MT Guns: Masters of Accuracy
This past fall I was looking for an excellent custom rifle for the SHWW Too Tall challenge. With a deadline of less than a month I call Mac Tilton of MT Guns for help. His answer was simple, "Get me the parts and I will build you a rifle!" With that assurance in hand I burned up my credit card buying parts and having them shipped "Muy Pronto Express" to Mac and Bruce Duncan at MT Guns.
The rifle is based on the Barnard action made in New Zealand and is well known in the NRA Highpower, Palma and Benchrest shooting circles. The particular action is the Barnard SM action which is a repeater action that has a "Remington 700 compatible footprint."
I had first heard of MT Guns and Barnard actions when reading the article "Young Yank Wins Honors at Canadian Fullbore Championships" back in September of 2009. ( http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2009...-championships/ ) Kelly Bachand has become better known to us via the "Top Shot" television series. But back in '09 I was intrigued by who the MT Guns guys were and what is a Barnard action?
I did a little research and found that Barnard actions were good to go straight out of the box. No truing required and thus no haggling with a gunsmith about what "Truing an Action" really entails. Anyone who has been through that nightmare can attest to the headaches that are saved!
More importantly, the Barnard actions are built on the concept of a triple lug, 60° lift bolt. This was something I deemed was a must have which in and of itself narrows the field of available actions to only a select few. Some of the other 60° bolt lift actions that I can remember off hand are AI/AW/AE actions, Sako/Tika actions, some Steyr actions, the Barnard action and the Badger Ordnance action. Of those, the AI/AW/AE actions, Sako/Tika actions, and Steyr actions were either out of my price range or not available for IMMEDIATE shipping. Only the Barnard was within my price range when considering a COMPLETE build. The Barnards are readily available with a quick and easy to get match quality stock (AICS for Rem 700's with a $100 off MidwayUSA coupon). Midway did not have an AICS stock for the Badger Ordnance action so by the process of elimination the Barnard action beat out the Badger.
The barrel that was chosen was "the best" that I could find in stock. Grizzly Industries carries an extensive line of heavy, match contour Bartlien barrels <span style="font-weight: bold">in stock</span> which is a God-send for those of us with rifle building impulses!
http://www.grizzly.com/products/category.aspx?key=365000
The bipod chosen was an early model (used) RND top mounted bipod. Well used and broken in, this bipod allowed the rifle to hang vertically instead of trying to be held upright vertically. The bipod is neither small nor light, but it accomplished exactly what it was designed to do. Even used, this bipod was by far the most expensive bipod I have ever bought, but it was key to my design success. The bipod required the purchase of the Badger Ordnance Accuracy International Chassis System IMUNS mount. Expensive? Yes. But once again key to the design.
The last component was the one that I insisted on and caused the whole plan not to be completed in time. I wouldn't budge on the type of trigger I wanted. I chose the CG Jackson trigger as I have used these before and have personally experienced how great a trigger they are. For those who haven't used one, think of a Jewell benchrest trigger on steriods. Ready to take whatever dirt, gunk and grim it is exposed to. A trigger where blown primers don't mean squat and you're still in the game. It's a benchrest quality trigger built like a tank. Very good stuff! The exact model that I had to have was the CG X-Treme Mod 22 Tactical trigger with safety and bolt release and solid trigger shoe that retails for $350.00.
Problem was, this exact trigger was sold out. The non-tactical version was available, but I was both stubborn and stupid (S&S) enough to NOT budge until it was too late. I relented and went with the non-tactical trigger at the last minute, thinking that it would all come together in the nick of time. Nope. My S&S caused me to end up missing the Too Tall Challenge which turned out to be one heck of a great event.
So rewind this and realize that in less than a month, including my S&S time delay, Mac Tilton and Bruce Duncan put together an amazing rifle system. With it's massive +8 pound barrel it shoots the 6.5mm-08 Ackley Improved with stunning accuracy. I feed it a variety of commercial ammo and without reloading was able to fire several sub 1/2 inch groups in a row. And anyone who has met me can attest that I am no Terry Cross when it comes to shooting.
So here's the gun porn and some links to go with it.
http://www.mtguns.com
http://www.mtguns.com/2009_cfrc.htm
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/tag/barnard/
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek096.html
http://www.x-tremeshooting.com/index.php?page=cgxtrememod22
This past fall I was looking for an excellent custom rifle for the SHWW Too Tall challenge. With a deadline of less than a month I call Mac Tilton of MT Guns for help. His answer was simple, "Get me the parts and I will build you a rifle!" With that assurance in hand I burned up my credit card buying parts and having them shipped "Muy Pronto Express" to Mac and Bruce Duncan at MT Guns.
The rifle is based on the Barnard action made in New Zealand and is well known in the NRA Highpower, Palma and Benchrest shooting circles. The particular action is the Barnard SM action which is a repeater action that has a "Remington 700 compatible footprint."
I had first heard of MT Guns and Barnard actions when reading the article "Young Yank Wins Honors at Canadian Fullbore Championships" back in September of 2009. ( http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2009...-championships/ ) Kelly Bachand has become better known to us via the "Top Shot" television series. But back in '09 I was intrigued by who the MT Guns guys were and what is a Barnard action?
I did a little research and found that Barnard actions were good to go straight out of the box. No truing required and thus no haggling with a gunsmith about what "Truing an Action" really entails. Anyone who has been through that nightmare can attest to the headaches that are saved!
More importantly, the Barnard actions are built on the concept of a triple lug, 60° lift bolt. This was something I deemed was a must have which in and of itself narrows the field of available actions to only a select few. Some of the other 60° bolt lift actions that I can remember off hand are AI/AW/AE actions, Sako/Tika actions, some Steyr actions, the Barnard action and the Badger Ordnance action. Of those, the AI/AW/AE actions, Sako/Tika actions, and Steyr actions were either out of my price range or not available for IMMEDIATE shipping. Only the Barnard was within my price range when considering a COMPLETE build. The Barnards are readily available with a quick and easy to get match quality stock (AICS for Rem 700's with a $100 off MidwayUSA coupon). Midway did not have an AICS stock for the Badger Ordnance action so by the process of elimination the Barnard action beat out the Badger.
The barrel that was chosen was "the best" that I could find in stock. Grizzly Industries carries an extensive line of heavy, match contour Bartlien barrels <span style="font-weight: bold">in stock</span> which is a God-send for those of us with rifle building impulses!
http://www.grizzly.com/products/category.aspx?key=365000
The bipod chosen was an early model (used) RND top mounted bipod. Well used and broken in, this bipod allowed the rifle to hang vertically instead of trying to be held upright vertically. The bipod is neither small nor light, but it accomplished exactly what it was designed to do. Even used, this bipod was by far the most expensive bipod I have ever bought, but it was key to my design success. The bipod required the purchase of the Badger Ordnance Accuracy International Chassis System IMUNS mount. Expensive? Yes. But once again key to the design.
The last component was the one that I insisted on and caused the whole plan not to be completed in time. I wouldn't budge on the type of trigger I wanted. I chose the CG Jackson trigger as I have used these before and have personally experienced how great a trigger they are. For those who haven't used one, think of a Jewell benchrest trigger on steriods. Ready to take whatever dirt, gunk and grim it is exposed to. A trigger where blown primers don't mean squat and you're still in the game. It's a benchrest quality trigger built like a tank. Very good stuff! The exact model that I had to have was the CG X-Treme Mod 22 Tactical trigger with safety and bolt release and solid trigger shoe that retails for $350.00.
Problem was, this exact trigger was sold out. The non-tactical version was available, but I was both stubborn and stupid (S&S) enough to NOT budge until it was too late. I relented and went with the non-tactical trigger at the last minute, thinking that it would all come together in the nick of time. Nope. My S&S caused me to end up missing the Too Tall Challenge which turned out to be one heck of a great event.
So rewind this and realize that in less than a month, including my S&S time delay, Mac Tilton and Bruce Duncan put together an amazing rifle system. With it's massive +8 pound barrel it shoots the 6.5mm-08 Ackley Improved with stunning accuracy. I feed it a variety of commercial ammo and without reloading was able to fire several sub 1/2 inch groups in a row. And anyone who has met me can attest that I am no Terry Cross when it comes to shooting.
So here's the gun porn and some links to go with it.
http://www.mtguns.com
http://www.mtguns.com/2009_cfrc.htm
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/tag/barnard/
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek096.html
http://www.x-tremeshooting.com/index.php?page=cgxtrememod22
