Gunsmithing Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

[LRI]

My little prodigy is gearing up for the World Fullbore Championships this fall in Australia. I have his rifle in for a makeover. Adding some vents to the forend, a new paint job, and a new barrel so that his chamber will be within requirements.

Not much to look at yet. Here she is before. I built this rifle back in the 04/05 time frame. She's weathered a few storms but by and large is in really good shape.

The new color were going with is Lamborghini Rosso Letto Red. I've debated on "murdering out" the metal work in a sniper gray or Titanium blue, but I think we'll just leave it in the white. There's something to be said for well finished stainless.

And here's "Killer". Kyle Liebetrau.

Kyle is from Lodi Wisconsin and works for Brux Custom Rifle Barrels. His dedication and commitment to long range competition reflects in his list of accomplishments. We are very proud to support Kyle’s shooting and wish him continued success. He is also supported by Lapua.

His shooting resume includes:

• 2 time Wisconsin State Junior Long Range Champion
• 2 time Wisconsin 4 man Team Long Range Champion
• 2006 US Long Range Junior National Champion.
• 2007 “Young Eagles” under 21Long Range National Team Coach
• 2007 Under 21 Long Range High shooter, Team event
• 2009 DCRA (Canadian) Team Match winner
• 2011 Young Eagles World Championships National Team Coach

 

[dukedurham]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

Looks great Chad. Now about this "requirement"? What is it that needs meeting exactly?, curious is all. I know nothing about Fullbore.

 

[TitaniumBlue]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

The chamber needs to meet SAAMI and CIP specs, as well as meeting the Bisley 150 Rule.

 

[LRI]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

Basically it works like this.

If your a tool and chamber your gun with some sort of wizbang 308 you'll be fine. . .right up to the moment the judges tell you to line up and have your chambers inspected. They plop a gauge in there and if the bolt closes hard/doesn't close they then give you two options: Either sit it out or allow them to cram a reamer down your chamber with a tap wrench to open it up.

So, the US Team is playing it safe and they've ginned up a chamber variant known as the 2011 Fullbore. It's also known as the 308 Gamboa, named for Mr. Robert Gamboa out in Ca. (hell of a good ol chit!)

The differences between the two are so insignificant that it's not worth mentioning. Essentially the two are identical.

This in conjunction with the chamber gauge ensures the rifle is compliant with the host country rules/regs.

This year the teams hope to shoot Lapua brass/bullets/loads for the entire event. Hopefully this works out as the Radway Green ammo used in Bisley (2003) left a lot to be desired.

FWIW last spring I barreled this bugger up with a Mark Chanlynn stick and I used the 308 Gamboa reamer in anticipation of this rule. Just to be a good little smith I decided we'd better hang the new tuhmater stake on there just to be safe. Bummer cause the chanlynn barrels are bad ass, hard to get, and the gun holds 1/3moa for elevation when the young scholar is doing his part.

Hope this helped.

C

 

[dukedurham]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

Yep, thanks for taking the time.

 

[jetmd]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

Chad,

When you refer to Radway Green used in the past Bisley (2003) surely this is a different ammo than the Radway Green surplus which is sold on the open market?

Which my HK91 enjoys eating!

 

[LRI]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

Nope, same stuff.

Humbling. . .

 

[forseti007]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

looks great and I look forward to seeing you all down here later in the year. It is my local range and I can't wait for the comp to start!

 

[LRI]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

Stock leaves today for the painter.

I'll be barreling her up this weekend along with "someone's" little Sako. . .

More to come.

C

 

[LRI]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

Some updates:

Getting ready to barrel this bugger.

I start by tossing the tuhmater stake in the ol manual to pick the high/low point of the crown. This is to index the barrel so that it's clocked on the vertical plane. Should make zeros a bit more consistent when moving from 800, 900, and 1000. Nothing exciting, just throwing an indicator on the muzzle and finding the high spot.

Then it's marked with a carefully calibrated sharpie marker.

Now onto the setup. As covered in other threads I do the barrel is indicated at the location where the barrel initially gets a "taste" of the bullet.

From here the program is loaded, the Z axis zero position is established and we let her rip. The tennon gets profiled and the threads are "roughed" in-meaning they exist but aren't to proper size yet.

Meanwhile I've begun tearing the old barreled action apart. One thing I always do regardless of how sure I am of the screws is REMOVE both base screws from the action before pulling the receiver. One can never be too sure that there's nothing in the way of the thread as it comes apart.

Experience is never cheap!

The "young scholar" is going to be getting a phone call. Smoke rings on the bolt face and a lug that's slightly boogered.

Damn kids!

 

[LRI]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

One thing I Loooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeee about Neskika actions. Even when they are chewed up like this the bolt fit is so good I can lap one back in a matter of minutes. She's all cleaned up now and were ready to start fitting the tennon to the receiver.

 

[LRI]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

Now for the "cool" part.

Remember what I said about the clocking of the barrel? Here's how this part works. Essentially now the barrel is ready for chambering, aside from the breech face is set at .020" which is a bit much for a gun like this.

When I drew my line on the cylinder indicating the "up" position of the muzzle I timed it with one of the splits on the collet that clamps around the barrel in the machine.

Nesika actions are an 18 pitch thread. That's .0556 per rotation. The collet has 3 splits so we divide the .0556 by 3 know how much "climb" there is on the thread between the collet splits. That figure is .0185". (and a chit load of 3's on the end)

Pay attention kids cause this also makes fluted barrels a snap to install. If I screw the action on all the way and it doesn't time up with the right split in the collet (in this case, the one synchronized with my magic marker line)all I have to do is rotate the action counterclockwise on the tennon till it catches the one that's closest. Then we get out the feeler gauges and measure the gap between the lug and shoulder. In this case its .0035". For this application the index point is the very next collet split. Add .0035" to .01853" and we get .0220". That's how much must come off the shoulder to get us timed up. That's also in a perfect world with no crush when clamming up a receiver on a tennon.

Experience has taught me that to get the 125lbs I want with a Nesika I need to allow for around .0025" of crush. so, we subtract .0025" from .022" and we get (drumroll please) .01953"

That's the magic number to come off the shoulder to time the barrel to the receiver.

With a fluted barrel its the same way. Only here you may have to swag it a bit to find both the index point and the flute. Sometimes they are perfectly aligned, in most cases they aren't. What I do is get the flute that's closest and run with it. It's a little more complicated if you have a flute count that doesn't divide evenly with the collet splits (or # of jaws on a chuck) but it still works.

Easy stuff!

Hope this helps.

C

 

[LRI]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

And were done with that part.

Came out purrttyy dern nice I think.

Now onto crowning but first I have to run home and grab the ladder sight assy off my rifle. Kyle's been using a fixed front globe. I'm gonna set him up with a ladder so he's not cranking on the Warner sight so much when changing yardages.

 

[LRI]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

Here's a few more.

Engraving the barrel with some of Kyle's sponsors.

Not too "chabby." Projected tool path on a tapered cylindrical surface using a 4th axis.

Took a bit to sort the programming but I finally got it! I'm stoked!

 

[Cigarcop]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

I don't think "WOW" would properly state what I'm thinking!! Very nice indeed

 

[LRI]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

Photos don't do this justice. I'm not usually one to "attaboy" myself but I do have to say this came out pretty cool lookin.

Here she is with the ladder sight I made for my palma rifle back when I worked for the "Big N".

 

[Papagrizzly]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: C. Dixon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Photos don't do this justice. I'm not usually one to "attaboy" myself but I do have to say this came out pretty cool lookin.

Here she is with the ladder sight I made for my palma rifle back when I worked for the "Big N".

</div></div>


Yup - pretty nice!

You must have programmed with the radius and the taper. Neat!

 

[LRI]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

Final assembly.

Not too chabby me thinks. . .

I'll giter buffed up here and take it outside. Shop lighting doesn't do the paint justice.

 

[cattle buyer]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

freaking awesome, give us a range report when you start sending 'em.

 

[trigger time]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

Outstanding work, and best of luck to the young man driving her.

 

[wolfman]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

NICE! One hell of a rifle there.

 

[jeepwilson]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

Chad Do you suck at anything?

There is one thing I can say about your work.You definately take PRIDE in it and it shows.

 

[LRI]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

Painting. I suck at it.

Drywall mudding. I REALLY suck at it.


Running a screw into drywall and missing the stud. I'm an absolute PROFESSIONAL.


Making cookies. I screw that up as well. Just ask the little woman. . .

Thanks for the kind words guys.

I'll have some shop pics up later on that thread.

C

 

[Bernarde]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

That is one awesome looking stick Chad!

 

[Jim See]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

Chad, Kyle likes pink! you need a little pink on that gun.

 

[John L]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jim See</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Chad, Kyle likes pink! you need a little pink on that gun. </div></div>

I know there is a smartass comment hidden in here but I'm lettin it go.

 

[John L]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: C. Dixon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Painting. I suck at it.

Drywall mudding. I REALLY suck at it.


Running a screw into drywall and missing the stud. I'm an absolute PROFESSIONAL.


Making cookies. I screw that up as well. Just ask the little woman. . .

Thanks for the kind words guys.

I'll have some shop pics up later on that thread.

C </div></div>

Now did I or did I not offer to drag my laid off butt out there to help you with them painting chores? Good talking to you today.

 

[LRI]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: John L</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: C. Dixon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Painting. I suck at it.

Drywall mudding. I REALLY suck at it.


Running a screw into drywall and missing the stud. I'm an absolute PROFESSIONAL.


Making cookies. I screw that up as well. Just ask the little woman. . .

Thanks for the kind words guys.

I'll have some shop pics up later on that thread.

C </div></div>

Now did I or did I not offer to drag my laid off butt out there to help you with them painting chores? Good talking to you today. </div></div>


You did! And I know better cause you'd just make fun of how I slap paint on the walls.

Airlines are up and pressure tested, woo hoo! Only two little leaks. I'll fix them in the morning.

I'm outa here!

 

[Trevor]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

that is a sweet rifle nice build pics.

quick question do you know how much weight was taken out of the stock when you added the vents?
I have the same stock Robertson H&H but shoot FTR with a weight limit every ounce counts.

thanks
Trevor

 

[LRI]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

Trevor.

When putting a rifle on a diet the stock is generally the worst place to go looking. You end up with a big pile of chips that don't weigh anything. Least that's been my experience.

I couldn't tell you what the vent cuts did for the overall weight. My guess is very, very, very little.

Hope this helps.

C

 

[Trevor]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

Your right. I was hoping that maybe you did a before and after just for reporting purposes. The stock is a poor location to lose ounces initially. I think i will be starting with my three way butt system turning it into swiss cheese first.

Trevor

 

[wolfman]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Trevor</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Your right. I was hoping that maybe you did a before and after just for reporting purposes. The stock is a poor location to lose ounces initially. I think i will be starting with my three way butt system turning it into swiss cheese first.

Trevor </div></div>

Or ditch the three way butt all together... You've got a good low shooting position- I bet you'd never miss the adjustment.

 

[aggiesig]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

work of art....


I wish I had the ability to create something so precise, beautiful, and functional. Best of luck to the shooter, and a wholehearted thanks you for letting us be privy to the magic behind the curtain!

 

[Lindy]

Re: Getting ready for 2011 Fullbore Championships. . .

That is a work of art! If I owned a rifle that pretty, I'd want to hang it on the wall in my living room and never shoot it - but, of course, that would be wrong.