>Thanks RG for squaring the scoring question up for me. Next question: How can they call it the Hunter & VFS agg if you can use any cartridge case capacity & any power scope? It kinda sounds more like two VFS aggs.<

Ironically, the Varmint Hunter class was implemented to allow people who did not want to shoot .30caliber cartridges (or, for that matter, larger 6mm cartridges), but who none the less, wanted to compete in "Hunter" class - at that time, we (Hunter shooters) lived in mortal fear of the PPC, so, the VH class was established. The theory was that it would intice many more people into shooting the 6x class - time has proven otherwise. Of late, more people have begun using various thirty caliber rigs in VH events - now, some long-time VH PPC users want to EXCLUDE thirty caliber cartridges from the VH events . . a 180 degree swing in thinking! ;) It has long been my opinion that case capacity and caliber restrictions should be eliminated and that the IBS VH class should be absorbed into the Hunter Class. Further, If I were king, these arbitrary restrictions would be removed from the NBRSA rule book also - a perusal of the IBS Score Statistics, as well as placements at the IBS Score Nationals clearly reveal that for score shooting, especially with a 6x scope, the PPC comes up consistently short.

>One more question for you...I still love precision rifle accuracy even though my eyes do not allow me to often shoot competitively in HBR. I've been following the progress of the 30BR & would like to build a barrel for one of my HBR rifles (yes I realize it isn't a legal HBR cartridge). I've read you use Dave Kiff's reamers & I also use them...are there specific degrees on the  shoulder, neck diam, neck length, etc? Are your reamer specifics available for Kiff to make me a chamber reamer? Looks like the 18 twist Lilja is the most sucessful barrel to go with? I appreciate any advice you could give me...Bill <

Bill, Dave Kiff does have the last reamer revision on file: 30BR, R.G. Robinett, 12/15/00. This reamer works perfectly with LAPUA 6BR brass and a Redding 7MM BR Type S FL neck size die (the neck port must be opened up to clear the thirty cal. case necks w/o sizing). A Wilson seater makes for a good set of dies.

Unless one intends to shoot either bullets based upon the .925" long jackets (generally 111/112 Gr.), or BIB 10 ogive bullets based upon 1.00" long jackets, it may be prudent to have the reamer ground with a 0.035" to 0.050" free bore; my reamer features ZERO free bore. OR, proper throating can be achieved via a seperate piloted throating reamer. Oooops, I forgot to address the barrel twist question: the only negative aspect of the 1:17/18" twist barrels is that they tend to limit ones options regarding bullet selection - I prefer to think of it as SPECIALIZATION. When one intends to keep all the doors open, I strongly suggest the proven 1:15" platform, which, combined with bullets based upon the 1.150" long jacket, provides Sg right at 1.5 - right where the GURUS would tell us to go - for THIS bullet LENGTH. By the way, THIS is exactly where the 1:18" twist places a bullet measuring 1.00" long. So, these twists (17/18"), for 1.00" or shorter bullets, are NOT "slow"; rather, they ARE JUST RIGHT! For those wishing to SPECIALIZE, matching the twist rate to the specific bullet (length more than weight)of choice INCREASES the probability of of getting a "hummer" . . . we're not talking magic here, but when everything else is "on", just a usable and noticable 'edge'.

Keep 'em ON the X! R.G.