Hunter Benchrest

Buckmastr

Buckmastr

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Does anyone shoot this? I ended up with a HBR rifle in 308 win out of estate recently. In 308 win. Not shot in competition at my gun club but must be somewhere.

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Not many guys or girls use 308 for br anymore, depending on the twist rate it could be turned into a 30br depending on how much you are into it you could always go to a 6br with a new barrel.

Not sure but they have relaxed the regs. On hunter class in the last few Years but they may have required a factory round back in the day but don't know for sure.... either way I would keep it as builds like that are hard to find up here in canada.
 
I think the hunter br requirement is greater than 45gr case capacity. And the 308 cal bullet is slightly better shot for score than a 6mm. But what do I know… I’ve never done it.
 
This is the best online description I could find on Hunter Benchrest by “boltman”
I have been shooting HBR for years. It's a blast. Others have mentioned some of the rules but also some things that are not rules. HBR is not group shooting. The target is a bullseye with scoring rings. Each target has 5 bullseyes for score and the right lower on as a sighter. The shooter has 7 minutes to fire one shot for score in each of the 5 targets and as many sighters as needed. Matches consist of 25 shots for record on 5 target sheets at 100 yards, and the same course of fire at 200 yards. Some matches also go to 300 yards where there are 2 bulls eyes, the top for score and the bottom for sighters. Five shots are fired into the top one for score and group size in irrelevant. Page 240 of the latest Sinclair Catalog has a picture of the targets. Rifles and scopes can weigh no more than 10#. Actions must have an opening in the bottom for a magazine, but do not have to have a working mag. Maximum caliber is 30. The case must have at least the capacity of the 30-30 Win case. Scopes must be 6 power or less and varables must be set to 6 or less power. Wind flags are allowed and quite common. The forend of the stock can be no wider than 2.25" but may be flat. Firing is off the bench with front machine rests and rear bags. Common cases are the 30/47mm, the 308, a 30-30 with the rim turned down to fit a 308 bolt face, and some shoot the 7/08. The 6.5 CM necked up would be legal as would a 300 Savage. The 30 BR, as well as any other BR or PPC case has insufficient case capacity. A 6.5X47 would be legal but gives away a lot of size on the target to a 7.62 hole, as would the 6.5 CM. Most shooters use light for cal bullets in the 110-140 gr range. Custom bullets are popular but match grade bullets are also used. Most rifles have a 1:12 to a 1;14 twist. Most chambers are minimum spec with tight necks. Case prep is similar to formal group benchrest prep. Fixed 6 power scopes with adjustable objectives and target type turrets are preferred as their light weight can result in heavier and stiffer barrels. Weaver T6's and Burris 6 powers are the most common, but there are others. Custom actions or trued Remington 700's are by far the most common, and custom barrels on the stiff side. McMillan HBR stocks are very common but there are others. Kevlar or fiberglass due to the light weight are almost universal. Shooters want the most accurate, and light recoiling set up they can get. A big match will have many shooters shooting a clean 100 yard stage with a high X count, say more than 15. In good conditions there may be a clean score at 200 but with a lower X count. When you see how small the 10 ring is you will appreciate how challenging this is with only a 6 power scope and 10 # rifle. The 100 yd 10 ring is 0.5" and 200 yd is 1.0". Our matches also allow non legal varmet rifles, with any cal of 30 or less, and scopes at 6 power or less. These rifles are usually competitive with all but the best HBR shooters. I would encourage anyone interested to start with informal matches using the HBR targets, and if it catches on those who want to compete formally and on a regional or national level can build a HBR legal rifle.
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https://www.65creedmoor.com/index.php?topic=1994.0
 
110 Sierras with H335 at 3370 fps were ragholing nicely. It’s a neat piece the guy had put together. The Leupold is compact 6x AO with target turrets and the smallest crosshair dot I’ve ever seen. I need to locate a HBR target to have a pretend match against myself.

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If I remember correctly the X ring is a 1/16" dot. We shot the .308 a lot back in the 70's. You could use a 6x18 scope and shoot in Hunter and Sported class... it just kicked the crap out of you. The most accurate Hunter class rifle I ever saw was a factory 700 heavy barrel BDL owned by Al Mirdoch.
 
Kudos to those who can shoot a Hunter class rifle. I shot a 30BR in 10.5 lbs for a while, not very friendly. Not so much the kick but the torque in the bags.

So to shoot the scores that guys do with todays 30BR's and 6X scopes kudos to them. That is a definition of a tuned rifle, well built rifle, and great bench setup and technique.
 
You need to weigh that rifle to be sure it doesn't exceed the ten pound weight limit and the muzzle diameter had to be 7/8 inch or less if memory serves

Looking at that barrel taper your rig may be overweight.

It really all depends on where you shoot and who you shoot with.

If you only shoot at one range then it will be the rules of that range/club.

If you shoot at several ranges, then some can be real sticklers for the rules being followed.

The six power scope mentioned just indicates the limit of magnification you are allowed to shoot. Ofen there were shooters with much higher magnification capabilities and as long as they taped the scopes adjustment dials down all was well. I don't ever recall any of the match organizers getting upset when someone would show up with a 6.5-24 power scope, as long as it was set to the lowest setting.

I have a set of those scope ring/base combos on one of my rifles and if they're lapped for true, they work very well.

That's a nice rifle and that's what I used to shoot, 308Win, through a Hart barrel with a 1-14 twist rate.
 
Who did that rifle come from? In hunter class, some people do still shoot 308's, but most use a shortened case. Back in the 70's and early 80's, it was common to shoot 168 grain bullets instead of the 118 to 130 grain which are popular today. The rifle that Dennis mentioned was indeed an incredibly accurate rifle; especially for a factory gun.
 
Thanks RJ. Those are Kelby rings I believe. What talley lightweights were modelled after.

Leeper, this gun was in an estate from a guy from Bowness here in Calgary. I ended up with 3 vintage Remington BR guns including this one. A few other small caliber rifles too. I don’t have his name but I like his taste in rifles.
 
This was one of the other vintage BR rifles in 6ppc. The third was a lighter 6ppc I have torn apart and will make into a sporter. These BR rifles all had three lever trigger conversions. Kelby rings.

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Buckmastr said:
These BR rifles all had three lever trigger conversions. /QUOTE]

There is a chance I may have made one or more of those conversions... I did a few in the 70's in Calgary while at Barotto Sports. Usually set at 4 to 8 ounces... 2 ounces is ridiculous.
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A nice three lever trigger conversion is an amazing trigger for target or varmint work. Gets down to ounces, too light for me but adjusted up to a pound or so they are great. Rempel did a few for me. Jard and Jewell I think are the commercial 3 lever versions now.
 
I’m not sure RJ
I would have guessed right into the aluminum but maybe there is a steel sleeve in there. Doesn’t feel like it though.
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