While Bench Rest shooting is not the main topic here I wanted to pass on the story of my newest rifle. It started as a 7 WSM Heavy Bench gun 1.450 straight barrel. Green & Black McMillan MBR Tooley stock. The stock was ordered about 6 years ago with lead shot molded in. While the 7 WSM shot well, I was really never really excited about the rifle. I got the idea some time ago to built a 6 XC Bench gun. I had a 7.5 twist Kreiger Hvy barrel in 6mm just waiting for a project and this seemed like the right time to do it. Now who was I going to have build it. After hearing & seeing the accurate rifles that come out of Gradous Rifles. I called Robert Gradous & was happy that he agreed to build my rifle. I was most impressed with the attention to detail that Robert surrounds himself with. From the surgically clean shop to the tools.
When the rifle was finished I was pretty pumped to shoot it. With almost no load development the rifle showed real promise. At the 100 yard range on the grounds of Gradous Rifles I was only shooting three shot groups looking for a load. The rifle managed little tiny knots with a variety of powders. I took 4 of the best loads to the Gun Club range. I decided to pick the best of 4 loads. These were 5 shot groups @ 300 yards. The group sizes ran from a best of .750 to 1.250". For me this is very good. Last Saturday I was able to fire a few groups @ 980 yards. The last 5 shot group had 1.5" horizontal & 5.0" vertical.
I am really looking forward to this Saturday. Weather permitting I will be able to shoot in a 980 yard Match. Once again I would like to thank Gradous Rifles for putting together an extremely accurate rifle for me. Robert was very kind to take the time to answer all my questions during & after the build. I would highly recommend Gradous Rifles for any type of rifle build.
Semper Fi
When the rifle was finished I was pretty pumped to shoot it. With almost no load development the rifle showed real promise. At the 100 yard range on the grounds of Gradous Rifles I was only shooting three shot groups looking for a load. The rifle managed little tiny knots with a variety of powders. I took 4 of the best loads to the Gun Club range. I decided to pick the best of 4 loads. These were 5 shot groups @ 300 yards. The group sizes ran from a best of .750 to 1.250". For me this is very good. Last Saturday I was able to fire a few groups @ 980 yards. The last 5 shot group had 1.5" horizontal & 5.0" vertical.
I am really looking forward to this Saturday. Weather permitting I will be able to shoot in a 980 yard Match. Once again I would like to thank Gradous Rifles for putting together an extremely accurate rifle for me. Robert was very kind to take the time to answer all my questions during & after the build. I would highly recommend Gradous Rifles for any type of rifle build.
Semper Fi