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The online magazine for the precision rifle shooting enthusiast
For information and advertising Contact Email
The online magazine for the precision rifle shooting enthusiast For information and advertising Contact Email
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BMT of Melbourne
Ballistic And Mechanical Testing (BMT) is a Melbourne based company that is primarily involved in the ballistic testing of body armour and other safety related items for the Police, Security and the Military. The owners of the company are also very keen long range shooters. This interest has evolved to the extent that they now offer for sale, a range of precision rifles for the recreational market. |
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This includes the full range of McMillan Rifles and Stocks as well as Barker Machine Works Rifles. These are high end rifles, suitable for the serious target and long range shooting enthusiasts. The state of the art ballistic laboratory is the most fully equipped ballistic laboratory in the Southern Hemisphere. Featuring a 25m test range with instruments that can measure velocity and pressure to scientific standards. |
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Pictured in the photo's above. A .50 BMG round being test fired from the universal receiver into some armour plate during a test. Plus recording instruments at the 25m range.
BMT, backs up their rifle sales with a full equipped workshop that can handle all custom rifle preparation and repairs. This laboratory and gun smithing workshop, is manned by experienced staff that have been in the firearms industry for many years.
Pictured below are photo's of the pressure recording instruments and a technician working in the fully equipped workshop. This expansive building is filled with some of the most advanced machinery and instrumentation found anywhere. This is not some back yard gun smithing business, when you deal with BMT, you deal with professionals that are serious about what they do and the services that they provide.
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Pictured in the photo's below. A technician (left) sets up to cut the chamber in a test barrel. While (right) BMT's, head gunsmith Ben Eu, works on a customers rifle. Setting it up for a long range training shoot on a country property.
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Recently, I was privileged to be invited to attend the BMT, Precision Shooting and Safety Training Course. This course is provided free, firearms safety and rifle training to anyone that purchases a new McMillan or Barker Machine Works rifle from BMT.
By providing a proper training course, as part of the sale of each rifle, BMT has set itself at the lead in the Australian firearms industry. No other firearms retailer in Australia offers this level of service to its customers. BMT should be congratulated for their commitment to their customers and safe shooting practices.
This
course lasted for three days and offered excellent instruction from some of the
most experienced long range shooters in the country. We were also lucky to have
McMillan's head gunsmith, Dave Arnberger, present to give expert advice on the
full range of McMillan rifles including the new Tubb 2000 target rifles.
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Above, Dave can be seen making a few fine adjustments to a customers rifle. And to the right he follows it up with some accuracy testing.
Some of the rifles shown in this photo, include McMillan rifles in .416 Barrett's and .338 Lapua. Plus a Tubb 2000 in .308, a Barrett .50 and a Sig Sauer .338 Lpaua.
The
course included. Day 1 started out with introductions and a group discussion on rifle cleaning, maintenance and safety. Following this the rifles were all inspected by the attending gunsmiths and made ready for sighting in. The small group of participants then proceeded to the 100m range where they fired the rifles and established their proper zero for the following days long range shooting. |
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During this three day course I had the chance to inspect all the rifles that were available. To say that I was impressed would be an understatement. Both the McMillan and Barker rifle were of a very high standard of manufacture and all rifles appeared to be very accurate.
The Tubb 2000 target rifle in 6mmXC was a dream to shoot and with a quick barrel change could be fired in .308 calibre with only a minor change in its point of impact.
The McMillan rifles in .416 Barrett calibre were simply awesome. Although they were quite heavy they were still portable. Recoil was only mild thanks to the excellent muzzle brake. Muzzle blast however was considerable! This rifle would provide excellent knock down power for Sambar deer where the hunter did not have to walk too far to reach their hide.
This .416 calibre rifle come as a complete shooting system that has been developed in a joint venture between BMT and McMillan Rifles LLC. This system includes ammunition that has been especially prepared to match the McMillan rifle. This ammunition features custom made and match prepared brass, Rocky Mountain Custom Hunting Bullets and loads that have been especially developed in BMT's fully equipped ballistic laboratory to provide optimum accuracy and long range ballistic performance. No other rifle company offers such a complete system as this.
Barker Machine Works rifles, were on display in single shot .408 Chey Tac. This rifle was a lot lighter than the big McMillan and came mounted into an XLR chasis modular stock. This rifle was very easy to shoot and had less muzzle blast than the .416 Barrett. It would make a fine pack in Sambar rifle for those looking to hike into a more remote area.
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The .416 Barrett
cartridge has been developed to a much higher level of consistent accuracy
by BMT at their ballistic laboratory in Melbourne. Ammunition consists of quality, custom made, match prepared brass and premium components. This ammunition is designed specifically for the chambers cut in McMillan Rifles to maintain match grade accuracy.  |
Production of this .416 Barrett ammunition is quite an achievement. BMT set out to make the most accurate and effective, long range hunting cartridge possible. I think that they have achieved this.
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The three day training course provided many opportunities for customers to try their skills and learn from some of the best in the business. Although the weather was not great on day two and three, with rain and poor visibility at times. We still managed to get in a couple of hours shooting from distances ranging from 500m to 1250m.
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Shooting
was conducted in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. All participants thoroughly
enjoyed themself.
Schmidt and Bender rifle scopes were the most popular scopes fitted to these BMT
rifles.
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Part of the interest in these sort of events is the opportunity to see and handle some equipment that can be either new, rare or simply unusual. Various scope mounting options and accessories were on displays as well as some well used working rifles. Being able to discuss these items with their owners, sure adds to the learning experience.
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From
my experience during the three day training course and meeting the friendly
people that own and operate BMT, I would be very happy to recommend their
services to everyone without any reservations what so ever.
They are great people to deal with and are certainly very professional.
For
further information and details, Contact Ben Eu, at BMT in Melbourne.
Ph, 03 9646 4211
http://www.armourtesting.com/index.html
Copyright austargets.com 2012
