The 2021 Tack Driver II event featured 80 of the top competitors from around the world. The 2021 Tack Driver II event featured 80 of the top competitors from around the globe. They represented a variety of disciplines (Short Range for Group, Short Range for Score, F-Class and 600-yd Benchrest), with calibers/cartridges ranging from.22 PCP to.300 WSM. It’s full of valuable information and shooting tips. Bart holds many world records so you should listen to his advice. This is without a doubt one of the most informative benchrest videos that I have ever seen in my 18 years of managing this site. — EDITORThis match was very difficult due to the extremely windy conditions and low temperatures. Bart Sauter, a bullet maker, was the overall winner of Grand Aggregate. Bart was using 103gr bullets made by himself to shoot his 6 BRA rifle. Bart showed that a 6 BRA cartridge can outperform a 6 PPC at least 300 meters, especially when the wind is strong. WATCH THIS! This video is essential viewing for any benchrest competitor. This video provides valuable insights that you won’t find elsewhere. The first five minutes of the video provide valuable advice about setting up your bags and rest. Bart shows you how he shoots the rifle with manual reloads and rapid manual firings. Bart takes five shots in just 9 seconds at the end of the match, which is 15:55+. The 6 PPC won the Group Match. But, take a look at the top 5. It’s noteworthy that three of the Top Five are not 6 PPCs. The Score Match was won using a.30 WW (I don’t know what that is). There were two.30 calibers among the Top 5 and three among the Top 10. Grand Aggregate was won by a 6 BRA. It’s remarkable that the Top 5 had two 6 PCs, two 6 BRAs, and a.30 WW. It’s quite a mix. The Top 10 had a range of 6MMs and one.30 caliber. This is another surprise. “Group Match Results
1st 6 PPC
2nd 22 PPC
3rd 300 WSM
4th 6 Dasher
5th 6 PPC
6th 6 BRA
7th 6 PPC
8th 6 BRA
9th 6 PPC
Match Results for the 10th 6 PPC Score
1st.30 WW
2nd 6 PPC
3rd 6 PCP
4th 6 BRA
5th 30 Dasher
6th 6 PPC
7th 30 BR
8th 6 BRA
9th 6 PPC
10th 6 PPC Grand Agregate
1st 6 BRA
2nd 6 PPC
3rd 6 PCP
4th 6 BRA
5th.30 WW
6th 6 BRA
7th 6 PPC
8th 6 Dasher
9th 6 PPC
Match: 10th 6 Dasher Cartridges
6 PPC — 31
30 BR — 23
6 BRA -6
6 Dasher — 4
6mm BR — 4
30 Dasher — 3
22 PPC — 1
6 BRDX – 1
6 GT — 1
6.5 CM — 1
6.5×284 — 1
.284 Win — 1
.30 WW — 1
30×45 — 1
.300 WSM — 1
Leveling the playing field — What works best at 300 meters?
Commentary by Bart Sauter
The shooting world has long debated whether long-range/mid-range cartridges like the Dasher, 6 BRA and 6mmBR are accurate enough for competition against the 6 PPC and 30 BR at shorter distances. Problem is finding a format that allows both shorter-range and longer-range cartridges the opportunity to compete on an equal playing field. The Tack Driver match solves this problem by increasing the distance to 300m (approximately 329 yard). This is a little more than the 100 and 200 yard short range group and score matches. The mid-range/long-range cartridges shoot at 600 yards and 1000 yards, respectively.
Cartridges Left-to-Right: 6 PPC (30 BR), 6mmBR (6 BRA), 6 DASHER. These five cartridges are 85% of all cartridge types used in the Tack Driver II match. Short Range matches can be either a score or group match. You want to shoot as few shots as possible in group shooting (either 5- or 10-shot groups). It doesn’t matter how the group forms on the target, unlike score. In score competition, the goal is to hit five bullseyes per target. This is preferably dead center. Score matches are won based on the highest total score, while group matches are won based on the smallest aggregate (smallest number of total groups shot). This is different for longer range competitions. Competitors at 600-yard and 1000 yard Benchrest shoot simultaneously for score and group on the same target. Competitors are competing to shoot the smallest group at the bullseye to earn the most points. Tack Driver II has equal numbers of score targets and group sizes targets. Tack Driver II had 5 score and 5 group targets at 300m, so neither discipline is preferred.6 BRA Wins Tack Driver II match. This year’s winning combination was a 6 BRA (6mmBRAckley Improved) shot in the hands of Bart Sauter. Below are details about Bart’s winning rifle as well as load information. The following video will show you more about Bart’s precise rifle.
Picatinny Rail- BAT +20 MOA
Stock – Scarbrough HV
Stock Paint — Brett Childress (Bc’z)
Scope – Valdada 10-60x56mm 40mm tube
Rings – Valdada Low Rings
Stocker – Billy Stevens
Gunsmith – Dean Stroud
Trigger – Jewell
Barrel Tuner – Ezell Barrel – Lederer 1:8?-Twist, 28?
Barrel Bore Diameter – 0.237?
Neck -.272 NO TURN
Bullets – 103gr Bart’s Hammers
Case – Lapua 6mmBR parent
Primers – CCI BR4 sm rifle
Powder – Hodgdon HB4895
Seating Pressure – 22-25 lbs on gauge
Bullet Seating Depth –.009? From the first touch, get into the rifling. Questions and Answers with Bart SauterMatch Prep and Cartridge Choice, Comparative wind drift, Reloading Gear and Wind Conditions, and more…Q. How did you prepare for this match?Bart. Jim Chaney, my good friend and shooting buddy built a target frame that was 300 meters high to practice before the match. The match was a battle between two main concerns: 1) being competitive in the score portion and 2) being able see bullet holes during heavy mirage. The range is mostly made of South Carolina sand, and faces southeast. You can get sun in your eyes. It is known for its heavy mirage. It is so bad that bullet holes can sometimes be difficult to see. Many shooters were convinced to shoot.30 calibers as the holes are easier for them to see. Many shooters complained that they couldn’t see their shots when the sun rose for the last few targets. Q: You’ve been shooting a 6 PPC for years. Bart: There were many reasons why you decided to shoot a 6 BRA. During practice, I bounced back-and-forth between the 6 PPC & 6 BRA. Jim, my shooting buddy, shot his 6 PCC. Jim shot his 6 PPC. Both rifles were tuned to the best possible for the test. Both shooters were to aim at the same point for each shot (total 5 per sequence). The shots were fired simultaneously using a countdown, such as “One, Two and Three, FIRE!” Wind speeds ranged from 7 to 10 mph.
Bart (foreground), and Jim Chaney conduct wind-drift comparisons with 6 PPC, and 6 BRA before Tack Driver II Match. The 6 BRA shot 3 formed a nice 0.300? The 6 BRA formed a nice 0.300? group, while the 6PPC grew to a 0.650?. The last two shots were fired in a strong crosswind pushing to the right and then a strong crosswind to the left. The 6 PPC had a 1.6-inch group, while the 6 BRA managed a 0.850?. The test was so conclusive, Jim gave up his 6 PPC and doubled my 6 BRA on the way to the match. Q: This explains why you chose to use the 6 BRA. But how did you overcome the challenge of seeing 6mm bullet holes despite bad misterge?Bart: Jim, I tried different scopes to find the best one. Mirage can be quite severe at my house. The new Valdada 10-60x56mm Precision scope was purchased in September with a 40mm tube. This scope is incredible, both optically and in terms of accuracy. This scope is the best for seeing bullet holes. Q: Did you preload for match?Bart : No. I have never been to this range so it was difficult to know where I needed to load. I didn’t know what the forecast called for. It was also predicted that there would be rain and cool temperatures. It was my plan to arrive early and tune up as soon as practice opened on Friday. It took me 15 shots to confirm that the same load and velocity that I used in a Memphis match would work on the Tack Driver II. I brought 300 cases, all primed and sized, and everything needed to reload. After some practice, it was back at the hotel to load. Here is how I set up at the hotel.
Setup for reloading at hotel: K&M Arbor Press with sitting pressure gauge, Wilson Bullet Seater and AutoTrickler V3 powder trickler/scale. I loaded the cases with Hodgdon HB4895 in one-tenth grains increments (0.3 grains total spread), to shoot over the course the day. I thought a three-tenth spread would suffice to keep the rifle in tune during the 20-25 degree range. We also took all our loading gear with us to the range every morning as a backup plan in the event that the load got lost. 100 pre-primed and sized cases were always on hand. We didn’t have to use them. The three prepared loads could be used throughout the day, changing according to the ambient temperature (highest charge in the morning). We experienced head winds that varied between 15-25 mph and occasionally gusted to 30 mph. The temperature started in the low 30s, and rose to 50 by morning. Rain was forecast for both days, but it didn’t fall during the competition.
Bart Sauter inspects the conditions during the match. Winds were variable with gusts up to 30 MPH. Q: Did you make any observations or takeaways from the match?”Bart: Jim Cline and his crew put on a great match. It is well-organized and professionally managed. The Tack Driver II was a lot of fun. Jim keeps things moving and has a gift of winding shooters up, and getting the competitive juices flowing. Three of the Top 6 PPC shooters were told by him, “If Bart beats me with that 6 BRA,” and they all received autographed T-shirts at his award ceremony.
Jim Cline presents (L-R) Roy Hunter, Jeff Pineheart and Wayne Cambell with their Bart Sauter-autographed Tack Driver Tshirts. Cline stands behind the trio. About Bart Sauter & Bart’s Custom Bullets. Our philosophy at Bart’s Custom Bullets revolves around taking care of our customers. We don’t cut corners and test everything. And we never sell a bullet that I wouldn’t take to a match. While I was still in the Army, we started making bullets back in 2000. Kim (my wife), and I made a decision from the beginning to spend as much money as we could to get the best equipment. We created a range to test at every location that the Army sent. It has been a success. Our bullets have won all major competitions in short range and have set over 50 world records. We are now working hard to achieve the same in Long Range. Bullet Design — What does the future hold? In the design and manufacture of bullets, we have made great strides. High-quality presses, jackets that have almost zero run-out and bullet dies that can be shaped more accurately and are more straightened have all made a difference. We are nearing the point where bullets can shoot at 100 yards to 1000 yards. Any improvements made at this point will be incremental. I believe that the bullets that we have right now can shoot a 0.500? group at 1000 yards (without wind effect). This may sound crazy to many shooters. However, I believe the capability is currently available. To see it, you will need a gun, barrel, shooter, and condition combination. Bullets for Extreme Long Range (ELR), could be a new frontier in bullet design. Similar Posts
