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.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors. Prices may vary for Amazon Prime members.
⏺ Good alternative to bulky, heavy electronic muffs
Electronic earmuffs work well but they can be heavy and bulky. And they can interfere with cheek weld. If you want the benefits of electronics but the comfort of ear plugs try the Caldwell E-MAX Shadow electronic ear plugs which boast a 23 decibel NRR (Noise Reduction Rating). Experience high quality stereo sound while confidently protecting your hearing. With six sizes of included foam tips, you’ll find a custom fit for your ear to ensure proper noise cancellation and hearing protection.
2. Midsouth — CCI Bargain Rimfire Ammo in Stock
⏺ Large inventory of CCI Rimfire ammo starting at 9 cents per round
More people than ever are getting rimfire rifles for plinking and/or matches. Rimfires are inexpensive to shoot, and the reduced noise and recoil are big positives. If you need some .22 LR rimfire ammunition check out the CCI .22 LR ammo sale at Midsouth. There’s a wide variety of CCI rimfire ammo on sale, starting at $4.50 per 50ct box. This is a great chance to pick up quality .22 LR ammo at attractive prices.
3. Brownells — $25 Gift Card Bonus with $100 Gift Card Purchase
⏺ Spend $100, get $25 Gift Card back with Brownells promo
Do you like giving gift cards for the holidays? For a limited time you can pick up a FREE $25 gift card with the purchase of $100 in Brownells gift cards. That’s like getting a 25% rebate! This is a great deal and good way to treat someone else AND yourself.
⏺ Very good spotting scope with great long eye relief
Whether shooting at matches or just target shooting having a good spotting scope is a must. A great choice is this Kowa TSN-82SV Combo on sale for $975, a $110 savings. This item includes the highly-rated 82SV spotting body, plus an excellent 25X LER (Long Eye Relief) eyepiece AND a deluxe protective cover. NOTE: With its fixed-power Long Eye Relief eyepiece, this scope works great for prone work, mounted right next to the shooter. However, for long-range spotting duties you may want a unit fitted with a higher-magnification zoom eyepiece.
5. Palmetto SA — Taurus TX 22 .22 LR Pistol Sale, $276.85
⏺ Great price on a very good rimfire pistol
If you’re looking to keep ammo costs down by training with .22 LR rimfire handgun, consider this Taurus TX 22 pistol. Taurus TX 22s have earned very positive reviews from purchasers. The frame has comfortable ergonomics and the Taurus Pittman Trigger System (PTS) offers a very good trigger pull. This is a good choice for a first .22 LR rimfire pistol, at a very good price — starting at $276.85.
6. Amazon — 3″ Splatter Squares On A Roll, $19.99
⏺ Cool product — stick-on grid targets with splatter effect
Splatter targets are popular but the cost of large-size bullseye splatter targets adds up quickly. A cool alternative are these Pistep Splatter Shooting Targets. These are handy “reactive” targets that show a yellow splatter on shot locations. Each roll contain 250 three-inch-square stick-on grids. Each sticker has nine 1″ squares on it so determining group size is easy. For a shooter with an accurate rifle, these 3″ x 3″ splatter squares can work better than a large splatter bullseye target.
Don’t want a gun case that screams “There’s a rifle inside”? If you need to transport small rifles discreetly, check out the Darekuku 30″ Rifle Backpack Bag. The main compartment has padded protection for two rifles. The handy shoulder straps can be covered with a zip-over panel. There is a zipper-access top compartment and a large secondary compartment (with inner mesh pocket and MOLLE straps) to hold ammo, Kestrel, muffs, targets, or other accessories. We like this case to carry a carbine with folding stock. It’s a steal at just $49.99.
It’s getting easier to stock up on ammunition and .223 Rem is the most popular rifle cartridge. If you need a good supply of .223 Rem ammo, consider this PMC 1000-round case of .223 Rem at Locked & Loaded. This is one of the best deals we’ve seen on quality .223 Rem ammo in quite some time.
9. Amazon — NEIKO 6″ Digital Calipers, $25.99
⏺ Good, reliable digital calipers at attractive price
Every handloader needs to measure shoulder bump, cartridge length, and other dimensions. A good set of calipers is essential. If you need calipers, check out the NEIKO Electronic Digital Calipers. The tool’s body/frame is constructed of finely polished stainless steel with a knurled thumb roller and locking screw that ensures smooth sliding and accurate positioning. If you’re getting started in reloading or are looking for a back-up set of calipers, this is a good option.
10. Graf & Sons — Sierra Ammo Sale with Rebate
⏺ Nice rebate on quality Sierra hunting and defense ammo
Did you know that Sierra makes hunting and self-defense ammo? You can grab Outdoor and Sports Master ammo on sale PLUS there’s a rebate that takes $3 off 1 box or $10 off 2 boxes. NOTE: These boxes contain TWENTY (20) rounds only. These are NOT 50-rd boxes.
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NOTE: There are ten (10) shots in the group, but for simplicity we are only displaying five (5) shot circles. Adding more circles won’t change the measurement because the two most distant shots, which determine group size, ARE included.
What kind of 200-yard accuracy can you get in an enclosed, underground test range? Would you believe 0.162 MOA at 200 yards with a .338? Have a look at these test targets from Sierra Bullets. Like most bullet manufacturers, Sierra does live-fire bullet testing to ensure that Sierra projectiles perform as promised, with repeatable accuracy. Sierra tests bullets in its own underground test complex. Sierra’s 300-meter test range is the longest, privately-owned underground bullet test facility in the Western Hemisphere.*
Day in and day out, various bullet types are tested using a big collection of barreled actions. These barreled actions are clamped in stout, return-to-battery test fixtures. These big, heavy test fixtures provide near-perfect repeatability (with no human-induced holding or aiming errors).
Sierra Bullets 10-Shot Groups at 200 yards
Check out these 10-shot test groups shot at the Sierra Test Range at 200 yards. Note that the numbers listed on each sample are actual measurements in inches. To convert to MOA, cut those numbers in half (to be more precise, divide by 2.094, which is 1 MOA at 200 yards). For example, the 0.340″ middle group works out to 0.162 MOA at 200 yards.
Scan-Verified 0.162 MOA Accuracy at 200 Yards
To verify the accuracy of Sierra’s measurements, we measured the middle (.338 caliber) 10-shot group with our On-Target Group Measurement software. We registered a group size reading of 0.339″ — within one-thousandth of the Sierra measurement. The calculated group size in MOA (Minute of Angle) is 0.162.
That’s amazingly good for ten rounds of big .338 caliber bullets. A FIVE-shot 0.162 MOA group at 200 would be considered excellent at any benchrest match. But remember this target has TEN shots. The current, one-target IBS world record for ten shots at 200 yards is 0.245″, set by Ed Watson in 1999.
Bevy of Barreled Actions for Bullet Testing
Sierra Bullets uses dozens of barreled actions for testing bullets in its enclosed, 200-yard test range. Each barrel has its own logbook to track the barrel’s usage.
Click Photo to Zoom
*Even Longer Test Tunnels Exist in Europe: At Stadeln in Germany, RWS (now part of RUAG) owns a 500 meter tunnel (above ground level) which has existed for decades. In Thun, Switzerland, RUAG has a fully-instrumented 500 meter underground tunnel. Near Ulm, Germany, there is a 5-lane 300 meter underground shooting range that is open to the public.
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There will be a big new 300,000-square-foot ammo plant in Georgia, thanks to Beretta. Beretta Holding Group, through its acquisition of Norma Precision, announced it will invest $60 million in a state-of-the-art ammunition manufacturing and distribution facility in Savannah, Georgia.
Norma Precision will construct a 300,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility that will handle ammunition manufacturing, assembly, and distribution. This investment is a major step for the Beretta Holding Group which already employs nearly 1,000 employees in the United States through Beretta USA, Benelli USA, Burris, Steiner eOptics, and Norma Precision. By adding ammunition to its U.S. operations, the new Savannah, GA facility expands the Beretta Holding Group’s already extensive footprint in the USA.
Dott. Pietro Gussalli Beretta (center) signs the memorandum of understanding with Bryan County and Georgia State representatives.
“We are … creating hundreds of new jobs” stated Dott. Pietro Gussalli Beretta, President and CEO of Beretta Holding S.A., who added: “I am delighted to announce our commitment to invest $60 million through our newly acquired U.S. ammunition subsidiary, Norma Precision. Together with my family and Beretta Holding, we are very proud to add ammunition manufacturing to our U.S. presence. [W]e can now provide our loyal and dedicated U.S. customers with a full range of locally manufactured premium products spanning from firearms to ammunition and optics, all united under the same Group.”
Georgia Is Now Among Top 10 States in Firearms and Ammunition Manufacturing
Georgia continues to attract global businesses like RUAG Ammotec. In 2019 Taurus opened a large gun factory in Bainbridge, Georgia. And other gun/ammo makers have found a friendly home in Georgia. According to NSSF data, Georgia has become one of the country’s top 10 states for firearms and shooting sports products manufacturing.
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This can be very important — even life-saving. For example, with a hang fire, i.e. a round that does not fire immediately, it is vital to keep the gun pointed DOWN-RANGE. And with a squib load, which may have left a round inside the barrel, it is vital to UNLOAD and NOT take another shot! If you did, the gun could blow up in your hand when the second, full-charge bullet hits the trapped bullet.
The Five Topics Covered Are:
Misfeed (aka Tip-Up)
Double Feed
Stovepipe (Failure to Extract)
Misfire / Hangfire
Squib Load
1. Misfeed or Tip-Up: With any misfeed you should stop firing. With the muzzle pointed safely down-range, remove the magazine, then pull the slide back and remove the round that did not feed. Check the slide for dirt, debris, and check the round that did not feed. After re-inserting the magazine, make sure the mag is seated properly.
2. Double-Feed: This is a fairly common issue with some gun types with worn springs or cheap magazines. Again you want to remove the magazine. CTD states: “Remove the magazine and cycle the action until your double-fed rounds fall out — always keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction[.]”
3. Stove-Pipe: This occurs when the case of a fired round does not eject fully. There can be many causes — damaged extractor, low-pressure powder charge, dirty chamber, or greasy cartridge brass. In addition the issue is common with old, worn-out recoil springs. To avoid Stove-Pipes, replace the recoil spring every 4000 rounds, and make sure your chamber is clean and the extractor is not chipped or damaged.
4. Misfires and Hang-Fires: There are multiple causes for misfires (“click no bang”) and hang-fires (slow ignition). There can be a defective primer, the firing pin could be damaged, the powder many have been bad, or the case not filled properly. With a misfire, keep the gun pointed down-range at least one minute. If the case does not fire, eject it but leave it on the ground. With a hang-fire (delayed ignition after firing pin strike), keep the gun pointed down-range, then drop the magazine and eject the (new) unfired cartridge in the chamber and inspect the gun when completely empty.
5. Squib Load: A squib load is when the gun fires, but the actual case ignition is very light with little noise, smoke, or recoil. This can be because the case had a primer but no powder. Or it can be because the powder did not ignite. Squib loads can be very dangerous in rapid-fire situations. If you EVER get a squib load STOP immediately! Do NOT fire another round! This is because the squib may have left a bullet inside the barrel.
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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.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.
1. Grafs.com — Sightron Scope Sale, Save up to 26%
⏺ Sightrons offer great performance for the price and now save more
Sightron makes excellent scopes for benchrest, F-Class, PRS, hunting and other disciplines. The latest generation of Sightrons compete very strongly with scopes that might cost 50-80% more. And right now you can save 15-26% on a wide variety of Sightron scopes.
2. Locked & Loaded — Savage A22 FV-SR, $278.37
⏺ Great deal on reliable, semi-auto .22 LR rimfire rifle
NRL22 and PRS 22 disciplines are America’s fastest-growing forms of rifle competitions. If you want to try your hand at NRL22 without sinking a fortune, check out the Savage A22 FV-SR now on sale for $278.37, 20% OFF. This semi-auto rifle has shown good accuracy, and it comes complete with a Picatinny rail on top. The .22 LR Savage FV-SR model upgrades the original A22 platform with a button-rifled, 16.5″ medium-contour barrel, and threaded muzzle. The A22 FV-SR features a user-adjustable AccuTrigger and reliable straight blowback semi-auto action for fast follow-up shots.
3. Palmetto State Armory — Norma Tac-22 .22 LR 500rds, $39.99
⏺ Very good .22 LR ammo at extremely low price — GREAT VALUE
If you love .22 LR rimfires and want quality ammo at an ultra-low price, grab some Norma TAC-22. At only $4 per 50-ct box, this is a true bargain, yet the TAC-22 is good enough for NRL22 matches as well as fun target shooting. We’ve shot this Norma ammo and been very satisfied. You’ll be hard-pressed to find better .22 LR ammo at anywhere near this price. Don’t delay ordering — at this price, we expect this TAC-22 ammo will sell out very soon. If the TAC-22 sells out, Midsouth has a big sale right now on CCI .22 LR ammunition.
If you are a varmint hunter in the prairie dog fields, or a service rifle competitor, you need lots of .223 Rem brass. Starline offers very consistent, good-quality .223 Rem brass at modest prices. Right now Midsouth is offering 100 Starline .223 Rem cases for just $34.99, shipped in a bag. This brass has earned a 4.9 star rating (out of 5) from actual buyers. By purchasing new brass you avoid the hassle of removing primer crimps on mil-surp 5.56 brass.
5. MidwayUSA — Tipton Best Gun Vise + Wheeler Gunsmithing Screwdriver Set, both for $89.99
⏺ Outstanding gun vise PLUS a 43-piece gunsmithing driver set
This is a great combo kit for working on rifles and shotguns. And right now you can save $50! The Tipton Best Gun Vise is stable, and offers plenty of storage for solvents, patches, small tools and parts. The vise can adapt to hold a variety of long guns, including ARs. Along with the Best Vise, you get a full 43-piece Wheeler screwdriver kit that has 40 bit options: standard (flat) (21), Phillips (4), Allen (10), and Torx (5). The adjustable driver handle is nicely designed and comfortable.
6. K&M Shooting — 20% Off Veterans Special (Nov. 6-12, 2022)
⏺ For a full week Veterans save 20% on orders over $65
Here’s a good deal for those who have served in the U.S. Military. K&M is offering 20% off most of its products during Veterans Day week. Veterans get 20% off purchases of $65 or more at KMshooting.com the week of Veterans Day, November 6-12, 2022. Start saving by sending your proof-of-service to sales@kmshooting.com and K&M will create a checkout code for your e-mail. This promotion excludes Mitutoyo products, Arbor Press Case, and Benchtop machines. The promo cannot be combined with any other offer and there is no discount on shipping fees. The sale ends at 11:59 pm ET on 11/12/2022.
7. Dick’s Sporting Goods — Fortress Safes on Sale
⏺ Great prices on Fortress safes — the big safe is a real bargain
Here are two great gun safe deals. The jumbo-sized Fortress 64+4 Gun Safe will hold up to 64 guns in the main interior, plus four more on the door. It is current $200 off, discounted to $999.99. With scoped guns, or those with wide forearms or pistol grips, knock that max number down to about 35 guns. That’s still an impressive capacity. This big Fortress-brand safe weighs 545 lbs., measures 56.5″ H x 41″ W x 25″ D, and is fire-rated at 1400°F for 30 minutes. If you are looking for a smaller, secondary safe, the Fortress 12-gun Fire Safe is currently $499.98 on sale ($100 off). This weighs 247 lbs. and is 55.1″ H x 19″ W x 15.3″ D. It is fire-rated at 1200°F for 30 minutes.
If you need a home defense shotgun, but have a tight budget, check out this TR Imports Silver Eagle Inertia One 12ga semi-auto with 18.5″ barrel. This has all the key features you need — fitted sights (adjustable rear, Fiber Optic front), Picatinny rail on top of the action, and pistol grip. This shotgun even comes with a convenient case with four choke tubes. Capacity is 4+1, Weight is 7.8 lbs, and OAL is 38.5″.
9. Harbor Freight — 105-piece Tool Kit with Box, $44.99
⏺ Very complete kit with wrenches, sockets, drivers and handy tool chest
This 105-piece Pittsburg Tool Kit from Harbor Frieght is an amazing deal. You get 105 different tools and items, SAE and Metric, plus a 4-drawer storage chest. Normally $59.99, this set is now just $44.99 with the Discount coupon. CLICK HERE to get the discounted $44.99 price. NOTE: If this does not appear with the $44.99 price for you, go to the Early Black Friday coupon page, scroll down, and click on the coupon or enter coupon code 51804213 during checkout. There are dozens of other great deals on that page.
10. MidwayUSA — Wipeout Foam Cleaner, $11.99
⏺ Great product we use — helps clean with less brushing
At major F-Class matches, one cleaning product was mentioned over and over again and for good reason. Sharp Shoot R Wipe-Out foaming bore cleaner is a no-nonsense, easy-to-use bore cleaner that does a great job. We get best results with two applications of Wipe-Out after some wet patches. If you’re tired of long brushing sessions, give Wipe-Out a try — it really reduces brushing required. This is a very good deal. The same 5 oz. can sells for up to $20 elsewhere.
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Do you have a hankering to shoot Extreme Long Range (ELR)? Then you’ll want a large-caliber cartridge with plenty of boiler room. Some of the most successful ELR cartridges have been based on the CheyTac family, including the .375 CheyTac (9.5×77) and .408 CheyTac (10.36 x 77). Now brass for both these jumbo cartridges is offered by Peterson Cartridge. This Peterson Cheytac brass has proven to be tough and long-lived. And it is capable of winning — Derek Rodgers won the 2017 King of 2 Miles (K02M) event shooting a .375 Cheytac with Peterson brass. Here’s a report on how Peterson developed and tested its tough CheyTac cartridge brass.
Developing and Testing CheyTac Brass
Report by Peterson Cartridge Co.
Our president, Derek Peterson, has live-tested our most recent iteration of the .375 CheyTac (aka 9.5 X 77). He started with five casings, and did a full-body resizing after each firing. He got 17 firings out of each before he started to notice the early signs of case head separation. [Editor: Theses were with extremely high pressure loads.] He then took another set of casings and after each firing he just bumped the shoulder back, like a typical reloader would. He got 20 firings out of those casings.
Note: CheyTac® is a registered trademark of CheyTac USA, LLC. Peterson Cartridge has no affiliation.
Low MV Extreme Spread
On the first two shots the muzzle velocities were within 12 feet per second of each other. On the 3rd and 4th shots the muzzle velocities were within 6 feet per second of each other. By the 5th shot the muzzle velocities were within 1 foot per second of each other. Now that is how you can put two bullets in the same hole down range.
No SAAMI Spec for CheyTac Cartridges
As many of you probably already know there is no SAAMI spec on these calibers. So, without a SAAMI spec there is no stated maximum pressure for a service load. However, there IS an international spec on the .408 [promulgated by the] CIP (Commission International Permanente). And the CIP max pressure for this round is extremely high. Our partner in Europe tells us it is probably unnecessarily high. Our partner loads these rounds and they have a standard load for the .375s which is also quite high. So that is the pressure we did our testing at. To even achieve that pressure, we had to use a compressed load. We are explaining all this to say that you [should not use] a load that hot, and therefor you will most likely get more reloads than we did[.]
Peterson Brass Goes Through 11 Dimensional Tests
With all the casings we make in any caliber, we perform a battery of in-process, real-time dimensional checks. [We test] 11 different dimensions continuously throughout each shift. Some of these are tube cylindricity, mouth to body concentricity, primer pocket diameter, length to shoulder, overall length, and more. These measurements are automatically fed into Statistical Process Control software. If a dimension begins to drift from nominal we can catch it immediately and correct it.
Peterson is Fully Committed to CheyTac Brass Production
Peterson Cartridge purchased additional manufacturing equipment designed specifically to produce these large casings. Our capacity is 5-million casings a year. We are committed to there not being a shortage of these calibers ever again.
Derek Rodgers is the 2017 King of 2 Miles. He is also the first-ever human to ever hit the maximum distance target target at 3368 yards (1.91 miles) in competition. 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.
Product Tip from EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
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Peterson Cartridge Company (“Peterson”) has released a lengthy, authoritative guide to the 22 Creedmoor cartridge, a popular wildcat based on the 6.5 Creedmoor or 6mm Creedmoor necked down to .224 caliber. We think the .22 Creedmoor would be a great long-range varmint cartridge, similar to the .22-250 Rem, but with a more modern, efficient cartridge design. In addition, some PRS/NRL competitors may turn to the .22 Creedmoor because it has less recoil and is flatter-shooting than the 6mm Creedmoor. In addition, .224-caliber match bullets are typically less expensive than heavier 6mm and 6.5mm projectiles. Less recoil, and less cost — what’s not to like?*
Along with load data, this article has specific sections dedicated to: Primers, Rifling Twist Rates, and Reloading Supplies. If you are considering building a .22 Creedmoor, we recommend you download the full Peterson .22 Creedmoor article, which is available in PDF format.
Peterson states, “Since its inception in 2007… the 6.5 Creedmoor has seen some pretty meteoric growth in popularity. That growth continues as of this writing, as the cartridge has now gone mainstream with hunters and shooters alike. As the popularity of the 6.5 Creedmoor has increased, so has the number of wildcat cartridges based off of it. Some of those popular wildcat cartridges are the 6mm Creedmoor, the .25 Creedmoor, and now the .22 Creedmoor. This data sheet will cover the .22 Creedmoor.
To help our customers, and anyone else who shoots .22 Creedmoor, we decided to create this Data Sheet and distribute it. [In this LOAD DATA Document] you will find four (4) common bullets, and four (4) common rifle powders used when handloading the .22 Creedmoor cartridge. We then took the different bullet and powder combinations and loaded them up to the SAAMI Maximum Average Pressure (MAP) for the 6.5 Creedmoor and 6mm Creedmoor cartridges, which is 62,000 PSI. [O]ur goal was to provide a wide spectrum of bullet weights and the powders used with them.
All of the following data was gathered by our ballistician in our indoor ballistics lab located in our factory in Pennsylvania. Although we were able to gather pressure and velocity data in our lab, we have NOT tested these loads for accuracy. Again, these loads are just designed to give shooters information regarding what velocity, a given bullet and powder charge combination, will produce the SAAMI Maximum Average Pressure (MAP) of 62,000 psi.”
Sample 22 Creedmoor LOAD DATA
IMPORTANT — Pressures can vary significantly with different Cartridge Overall Lengths (COAL). In addition, ANY change to ANY load components — primers, bullets, brass, powder — can affect pressure. Always load conservatively. In addition, because of variances in bore dimensions, some barrels may show higher pressures than others. Again, always start with conservative loads, well below MAX pressures.
*Actually there IS a potential downside — reduced barrel life. We expect that a .22 Creedmoor running hot varmint loads would experience shorter useful barrel life compared to a 6.5 Creedmoor. This is based on what we’ve observed with .22-250 and .22-250 Ackley barrels compared to our 6.5 CM barrels.
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Many novice hand-loaders believe that neck bushing Inside Diameter (ID) size is the only important factor in neck tension. In fact, many different things will influence the grip on your bullet and its ability to release from the case neck. To learn more about neck tension and “case grip”, take the time to read this article carefully. We bet you’ll gain knowledge that will let you load more accurate ammo, with better ES/SD.
Editor: Guys, this is a VERY important article. You really should read it over carefully, twice. Variations in the force required to release a bullet can significantly affect accuracy and ES/SD. You really need to know how the grip on bullet can be altered by many different factors.
Neck Tension (i.e. Grip on Bullets) Is a Complex Phenomenon
While we certainly have considerable control over neck tension by using tighter or looser bushings (with smaller or bigger Inside Diameters), bushing size is only one factor at work. It’s important to understand the multiple factors that can increase or decrease the resistance to bullet release. Think in terms of overall brass-on-bullet “grip” instead of just bushing size (or the internal neck diameter in non-bushing full-length sizing dies).
Bullet grip is affected by many things, such as:
1. Neck-wall thickness.
2. Amount of bullet bearing surface (shank) in the neck.
3. Surface condition inside of neck (residual carbon can act as a lubricant; ultrasonic cleaning makes necks “grabby”).
4. Length of neck (e.g. 6mmBR neck vs. 6mm Dasher).
5. Whether or not the bullets have an anti-friction coating.
6.The springiness of the brass (which is related to degree of work-hardening; number of firings etc.)
7. The bullet jacket material.
8. The outside diameter of the bullet and whether it has a pressure ridge.
9. Time duration between bullet seating and firing (necks can stiffen with time).
10. How often the brass is annealed.
11. Amount (length) of neck sized (e.g. you can size only half the neck).
12. Interior diameter of bushing, or neck section of non-bushing die.
– and there are others…
One needs to understand that bushing size isn’t the beginning and end of neck tension questions, because, even if bushing size is held constant, the amount of bullet “grip” can change dramatically as the condition of your brass changes. Bullet “grip” can also change if you alter your seating depth, and it can even change if you ultrasonically clean your cases.
5-time U.S. National Long-Range Champion John Whidden adds: “Our tests show us that the condition of the necks in regards to lubed or not, carbon inside or not, squeaky clean or not, etc., matter even more than the size of the bushing used. An ultrasonically cleaned or brand new dry case neck make for some quite high seating force.”
In our Shooters’ Forum a reader recently asked: “How much neck tension should I use?” This prompted a Forum discussion in which other Forum members recommended a specific number based on their experience, such as .001″, .002″, or .003″. These numbers, as commonly used, correspond to the difference between case-neck OD after sizing and the neck OD of a loaded round, with bullet in place. In other words, the numbers refer to the nominal amount of interference fit (after sizing).
While these commonly-used “tension numbers” (of .001″, .002″ etc.) can be useful as starting points, neck tension is actually a fairly complex subject. The actual amount of “grip” on the bullet is a function of many factors, of which neck-OD reduction during sizing is just one. Understanding these many factors will help you maintain consistent neck tension as your brass “evolves” over the course of multiple reloadings.
Seating Depth Changes Can Increase or Decrease Grip on Bullet
You can do this simple experiment. Seat a boat-tail bullet in your sized neck with .150″ of bearing surface (shank) in the neck. Now remove the bullet with an impact hammer. Next, take another identical bullet and seat it with .300″ of bearing surface in another sized case (same bushing size/same nominal tension). You’ll find the deeper-seated bullet is gripped much harder.
Neck-Wall Thickness is Important Too
I have also found that thinner necks, particularly the very thin necks used by many PPC shooters, require more sizing to give equivalent “grip”. Again, do your own experiment. Seat a bullet in a case turned to .008″ neckwall thickness and sized down .003″. Now compare that to a case with .014″ neckwall thickness and sized down .0015″. You may find that the bullet in the thin necks actually pulls out easier, though it supposedly has more “neck tension”, if one were to consider bushing size alone.
In practical terms, because thick necks are less elastic than very thin necks, when you turn necks you may need to run tighter bushings to maintain the same amount of actual grip on the bullets (as compared to no-turn brass). Consequently, I suspect the guys using .0015″ “tension” on no-turn brass may be a lot closer to the guys using .003″ “tension” on turned necks than either group may realize.
Toward a Better Definition of Neck Tension
As a convenient short-cut, we tend to describe neck tension by bushing size alone. When a guy says, “I run .002 neck tension”, that normally means he is using a die/bushing that sizes the necks .002″ smaller than a loaded round. Well we know something about his post-sizing neck OD, but do we really have a reliable idea about how much force is required to release his bullets? Maybe not… This use of the term “neck tension” when we are really only describing the amount of neck diameter reduction with a die/bushing is really kind of incomplete.
My point here is that it is overly simplistic to ask, “should I load with .001 tension or .003?” In reality, an .001″ reduction (after springback) on a thick neck might provide MORE “grip” on a deep-seated bullet than an .003″ reduction on a very thin-walled neck holding a bullet with minimal bearing surface in the neck. Bushing ID is something we can easily measure and verify. We use bushing size as a descriptor of neck tension because it is convenient and because the other important factors are hard to quantify. But those factors shouldn’t be ignored if you want to maintain consistent neck tension for optimal accuracy.
Consistency and accuracy — that’s really what this all about isn’t it? We want to find the best neck tension for accuracy, and then maintain that amount of grip-on-bullet over time. To do that you need to look not only at your bushing size, but also at how your brass has changed (work-hardened) with time, and whether other variables (such as the amount of carbon in the neck) have changed. Ultimately, optimal neck tension must be ascertained experimentally. You have to go out and test empirically to see what works, in YOUR rifle, with YOUR bullets and YOUR brass. And you may have to change the nominal tension setting (i.e. bushing size) as your brass work-hardens or IF YOU CHANGE SEATING DEPTHS.
Remember that bushing size alone does not tell us all we need to know about the neck’s true “holding power” on a bullet, or the energy required for bullet release. True bullet grip is a more complicated phenomenon, one that is affected by numerous factors, some of which are very hard to quantify.
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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.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.
1. Palmetto State Armory — Norma Tac-22 .22 LR 500rds, $39.99
⏺ Very good .22 LR ammo at extremely low price — GREAT VALUE
If you love shooting .22 LR rimfires and want quality ammo at an ultra-low price grab some Norma TAC-22. At only $4 per 50-ct box, this is a true bargain, yet the TAC-22 is good enough for NRL22 matches as well as fun target shooting. We’ve shot this Norma ammo and been very satisfied. You’ll be hard-pressed to find better .22 LR ammo at anywhere near this price.
2. Amazon — RCBS ChargeMaster Link Dispenser, $269.99
⏺ Popular, modern Scale/Dispenser with Smartphone App functionality
The Chargemaster Link is a modern, high-tech electronic scale/dispenser from RCBS. Employing the proven load cell and electronics of the popular RCBS ChargeMaster Lite, the ChargeMaster Link adds built-in Bluetooth connectivity that pairs with an RCBS Mobile App for a customized, streamlined powder dispensing experience. The Link App can archive charge powders/weights for various cartridge types and then “talk” to the ChargeMaster Link during the powder dispensing process. The ChargeMaster Link is on sale now for $269.99 on Amazon or get one for $269.99 at Midsouth with FREE shipping!
3. Grafs.com — Harris Bipod Sale
⏺ Well-made, quality Harris bipods on sale this week
A good, reliable bipod is essential for tactical shooting and is very useful in many hunting situations. For decades, Harris Bipods have been a reliable bipod choice. And right now, Graf & Sons had Harris Bipods on Sale with significant savings. Find everything from standard version to swiveling and extended legs over at Graf’s at very attractive prices.
4. Midsouth — RCBS ChargeMaster Supreme, $379.99
⏺ Great performance, now with Bluetooth connectivity
We’ve dispensed loads for thousands of cartridges with our original RCBS ChargeMaster. The new-generation RCBS ChargeMaster Supreme Digital Powder Scale/Dispenser combines the proven reliability of previous ChargeMasters with some cool new features. The latest Chargemaster Supreme, on sale for $379.99 at Midsouth, boasts Bluetooth capability and 0.1 grain accuracy. The unit also includes the new RCBS proprietary “powder learn” process that optimizes the ChargeMaster Supreme’s dispense rate to the powder you are using, enhancing efficiency.
5. MidwayUSA — Bushnell Optics Sale
⏺ Low-cost scopes and rangefinders suitable for hunters
If you’re in the market for a budget-priced rangefinder, scope, or binoculars check out the Bushnell Sale at MidwayUSA. This is a good opportunity for hunters who need low-cost optics for that annual hunt. Bushnell prices are up to 41% off.
6. KYGUNCO — Federal Small Rifle Primers, 5000 for $449.95
⏺ Reasonable price — grab these before they sell out
Finding rifle primers is getting harder everyday. Supplies are still selling out almost instantly. Thankfully KYGUNCO obtained a large supply of 5000 FEDERAL AMMO Small Rifle Primers. The price is $449.95 for 5000 primers. That works out to $90 per thousand — not great, but if you need them, check this out. With a low hazmat and shipping fee this is one of the better primer deals we’ve seen lately.
7. Amazon — DSLEAF Tactical Range Bag, $49.99
⏺ Good, spacious bag for pistols, mags, ammo, and range safety gear
This versatile DSLEAF Tactical Gun Range Bag has plenty of room for pistols, magazines, and safety gear. The bag can carry 4 pistols in the main compartment. The front zippered pockets has 6 slots that fit most 9mm, .40 SW, and .45 ACP magazines. You can store eye and ear protection in the top compartment or side pockets, and there are MOLLE straps on the pocket flaps. Made from heavy nylon material, this Tactical Range Bag is durable and strong. The bag has earned 87% 4- or 5-star ratings from actual purchasers.
8. Brownells — Aguila .22 LR Ammo, 2000 Rounds, $164.99
⏺ Great deal — just 8 cents per round with big 2000-rd bulk pack
Rimfire shooting has been growing leaps and bounds the past few years. Right now Brownells has Aguila Super Extra .22 LR ammo on sale at great prices. This ammo works well in both .22 LR rifles and handguns. Individual 50-round boxes are just $4.r9 ($0.09/rd). If you shoot a lot, grab the huge, 2000-round case for $164.99 ($0.08/rd).
⏺ Best price we’ve found on major brand 9mm Luger ammo
The 9mm Luger (9x19mm) is the most popular centerfire pistol cartridge. Every handgunner should keep a good supply of 9mm ammo on hand for days at the range. Here’s a great deal on quality, major-manufacturer 9mm FMJ pistol ammunition. Get 1000 rounds of Fiocchi 9mm 115gr FMJ ammo for just $269.99. That works out to just $13.50 per 50 count box, or $0.27 per round — a great deal.
10. Amazon — Plano Gun Guard SE Series 2-Gun Case, $50.78
⏺ Very good price on a large, two-gun case for day trips
For carrying long guns to/from the range, we recommend a lockable case with interior padding. Some states require that guns be locked when carried in a vehicle. A good low-cost case is Plano Gun Guard SE Multi-Case, Amazon’s #1 best seller among hard rifle cases. Measuring 52.2″ overall, it will hold guns with long barrels and it is wide enough to carry two rifles. Measurements: 52.2″ W x 16″ H x 4″ D. Weight: 11 pounds. NOTE: While this $50 case will handle trips to the range, for air transport you should use a heavier, stronger case with more padding and thicker construction. Consider the $108 Plano All-Weather Case.
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Here’s a late-breaking deal. If you need high-BC 6mm match bullets for benchrest, F-Class, PRS/NRL, or silhouette matches, head over to Precision Reloading. While Berger bullets have been in very high demand lately, Precision Reloading has a large inventory of Berger 6mm match bullets IN STOCK now. Chose from 90gr, 95gr, 105gr, 108gr, and 115gr 6mm bullets. PLUS there are Coupon CODES good today to save $10 Off $100, $25 Off $250, and $50 Off $500. But you better act soon, these bullets may sell out quickly, and those Coupon CODES expire tonight, 10/31/2022 at 11:59 PM CST.
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Evergreen Ballistics is a shooter-owned enterprise that sells a great selection of coated lead bullets, conventional cast bullets, plus copper-plated bullets. If you currently shoot cast and/or plated bullets in your pistols and/or rifles, you should definitely check out the Evergreen Ballistics offerings. The prices are very competitive and customer service is excellent.
Evergreen Ballistics (EB) was launched in April 2020. The company soon received many customer requests to produce coated bullets. Marc McAtee, owner of Evergreen Ballistics, set to work: “I ordered several different colors of Hi-Tek Supercoat [to test]. We launched the line of coated bullets in mid-2020 and they quickly became our most desired type of bullets.” A year later Evergreen launched a line of EB-branded plated pistol bullets produced by a major North American plated-bullet manufacturer.
“I have always tried to keep the mission of Evergreen Ballistics focused and simple. Provide quality projectiles to reloaders at the best price possible. In addition, we try to treat our customers as we would want to be treated. From fast, inexpensive shipping, to taking the time to answer every email, we do our best to do right by the customer.” — Marc McAtee, Evergreen Ballistics
Evergreen Ballistics Polymer-Coated Bullets
Evergreen Ballistics offers a selection of coated bullets in two styles: 1) NLG or “no lube groove” bullets; and 2) grooved bullets made from the same alloy and molds as its regular cast lead bullets. The NLG bullet molds were designed specifically to meet the increased demand for coated bullets. McAtee explains the coating process: “After casting and cooling, the bullets are weighed out onto individual wire trays. The coating is then mixed with a solvent, in our case acetone, and applied to the bullets. We apply the coating by adding it to a large mixing bowl and shaking the bullets vigorously. The bullets are then spread out on their wire trays to dry thoroughly. The bullets are then backed for approximately 10 minutes to set the coating. After cooling, we perform two tests to verify the integrity of the coating.”
This shows that the coating has cured. Next, we simply smash a bullet with a hammer. The coating should not flake off. This proves the coating is chemically bonded to the lead. We preform these tests on every tray that comes out of our ovens. After this, we repeat the process for the second coat. Once the bullets have cooled from their second coat, they are sized through carbide sizing dies. We use a small amount of fluoropolymer-based lubricant to aid in sizing the bullets. One of the questions I get asked all the time is, “Does the coating come off during sizing?”. No, it does not. If the coating is cured properly it will remain on the bullet during sizing. Just as it remains on the bullet as it travels down the barrel.
The coating is Hi-Tek Supercoat manufactured by J & M Specialized Products in Australia. This polymer coating has major advantages. The coating nearly eliminates barrel leading and significantly reduces airborne lead. In addition, with no greasy lube to vaporize, there is greatly reduced smoke.
Evergreen Ballistics Cast Lead Bullets
Along with its signature green-coated bullets, Evergreen Ballistics offers a full line of conventional lead bullets cast from an alloy containing 92% lead, 6% Antimony, and 2% Tin with a Brinell hardness (BHN) of approximately 16. This alloy delivers good performance at a range of velocities.
Marc McAtee notes: “Our molds were designed with this high-quality alloy in mind. Our lead arrives very clean, so there is minimal fluxing that we have to do, and we do not have a significant amount of dross to pull off the pot. Our lead bullets are sized using machined carbide dies and lubed with Commercial 160 from White Label Lube Company”.
Evergreen Ballistics Plated Bullets
Our plated bullets are manufactured by a leading North American bullet manufacture. The lead cores are swaged to ensure consistent starting weight. They are then electroplated which deposits a layer of copper that completely encapsulates the lead core. This copper layer is approximately 0.008″ in thickness. The bullets are then resized to ensure concentricity and appropriate diameter. The heavy plating on these bullets allows them to be pushed to higher velocity using FMJ load data.
Interview with Marc McAtee, Founder of Evergreen Bullets
Q. How and why did you start the company?
A: The idea to start the business originated in late 2018 after finding a commercial casting set-up at an estate sale. I acquired the automated casting and sizing machines along with a collection of molds. Over the next several months, I would cast and re-melt numerous batches of lead bullets to optimize the production process . In April of 2020 the Evergreen Ballistics business was formed, and I began selling cast lead bullets online. Around this time, I began to use Hi-Tek Supercoat on small batches of lead bullets, making polymer-coated bullets for myself. Shortly after I learned about the Supercoat product, customers asked if we could produce coated lead bullets. After experimenting with several colors and ratios of coating, I settled on the color and recipe we use now.
Q. What are the benefits of the polymer bullet coatings?
A. When compared to ordinary cast lead bullets you have no lead fouling and no smoke that would normally be created from burning lube. In addition, you do not get cast bullet lube on your reloading dies. Polymer coated bullets are cleaner to shoot and cleaner to load than plain lead bullets.
Q. What makes your bullets different/better than the competition?
A. In our coated bullets we use the same 92/6/2 alloy as our cast lead bullets. This keeps the cast weights consistent. Some coated bullet companies have switched to a 98/2 alloy. It’s a cheaper alloy, but the weights do not cast the same. For OUR plated bullets, the plating is 0.008″ thick. Many other plated bullets on the market range from 0.002-0.006″ in plating thickness. Our thicker plating allows the bullet to perform more like a FMJ and you have less chance of plate separation as the bullet travels down range.
Q. How are the jacketed bullets made?
A: Full disclosure: our jacketed bullets are not made in-house, they are manufactured by a contractor. With that being said, The cores of the plated bullets begin as chucks of 98% lead, 2% antimony lead wire. The cores are formed into the rough bullet shape then head into the plating process. This process involves several steps in various chemical baths. This results in strong adhesion of the copper plate to the lead core. The bullets are then reformed in a hydraulic press to ensure prefect dimensions and consistency from bullet to bullets. Finally, the bullets are polished and shipped to us in 50,000-piece crates. Upon arrival, from the contractor, several bullets from each batch are tested for weight and dimension consistency. In addition, we verify adhesion of the copper plating.
Q. Are you able to keep up with the high current bullet demand?
We are a small shop — we do not have big OEM customers or even wholesale customers. ALL the bullets we make and sell go to people who reload. This was very evident during the last big rush on ammo/bullets. While some manufactures were taking 4-6 weeks to ship orders, we were able to ship orders in less than a week. We were not backlogged with massive OEM bullet orders. All of our capacity goes to support the everyday reloader.
Q. Will any new calibers/bullet types be offered in the near future?
Our newest addition to our plated bullet line are our .458 diameter bullets. These include a 300gr and 405gr RNFP and a Spitzer design available in 350gr, 450gr, or 500gr sizes. We are currently working on a coated, 220gr .308-caliber bullet for the suppressed 300 BLK crowd.
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Palmetto State Armory (PSA) is running a major Halloween Sale for the next few days. We found some very impressive deals. Save $160 on a AR15 + 9mm Pistol combo, or save 33% on .22LR rimfire ammo. And there are big savings on other products such as gun cases, magazines, rifle scopes, and more.
CLICK HERE to see all the PSA Halloween Sale Specials »
TIP: If you see a great deal on a product you need, we recommend you grab it quickly. The best deals can sell out quickly, particularly on popular types of ammo.
Scan-Verified 0.162 MOA Accuracy at 200 Yards
In our 
Neck-Wall Thickness is Important Too
