Reliability and accuracy are essential for any torque tool but Norbar's SL0 wrench certainly blew away the competition during the recent rifle shooting championships.

Andrew Howard, captain of the British Junior Rifle Squad, led his team mates to Germany to face more than 80 competitors in the annual competition. Precision is essential when competing against the best in the world, so Howard and his team chose Norbar's leading SL0 mechanical torque wrench to help give them a shot at the title.

The wrench weighs  only 0.4kg and is designed for applications from 4 to 20 N.m (40 to 180 lbf.in). At 220mm long, it is also extremely compact - perfect for carrying on a busy day of shooting. Unlike many of Norbar's competitors, the SL0 wrench incorporates a sturdy 1/4 inch ratchet. "There are other torque wrenches on the market," says Howard. "but they cost more and don't have the added bonus of the ratchet, which makes the Norbar wrench very quick and accurate to use."

"We use high precision rifles and each one needs to be set up just right," says Howard. "There are literally hundreds of adjustments to be made that can help your rifle fire properly. You've got to make sure that you have the best ammunition, the best rifle, even the best clothes - but a critical factor is to ensure there is the correct torque on the rifle barrel."

The bedding bolts between a rifle's barrel and stock need to be constantly adjusted during a competition to maintain accuracy. The gun barrel vibrates between shots so it is essential that they are given the precise torque to minimise the spread of the bullets. The adjustments can range from 5 - 8 N.m depending on the material of the stock, the ammunition and the barrel.

Norbar's wrench also proves particularly useful with the team's frequent trips abroad. "You have to loosen the bedding bolts when flying or the rifle can be damaged," says Howard. "When you land you need to torque them back up correctly so a reliable and accurate torque wench is vital. We used it at the Junior International recently, where I won Gold and a Silver team medal. We'll be going to some more championships soon and I'll definitely be taking a Norbar torque wrench with me," he says.

 PDF File