Benchrest .224 Scoring Plug

[michaelthomas]

I can't believe it has taken me this long to make this stupid easy part that has made my life so much easier.  I like to keep track of my target averages and such......so I always score all my targets.

It's a .224 scoring plug for .177 caliber benchrest.

The international 25m benchrest target is to be scored as .224 caliber......no matter what you shoot.  I shoot .177, so I have been just examining the close shots as best I can and using a .22 hole in a clear sheet of thin plastic.  I center it as best I can.....then make a judgement on the score.   Pretty much have been cheating myself out of a lot of x's and points that way.

I went back and re-scored my old targets, and often found dramatic differences.

Anyway......I'm attaching a drawing of the plug that I made with it's dimensions.  The only real critical dimension is the .224 diameter.  I chose .185 for the .177 plug part.....because I wanted a light press fit for my .177 holes.

If you leave your target on the cardboard backer......it's just dead on foolproof.  If any white is showing between the higher ring and the plug.....you score the next lowest ring.  If any black is showing for an x......you missed it. 

These can be bought for about 5 bucks from various websites......but I couldn't bring myself to order one since I knew the shipping would probably be more than the plug.  That's just a personal hangup of mine (one of many).

It took about 10 minutes on a cnc lathe.......and would likely be very similar in time on a manual, since most of my time was programming.  It was well worth my time......and saved myself that much time scoring my first target with it.

I think I will shoot the .22 targets for next season's forum matches and just use this to score my .177.....since they are going to be caliber specific targets.  I like it so much better than the pretend Eagle Eye thing I was using......since it is not subject to human error in centering.  It just takes all of the "interpretation" out of the deal.

If you shoot multiple targets on a backer......I suppose the plug could wander on an overlapping hole.  I just move my target around to give me fresh backer as I shoot.

Anyway.....I would encourage anyone with the tools to take the time and make one.......or just buy one.

I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner.

Mike

[mobilehomer]

Back in the 60's when I was shooting NRA matches as a Boy Scout we had a scoring gage that consisted of a clear Lucite disk with a 22 caliber pin through the center of it. The disk was about 3/8" thick by about 1 1/4" diameter. The top of the disk was convex just a little and magnified the center. I think there may have been some concentric rings at abouth 1/8" spacing. Forgive my memory, it's been over 40 years since I saw one. I tried to find a picture on line, but no joy. The magnification helped verify small differences. Worked GREAT! You could make one from Plexiglas with a .224 center turned down to .177 where it protrudes from the bottom. This might give you some new project ideas. Have a great New Year, Ken

[mobilehomer]

Me again, Margaret
 I did find these, very similar to the ones I remember.
http://www.championshooters.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=productdetails&virtuemart_product_id=1160&virtuemart_category_id=110&Itemid=111

[michaelthomas]

Those are nice......I had always wanted to buy one, but reasoned that I would wait til I had more things to order so the shipping costs were spread out a little.  I never seemed to remember, though.

I have never turned any material like the Lucite.  I wonder if it's tough to do?

I can't see anything up close anymore without reading glasses......so the extra magnification would be nice.

Thanks

Mike

[mobilehomer]

I believe the hardest part would be forming and polishing the convex. The rest would be pretty simple. Just keep speed and feed where the material neither burns nor tears. Sharp tools help, too.