Tony,

What kind of $ do you plan on spending? Several factory actions can be used as a base for a bench gun. Win. 52's, Rem. 40X, Suhl 150, and various Anzchutz actions. There are factory barrels that are hummers but, don't plan on every one being benchrest accurate. At the very minimum you will need to restock a factory rifle and bed it. Conventoinal wisdom dictates that you should buy a rifle already set up, as apposed the building one from scratch. Occasionally you may find a rifle in the $1,200.00 range that will shoot ok. Most good dedicated bench guns that are competitive run in the $1,800.00 - 2,300.00 range. That said, you may be able to go out and buy a rifle for $500.-800.00 drop it in a stock and shoot for something less than a grand. Depends on where you shoot and how competative you want/have to be. If I were looking for a factory rifle to shoot, I would be looking at Suhl and the Anzshutz.

Ken

 

I agree with TangoTwo that your best bet is to get one that is pretty much ready to go. One place you should look is on the Benchrest Central Classifieds:
http://www.benchrest.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.cgi?db=aaafirearms&website=&language=&session_key=
There are several guns there in the $900 -$1000+ range (these are all without scopes I think, add another $400+ for a scope at least). One question to ask yourself is what do you want this rifle for. Sanctioned matches? What class (sporter, 10.5 lbs, 13.5 lbs, unlimited, etc. There are subtle differences in the classes depending on which orginization's match your are shooting).
A couple of things I'd suggest:
1) Find a buddy locally who is shooting RF BR or go to a match and see what people are shooting and ask questions.
2) If you buy a rifle sight unseen (photos don't count) ask for an inspection period (3 days is usual) and have it checked out by a gunsmith (borescope barrel, etc.). Make sure it is a gunsmith that knows RF BR.
Now with all that advice, I have to admit that I am new to this game myself, and what I am doing is trying to put together a 10.5 lbs. rifle from a Win 52D. Got a good deal on the rifle from the CMP, found a 52D barrel that had been shortened, installed a trigger, and am reworking a surplus stock myself. When I add it all up I have spent (counting gunsmith work) about $950 and that doesn't include a scope. I could have shaved about $200 or so by just having the trigger re-worked instead of buying a Karl Kenyon one. And will this all pan out for me? Time will tell, but I am a tinkerer and am having fun. Do I wonder if I would be better off buying a used ready to go bench gun? You bet, but again time will tell.
There have been a series of articles in Precision Shooting by Bill Calfee (RF BR guru) about building a rifle, parts I and II covering barrels and actions are in the November 2003 and January 2004 issues. If you can't find them locally you can call PS (860) 645-8215.
Hope that helps and remember it is 2 cents from a newbie.
Jim

 

What TangoTwo says is true. You say you want a "pure" bench gun. Well, there are no factory rifles that I know of, old or new, that are set up for pure bench work. Remington made some 40xs that came with a bench stock, but most of them need work to be competitive. The 52 you saw may shoot really well--some of them are very good with the factory barrel--but you'll need a new stock and trigger work to be truely competitive. I'd suggest getting a used rifle already set up for benchrest competition. Good luck.

 

Forrester's post just reminded me of a thread or two over at BRC. Cooper is currently working on a factory benchrest rifle. They are aiming at the $1,200. price. It will not come with a tuner or scope. It should make a good introduction to benchrest for the uninitiated. They hope to have the rifle available by mid summer, which probably means the season will be over before anybody gets one.

Ken

 

Yes I am looking to make a pure bench gun. But i'm not going to get to crazy with it. I don't really plan on getting into any matches with it. Don't know where any are around Ohio. I just love to shoot groups all day with my CF's but none of my 22's are quite up to it. I was also thinking about a CZ. Are there aftermarket barrels for them?

TONY

 

I have a friend who has a Savage BV and its a good shooting lil' rifle. The only real drawbacks are the narrow stock and the trigger. The trigger is easily fixed(or helped) with a RifleBasix trigger. The stock is another story. If Mike Turner ever gets his equipment up and running and gets caught up on orders you might take a look at his Sporter stock. He originally designed them for 10/22s but word is they can be inletted for several types of actions.
Just don't be in too big of a hurry....His nic-name ain't Speedy..........www.turnercustoms.com

JL

 

Tony,

ARA matches are held at these clubs.
OH Athens Athens Rimfire Club 6 Jerry Graves 740-596-9384 cecil.smith10@verizon.net
OH South Webster Buckeye Rimfire Club 10 Cecil Smith 740-259-4580 cecil.smith10@verizon.net
OH Lancaster Lancaster Pistol & Rifle Club Gene Davis 740-468-2232 gdavis10@columbus.rr.com
OH Milford Miami Rifle & Pistol Club 8 Dave Spurlock 513-248-9733 dspurlock@cinci.rr.com

IR 50/50 at these ranges.
McKeesport Sportsmens Association, McKeesport, Pennsylvania
Keith Wilson 724-837-0670
ir5050@attbi.com
West Virginia

Thomas Mtn Shooters, Cowen, West Virginia
Charles T Sink 304-226-5103
speck2@citlink.net Club web site

Tuckers Creek Rimfire Rifle Club, Elizabeth, West Virginia
Wiley Westfall 304-489-1832
wileygw@netassoc.net

Blue Grass Sportsmens League, Lexington, Kentucky
Joe Jarrell 859-361-0509
FirstFloorLaw@aol.com

Caldwell County Sportsmens Club, Princeton, Kentucky
Steve Wirth 931-358-3537
swirth348@earthlink.net

Mountain State Sportsmen's Association, Parkersburg, West Virginia
Wiley Westfall 304-489-1832
wileygw@netassoc.net

Braxton County Gun Owners, Flatwoods, West Virginia
Jack Phillips 304-364-5445
phillipsjs@rtol.net

Leetown Gun Club, Charles Town, West Virginia
Gene Thompson 304-263-2400

There probably is a range within driving distance that will welcome you. Go check it out. I'm sure wherever you go, the guys will be more than happy to point you in the right direction.

Ken

 

Yes, i am a member at my local range. But unfortunatly they only have skeet matches

TONY

 

There is a factory gun set up for benchrest

Anschutz 2013 BR. I saw one advertised new for $1850.00. I would think it would be fairly competitive. For the tinkerer, it has a trigger that begs to be tinkered with. About six or seven different adjustments I think.

 

Ovenman--you are correct. I had forgotten that one.

 

"Older" Benchrest Gun? - got another candidate...

Any of the BSA Martini International series:t Take a look at some of the pics down in the Martini forum. *hint* the MkIII has a freefloated barrel. The locktime on these actions is about as fast as you'll find on any rifle, and the triggers are externally adjustable down into less than 1/2lb. and as crisp as an old S&W revolver.
I'm shooting a MkII in the e-mail matches mainly because it outshoots my Winchester 52B.
:t
Oh yea, the price for a good shooter is usually less than $750... paid $399 for mine and haven't 'tweaked' it at all - Just feed it Match ammo

 

Tony, Send me a pm I live in S.E. Ohio and I own a couple of bench guns I will be more than glad to let you try them out to see if you would like the game or not.The guns are not for sale but I can help you find one.
Hold center Jerry Graves
ps they already posted my phone # so you could call also.

 

Tony,

Do your best to take Jerry up on his offer. He is one of the better rimfire shooters you're going to run across. If his rifles aren't for sale they're likely shooters. Jerry, I hope our paths cross one of these days. Would be a pleasure to meet you.

Ken Henderson

 

Ken the pleasure will be mine. I plan on doing a little bit of traveling this year I'm going to try IR50 & Rba I'm getting a suhl ready for 10.5lb now and I'm not for sure about the sporter yet? What would you recomend?
Hold center Jerry

 

Jerry,
Get a sporter that shoots like your 40X. That should do fine. I think Ken has a Sako, as do a lot of people. When you could get Jewell triggers for Sakos they were a good pic. I have a Hall that I like quite a bit, and the 54.18 Anschutz's make good ones. Some are using the ULA's and some shoot Coopers here and there. There are a lot of good ones to pick from. But, most of 'em are finicky as all get out about ammo! At least that's been my experience.

 

Jerry,

Kent is right. I have a Sako,Lilja, Jewel combination. That seems to be as popular as any. Just wish I knew how to shoot it. The Westfalls shoot ULA I think. I KNOW they always beat me. Lots of good rigs out there just have to find one.

Ken

 

The Westfalls range is only about 1hr 15 min from my house and I'm planning on making a few of there matches. I have been thinking of a ULA or a rem.540 series money is getting tight I just ordered two cases of ammo and bought this suhl, stith stock, tuner,scope, rings trigger gaurd,and on and on. Do you think it is possible to get into a sporter for around a grand? and what stock do you guy's use on them sporters? I may just have to wait until next year to build one I found out it's cheaper to do it right once than to half _ ss it several times. Jerry

 

Jerry,
Most of them use a Don Stith stock, because he can make a great stock, and make it light in weight. The light weight is an asset because staying under 7 1/2 lbs. with scope isn't easy with a heavy barrel. I think he can make stocks as light as 16-17 ozs. with still enough wood, for a good wide forearm to ride the rest very well. If you can find a Jewell trigger for a Sako that's a great starting place. Or you could restock a 54.18 Anschutz MSR. They have a great trigger and most of 'em shoot like a house on fire. The ULA's also take a Jewell trigger and makes them a candidate for a BR sporter, cause you just gotta have a great trigger on a rifle that light--IMO.

 

Jerry,

I'll second Kent on the Stith. That's what came on my rifle. The Jewell trigger is the hangup with a Sako now. How about a Rem 541, could that be set up for a grand? Got my sporter at BRC classifieds for $1,400.00 with a Burris scope. May be the way to go, you can buy them right sometimes. One for sale there now for $1.500.00 with scope, shipped too.

What kind of ammo you order?

Ken

 

Master -L I just got in from testing it. I came home from work and there it was I ended up with 1 full case of 4763 and a split case of 4763&4764 they both seemed to shoot good in the remington now if the shoot in the suhl I will have it made for the year anyhow? I may check out a 541 sailor sent me a pm about one for sale. I got to get to bed work comes early tomorow.
Hold center Jerry

 

Jerry,
Does he have any more of the Master L? I wouldn't mind trying some. I have a case of the new Midas "M" that shoot very well--as near as I could tell--when I shot a little of it. Been too cold and windy for me to test anything lately.

 

I think he does give him a call Hoehn sales (636) 745-8144 mine was dropped shipped from kaltron. I think it's going to shoot good I had poor cond. to test in. Jerry

 

Can someone tell me what you are getting in a bench gun as far as accuracy? I have a sporter hunting model that I don't have $500 into that shoots .35-.45 ctc at 50 yards pretty consitent? I am just wondering how much better a bench gun is going to shoot and if it is just slightly more accurate, if that is really for the recreational guy?

 

It cost you

$500.00 to get .34 / .45. It may cost you upwards of $1000.00 per .10 improvement. That last little bit can be very costly indeed, but that is what seperates the winners from the losers [usually]. If you don't shoot competition, you are better off where you are now.

 

what rifle?

Give Gene Davis a E-mail or call, he is a good rifle smith and can fix you up or be able to point you in the right direction!