I have been asked if , reverse taper barrels are legal ??

Not for hunter. In hunter: 'Barrel: A hunting style contoured barrel that tapers from chamber to
muzzle. Bull barrels are not permitted. A factory tuner that does not
act as a muzzle brake or compensator is permitted. Maximum barrel
length is 26 inches, including tuner. (See Rule 3.16.1).'

a reverse taper barrel does taper from chamber to crown it tapers from a smaller diameter to a larger

edshooter wrote:a reverse taper barrel does taper from chamber to crown it tapers from a smaller diameter to a larger

No. A reverse taper enlarges from chamber to to crown, not tapers.

The definition of taper as defined by Merriam Webster:

Merriam Webster wrote: Taper
noun
ta·per \ˈtā-pər\
Gradual diminution (reduction) of thickness, diameter, or width in an elongated object.

Taper by definition can only go one direction: from largest to smallest. A reverse taper does not qualify as legal for Hunter class as stated by the rules.

It's literally called a reverse taper meaning it's tapering the opposite direction that a typical tapered barrel is.

That being said, it would be the decision of the match director whether or not to disqualify it either prior to the match or by protest, but I'd personally rather not leave them a decision.

I am guilty of the equipment--gimmicks--expensive ammo--and sundry other get more hits crowd just like everyone else. All one has to do is watch Cathy Winstead Severin in action and you will realize that if you break center the critter will go over. Or in the case of Cathy where-ever she says she will put the shot. If everyone would practice-practice-practice, the hitting of the target would take care of it self. Conard Bernhardt said it best to me at my first ever nationals in 1982--"All it takes is practice." With that I would like to congratulate Cathy on her excellent performance in Missoula at the Iron-Man. She is a most gracious winner and truly a sweet-heart of a person. I would also like to thank Monica, Mike, Terry, Gordon, and all the rest of the Missoula crew for one awesome match. We Dakota Boys enjoy ourselves immensely every year at the Iron-man. P.S.-----The apple pie was GREAT as usual, my compliments to the baker!!! Kelly Landis.

Here is a reverse taper.

Jerry very nice rifle but I think I think this is a running boar barrel much like I turned from a .900 straight 2 groove Benchmark bbl and am shooting in hunter class now. A reverse taper tapers from a smaller diameter at receiver to larger at muzzle. This idea came about when Bill Calfee (the guru of rimfire smiths) was on the subject of lapping a progressive choke into a rimfire barrel. I got the idea that since as you turn a more meat from the outside of a bbl the bore gets larger why not reverse taper to build in a progressive choke. Bill replied "Friend Ed nothing can replace the sweat of hand lapping a barrel"--too much of a gentleman to say you are too lazy to do it right. I am building a rifle now that will allow me to shoot both classes without changing guns(note I said shoot not knock down little critters) and this rifle has a reverse taper barrel on it that I had laying around and allows enough weight loss to make the 8 1/2 lb limit but do not know if the reverse taper will be legal or if I need to bush the 40X receiver and turn a .900 straight running boar barrel. Thanks for your opinions Ed

edshooter wrote:Jerry very nice rifle but I think I think this is a running boar barrel much like I turned from a .900 straight 2 groove Benchmark bbl and am shooting in hunter class now. A reverse taper tapers from a smaller diameter at receiver to larger at muzzle. This idea came about when Bill Calfee (the guru of rimfire smiths) was on the subject of lapping a progressive choke into a rimfire barrel. I got the idea that since as you turn a more meat from the outside of a bbl the bore gets larger why not reverse taper to build in a progressive choke. Bill replied "Friend Ed nothing can replace the sweat of hand lapping a barrel"--too much of a gentleman to say you are too lazy to do it right. I am building a rifle now that will allow me to shoot both classes without changing guns(note I said shoot not knock down little critters) and this rifle has a reverse taper barrel on it that I had laying around and allows enough weight loss to make the 8 1/2 lb limit but do not know if the reverse taper will be legal or if I need to bush the 40X receiver and turn a .900 straight running boar barrel. Thanks for your opinions Ed

You're right. No replacement for hand lapping, but you can't fault Shilen for trying to replicate something that few can have. I'd dare say there is a better barrel lapper than Bill and he's not exactly available to the masses. Dan Muller might fill in a gap or two though.

I do know a reverse taper barrel is illegal in Hunter class (though I've seen people shoot them; it's really going to fall on your match director's call). Personally, if I had my way, I would use the Calfee contour sporter barrel, but it wouldn't pass hunter specifications (nor would the Eck contour).

If you were to bush your 40X, would you retain your recoil lug?

A reverse taper barrel isn't legal for smallbore hunter class according to how I read the rules. As a match director, I would allow a shooter to shoot it for standard class but not hunter class. I'd also allow it to be short "for practice" during a hunter rifle match, but the score wouldn't be recorded in a scorebook and the shooter wouldn't be eligible for winning any classes or the match. I definitely wouldn't travel any great distance to a match, especially a big match, with the expectation of getting to shoot a rifle with a reverse taper barrel in smallbore hunter class.

Doodaddy I gave up handlapping years ago for benchrest the best way is to order a bbl on approval slug it if it has a tight choke and feels good use it if not send it back and try another less time effort and better results. The only reason I wanted to use a reverse taper on the 40X type action I made is to cut overall weight but retain the momentum of the running boar type of rifle. I never use a recoil lug on rimfire just one more area to get the bbl not on the same plane as the bolt face. Not sure who posted a reply next but I wholly agree do not chance taking a gun to a shoot and have a protest even though no one would ever protest me since my high score is single digit. Thanks for all the kind replies Ed

edshooter wrote:Doodaddy I gave up handlapping years ago for benchrest the best way is to order a bbl on approval slug it if it has a tight choke and feels good use it if not send it back and try another less time effort and better results. The only reason I wanted to use a reverse taper on the 40X type action I made is to cut overall weight but retain the momentum of the running boar type of rifle. I never use a recoil lug on rimfire just one more area to get the bbl not on the same plane as the bolt face. Not sure who posted a reply next but I wholly agree do not chance taking a gun to a shoot and have a protest even though no one would ever protest me since my high score is single digit. Thanks for all the kind replies Ed

You're more a man than I for even trying to lap. I'd hate to ruin a blank by my trying to lap anything. I'm very much in the same group as you with feeling and measuring a slug to determine crown location and overall likelihood of a "good" barrel.

That's an interesting point about barrel/bolt alignment. I had never considered the recoil lug as a potential hindrance for that. My 40X still has its recoil lug and it shoots very well. I had thrown around the idea of rebarreling it and bushing the receiver so I could use a more "typical" benchrest profile instead of the 1.25" stepped to .932" after a 2 inches that it is. I was unsure of whether I would keep the recoil lug since the rear of the tang isn't as beefy and square as most of the custom actions are these days. I've seen one shooter adapt the screw head to the loading ramp on the bottom of the receiver and dropped the standard recoil lug the 40Xs have. I thought it was an interesting idea and if I ever do rebarrel, I will probably take the advice of both you and him as far as recoil lugs go.

Doodaddy someone does great work looks like it came from Richardson TX. You can just replace the bolt guide/feed ramp screw with an allen head machine screw and inlet brass or Al at back of tang don't really need for recoil just for indexing

edshooter wrote:Doodaddy someone does great work looks like it came from Richardson TX. You can just replace the bolt guide/feed ramp screw with an allen head machine screw and inlet brass or Al at back of tang don't really need for recoil just for indexing

Alex Sitman at Masterclass Stocks did that actually. There is a user over at RFC that is pretty proud of his rifles and posts pictures often. Can't say I blame him. Alex did most of his stocks I believe.

I've considered bedding around the tang on the receiver, but the 40X tang isn't all that robust. Didn't figure there would be much to be gained by doing it, but I do feel something needs to bear the force of recoil (albeit not a large amount considering the round) and I'd rather it not be purely the action screws.

One problem with bedding is you will probably want to take the gun out of the stock and the small 40x tang works well because the rifle can pivot up and out but the tang will re-index the receiver in the stock and the POI will not change. Some like to glue in the receiver. The late and great shooter/smith talked me into gluing in my Swindlehurst but it went crazy in the middle of a benchrest match and I didn't know what had happened till I got home and found out it had come loose

edshooter wrote:One problem with bedding is you will probably want to take the gun out of the stock and the small 40x tang works well because the rifle can pivot up and out but the tang will re-index the receiver in the stock and the POI will not change. Some like to glue in the receiver. The late and great shooter/smith talked me into gluing in my Swindlehurst but it went crazy in the middle of a benchrest match and I didn't know what had happened till I got home and found out it had come loose

Interesting. Did you leave the action screws in? Seems like them still being used would alleviate some pain if the glue failed. I assume you're speaking of Bill Myers? I'd do probably anything he would have told me to do.

I've always been a little curious why gluing in wasn't all that popular with rimfires, specifically the benchrest crowd. I'd love a Swindlehurst for a silhouette rifle though.