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Which higher-end rifle for BR?

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(@marineo6)
North Carolina
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 77
Topic starter  

Setting up my BR rig from the scope down, starting with a March 48 x 52mm fixed power scope.  Now I need the rifle.

Looking at dedicated BR rifles from Thomas ($3500), MAC 1 ($2700), and RAW ($2200).  

Would appreciate any advice from experienced BR shooters who have either shot some or all of these rifles and can weigh in, or perhaps suggest another rig. Cost not an object.

Also not decided on caliber...I realize .177 is a go-to, but larger calibers might make a real difference when the wind kicks up, although it would limit the events I could participate in. 

Appreciate any feedback!


   
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Skip_in_WV
(@skip_in_wv)
West Virginia
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 105
 

Shoot FX rifles.


   
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(@marineo6)
North Carolina
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 77
Topic starter  

Trying to stay away from FX...too mainstream.


   
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(@fmiranda03)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 1
 

Thomas or Rapid Air Weapons. Nothing else.........


   
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(@marineo6)
North Carolina
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 77
Topic starter  

Leaning toward Thomas at this point.


   
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strever
(@strever)
California
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 36
 

do you know which class you wish to shoot in ?  light varmint at 12fpe , heavy varmint at 20fpe, open at 35fpe or unlimited at anything as long as it is .177, .20 or 22 cal  ?

i have all 3 of the guns you are considering and the Thomas shoots the most accurate then the regulated USFT shoots the next most accurate and the RAW which i love and wish i could get to shoot better is 3ed all 3 have polygon barrels  in heavy varmint

Posted by: MarineO6

Setting up my BR rig from the scope down, starting with a March 48 x 52mm fixed power scope.  Now I need the rifle.

Looking at dedicated BR rifles from Thomas ($3500), MAC 1 ($2700), and RAW ($2200).  

Would appreciate any advice from experienced BR shooters who have either shot some or all of these rifles and can weigh in, or perhaps suggest another rig. Cost not an object.

Also not decided on caliber...I realize .177 is a go-to, but larger calibers might make a real difference when the wind kicks up, although it would limit the events I could participate in. 

Appreciate any feedback!

 


   
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(@marineo6)
North Carolina
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 77
Topic starter  

Probably heavy varmiint or open, was considering bumping up the caliber to .20 or .22, but it appears most of the recent winners in those classes are using .177 so I figured that would work the best based on results.


   
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dan_house
(@dan_house)
Montana
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 147
 

The Thomas has been dominate in SoCal BR for a while now....

There was  used Thomas set up for BR  in the AGW classifieds.......

https://airgunwarriors.com/community/yellow-airgun-classifieds/selling-my-thomas-177-caliber-benchrest-rifle/


   
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(@marineo6)
North Carolina
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 77
Topic starter  

Thanks...according to Mike that’s an older model, IIRC the newer ones have more updated trigger. Plus the price of a new one was about the same so I ordered one from Mike today. 3 month wait. Meh. 


   
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Pzhills
(@pzhills)
Wisconsin
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 85
 

At the 25M and 50 yd sanctioned match at Salticon's last weekend, RAWs took first, second, and third places in both classes, over two Thomases.  But the guy pulling the trigger makes a big difference too.


   
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strever
(@strever)
California
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 36
 

my Raw TM1000 is the prettiest Benchrest gun i have and it has been a benchrest gun longer then Martin has been selling BR stocks

maybe i need to try a cpl more different barrels on it, it has a thimbled polygon now

002 2433

my regulated USFT is the ugliest Benchrest gun i have but it sure does shoot good

002 1258

my Blue Thomas is the most accurate gun i own

002 2586

   
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Pzhills
(@pzhills)
Wisconsin
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 85
 

I use a TM, thumbhole stock for BR.  It has a poly barrel and does quite well for me.  My highest score was a 748-53X.  I'm having trouble understanding the need for BR stocks.  I attached a Sinclair adapter plate to the front accessory rail and the rear of the stock fits nicely on the sandbag.  It has a Sightron S3 10-50X60 FCH scope.  I must give honor to my most accurate rifle, though.  It's my RAW HM1000 .177 cal bottle gun.  It was built by Martin to shoot LV at 12 FPE. 

IMG 1527

 


   
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Salticon
(@salticon)
Florida
Member of Trade
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 8
 
Posted by: Skip in WV

Shoot FX rifles.

FX doesn't make a accurate enough rifle to shoot 25m BR, thats why EBR will not have 25m this year..


   
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Salticon
(@salticon)
Florida
Member of Trade
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 8
 

Im kinda stuck on the RAWs my 2017 record with my RAW BM500 speaks for the gun.

Over 20 1st place finishes in 2017

Placed 2nd\3rd at Northeast Regionals HV\LV classes

Placed 2nd\3rd at US Nationals HV/LV classes

1st place at Extreme Benchrest in Arizona with record making EBR score 746-34x

IMG 5884

   
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Salticon
(@salticon)
Florida
Member of Trade
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 8
 
Posted by: dan_house

The Thomas has been dominate in SoCal BR for a while now....

There was  used Thomas set up for BR  in the AGW classifieds.......

https://airgunwarriors.com/community/yellow-airgun-classifieds/selling-my-thomas-177-caliber-benchrest-rifle/

Until the EAST coast RAWs come to the west coast....lol

just a friendly razzing 😉


   
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dan_house
(@dan_house)
Montana
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 147
 
Posted by: Salticon
 
Until the EAST coast RAWs come to the west coast....lol

 

haha Bring it! 


   
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GLPalinkas
(@glpalinkas)
Florida
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 164
 

Sounds like a challenge has been tossed out.....lol


   
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baranjhn
(@baranjhn)
Indiana
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 111
 

I've had two different USFT rifles that I used in benchrest, for both LV and HV when I used to shoot with the NFSA in Yulee, FL. They are fantastic guns, and very adjustable, and I usually did quite well. Then the RAWs started showing up, and those are impressive! If I hadn't of moved back west, without a nearby club, I would be shooting one of those now.

20140829 174858

   
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Salticon
(@salticon)
Florida
Member of Trade
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 8
 
Posted by: baranjhn

I've had two different USFT rifles that I used in benchrest, for both LV and HV when I used to shoot with the NFSA in Yulee, FL. They are fantastic guns, and very adjustable, and I usually did quite well. Then the RAWs started showing up, and those are impressive! If I hadn't of moved back west, without a nearby club, I would be shooting one of those now.

20140829 174858

Hi JB!, we miss ya here!


   
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Salticon
(@salticon)
Florida
Member of Trade
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 8
 
Posted by: dan_house
Posted by: Salticon
 
Until the EAST coast RAWs come to the west coast....lol

 

haha Bring it! 

Always Do :0)


   
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David_Enoch
(@david_enoch)
Texas
Moderator
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 575
 

What makes one of these rifles more accurate than another except for the barrel, velocity consistency, and the trigger?

David Enoch

 


   
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(@smcowboy)
Wisconsin
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 56
 

I'd go with a BM500 in .22.  I have one and it shoots dime size groups at 65 yds and that's only with a 20x scope on it. Shooting 16 grain jsbs at 835 fps for 75 shots off a fill from 500cc bottle 


   
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Tracy-P
(@tracy-p)
Colorado
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 18
 

My HM1000 in 25 will shoot sub MOA at 50 yards and right at MOA at 100 yards in calm conditions.  I have yet to test it indoors at 100, but I'd bet it would consistently shoot sub MOA groups at 100 yards indoors.  Mine was tuned by Martin to shoot right at 40 FPE for maximum accuracy which is great in calm conditions, but I think it would shoot a little better in the wind with a bit higher velocity and the resulting flatter trajectory.  In any case it's the most accurate airgun I've owned by far.


   
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ishoottrap
(@ishoottrap)
Colorado
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 10
 
Posted by: DavidEnoch

What makes one of these rifles more accurate than another except for the barrel, velocity consistency, and the trigger?

David Enoch

 

Why, the nut behind the butt plate of course!  I don't know if you have any 10m match guns David but they all come with a test target, shot from a machine rest so no human.  I've never seen one that didn't look like a single .177 size hole that 10 pellets went through.  When I got my Indy, I shot some groups with the hallowed JSBs and was pretty disappointed with the results.  Long story short but many changes (mostly my shooting technique) and I'm very happy with the gun.  You already know all this, you're a very experienced shooter.  I get such a kick of of the "buy this one, I have it and it's the best" responses, once the variables you listed are nailed down, it's how the shooter interacts with the gun and it's different for every shooter and every gun.  Shooting is not a static operation, it's dynamic and tiny things like trigger overtravel can make a significant difference to different shooters just because of their technique.  I think finding the right match for the shooter is half the fun but I'm a geek and a tinkerer so analyzing what's happening is fun for me but as I've learned from most of my posts, (like trying to explain why setting regulator pressure at the natural velocity peak of the valve/striker setup results in the smallest shot to shot variation) it's a small fraction of the community that shares my interest.  Differnt strokes I guess, hope you're doing well!

 

-Scot


   
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