I have just recently wanted to learn how to bench shoot. I have had the privilege to meet a few people at the right time to help me on this journey. The first was "PREACHER". I met him in Feb 2009 on the 6mmbr.com web site when I started this journey. He quickly saw the desire I had to learn this sport, and was so very accommodating in answering all my silly questions. He helped me convert the AWS 308 into a 6br. He did the barrel and stock work for me on my first long range gun. In tribute to him, I have named that gun "PREACHER". That gun is listed at the top of my shooting page so I will go into details on the built.

From that same web site, I found a friend Joe Duke in Houston. He invited me to my first unofficial competition. It was 100 yard score shooting. Since I had no idea what I was doing, nor that there were ranges much closer to me that did the same thing, I drove to Houston in the early spring of 2009 to shoot in my first ever score match. I did horrible, but there were a lot of nice people there that answered all my questions. I scored a 226, but learn more in that one day than I have in years. It only fueled my passion to learn more and get better. That of course led me to browse the 6mmBR web site more and more. I would spend 2 hours a night just reading and learning. Since my only experience in match shooting was for score that led me to the newest and hottest caliber out there. 30BR. 

Since I knew I wanted to shoot the absolutely best I could, I started researching the 30BR. Upon doing so I quickly knew that I wanted a top notch set up. It had to be built by a world class gunsmith. I choose Ronnie Long. He was part of the team that developed the cartridge as it is known today. Below is a pic of the gun I got from him.

Specs are:
BAT -model B 1.55" round (Right Bolt, Left Port) with dbl fluted bolt
Robertson HV stock block bedded with CNC alum butt plate
Krieger 21.5" polished custom match barrel with 1:18 twist (.330 neck)
Jewel 2 oz benchrest trigger
Kelbly polished dbl screw rings

Here is my back up gun that I let my dad use. same specs as above except this has a RB LP RE.



Once I got the brass prepped (see below for my process on prepping brass) it was time to start shooting. To do this, I needed serious help. In comes the two latest guys, Jon Conley and Paul Bowers. These two guys have taken the time to mentor me and get me ready to shoot. From teaching me the mechanics to explaining why you need to do this or that. Jon is the club match director at the NTSA (North Texas Shooters Association) in Denton Texas, and also has started his own handmade bullet company. Paul Bowers is a benchrest shooter there at NTSA that is helping me with all the little things. From teaching me how to level my front rest, proper rear rest alignment, free recoil shooting style, and of course how to read wind flags. With Paul's help I was able to compete in the IBS Texas State Match in Denton this October 2009. Not only was I able to compete, but I took 3rd place in 100 yard HV group.  








Once I got the gun, I had to prep the brass in order to shoot it. Since I have only had 1 gun that took custom brass before (and it came with the brass), I had to learn how to do that. I basically followed the instructions the cartridge developers said to do with one exception. I do not have an annealing machine (or a blow torch) so I skipped that part. You can click here to read the whole log. Here are the steps with pics in shortened fashion.

First you buy plenty of Lapua 6BR brass.



Next you expand them up to 30 cal. I used the K&M expander. They have a nice mandrel that you can expand them from .243 to .308 in 1 step. The trick is to make sure you lube the cases very well. I used Imperial wax and a Q-tip. If you look close at the picture below, you can see the top of the neck is stretched to 30 cal while the bottom of the neck is still at 6mm. I just continue to press the brass up into the exander mandrel, and the whole neck will stretch out to .308 size.
 


After sizing your brass up to 30 cal, I had to turn the necks down to fit my .330 neck. I choose to turn my necks down to right at .010 thickness. This gave .001 clearance on all sides for the .330 neck chamber. (.308 + .010 + .010 = .328). I once again choose the K&M neck turner to do this. This turner fits very well in my hand, and the carbide mandrel helps ensure the insides of the necks are uniform too. Since I had so many pieces of brass to turn, I choose to use Sinclair's universal case holder with a drill bit holder. This enabled me to turn necks smoother and faster.


I have my neck turner set to cut the necks to .010 and I check them on my ball micrmeter after eac one is turned.

Once I confirm the necks are the right thickness, I tumble them in a cleaner for 24 hours for a nice bright shiney look.

Now you have prepped brass. Here are 50 pieces all polished up and ready to load and shoot.



Then once you get your brass right, you put the right amount of H4198 in it, and you put a Conley 116 grain competition bullet in it, and you go win a few plaques like this.