I saw something last week end, would like some opinions or confirmation

[gamestalker]

Last weekend I chatted with this young fellow who was shooting a 700 chambered in .243 win.. I looked over at him a couple of times and saw him putting something down the barrel. Currosity got the best of me, so naturally I asked what he was doing. He says, oh I'm doing that graphite thing bench rest shooters do. I asked him exactly what thing it is that BR shooters do with graphite? His repsonse was, I'm powdering the barrel with graphite to reduce cooper fouling, and reduce harmonic distortion created by friction. I asked him what he was doing anythng to prevent it from getting in the chamber. He said, just the loaded round in the chamber, that's all. He was doing this after every round fired, and he wasn't even tapping the excess out before firing each round.

Am I missing something here? Or is this a common or secret practice among BR shooters? What the heck, this contradicts everything I've ever read or learned in the 30+ years of reloading, and I was also mentored by an accomplished BR shooter. I have never heard of anything remotely simular to this BR thing, as he so eloquently described it. Personally, I can't imagine ever putting anything in the barrel / chamber, or on the ammunition. I deffinitely didn't want to make a fool of myself thinking maybe this is something new or secretive in the BR world, so I just said oh ya, I think I've heard something about that, NOT!

GS

 

[Walkalong]

It was a fad a few tried for awhile. Didn't catch on.

 

[25cschaefer]

I know some BR shooter that run a patch with some graphite down the bore after cleaning, trying to reduce the first round flyer. The guys I know clean the bore and "powder" (I would hesitate to use this term because it really isn't that much) every 5-10rds depending on who it is. I've never heard of anybody putting an excess of powder in the bore, just a squeeze of powder on a patch run from breech to muzzle. I think any in the chamber would defiantly change pressures enough to see a difference. I do see BR shooters that mop the chamber every shot but they make darn sure it is clean and dry.

 

[JLDickmon]

Shouldn't this be in the "eye roll gun jokes" thread in the main section?

 

[RugerOldArmy]

I've not seen any of my competitors using graphite, at least in my neck of the woods. Pretty much all shoot naked bullets, no moly or anything. A few of them agg in the teens. I'd suggest it is non-essential, and you might be better off focusing on consistency.

 

[Walkalong]

you might be better off focusing on consistency.

This. Work on your shooting. Hint. Reading the wind is 90% of Benchrest. Almost everyone has good technique, and probably 95% have rifles/loads capable of winning.

 

[jim243]

Reading the wind is 90% of Benchrest

I would respectfully disagree, 90% is trigger control and proper breathing. I seldom shoot over 100 yards (our range is only that long). Beyound 300 yards the wind has more of an effect. (243 Winchester at 3,400 fps)

Jim

 

[RugerOldArmy]

Jim,

Most competitors shoot 'free recoil'. The only thing touching the BR rifle being a finger on a 2 oz. trigger.

I'd also note that on just our local shoots, there are so may of the flower-style wind flags, it's like a field of freaking daisys.

That's been my experience, with SRBR. It is pretty much dominated by 6mm PPC(s), with a few 6mm BR(s).

 

[T Bran]

If the gent is seeing an improvement it is more likely due to the barrel having more time to cool between shots while he is distracted by the graphite lol.
T

 

[RugerOldArmy]

Or the placebo effect, giving him confidence and focus.

 

[Walkalong]

Reading the wind is 90% of Benchrest

I would respectfully disagree, 90% is trigger control and proper breathing.

While I would be happy to bend a little on the exact percentage, reading the wind is the biggest part of winning in Benchrest. As I posted earlier, most competitors have the gun handling down. I say this from experience shooting Benchrest where I was fairly successful. Not a big dog by any stretch, but I beat the big dogs sometimes.

I was an accomplished rifle shooter before starting Benchrest, but a whole new world was opened up for me. That of reading wind, mirage, and understanding how much it moves a bullet.

 

[Cheers]

I think it is a good idea to not shoot a "dry bore" after you clean it and run the last dry patch down. I use a patch with a spray of lock-eze (Napa store) on it. Also do this before storing in the safe.

I agree with most others, there are many more important factors in shooting than the bullet friction in the barrel.

 

[greyling22]

how were his groups? If he's shooting the lights out he can run a pancake down his barrel and I don't give him grief. however, if he's just doing ok then maybe it's time for some criticism and to save the graphite for pinewood derby cars.

 

[gamestalker]

Greyling22. His groups were really impressive from 200 yds., but I don't know if that was in part attributed to this graphite thing? Just curious, as I have never seen anyone do that before, and also because it contradicts what I've learned over the years regarding introducing anything into the barrel, I thought I would ask ya all.
GS

 

[Kingcreek]

I do the same thing but I substitute magic pixie dust. It helps keep the pixies out of my gun barrels but doesn't do anything for accuracy.

 

[Bob72]

Damn, here I thought I found something that would help me shot straight ....er......