I've just started a rifle project in conjunction with a known gun writer. Lot of speculation on what really works in"blueprinting" is it trigger, custom barrel and custom stock that is properly bedded.
I was able to buy an almost new 25-06 (not my choice caliber) for a very reasonable price with a 3X9 Leupold on it. I sold the scope for $125 and am in the rifle for $375. I sent it to the gunwriter to shoot as is and with a new Shilen trigger. Fortunately he likes the 25-06. Rifle shot 3-5" 3 shot groups. Found that somebody had butchered the factory stock. A gunsmith friend gave me a new Remington TO stock. Groups improved to 2-3". Changed the scope out and it is a 1.5" rifle. I had a 36X Leupold on it that I had purchased used. I sent it back to Leupold and they replaced the erector tube and spring.
When I get it back I will "blueprint" the receiver, which will include reaming the raceway, squaring the face of the receiver, and lug abuttments. I will single point the receiver threads. Hope to clean up the threads just enough to be able to test the squared receiver with the factory barrel. I can adjust headspace with recoil lug thickness. I have a surface grinder. I will send it back to him with a Shilen match barrel that I will chamber along with a stock with an aluminum bedding block. It will have a skim bed done to it. I have not decided whether to bush the OD of the factory bolt or use a fitted PT&G bolt.
I think it will take a while to complete this project.
All groups will be shot on one piece of target paper that has 5 targets. All groups will be 3 shot. I don't want people thinking we pick out groups to prove a point.

If I read that correctly you loosen up the threads so the barrel will tighten to the squared receiver

That is the plan.

I'll be sitting on the edge of my seat awaiting the results. I bet this has never been tried before.

Of course all of this is done daily, but not tested after each operation.

3-shot group?

No offense meant, but I would suggest that 5-shot groups are a better test of both the rifle and shooter.

One of the things I used for load testing was a set of targets. I stapled two thick up on cardboard at 100yds.
Shot my first group, and then took the top one off and replaced it, leaving the bottom one in place. Shot another 5-shot group, and repeated the process.
At the end, I had a composite target of the five, 5-shot groups (the bottom target) and each 5-shot group.

I have zero doubt you know what you are doing, and what the end goal is. It's just personal preference to test a bit more with the 5-shot method.

Of course, with the cost and scarcity of bullets, one might need a consumer loan to do fives.

regards,

rich

I would also want to shoot more than one group, whether it be 3 or 5 shots, after each modification.

At least three different groups, better five different groups after each modification.

Statistically one 3 shot group does not prove anything substantive, IMHO.

If you are going to all the trouble and expense to do this test, then I would shoot enough to get positive definitive results.

You may reread my post. Each mod will have 5 targets on a single piece of paper. The single piece of paper will have 5 groups of 3 after ea. mod.

but still, just three shots.

I know of no competition with rifles that has been shot with less than five shots.

The five or six years I shot Schuetzen, it was all ten-shot groups, and those all at 200yds.

I would not accept a rifle built for accuracy that showed such small round groups.


just sayin...

Rich

"just sayin...."
I wouldn't sell it to you anyway. I don't believe I have posted that this is a competition rifle. Tell me how many shots do you take at game at one time? Most opportunities that I have had and it has only happened a couple times is two shots.
This article is to show what each improvement does for an off the shelf hunting rifle.
If I were building a target rifle, it sure as hell wouldn't be a 25-06. Do you better understand what this is all about?

Butch have you noticed Remington 700 receivers being bent upward behind the magazine opening in the receiver. I have noticed a number of rifles that require a lot of elevation to get a scope zeroed. I had a 6mm that would not bore site until .035 was milled off of the bottom rear of the once piece Redfield base.
I have had one with a barrel so crooked that it shot 18" lower than where it bore sighted but that is another problem. The crooked barrel rifle shot well and is estimated to be about 25% shot out at 800 rounds.

quote:

Originally posted by SR4759:
Butch have you noticed Remington 700 receivers being bent upward behind the magazine opening in the receiver. I have noticed a number of rifles that require a lot of elevation to get a scope zeroed. I had a 6mm that would not bore site until .035 was milled off of the bottom rear of the once piece Redfield base.
I have had one with a barrel so crooked that it shot 18" lower than where it bore sighted but that is another problem. The crooked barrel rifle shot well and is estimated to be about 25% shot out at 800 rounds.

I haven't found this yet! Maybe someday. I have found the later Remington receivers to be much better than in the past, could be the CNC abilities that they have now.

I once had a 700 in 35 Whelen, only mod was the irons had been removed. To bore sight at 100 yards I had to put up two 100yd. NRA smallbore rifle targets side by side. I had to put the right target on the middle of the bore and center the scope on the left target to zero the gun. It shot 3/4" with my hand loads(3 shot groups).

I am in full agreement with 3 shot groups for testing a hunting rifle. Never took more than that to put one down. I personally would take much more offense to a rifle that would not put its first shot from a cold bore in the right spot.

Good luck with the test.

quote:

Originally posted by butchlambert:
Each mod will have 5 targets on a single piece of paper. The single piece of paper will have 5 groups of 3 after ea. mod.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
but still, just three shots.

Actually, 15 shots per mod if you do the math.

Just sayin...

I like the idea of multiple three shot groups. It makes for a cleaner presentation, and as pointed out you typically won't need more shots than that for a hunting rifle. (although statistically more data is generally better)

Is the intent to let the barrel cool between each group?

That is up to the gunwriter.

Please tell me you aren't going to stock it in cedar and paint flames on the side!

It is not similar to my BR rifle. The stock is a laminated walnut with an aluminum bedding block. Just has a clear coat on it.

montae6b,
Were you speaking of this one?

This is my Redwood-carbon fiber laminated BR rifle. The stock that we will use is the Revolution Heritage stock.

That's it. Gaudy, but like fins on a Cadillac I guess.

I have a rollover with nice grain picked up from a gun show for a mere $30. Intended to rasp it to a more classic profile, but I already have several of those. Kind of rethinking leaving it as is. A period piece so to speak. I can always change my mind later, but can't put wood back on once I commit...

Understand, I used to be in the wrecker business. Our wreckers were pretty wild in their paint, but my Sons, Wife, and my vehicles are pretty subtle.