Inner primer hole burr .45acp

[raymeketa]

Matt

Have you never used any of the Sinclair flash hole tools? The original has been around since 1980 or so. They now make about 5 different models. RCBS also makes one as does K&M. Midway sells a knock- off under their own brand name.

AFAIK there is no specific flash hole length that shoots better than another but, like all things Benchrest, it's the uniformity of length that matters.

I've been shooting Benchrest (with a capital B) for over 30 years myself. I shoot only in the western states (NBRSA). Maybe our paths have crossed somewhere??

Ray

[Matt Anthony]

Matt

Have you never used any of the Sinclair flash hole tools? The original has been around since 1980 or so. They now make about 5 different models. RCBS also makes one as does K&M. Midway sells a knock- off under their own brand name.

AFAIK there is no specific flash hole length that shoots better than another but, like all things Benchrest, it's the uniformity of length that matters.

I've been shooting Benchrest (with a capital B) for over 30 years myself. I shoot only in the western states (NBRSA). Maybe our paths have crossed somewhere??

Ray

Well of course I have flash hole deburring tools, I believe I have all of the manufacturers in fact. The deburring tool removes the inner burrs if any and provides a chamferred inner hole. The primer pocket uniforming tools, squares the pocket at a specific depth. Other than that, you can't change the length or depth of the flash hole. In fact, that would be detrimental and unsafe as that alters the integrity of the case. I have found that Lapua brass is the best and is superior to all other brands. No, I doubt our paths have crossed, but one never knows do they!
Matt

[raymeketa]

Matt

There are flash hole deburring tools and there are also tools that uniform the length of the flash hole while deburring. Yes, you can change the length of the flash hole. The tools index off the case mouth. Exactly how that would compromise the integrity of the case escapes me. Llapua brass used to be high quality but even it has become less so over the years. The newer stuff can benefit from all of the Benchrest prep steps.

Where do you shoot Benchrest? I know a lot of the Eastern and Southern shooters since many of them shoot at places like Midland and Phoenix.

Ray

[Matt Anthony]

Ray:
Send me a tool number or site that shows changing the depth of the flash hole. Show a book that gives any dimensions on flash hole depth or length. Show me a site that shows measuring from the case mouth to the web at the flash hole.

Flash hole diameter, deburring and squaring the primer pocket plus the depth of the pocket is all I have ever done. I have never measured from the case mouth to the upper web and have never read about it either.

I shoot informal benchrest with Bob Sandretto of Illinois and Tom Shilka out of Wisconsin plus 6 other guys at our range. Tom is a State Champion here in Wisconsin. I am not on the circuit, I can't afford it with the cost of our pill shooting every Sunday morning.
Matt

[raymeketa]

Matt

Nowhere did I say that there is a standard flash hole length or that I measure the length. What I said was that a uniform flash hole length contributes to accuracy, albeit such improvement may be minuscule in the overall scheme of things. But, today's Benchrest matches are won or lost by thousandths of an inch in group size and every competitive shooter that I know will do whatever is necessary to achieve those thousandths.

The original flash hole uniformers were mostly fixed. When the different lots of 220 Russian cases were first imported and being converted into PPCs, it was noted that there were several different internal case head designs which were hard to accommodate with the preset cutters. That's when the adjustable tools were introduced by Sinclair, RCBS, and others. They uniform flash hole length by indexing off the case mouth which, of course, requires that the case is first trimmed to uniform length. Actually, most Benchrest shooters that I know will first fire-form the case before trimming to length, uniforming the primer pocket depth, and uniforming the flash hole diameter and length. That first firing can move brass around and if those prep steps are done before fire-forming, they will have to be repeated for uniformity.

I do not know either of the shooters you mentioned.

Ray

[Matt Anthony]

Thanks Ray, Lyman also makes an adjustable unit that works for all calibers. And if there was a misunderstanding, then it's been taken care of I guess!
Shilka is getting older, mid=seventies and shoots in Arizona in the winters and upnorth in Wisconsin the rest of the year. Sandretto at 69 is new meat these last two years. Tom Morley who was the plant manager for Snap On in Milwaukee also shot benchrest for a bit. You may not know these guys but they are great shooters but age has taken it's toll on their eyesight and the fact they are falling apart!
They have been shooting hunter class this last year and benchrest with their custom cartridges and rifles. I see thousands of dollars they spend just keeping up. The weekly crownings, constant new barrels and the custom bullets they buy from one source. It's a rich mans sport in my opinion.
I will never be on the circuit as I run two business' and must keep up with them, plus the grandkids and helping out others. Anyway, if I ruffled your feathers, if wasn't meant to disrespect you. Hope you do well in the coming shooting season.
Matt

[raymeketa]

Matt

No feathers were ruffled. Just two guys talking about guns and shooting.

I'm an old guy too and having a hard time seeing, like most of us eventually do. Even the 36X scopes don't help. They just make the blurry vision a lot bigger. ;-)

I used to shoot all 6 matches in AZ in the winter but don't get down there much anymore. I may have shot with Shilka but do not remember him.

Ray

[Matt Anthony]

Matt

No feathers were ruffled. Just two guys talking about guns and shooting.

I'm an old guy too and having a hard time seeing, like most of us eventually do. Even the 36X scopes don't help. They just make the blurry vision a lot bigger. ;-)

I used to shoot all 6 matches in AZ in the winter but don't get down there much anymore. I may have shot with Shilka but do not remember him.

Ray

I will be seeing him this coming Sunday and will see if he remembers you! Due to his wife having hip issues his AZ snowbird annual retreat has been curtailed! He might have to spend the winter in the cold.......
Matt