It's a week out from the Hide Cup and I figure I should finally clean that new 6.5 Creedmoor barrel that Moon twisted up right before the last Bash. This barrel had under 300 rounds through it and it was a hammer...no break in no cleaning for any of those shots.
Cleaning began and ended rather quickly however. Apparently a .30 cal Dewey rod won't fit in a 6.5 cal bore. Hey, who knew. I formed some new type of welding apparently inside the bore because that rod would no budge...totally fubar'd.
I can't even sleep that night and first thing in the morning I call Moon at GAP...I tell him the deal and he says no biggie he can get it out. Ok by me so I next day that overly long box to GAP. I'm hopeful.
I wait a day and then call Moon. I can hear it in his voice...the barrel is totally smoked...with all the gear he has there he could not budge that rod...not even a little bit. I was pretty sure it wasn't coming out anyways so i expected this. Poor barrel...I killed it at such an early age...I'll never forgive myself.
So here is where an excellent company and stand up gunsmith come to the rescue. Moon gets on the horn to Bartlein and has them jump through hoops to contour a new 6.5 barrel for my action. I'm getting a little nervous because time is ticking and I'm leaving for Waco Tx for a 3Gun match and wont be back until after the Cup. Moon calls me back a few days later and says don't sweat it just have a cold beer for him when he gets to Rifles Only. Ok buddy no problem.
The barreled action shows up after lunch the first day of the train up for the Cup...I'm pumped. I drop it in the A5 stock I brought and torque it down. Mount the new Nightforce F1 and re-zero with 4 rounds at the hundred yard line. Jacob helped my trigger squeeze out during the train up and I know that had much to do with me scoring well. Jacob and Frank took the time to fix up all of us...top shooters were there just for the train up which should tell you something.
I made my range card using Loadbase and 2820fps that Hornady has on the box for a 28" barrel which is what I use. This is where it gets even better. My data was dead nuts on the money for every yardline to the .10 Mil.with the exception of the 1000yd line where I needed .3 mils less. That is some pretty good stuff right there.
Turns out I shot my best match ever at Rifles Only. I came in fourth place. Considering the great shooters that where there that's pretty damn good for me.
I just wanted to thank Bartlein for rushing through that barrel to GAP...and to thank Moon for going above and beyond getting me that rifle so I could shoot the match. Stand up guy's over there at GAP.
These are the people I'm honored to shoot with and drink beers with at Rifle's Only. Life is good.
--KJ
Cleaning began and ended rather quickly however. Apparently a .30 cal Dewey rod won't fit in a 6.5 cal bore. Hey, who knew. I formed some new type of welding apparently inside the bore because that rod would no budge...totally fubar'd.
I can't even sleep that night and first thing in the morning I call Moon at GAP...I tell him the deal and he says no biggie he can get it out. Ok by me so I next day that overly long box to GAP. I'm hopeful.
I wait a day and then call Moon. I can hear it in his voice...the barrel is totally smoked...with all the gear he has there he could not budge that rod...not even a little bit. I was pretty sure it wasn't coming out anyways so i expected this. Poor barrel...I killed it at such an early age...I'll never forgive myself.
So here is where an excellent company and stand up gunsmith come to the rescue. Moon gets on the horn to Bartlein and has them jump through hoops to contour a new 6.5 barrel for my action. I'm getting a little nervous because time is ticking and I'm leaving for Waco Tx for a 3Gun match and wont be back until after the Cup. Moon calls me back a few days later and says don't sweat it just have a cold beer for him when he gets to Rifles Only. Ok buddy no problem.
The barreled action shows up after lunch the first day of the train up for the Cup...I'm pumped. I drop it in the A5 stock I brought and torque it down. Mount the new Nightforce F1 and re-zero with 4 rounds at the hundred yard line. Jacob helped my trigger squeeze out during the train up and I know that had much to do with me scoring well. Jacob and Frank took the time to fix up all of us...top shooters were there just for the train up which should tell you something.
I made my range card using Loadbase and 2820fps that Hornady has on the box for a 28" barrel which is what I use. This is where it gets even better. My data was dead nuts on the money for every yardline to the .10 Mil.with the exception of the 1000yd line where I needed .3 mils less. That is some pretty good stuff right there.
Turns out I shot my best match ever at Rifles Only. I came in fourth place. Considering the great shooters that where there that's pretty damn good for me.
I just wanted to thank Bartlein for rushing through that barrel to GAP...and to thank Moon for going above and beyond getting me that rifle so I could shoot the match. Stand up guy's over there at GAP.
These are the people I'm honored to shoot with and drink beers with at Rifle's Only. Life is good.
--KJ
