An interview with Garry Costello. 2011 GB F Class Open League Champion
TS – I notice that you seem to prefer laminate stocks – any particular reason?
GC – I do prefer Laminates for purely aesthetic reasons!
TS – The 7mm is undoubtedly the best Open Class calibre – preferably in the WSM case but a few are now moving towards the ‘straight’ 284 – what about you?
GC – I have a 284 and a 284 Shehane; I have not done much with either yet as I have had no time in between competitions to do any serious development. I will have them working for 2012 though and will make a comparison. I shoot the 7mm Saum at roughly Shehane velocities and I really like it so I am sure they will work well.
TS – Tell us your preferred bullet, powder, brass and primers.
GC - I like the Berger 180 VLD and Hybrid, I do have some custom 190 grain VLDs I am working on as well. I use different powders depending on the rifle, RL25, Vit N165, Hodgdon H4831 and H1000, I use Winchester brass in the 7/270 WSM and Lapua in the 284’s. I have found that Fed 210M primers have worked the best for me this year but I did use 215M last year.
TS – What twist-rate are you using – and do you have any preference for barrels – cut or button – do you favour any particular make?
GC - I use 9 twist normally, the rifle I shot in the Europeans is a 8.5 twist, I cannot really see any difference to be honest. I always shoot cut-rifled barrels and I do like Bartlein.
TS – Obviously, you weigh all your powder charges – what scales are you using and for that matter, whose dies do you use?
GC – For the initial charge I use a RCBS Chargemaster which I set 0.2 grains under the required charge, I then weight the charge on my Denver Instruments AP 203 lab scale which is accurate to 100th of a grain, I keep this on all the time and it is plugged into a anti-serge filter and plug.
I use Alan Warner’s sizing dies exclusively, they are the Rolls Royce of dies, the die body accepts calibre sleeves, I send 3 fired cases and he makes a custom honed sleeve that inserts into the die body, the tolerances are incredibly tight which gives great results, minimal case-sizing for longevity of brass and also zero run-out. They are expensive but you only need one or two and they are for life.
I have also started using custom Newlon seating dies (made by Peter Walker) these have a Mitutoyo micrometer head and are very nice, however I have still got my Redding Micrometer seaters for some other calibres.
TS – Set-up is critical in F Class, can you tell us your preference for a front rest?
GC – I use both the Farley and the Seb Neo, I like both. I do sell the odd Farley and I Like the Gen II model with the space base (lightweight base good for Diggle or ranges that you have to walk to the firing point and of course air travel). I am currently using the Seb Neo with some modifications to the base and handle, (I didn’t like the way the original handle twisted in operation) so we had a long straight handle made which has stopped the torque/twist.
TS – Obviously the rifle has worked well for you this year but is there any room for improvement?
GC – Always room for improvement! I think we all forget sometimes about correct preparation, bag- alignment and good technique. I do find occasionally that I have an ‘odd’ shot, more often or not it is because I have changed my grip or position slightly.
TS – Will you continue with the same kit next year? Have you anything new in the pipeline? A new cartridge perhaps or is the ‘seven’ king for the foreseeable future?
GC – I do have the Shehane and another 7mm Wildcat that I will be working on during the winter. I think 7mm is the only way to go in F Class Open as the recoil of a big 30 is just too much. The new Berger heavy Hybrids look very interesting with very good BCs but I do not really fancy 60 shots in a day with a 215-230 grain bullet and the recoil and torque that goes with it.
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