XP-100 as requested by Chuck/Ozark
Nov 25, 2009 21:00:34 GMT -5
Post by Richard on Nov 25, 2009 21:00:34 GMT -5
As requested, I will describe one of my four Custom Rem. XP-100's that I am currently working up loads for. Also, since my shoulder surgery, I cannot shoot my first love, the .45 Savage/PCNR ;D
This XP is one of the older Rem. single shot models that had the "center" grip nylon stock and was chambered in, I believe, .223? No, not the original .221 Fireball, but a later edition. I originally removed the barrel and took one of my old 6mm 1 - 14" twist heavy benchrest barrels and cut it to 15" and chambered it in 6mmBR. Since the bolt face does not fit the .223 case size, I had to open it up and then add a Sako style extractor. I tossed the nylon stock and bought a McMillan rear grip fiberglass stock and added a Shilen 2 oz. trigger. A 24X Leupold is pictured on the pistol. The pistol went out to Montana for PD's but with the high power scope and the recoil, I could not spot my misses. I subsequently installed a muzzle brake which greatly helps. With the scope, this pistol weights around 7 lbs. (Ozark......not ideal for "toten" in the woods unless you have a stable place to shoot from)
The target in the back round is from the "famed" Hickory (NC) Egg Shoot. Yes, it is famed. Every year for the past 15 or so, there is a big write up in Precision Shooter magazine. This match is attended by shooters from Pa. and NY north to Florida south and west to Miss. Usually in the neighborhood of 150 to 175 shooters. All to fire 9 shots at that groundhog target (3 shots each at 100, 300 and 500 yards) and one at a dangling egg at 500. NO sighters allowed. Only one fouler at 100 yards. Your gun has to be sighted in and ready to compete when you get on the line. All shooting is prone. Any caliber and any rests allowed. Two classes: Unlimited and factory. None for pistols. They have to shoot with the unlimited. You get scored for the "worst" scoring edge. For instance.....If you shoot for the smaller white dot in the head and the bullet stays inside the white, you get 15 points! IF the bullet touched the black surrounding it? the points drop to "9"! And progressively down to I think the 3 or 4 ring. Any shot on the black wood chuck gets ONE point. You have the choice of shooting the smaller bullseye in the head or the larger one in the chest (but with lesser points)
Everybody usually shoots the head at 100 but then go for the larger bullseye at 300 and 500 yards. On a day with good conditions, winning scores for unlimited are between 85 and 95.
In the past I have shot various bench rifles and come in as high as 11th. place. Three years ago I shot the pistol and did so again this past year. Had I not lost my first shot in the head, I would have probably placed in the upper 25% but wound up about middle of the pack. This target scored a "48" (96 was my competitor number) From the colors, you can see the shots at all three ranges and the score received.
Fortunately, the conditions were pretty good this past year so I lucked out shooting a 70 gr. Sierra MK bullet. That is as heavy as the 1 - 14 barrel will stabilize.
Soooooooooo, a few months ago, before my surgery, I took that barrel off and got one of my older (500 rounds) 1 - 8.5 twist barrels, cut it to 15" and chambered it in a wildcat that is breaking a lot of records in 600 yard competition. It is the 6mmBRX. Basically a 6mmBR with the shoulder blown forward .100". This allows about 4 gr. more powder and 150 to 200 fps more velocity. I built Herman and our friend Bill two rifles in this chambering and they are just loving it. I have another barrel (I bought three of them for each of us) with I will put on one of my custom bench rifles. This twist barrel will allow me to shoot bullets in the 105 gr. range. The reamer is actually designed for the 105 Berger VLD bullet but will work equally well with the Sierra's or some of the other match bullets. The reasoning here was so I could shoot heavier bullets with high BC's for better wind bucking in the event of bad weather. It has shot as small as 1" for five shots at 300 yards.
Just like the .45 PCNR, I have many powders and bullets to try. As with my 23" PCNR, the 15" XP will need a faster powder to get the most velocity. This of course, has to be balanced with high pressures and also accuracy. Right now, the velocity with 105's is in the 2700 fps category. I also tried some Berger 95 gr. VLD's and had them up to 2800+ with pretty good accuracy.
But getting back to a deer/big game XP, I have one in 7/08 that netted a 14 1/2" antelope out in Montana at a lasered 156 yards. And another with a contender at 220 yds. The 7/08 is easily a 300+ yard big game killer. It will push a 125 gr. bullet to 2700 fps.
And that the story!
Richard
This XP is one of the older Rem. single shot models that had the "center" grip nylon stock and was chambered in, I believe, .223? No, not the original .221 Fireball, but a later edition. I originally removed the barrel and took one of my old 6mm 1 - 14" twist heavy benchrest barrels and cut it to 15" and chambered it in 6mmBR. Since the bolt face does not fit the .223 case size, I had to open it up and then add a Sako style extractor. I tossed the nylon stock and bought a McMillan rear grip fiberglass stock and added a Shilen 2 oz. trigger. A 24X Leupold is pictured on the pistol. The pistol went out to Montana for PD's but with the high power scope and the recoil, I could not spot my misses. I subsequently installed a muzzle brake which greatly helps. With the scope, this pistol weights around 7 lbs. (Ozark......not ideal for "toten" in the woods unless you have a stable place to shoot from)
The target in the back round is from the "famed" Hickory (NC) Egg Shoot. Yes, it is famed. Every year for the past 15 or so, there is a big write up in Precision Shooter magazine. This match is attended by shooters from Pa. and NY north to Florida south and west to Miss. Usually in the neighborhood of 150 to 175 shooters. All to fire 9 shots at that groundhog target (3 shots each at 100, 300 and 500 yards) and one at a dangling egg at 500. NO sighters allowed. Only one fouler at 100 yards. Your gun has to be sighted in and ready to compete when you get on the line. All shooting is prone. Any caliber and any rests allowed. Two classes: Unlimited and factory. None for pistols. They have to shoot with the unlimited. You get scored for the "worst" scoring edge. For instance.....If you shoot for the smaller white dot in the head and the bullet stays inside the white, you get 15 points! IF the bullet touched the black surrounding it? the points drop to "9"! And progressively down to I think the 3 or 4 ring. Any shot on the black wood chuck gets ONE point. You have the choice of shooting the smaller bullseye in the head or the larger one in the chest (but with lesser points)
Everybody usually shoots the head at 100 but then go for the larger bullseye at 300 and 500 yards. On a day with good conditions, winning scores for unlimited are between 85 and 95.
In the past I have shot various bench rifles and come in as high as 11th. place. Three years ago I shot the pistol and did so again this past year. Had I not lost my first shot in the head, I would have probably placed in the upper 25% but wound up about middle of the pack. This target scored a "48" (96 was my competitor number) From the colors, you can see the shots at all three ranges and the score received.
Fortunately, the conditions were pretty good this past year so I lucked out shooting a 70 gr. Sierra MK bullet. That is as heavy as the 1 - 14 barrel will stabilize.
Soooooooooo, a few months ago, before my surgery, I took that barrel off and got one of my older (500 rounds) 1 - 8.5 twist barrels, cut it to 15" and chambered it in a wildcat that is breaking a lot of records in 600 yard competition. It is the 6mmBRX. Basically a 6mmBR with the shoulder blown forward .100". This allows about 4 gr. more powder and 150 to 200 fps more velocity. I built Herman and our friend Bill two rifles in this chambering and they are just loving it. I have another barrel (I bought three of them for each of us) with I will put on one of my custom bench rifles. This twist barrel will allow me to shoot bullets in the 105 gr. range. The reamer is actually designed for the 105 Berger VLD bullet but will work equally well with the Sierra's or some of the other match bullets. The reasoning here was so I could shoot heavier bullets with high BC's for better wind bucking in the event of bad weather. It has shot as small as 1" for five shots at 300 yards.
Just like the .45 PCNR, I have many powders and bullets to try. As with my 23" PCNR, the 15" XP will need a faster powder to get the most velocity. This of course, has to be balanced with high pressures and also accuracy. Right now, the velocity with 105's is in the 2700 fps category. I also tried some Berger 95 gr. VLD's and had them up to 2800+ with pretty good accuracy.
But getting back to a deer/big game XP, I have one in 7/08 that netted a 14 1/2" antelope out in Montana at a lasered 156 yards. And another with a contender at 220 yds. The 7/08 is easily a 300+ yard big game killer. It will push a 125 gr. bullet to 2700 fps.
And that the story!
Richard