Download AR Dope Bag Oct. 2002: Weatherby SBGM / Beretta Extrema A391 / NEF Versa-Pack / Kel-Tec
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dope bag data & comment Weatherby Super Big GameMaster Rifle WEATHERBY SBGM Weatherby’s new Super Big GameMaster MANUFACTURER: Weatherby, hunting rifle is an all-business tool that Inc. (Dept. AR), 3100 El Camino Real, brings varmint rifle accuracy to a light- Atascadero, CA 93422; weight medium-game rifle at a price within (805) 466-1767; reach of most serious shooters. www.weatherby.com CALIBERS: .240 Wby. Mag., .25-'06 Rem., .257 Wby. Mag. (tested),. 270 Win., .270 Wby. Mag., .280 Rem., 7 mm Rem. Mag., 7 mm Wby. Mag., .30- '06 Sprg., .300 Win. Mag., .300 Wby. Mag. and .338-'06 A-Square ACTION TYPE: bolt-action, repeating rifle RECEIVER: forged chrome- moly steel with matte blue finish BARREL: 24" fluted, hammer- forged, stainless (26" on magnum models) RIFLING: six groove, 1:10" RH twist MAGAZINE: internal five- round (three in magnum models) SIGHTS: none, receiver drilled and tapped for scope bases TRIGGER: two-stage, adjustable, 4 lbs. pull STOCK: hand-laminated syn- 5 thetic: length of pull, 13 ⁄8"; drop at heel, 1"; drop at comb, 1" 5 OVERALL LENGTH: 46 ⁄8" 3 WEIGHT: 5 ⁄4 lbs. (standard 3 calibers), 6 ⁄4 lbs. (mag- num calibers) SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: $1,459 (standard calibers), $1,517 (magnum calibers) For this application, Weatherby chose a matte imed at American offered in 12 popular stan- Mark V action has earned finish rather than the tradi- sportsmen looking dard and magnum calibers acclaim for its reliability, tional high-polish blue.The A for a high-quality, ranging from .240 Wby. durability and strength. As bright polish on the fluted lightweight big game hunt- Mag. through .338-’06 A- technical details of this bolt contrasts nicely with ing rifle with varmint rifle Square. The basis for the action have been covered the matte finish on the accuracy,Weatherby’s new SBGM rifle is the many times in the pages of action body.The SBGM rifle Super Big GameMaster Weatherby Mark V bolt American Rifleman, they is also equipped with (SBGM) rifle will be action. Over the years, the will not be repeated here. Weatherby’s adjustable, The American Rifleman has used the phrase “Dope Bag” at least since WARNING: Technical data and information contained herein are intended to provide information 1921, when Col. Townsend Whelen first titled his column with it. Even then, based on the limited experience of individuals under specific conditions and circumstances. They it had been in use for years, referring to a sack used by target shooters do not detail the comprehensive training procedures, techniques and safety precautions absolute- to hold ammunition and accessories on the firing line. “Sight dope” also ly necessary to properly carry on similar activity. Read the notice and disclaimer on the contents was a traditional marksman’s term for sight adjustment information, while page. Always consult comprehensive reference manuals and bulletins for details of proper training judging wind speed and direction was called “doping the wind.” requirements, procedures, techniques and safety precautions before attempting any similar activity. 66 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN October 2002 SHOOTING RESULTS .257 Wby. Mag. Vel. @ 15' Energy Group Size In Inches Cartridge (f.p.s.) (ft.-lbs.) Smallest Largest Average Weatherby B257115X 3351 Avg. 2,869 2.07 2.64 2.18 115-gr. Barnes XBT 11 Sd Weatherby N257115BST 3397 Avg. 2,947 1.29 2.56 1.98 115-gr. Nosler BST 18 Sd Average Extreme Spread: 2.08 Measured average velocity for 10 rounds from a 26" barrel. Range tem- perature: 81° F. Humidity: 42%. Accuracy for five consecutive, five-shot groups at 100 yds. from a sandbag. Abbreviations: BST (Ballistic Tip), Sd (standard deviation), XBT (X-Bullet). The SBGM rifle is based on the Mark V action—an action renowned Pachmayr Decelerator erate despite its weight.The for its reliability, strength and smoothness of operation. recoil pad and blued steel, SBGM tames some of the quick-detachable sling perceived recoil by means two-stage trigger factory set 11 degree target crown swivel studs are standard of its forward sloping Monte for a pull weight of 4 lbs. and a sporter contour. equipment.The stock has a Carlo comb and soft rubber and a five-shot (three-shot in Using the best features Monte Carlo comb, but no recoil pad. magnum calibers) double- from benchrest and checkering or fore-end cap. Functioning proved column, internal magazine varmint rifles, the synthetic No metal sights are flawless with a smooth bolt with a hinged floor plate. stock on the Weatherby provided, nor is provision glide.We found the trigger As a quality barrel is SBGM rifle consists of made for same. Both receiv- crisp and predictable, essential for varmint rifle hand-laminated Aramid, er bridges are drilled and which aided accurate accuracy,Weatherby fiberglass and unidirec- tapped for scope mount shooting. Quickly firing specified a hammer- tional graphite fibers with bases.We used Weatherby five rounds heated the thin forged, hand-lapped a tan finish and black spi- bases and scope rings to barrel beyond touching, Kreiger Criterion barrel. derwebs. Inside the stock mount a Zeiss 3-9X 40 mm although the point of This 24" (26" in magnum is a CNC-machined, alu- Conquest rifle scope on the impact did not change. The calibers) match-grade, minum bedding SBGM rifle. flutes of the barrel allowed stainless steel barrel has block/backbone designed We checked accuracy it to cool very quickly. six longitudinal to provide a solid, stable and muzzle velocity using Workmanship, fit and flutes, an platform for the action that Weatherby ammunition in finish were very good, but will remain unaffected by two, 115-gr. bullet styles: the SBGM rifle is an all- moisture, solvents Nosler Ballistic Tip and business tool for real-life and age. A Barnes X. Our tests proved hunting. As such, the The barrel of the Weatherby SBGM rifle SBGM rifle carries a price the SBGM rifle features six offers accuracy sufficient for tag that brings this model longitudinal flutes to reduce hunting at long ranges. within reach of most seri- weight and aid cooling. Perceived recoil was mod- ous shooters. hile Beretta is one of the last of the Wworld’s major shotgun manufacturers to 1 embrace the 12-ga., 3 ⁄2" shotshell, the result was well worth the wait. Based on the successful A391 Urika 12-ga., 3" gun (May 2000, p. 39), the gas-operat- ed Beretta A391 Extrema 3.5 closely follows the lines of its progenitor—as a mat- ter of fact they are virtually indistinguishable at a glance—but an entirely dif- ferent bolt and recoil spring Beretta A391 system are employed with the Extrema 3.5. In development for the Extrema 3.5 past four years, the Extrema AMERICAN RIFLEMAN 67 October 2002 dope bag data & comment 1 The Extrema is Beretta’s first 12-ga. 3 ⁄2" shotgun. The gas-operated autoloader borrows from the Urika 391, the Benelli Black Eagle and Franchi semi-automatics in its internal design. than the majority of other Extrema becomes very dif- prefer optics. designs.The full vent rib is ferent; all three are part of Aesthetically, the crosshatched to reduce an assembly that is easily Extrema followed the glare and is topped by a removed for cleaning as a Giugiaro Design-based gold bead at its front.The unit.The two-piece bolt has lines of the Model 391. It, barrel extension is a sepa- a rotating head reminiscent like the Urika, is a thor- rate piece firmly threaded of the Benelli Black Eagle. oughly modern-looking borrows from other designs to the barrel and is left in The recoil spring slides gun with racy, atypical (notably Benelli and the white, as it is not visible over the magazine tube and lines.The stock and fore- Franchi, two firms owned when the gun is assembled. is surrounded by a polymer end have soft rubber pan- by Beretta Holdings) to Extraction is via a hook tube below the dual action els over-molded on both stand up to the constant on the bolt’s right side, and bars. Similar to some sides to aid in gripping the pounding of heavy 12-ga., the ejector is pinned into Franchi designs, the recoil gun, especially when it is 1 3" and 3 ⁄2" hunting loads. the receiver’s left and is a spring is a larger spring wet.The panels are stip- Although it will cycle some tapered rectangular stud. It forward of the bolt as pled and of a medium gray 1-oz. loads, that is not the rides in a channel in the opposed to a smaller one at hue, further adding to the gun’s intended role. It is wall of the barrel extension its rear.That allows the gun’s racy lines. meant as a field gun, pure and is pushed forward buttstock to house a recoil The buttstock incorpo- and simple, and Beretta along with its guide under reduction system. rates Beretta’s Gel-Tek recommends that only shot spring tension. Depending The round, knurled, trig- recoil pad system as stan- 1 charges of 1 ⁄8 oz. or heavier on the force of the recoiling ger-blocking manual safety dard equipment.The pad is be fired in it.With that in shell, the extractor will trav- is forward of the trigger made of a soft gel-type mind, the Extrema is only el rearward as much as is and integral with the front offered with a synthetic necessary to clear the ejec- of the guard. It is disen- stock in matte black, or full- tion port before kicking the gaged by pushing from EXTREMA A391 coverage Realtree case free.