid and tight. A light crisp trigger is essential as are quality optics with reliable adjustments (still using the Elite 4200 6X24 w/mil dots in Burris Sig rings w/ inserts). The fronts and rear, or bipod rests really play a huge part in your ability to be accurate. Little attention or press is given here but this stuff will make or break your scores.
For those that need to use a bipod, there are some really cool superbly rigid and adjustable designs. See my other post for pics from a manf in Calgary. Sinclair International also has a superb rest. The Harris is functional but I think you get way too much bounce and wiggle to be consistent over the long haul. There are certainly those who have figured out how to use the rest with amazing results. Just not the way I would go.
I will post more thoughts and info as I get more trigger time.
Barrel wear on #2 has been fantastic at 900rds (H4831SC). Although crudely measured, it looks like the throat has only moved 20thou to date. This bodes well for a barrel life of approx 3000rds, maybe more, before needing to be set back. Will be interesting to see what really happens over the next year or two.
Jerry
As I said in that post, I would build another similar rifle just to make sure #2 wasn't a fluke. Well, the rifle is assembled with a few differences to try more new ideas, has been shooting, and doing very well.
I tried to keep all the specs the same. The barrel a 8 or 8.5 twist Gaillard (whatever is his standard 6.5 twist) in a heavy palma contour finished at 30" mounted to a Stevens 200 LA. The chamber and installation was again done very well by Dennis Sorenson. The barrel has a crown flush with the front of the barrel. #2 has a recessed crown. Don't think either makes a difference except in potential damage due to handling. I throated for a longer OAL in a second step.
The action is an untouched factory Stevens. Bolt handle, trigger have been changed. The base is a 20MOA Farrell and a HiScore follower glued into the mag opening. Still not 'finished' but will look just like #2.
A new block is being finished up for this barrel. The barrel has been stepped to 6" in front of the receiver. Just to try something different - don't think it will change much.
At present, #3 barrel is shimmed into the block from #2. Not ideal but has allowed me to start load work up.
I have now shot roughly 200rds and there are some very interesting observations. First off, the loads working best in #3 were the ones that also worked best in #2. The lapua 139gr Scenar is again working wonderfully.
The chamber is a smidge larger then #2 so I will need a complete set of brass for each rifle. I was hoping to use one set for both.
Accuracy at 200yds with #3 has not been as amazing as from #2. Best 5 rds averages is 1/4 MOA. There are clusters that are smaller but there is always one or two just out of the group. This opens the groups to 1/2" C to C. I am wondering if the fit in the block has something to do with this.
For testing, instead of playing a lot with powder amounts (I wanted to keep the ammo the same for both rifles), I played with seating depths. Wow, this bullet is very sensitive to that. When just on or well on the lands, this bullets sprays in an almost straight line.
Backing off to about 10 thou off the lands, and most shots snug right up. The OAL is now the same as in #2. If only the cases were the same size....
I will also play with annealing as the brass has now survived over a dozen firings. Amazingly the primer pockets are still tight. The necks need a bit of trimming and a skim cut to remove some brass flow but otherwise, the brass looks great. There is little issue with the lock up on these Stevens.
I have only had one day to shoot at 300m. The first group was shot under almost calm air (temp around 3C). The 4 shots snugged right up inside 1" with three touching. Wind picked up pushing the next group horizontally a few inches but only 1" tall. Group 3 was a bit calmer with three in an inch, then number 4 off horizontally about an inch, with number 5 WAAAAYYY out.
The final 5 shots were in a wonderful 4" group. We keep reading the question 'how do I know when to clean my rifle?". Well, this is exactly when you know. It was very obvious seeing the groups open up dramatically over those last 6 shots. The barrel had digested 60+rds at this point.
I know that once cleaned, the groups will close right back up again. This barrel definitely needs to be cleaned more often then #2 and goes from shooting great to spray&pray right now.
Will try some light cleaning at each 20rds and see if I can keep it shooting longer. Important to know as an F Class day is usually 50 to 75rds.
Although not shooting the type of bughole accuracy of #2, this rifle is capable of shooting 1", maybe better at 300m which is more then enough to shoot a clean score in F class.
I am now playing with the stock and rests to set this rifle up for prone shooting. The rear bag is now a Protektor front bag (#17) which works great with the 2" wide flat buttstock. This should really help with tracking. Something new to get used to.
Due to a recurring shoulder injury, I am forced to shoot free recoil now. Really weird when you first start but am getting used to it. Quality and alignment of bag and stock is now even more critical or you do get flyers. Will be interesting to see how shooting this rifle prone with free recoil works out.
So for now, I can say that my idea of using a barrel block to aid in a Savage/Stevens action shoot like a custom actioned match rifle has been verified. It does work and with the generous F class weight, a great way to control barrel and barrel heat.
Both rifles are capable of shooting clean scores even with the new 1/2 MOA X ring IF you can drive it.
The Gaillard barrel is very consistent and accurate. I would love to have had this second barrel shoot as well but being able to shoot solidly in the 2's out to 300m, I can't really complain.
When the new block arrives, I will post pics and give a full test report. I hope the snow will not be too deep by then or else in the spring. Maybe groups will get better?????
If the goal is to take up F class or other forms of LR competition, the Savage/Stevens action is more then capable of being competitive at very low cost IF you can use something to help with barrel support. You do need a top notch barrel and it is nice to have so many great makers in Canada. After properly installed, a careful test and work up with quality components especially bullets will lead to satisfying results.
Pay attention to your stock shape and fit. Ensure the bedding is solid and tight. A light crisp trigger is essential as are quality optics with reliable adjustments (still using the Elite 4200 6X24 w/mil dots in Burris Sig rings w/ inserts). The fronts and rear, or bipod rests really play a huge part in your ability to be accurate. Little attention or press is given here but this stuff will make or break your scores.
For those that need to use a bipod, there are some really cool superbly rigid and adjustable designs. See my other post for pics from a manf in Calgary. Sinclair International also has a superb rest. The Harris is functional but I think you get way too much bounce and wiggle to be consistent over the long haul. There are certainly those who have figured out how to use the rest with amazing results. Just not the way I would go.
I will post more thoughts and info as I get more trigger time.
Barrel wear on #2 has been fantastic at 900rds (H4831SC). Although crudely measured, it looks like the throat has only moved 20thou to date. This bodes well for a barrel life of approx 3000rds, maybe more, before needing to be set back. Will be interesting to see what really happens over the next year or two.
Jerry
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