On the Applied Ballistics Facebook Page, there was a fascinating series of posts showing traces of bullets at various speeds from Mach 0.86 to Mach 3.0. At the slowest speed, Mach 0.86, i.e. 962 FPS, there is turbulence behind the bullet, but no clear shockwave. At the highest velocity, Mach 3.0 (3375 FPS at sea level, 68° F), there is a dramatic double nose and tail wave formation.
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Mach 3.00 Bullet Flight Image
At Mach 3 (3355 FPS) this bullet now has a strong and well established shock wave forming at the tip, and at the base. Unlike the transition through Mach 1.0, nothing really interesting happens to the aerodynamics or shock waves meaning the aerodynamics and stability are: continuous, easy to predict, and model. As you go faster, the shockwaves make a shallower angle because the bullet is moving forward 3X faster than the shock wave is moving away from it. So the shock wave makes an angle that has a rise/run ratio of 1/3.
If a bullet flew within 10 feet of you traveling this fast, it would be about as loud as a 22 magnum. You’d certainly want hearing protection as the energy contained in a Mach 3 shock wave is high! How high…? Well, in 10 yards, this bullet slows from 3355 FPS to 3334 FPS in a time of 0.0090 seconds. The 55 ft-lb of kinetic energy lost during this 10 yards is due to aerodynamic drag on the bullet, which is comprised of wave, base, and skin friction drag components with the majority of the drag being due to shock wave formation. Expending 55 ft-lb of energy in 0.0090 seconds requires a power output of 6111 ft-lb/sec = 11.1 horsepower, most of which goes into creating the shock wave. Remember it’s a 3-D cone that travels great distance, and it gets its energy by stealing velocity from your bullet!
Mach 1.00 Bullet Flight Image
Many shots were fired to capture an image of the transonic shockwave structure at exactly Mach 1.00. With the bullet now moving at the speed of sound, the local airflow on some parts of the bullet exceeds Mach 1.0. Anytime something is moving thru the air faster than the air can get out of the way, you get a compression wave, aka “shock wave”. That’s what’s visible in this image — the areas where the air density changes rapidly (in the compression wave) are visible as near vertical lines and a detached bow wave out front. As the bullet progresses through transonic speed, this shockwave structure develops which has strong effects on the drag (wind sensitivity) and stability of the bullet.
The exact development of the shockwaves and the resulting effects are unique and sensitive to the bullet geometry, and become very difficult to predict through the transition from subsonic (incompressible flow without shock waves) to supersonic (compressible flow with shock waves). Each bullet geometry does this differently which is why it’s difficult to determine transonic stability criteria for bullets of different shapes.
Mach 0.86 Bullet Flight Image
Here’s a bullet at Mach 0.86 (86% the speed of sound, which is 962 FPS at 61° F). As you can see, this 0.86 Mach is not fast enough to make any discernable waves but you can see turbulence in the bullet wake (right side in photo). The beginning of small shock waves can be seen on the bullet tip, and at the bearing surface/boat tail juncture. For the most part, all of the airflow around this bullet is subsonic. You wouldn’t hear a supersonic ‘crack’ from this bullet flying past the observer.
Small patches are not very efficient at distributing bore cleaning liquids inside your bore. The problem with a tight-fitting patch is that the solvent gets squeezed off in the first few inches. You can switch to a smaller jag, or a bore mop, but there is an even better way to get an ample amount of solvent in your bore. Just spray directly into the bore with a wash bottle, an inexpensive plastic bottle with an L-shaped dispensing neck, tapered at the end.
When using the wash bottle, you can either just plug the breech and spray from the muzzle end (where most copper fouling is), or, alternately, put the wash bottle neck directly in the chamber and spray forward. When spraying from the chamber forward, you may need to use a rubber O-Ring to seal off the action… depending on the bore size and the particular wash bottle’s neck spout diameter. We prefer to plug the breech and squirt from the muzzle.
Bottle Solvent Application Method Works Great for Smaller Bores
Using wet patches or wet brushes is an inefficient way to really saturate the tight bores of 17s, 20s, and 22s. Even with a cotton bore mop, most of the solvent will be squeezed out before it gets to the end of the bore, where most copper fouling occurs. For these smaller 17, 20, and 22-caliber bores, you can just take the wash bottle and stick the tapered nozzle right in the chamber. The tapered end will press fit in the throat, sealing off the chamber. With the barrel slightly nose-down, give the bottle a couple good squirts until the solvent mists out the muzzle. In just a few seconds, this will put more solvent in the bore than a half-dozen wet patches.
A solvent-filled wash bottle is also handy for wetting your brushes. It’s much easier to saturate a bore brush (without spilling solvent on your stock), by using the wash bottle. You can get wash bottles from USPlastic.com, Amazon.com, or lab supply stores. CLICK HERE to get a pair of wash bottles for just $5.99.
Trump Plans to Create New DOJ Second Amendment Rights Section
The Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) reports that the Trump Administration will establish a dedicated Second Amendment rights section within the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. The new section is expected to commence work in early December. FPC President Brandon Combs stated: “This is a great move by the Trump Administration. Gun owners certainly have something to be thankful for this year.”
The objective is to fight unconstitutional state and local restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms. The new DOJ staff will work to challenge local and state governments that continue to defy U.S. Supreme Court precedent and block the exercise of fundamental Second Amendment rights.
This move by the Trump administration recognizes that the Second Amendment warrants the same institutional protection as all other enumerated rights. FPC also emphasized the importance of appointing leadership with deep expertise in original-public-meaning jurisprudence to ensure that the new section’s work remains faithful to the Constitution.
“If this new section is led by genuine Second Amendment litigation experts, faithfully grounded in the original public meaning of the Constitution, and fully coordinated with the groups and firms already driving the long-term strategy, this could be a significant step forward for the fight for liberty and the right to keep and bear arms.” — Brandon Combs, FPC President.
FPC can work with the Administration to ensure that the new DOJ section is structured for long-term success, led by advocates and experts committed to proper constitutional interpretation, and fully aligned with the strong national strategy to restore the right to keep and bear arms at all levels of government.
Lapua Monarch Cup Announces Official 2026 Schedule
The Lapua Monarch Cup, North America’s premier smallbore rifle silhouette competition, has announced its official 2026 schedule. Now entering its fifth year, the Cup features a two-part series of smallbore standard rifle silhouette matches hosted in the United States and Mexico. The Lapua Monarch Cup is built around the annual U.S. Smallbore Rifle Silhouette National Championships, with an additional host country (either Canada or Mexico) selected through a proposal process. CLICK HERE for registration details and complete information on the Lapua Monarch Cup.
2026 Lapua Monarch Cup Competition Schedule:
1st Match – NRA National Smallbore Silhouette Championships
Ridgway Rifle Club, Ridgway, PA, USA | July 26-28, 2026 2nd Match – NRA National Smallbore Silhouette Championships
Saltillo Coahuila, Mexico | October 10 & 11, 2026
About the Monach Cup — “The Lapua Monarch Cup is more than a competition — it’s a premier showcase of precision and passion”, said Adam Braverman, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Lapua and advisor to the Cup. “With $25,000 in cash prizes on the line, this event delivers an unmatched experience for shooters while fostering camaraderie and celebrating world-class marksmanship across North America.”
Competitors earn scores from each match within their respective classifications (Master, AAA, AA, & A), allowing all participants the opportunity to compete for a share of $25,000 in cash prizes distributed across the two events.
The Lapua Monarch Cup Board is pleased to welcome new members: Dustin Flint (USA), Gabriel Villareal (Mexico), Jose Corral (Mexico). These three new Board Members join existing members Erich Mietenkorte, Daniel Salazar, Jason Marsh, Jose (Pepe) Valdes, and Chris Cawthorne — with Adam Braverman serving as an advisor. To learn more about the North American Silhouette Shooting Association (NASSA), visit www.nassasilhouette.org.
The famed Bianchi Cup pistol match is featured today on Shooting USA television. This event, the top action pistol match on the planet, celebrates its 45th year in 2025. The CMP Bianchi Cup attracts the world’s leading pistol shooters, and this year the Cup added a new .22 LR rimfire pistol division. Adding rimfire competition is a big, positive update to this venerable competition.
Shooting USA TV Broadcast Times on the Outdoor Channel
Wednesday 12/3/25 at 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific, 8:00 PM Central on Outdoor Channel. If you miss the broadcast you can view the episode at any time for $0.99 on Vimeo. Or, subscribe to see all Shooting USA shows on Vimeo as often as you wish for $2.99 per month.
Bruce Piatt Wins 2025 Bianchi Cup
At the 2025 Bianchi Cup competition, Legendary competitive shooter and Team Vihtavuori member Bruce Piatt claimed his eighth Bianchi Cup title, securing victory at the 2025 Bianchi Cup with the only perfect score of 1920 in the match.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) now oversees the Bianchi Cup competition, previously run by the National Rifle Association. The 2025 Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Bianchi Cup, known as the gold standard in action pistol shooting, was hosted once again at the Green Valley Rifle and Pistol Club in Hallsville, Missouri, May 20-23, 2025. Participants from all over the world competed in the Falling Plates, Moving Target, Barricade, and Practical events.
This video features the 2025 CMP Bianchi Cup at the Green Valley Rifle and Pistol Club in Hallsville, Missouri. This video showcases the new class for .22 LR pistols. Watch talented rimfire pistol competitors firing .22-caliber pistols at steel plates. The new rimfire class allows much more affordable competition. High quality .22 LR match ammo is available for $11.50 for 50 rounds (just 23 cents/round). By contrast, a good box of .38 SPL match ammo can cost $0.60 to $1.10 per round (or more).
CMP Announces the Early Release of Four 2026 Competition Rulebooks
Four rulebooks that govern CMP Highpower Rifle, CMP Games, Bullseye Pistol and Action Pistol competitions in 2026 have been updated and approved by the CMP Rules Sub-Committee. These four rulebooks were published on 12/1/2025, one month before they will take effect on January 1, 2026. This early release will give competitors and match sponsors a head start on preparing for their next competition year. Download these Four New Rulebooks at https://thecmp.org/competitions/cmp-competitions-rulebooks/.
The following 2026 rulebooks are now posted on the CMP website:
Copies of these new rulebooks can be downloaded from the CMP Competition Rulebooks Webpage. On that CMP webpage, the listings of downloadable documents will include the 2026 rulebooks, lists of changes in each 2026 rulebook, and the Range Officer scripts that are to be followed.
Notable CHANGES IN 2026 CMP RULEBOOKS
The four CMP rulebooks that are being released now contain some important changes that may impact your 2026 competition plans. Here are some of the most significant 2026 rule changes.
New F-Practical F-Class Category (HIGHPOWER RIFLE). The 2026 CMP Highpower Rifle rulebook introduces a new F-Practical F-Class Category that is limited to factory production rifles and equipment. Cartridges cannot exceed .308 in bullet diameter; “magnums” will not be allowed. Rifles may not weigh more than 14.0 pounds and must have a minimum trigger pull of 2.0 pounds. Optics are limited to 16X. Total retail cost of a competitor’s rifle and equipment is limited to $3,000. This new category will be offered in all CMP Mid- and Long-Range Matches. Clubs are encouraged to include it in their sanctioned matches.
Suppressors and Silencers (HIGHPOWER RIFLE). The use of silencers or suppressors is already widespread in some shooting sports disciplines. Their use is promoted as a means of reducing range noise levels and mitigating the possibility of hearing loss. The CMP has taken its initial steps in approving suppressors for use in CMP Matches. In 2026, competitors in most F-Class categories (F-TR, F-O, AR Tactical) will be allowed to shoot with suppressors.
Highpower Rifle Scoring (HIGHPOWER RIFLE). Several years ago, the CMP adopted the highpower rifle scoring protocol used by the NRA. This calls for scoring highpower rifle targets according to the size of the competitor’s bullet. This meant that competitors with AR-Type rifles had their shots scored with a .223″ gauge while competitors firing M14-Type rifles had their shots scores with a larger .308″ gauge. Starting in 2026, electronic targets used in CMP Highpower Rifle events will have the same sized scoring rings. Electronic targets, of course, score to the center of the shot hole, not the outside edge, so those targets will now assume that all shots were fired with a 7.62mm/.308 bullet to determine precise scoring ring sizes. All shots fired on paper targets will be scored with a uniform .308 inch scoring gauge.
Nat’l Trophy Match New Shooter Rule (HIGHPOWER RIFLE & BULLSEYE PISTOL). National Trophy teams will get a break if they have two or more new shooters on their National Trophy Teams. They must designate one of them as their new shooters. Any other new shooters retain their new shooter eligibility.
At-Large Teams (HIGHPOWER RIFLE, BULLSEYE PISTOL). The new rules for both Highpower Rifle and Bullseye Pistol changed “Out-of-Competition” teams to “At-Large” teams. This rule is used extensively in the National Trophy Rifle and Pistol Team Matches to allow teams that could not comply with eligibility requirements to still shoot in the match even when they could not win awards. To give status to these teams, the name was changed to “At-Large” and the possibility of giving awards has been added.
Smallbore Rifle and Air Gun Rulebooks Delayed. The completion of two 2026 CMP rulebooks is being delayed while the shooting world awaits final decisions from the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) regarding major proposals to change rifle clothing and rifle 3-position finals.
What if you could see a speeding bullet in the milliseconds it exits the muzzle of a pistol? How cool would that be… Well, the Mythbusters folks (Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman) have made that possible. Using an exotic Phantom super-high-speed camera running at 73,000 frames per second, the Mythbusters recorded a .45 ACP bullet being fired from a 1911-type handgun.
Watch Mythbusters Super-Slow-Motion Pistol Video:
Watch this FULL SCREEN to see the amazing details of the flame and smoke exiting the muzzle.
What unfolds is spectacular. First you see a ball of flame as the bullet emerges from the barrel of the 1911, then two distinct, separate swirling clouds form as the bullet races toward the target. Watch the video a couple times — it’s mesmerizing.
Co-host Adam Savage is nearly rendered speechless by the remarkable slow-motion footage from the Phantom. Filmed at 73,000 frames per second, the video reveals a dance of pressure and fire that would otherwise be missed by the unaided eye.
Figure 1. When the bullet is seated farther out of the case, there is more volume available for powder. This enables the cartridge to generate higher muzzle velocity with the same pressure.
Effects Of Cartridge Over All Length (COAL) And Cartridge Base To Ogive (CBTO) – Part 1 by Bryan Litz forBerger Bullets.
Many shooters are not aware of the dramatic effects that bullet seating depth can have on the pressure and velocity generated by a rifle cartridge. Cartridge Overall Length (COAL) is also a variable that can be used to fine-tune accuracy. It’s also an important consideration for rifles that need to feed rounds through a magazine. In this article, we’ll explore the various effects of COAL, and what choices a shooter can make to maximize the effectiveness of their hand loads.
Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI)
Most loading manuals (including the Berger Manual), present loading data according to SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute) standards. SAAMI provides max pressure, COAL and many other specifications for commercial cartridges so that rifle makers, ammo makers, and hand loaders can standardize their products so they all work together. As we’ll see later in this article, these SAAMI standards are in many cases outdated and can dramatically restrict the performance potential of a cartridge.
Bullet seating depth is an important variable in the accuracy equation. In many cases, the SAAMI-specified COAL is shorter than what a hand loader wants to load their rounds to for accuracy purposes. In the case where a hand loader seats the bullets longer than SAAMI specified COAL, there are some internal ballistic effects that take place which are important to understand.
Effects of Seating Depth / COAL on Pressure and Velocity
The primary effect of loading a cartridge long is that it leaves more internal volume inside the cartridge. This extra internal volume has a well known effect; for a given powder charge, there will be less pressure and less velocity produced because of the extra empty space. Another way to look at this is you have to use more powder to achieve the same pressure and velocity when the bullet is seated out long. In fact, the extra powder you can add to a cartridge with the bullet seated long will allow you to achieve greater velocity at the same pressure than a cartridge with a bullet seated short.
When you think about it, it makes good sense. After all, when you seat the bullet out longer and leave more internal case volume for powder, you’re effectively making the cartridge into a bigger cartridge by increasing the size of the combustion chamber. Figure 1 illustrates the extra volume that’s available for powder when the bullet is seated out long.
Before concluding that it’s a good idea to start seating your bullets longer than SAAMI spec length, there are a few things to consider.
Geometry of a Chamber Throat
The chamber in a rifle will have a certain throat length which will dictate how long a bullet can be loaded. The throat is the forward portion of the chamber that has no rifling. The portion of the bullet’s bearing surface that projects out of the case occupies the throat (see Figure 2).
The length of the throat determines how much of the bullet can stick out of the case. When a cartridge is chambered and the bullet encounters the beginning of the rifling, known as the lands, it’s met with hard resistance. This COAL marks the maximum length that a bullet can be seated. When a bullet is seated out to contact the lands, its initial forward motion during ignition is immediately resisted by an engraving force.
Seating a bullet against the lands causes pressures to be elevated noticeably higher than if the bullet were seated just a few thousandths of an inch off the lands.
A very common practice in precision reloading is to establish the COAL for a bullet that’s seated to touch the lands. This is a reference length that the hand loader works from when searching for the optimal seating depth for precision. Many times, the best seating depth is with the bullet touching or very near the lands. However, in some rifles, the best seating depth might be 0.100″ or more off the lands. This is simply a variable the hand loader uses to tune the precision of a rifle.
NOTE: Some deals may disappear at 11:59 PM EST on Monday 12/1/2025.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
Tomorrow, December 1, 2025, is officially “Cyber Monday” following Black Friday, a great time for gun gear discounts. Today we showcase notable Cyber Monday sales, and we spotlight 15 products — great deals that are available right now.
MidwayUSA is running a major Cyber Monday Week Sale, with significant discounts on a wide range of products including optics, gun parts, reloading equipment, hunting gear, ammunition, camping gear, and more. CLICK HERE for Midway USA Cyber Sale deals.
If you’re looking for a new handgun, rifle, or shotgun, definitely check out the Cyber Monday deals at Guns.com. This site has a vast selection of firearms from nearly all popular gun-makers. Some pistols and rifles are discounted $300 or more.
Cyber Monday is a huge event at Amazon, with big discounts on a vast selection of merchandise. Shooting sports enthusiasts can get big savings on optics, reloading tools, gun cases, gun vises, ultrasonic cleaners, priming tools and more. Shown above are notable Cyber Monday Deals now offered on Amazon, with discounts up to 41%.
CYBER MONDAY Specials — Fifteen Hot Bargains
For our previous Black Friday feature stories last week we listed multiple websites that offered a variety of discounts. For this 2025 Cyber Monday + Deals of the Week, we feature 15 select items — all great deals. Click on each to get the current deal on the seller’s site, and then you can shop other Cyber Monday bargains at that vendor.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors. As an Amazon affiliate, this site can earn revenues through sales commissions.
Shown above is David Tubb, the legendary 11-time National High Power Champion, posing with a very serious rifle used in the Extreme Long Range (ELR) game. David has jumped into the Extreme Long Range discipline in a very big way, producing a .375-caliber, long-barreled ELR version of his famous Tubb rifle, called the Adaptive Target Rifle (ATR). A version of this rifle, piloted by David’s son-in-law Nate Stallter, set an ELR World Record in January 2018. See video below for a full report.
This video shows Team TUBB setting a new ELR World Record of 2011 Yards using the Tubb Adaptive Target Rifle in .375 CheyTac. Nate Stallter nailed three shots at over one mile — 1768 yards. Then Nate broke his own record, going 3 for 3 at 2011 yards. ELR Central hosted this match, held at the Front Sight gun range, Pahrump, Nevada on January 21, 2018.
David Tubb Shoots ELR Adaptive Target Rifle at KO2M
For the Extreme Long Range (ELR) discipline, David Tubb developed a .375-caliber, long-barreled ELR version of his famous Tubb rifle, called the Adaptive Target Rifle (ATR). A version of this rifle, piloted by David’s son-in-law Nate Stallter, set an ELR World Record in January 2018.
David Tubb Talks about KO2M and Extreme Long Range Shooting
David Tubb’s long-range rifles have performed well in Extreme Long Range shooting. AT the 2019 NRA Extreme Long Range Championship, David Tubb won the Heavy Gun Division. In this video, created during the King of 2 Miles (K02M) competition at the Whittington Center in New Mexico, David talks about the challenges of ELR shooting, and cartridge selection. Big, heavy, large-caliber bullets with ultra-high BCs are favored for the ELR game, but recoil and cost must also be considered.
About the .375 CheyTac Cartridge
Some of the most successful ELR cartridges are based on the CheyTac family, including the .375 CheyTac (9.5×77) and .408 CheyTac (10.36 x 77). This .375 Cheytac cartridge has proven to be tough and accurate. And it is capable of winning — our friend Derek Rodgers won the 2017 King of 2 Miles (K02M) event shooting a .375 CheyTac (9.5×77).
Derek Rodgers was the 2017 King of 2 Miles. Derek is also the first-ever human to ever hit the maximum distance target target at 3368 yards (1.91 miles). His cartridge choice? The .375 CheyTac. Derek ran Cutting Edge Bullets in Peterson brass with Hodgdon H50BMG powder.
Q: Why did you choose the .375 CheyTac cartridge?
Derek: When I was asked to join the Applied Ballistics Team, I needed to get an ELR rifle built in a short period of time. I was under a very tight time schedule to get the project complete. In an effort to eliminate variables, I decided to keep things standard and as simple as possible. I chose the .375 CheyTac for the ease of getting components. The larger rifles are more difficult to get components quickly and I felt like the .375 CheyTac had enough attributes to be competitive at ELR distances.
On the Applied Ballistics Facebook Page, there was a fascinating series of posts showing traces of bullets at various speeds from Mach 0.86 to Mach 3.0. At the slowest speed, Mach 0.86, i.e. 962 FPS, there is turbulence behind the bullet, but no clear shockwave. At the highest velocity, Mach 3.0 (3375 FPS at sea level, 68° F), there is a dramatic double nose and tail wave formation. 
Small patches are not very efficient at distributing bore cleaning liquids inside your bore. The problem with a tight-fitting patch is that the solvent gets squeezed off in the first few inches. You can switch to a smaller jag, or a bore mop, but there is an even better way to get an ample amount of solvent in your bore. Just spray directly into the bore with a 
Bruce Piatt Wins 2025 Bianchi Cup
Effects Of Cartridge Over All Length (COAL) And Cartridge Base To Ogive (CBTO) – Part 1
