Random Nuclear Strikes

A Tube Gun? (Oh My, Another barrel)

Moving forward in time to the April 2010 Boomershoot Dinner, I was again very fortunate in the raffle and came into possession of another barrel blank.  This one was made by Lija in 6.5mm (.264 cal.) with a 1 in 8 twist.

photo by Dave RNS Photographer ©

If you’ve read the previous sections, it probably doesn’t come as a surprise that I would again approach John Pierce to build a rifle with this new barrel. At the time I had been leaning toward a 6.5 x 284 chambering, as it seemed to be a popular caliber in long range shooting.  After further reading of various accounts, stories, forums, blogs, I changed course and settled on 6.5 x 47 Lapua, or 6.5 x 47L. The chatter about this chambering was that it recoiled less than the 6.5 x 284, had longer barrel life and was also very accurate. I always like stuff that’s a little different, so I was going to ask John to make me another rifle similar to the one in 22BR with a varmint/sporter type stock (the barrel contour was the same as the previous barrel), only in the 6.5 x 47L chambering.

I again called John’s shop and made the appointment to drive up and discuss the project. Once I got there and we got into the conversation, John asked me why not build a tube gun. Huh? I wasn’t familiar with the term. I asked John what he meant by a tube gun and he happened to have one in his office. Many or even most of you may be familiar with this type of rifle, but in case you’re like me and hadn’t had the pleasure, “a tube gun is a barreled action that is fit into a solid tube that completely supports the action” (quoted from Jense Precision Firearms website).

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My Introduction to .22 Remington BR (.22 Remington Bench Rest)

From the time I returned from Idaho in early May until well into the summer of 2009, I had been thinking about what kind of gun I wanted that would utilize the new Hart barrel won at the Boomershoot Dinner raffle. I recalled an article in the April 2007 issue of Precision Shooting magazine that was written by Dick Wright. Dick lives in Michigan, though a ways north of me, about 2 ½ hours driving time. I did not know Dick at that point, other than through his many articles in the magazine and that he and his wife, Glorya, were bench rest shooters with many years of experience in that shooting discipline.

The article of Dick’s that I remembered dealt with a rifle he reviewed made by a fellow in Lansing, Michigan named John Pierce. John runs an engineering shop that primarily deals in custom cylinder head modifications for racing applications.

photo by Dave RNS Photographer ©

It so happens that John is also a bench rest shooter and since he has the CNC equipment and other necessary machinery, he has started his own line of rifle actions based on the Remington 700.

I contacted John and asked if I could meet with him about a project rifle. He said sure, come on by. I drove over to John’s shop and met with him and started discussing what rifle I wanted to build.

My original thought was to have the rifle chambered in .223 and built as a repeater. John was more than willing to accommodate me and build the rifle as such, but did suggest that I might try it in .22 BR instead. He said it was a very accurate cartridge. I was a bit leery of getting into another new caliber and the requisite new sets of dies, etc.  John also mentioned that a single shot would be something to consider, as the action would be stiffer, adding to accuracy potential.

I stuck with my initial plan and we wrote up the order for a repeater with a Jewel trigger with top safety, a Pierce tactical rail mounted on the Pierce short action, fluted bolt, a BDL bottom metal kit, my Hart barrel chambered in .223 with a target crown at the muzzle, all coated in black.

Here’s  some of John’s actions.

photo by Dave RNS Photographer ©

Actions, barrel blanks, a rifle stock and chrome valve covers . . what’s not to like?

photo by Dave RNS Photographer ©

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Gunning for Prairie Rats

At the time of Boomershoot in April of 2009, I had never tried my hand at shooting prairie dogs. I’d been subscribing to both Precision Shooting and The Varmint Hunter magazines for several years, enjoying the various stories about shooting the grass rats and had wanted to try it for some time. I contacted an advertiser in The Varmint Hunter, an outfit called Bad River Bucks and Birds.

Speaking with a very nice fellow named Brett in early 2009, we agreed that for a nominal fee, I could spend an afternoon at their ranch on my way back to Michigan from Boomershoot in the first week of May. Brett did caution me that due to the early time of year, I would likely not see many dogs up and about. He explained that the females would be down in the dens with their pups and only males would be up and out in the sun. I was okay with this scenario, as I just wanted to be out there taking the shots. The ranch where I would be shooting is called Bad River Bucks and Birds. They are located near Draper South Dakota, just off I-90.

photo by Dave RNS Photographer ©

Winding my way from Orofino back east on scenic US 12 to Missoula and across Montana, Wyoming and into South Dakota, I spent the night in Rapid City and then headed toward Draper for the showdown with the dogs. I arrived at the ranch and was escorted back to the dog town area. There was a shooting bench already at the site, so I used that instead of hauling mine out and setting it up.

photo by Dave RNS Photographer ©

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