Rifle Setup Service
Price is for Standard Service - We can Customise it to your requirements.
Allow for Freight and Ammunition Costs
We can setup a your rifle and zero it properly. We can:
- Properly Setup the Scope and Rifle
- Securely Attach your mounts or Rail to your rifle
- Check the bore of your new rifle
- Thread the Muzzle
- Test your scopes tracking and dialing abilities
- Test Various Ammunition types to find what suits you and the rifle
- Zero the rifle
- Chronograph Data using a Scientific Chrono at 100m
- Provide Calibrated Ballistic Data for Calculators
This is ideal if you don’t have access to a range, time or the equipment needed to do this correctly.
We have a number of Options available to suit what you need
- We aim for precision our data is accurate to <1%
- We use known measured figures, not manually calibrated figures
- We shoot ourselves to over 1000m
- We look for consistency
- We provide reports
- We don’t shoot 3 shots and its a say its a great rifle and its zeroed
- We don’t generate ‘try’ data - we measure accurate long range data
- We don’t just shoot 3 shots and work the data from that - We need to have a good sample to get comfort with the data
Location:
We are located in Whangarei
Shipping your rifle and ammunition to and from us is easy from around the country. Either via a Store or direct to us via a freight company which we will organise.
We hold a Firearms Dealers Licence
How is this data calculated
There are 3 ways to obtain this ballistic data
1 - Doppler Radar
This is very precise of course and can measure the entire bullet flight path - however its extremely expensive and requires a large area to actually work - our colleagues supplied this radar to the NZ Army - It is a big brother of the Labradar
2 - Drop Scale Calibration
You fire a series of shots at the distances required and make adjustments to the ballistic data to make the results fit.
This requires you to be able to reliability shoot consistent groups at the ranges required, it consumes a lot of time, is affected by variations in weather, you abilities, scope variations and consumes ammunition.
You need to fire enough to ensure you performed the test correctly to get good data; you need good measurements to get good data - is the target 900 metres, or 897m.
You should measure all the factors at the same time, including velocity.
You should not be adjusting the muzzle velocity (that is a known measurable data point) but only the BC.
To give you a idea on how hard this is (and you need to fire enough rounds), at 1000m a SD of 18 fps can give a 5 inch vertical uncertainty and just getting the range wrong by 5m can also induce another 6 inches of vertical uncertainty - right there is 11 inches
As you can see this is not easy to do correctly
3 - Measure Time of Flight
By measuring very accurately the Time of Flight between 2 points and we can accurately calculate the BC for that distance. Ideally you calibrate beyond the distance you would shoot at. Two or more distances can be used to create a stepped BC or to be used in ballistic apps that can use this data.
At the same time we capture a highly accurate velocity for each shot
This is done scientifically and accurate to less than 1%.
Every measurement has at least 1 backup reading in it to give comfort in the results
Our system is the only system in the country that can do this.
But I have a Labradar - doesn’t this do it?
In a word NO
The Labradar is capable of measuring the bullets speed to some 50-80m.
Therefore it is only capable of calibrating your BC to that distance - which is ONLY some 10-20% of your actual shooting range or even less !!
It is a great starting point for calculating the BC and good for measuring velocity (remember to set it up correctly) for load development.
Can I attend while this is done?
No sorry, its not possible to have visitors
Can I send Hand loaded Ammunition
Yes - it is fine to send this, however we aren’t going to do any load development - if we detect loads with excessive pressure signs we will stop all testing.
Ammo is stored in the shade until firing
Timeframes
We work on a cycle where we are doing several rifles at once; so cannot guarantee a exact date and the freight companies may take longer to deliver your rifle back to you.
The weather needs to be suitable as well.
As a general rule you should allow 2-4 weeks
Why do you normally do this at one range?
Generally you want to conduct the test at around 80% of your velocity before the bullet goes into the transonic zone.
This way its calibrated to that distance, everything closer is better data as your results are interpolated over known data. Anything further out soon becomes uncalibrated as its based on extrapolated data
Mathematically speaking, interpolation is the process of determining an unknown value within a sequence based on other points in that set, while extrapolation is the process of determining an unknown value outside of a set based on the existing “curve.”
Can we do conduct tests at multiple ranges
Yes and this data can be used by Ballistic Apps that will accept multiple BC’s based on speeds or we can create a ‘stepped’ BC figure based on the known points.
How accurate is your Chronograph
It is nearly 16 feet long, based on the data provided by known experts in the field it is very accurate.
Why should we test scopes?
Your scopes ability to reliably track and correctly dial is extremely important.
How scopes actually do this is almost mechanically amazing with very fine adjustments. Sadly not all scopes are equal and even over time a small part can fail and suddenly what you think is 10.25 MOA is not.
Every scope should be function checked before you even take a shot or you are wasting your time, ammo or worse.
Do bullets have a SD on their BC
Yes they do - they too have a Standard Deviation (SD) of their individual BC - each bullet batch (or bullet) will have minor variations - Remember your bullets are being spun at hundreds of thousands of revolutions per minute - even your Muzzle velocity SD variations come into effect
Standard Test
Confirm Zero at 100m
Muzzle Velocity of all shots
BC Calibration at 500, 800m or 1200m
Report on Ballistic Data
Ammunition Requirements - Generally 10-20 Rounds is required.
Enough rounds need to be fired to give comfort with the results; if your ammunition if very consistent then a lessor number of shots needs to be fired
However short cutting with a lessor number of rounds isn’t worth it and can lead to bad results. Its important that you know valid results done over a number or shots to show good average (SD and ES).
$300 plus return Freight and Ammunition costs
$100 for each extra range - this enables Stepped BC calculations to be made
Talk to us for more information
Shipping
Couriers only cover up to their legally required limits. However while a value is simple for a brand new firearm the insurers will likely only cover its current market value which may be a lot less then what it costs to replace it.
We will NOT cover the difference. You should enquiry about any cover you need with your insurers.
You should send the rifle in a hard case or something that you are happy with for shipping – we are not responsible for shipping damages.
All Bipods, Slings etc should be removed before sending the rifle
Shipping is done either via a Hunting Store or via us and Mainfreight.
With Mainfreight you will need to drop the rifle off to their depot – it will be returned to either their depot or a business address
SOMEONE MUST BE THERE TO RECEIVE IT AT ALL TIMES
For items being sent to us we hold a Firearms Dealers Licence.
For items being returned to you if not to a store – we require the Police Online Form to be completed (FRM43A)
Zero Point of Aim
We use a bench rest for shooting – this enables us to be very consistent with shooting. Like different people and shooting styles (incl using bipods, tripod, bags, slings, holds) the bench may have a variation in its Point of Impact to your actual shooting. Our testing has shown this to be minor to own our shooting styles but this will vary from person to person.
The Point of impact, relative to the group size will be within ½ MOA of the point of Aim on the bench to be considered Zeroed – It is pointless for us to fine tune that further when you will quite likely shoot differently, its just wasting your ammunition.
We recommend that you do shoot the rifle yourself and do any final adjustment necessary to suit your shooting style.
Accuracy
If we notice issues with your rifle we will stop and contact you – generally with good ammunition this is around 1 MOA inline with a lot of rifles accuracy guarantees
Ammunition
For transport this must be packed in secure cases same as it arrives from the store.
If the ammunition is reloaded you need to inform us of that – it must not be a ‘hot load’ or show any pressure signs and it must cycle normally in the action, including being able to be ejected unfired after being chambered. If we find issues with ammunition we will suspend test and may not continue it. In this case no refund will be provided.
Threading
If this is a brand new rifle and we are putting a thread on it, we do recommend that you have verified that it shoots in accordance with its guarantee before its threaded. This is in case there happens to be some issue with the rifle that is covered by warranty; threading may void or cause issues with any claim.
Epoxying Rail/Bases
We do recommend that you securely fix your bases or rail to the receiver – many a hunt was ruined by that moving and coming loose.
We can epoxy the rail to the receive – however this will stay there forever and some epoxy will show around the bases
Break in Procedures
If you want a break in done on the barrel – this should be done before we have the rifle
Cleaning
Your rifle should arrive clean or conditioned how you want and ready to use – we will run a patch through the barrel to clean out any oil.
If you don’t want anything done to the rifle cleaning wise – please let us know
Post shooting we will remove the suppressor and pack the rifle dry to send to you.
We can clean your rifle if requested, it will only entail the use of Ballistol.
Damage
While we will take care – your rifle will be in the countryside and placed into a bench rest, they have the potential for usage or dirt marks or worse a minor scratch – we are not liable in anyway for this damage – Sorry but these are rifles to be used in the outdoors and if you cannot handle that – we don’t want your rifle.
Scope Setup
Ideally you should have the eye relief set for yourself – you can quickly do this before sending the rifle to us
Otherwise we will set the scope up in a normal position and level it to the bore
Scope Testing
Tracking Test – We ensure that your scope will travel correctly in 4 directions and return to its start point.
Dialing Calibration
We will test the number of clicks required vs observed and report on any issues
Both Scope tests are done visually without any live firing.
They also require that your scope is suitable for the test (i.e. a proper dialling scope with visible markings) to be conducted
Timeframes
We work on a cycle where we are doing several rifles at once; so cannot guarantee a exact date and the freight companies may take longer to deliver your rifle back to you.
The weather needs to be suitable as well.
As a general rule you should allow 2-4 weeks
Rifles with Known Issues
If issues are encountered we will stop the tests and contact you
If you have a rifle with issues or potential issues – please let us know first as we maybe able to sort them