Even with high-quality brass from Lapua, Peterson, Norma, Alpha and RWS, occasionally you may find one or two cases per box which have a small flake or obstruction in the flash-hole. This will appear like a thin crescent on one side of the flash hole (see photo). You should inspect ALL new brass before loading to identify any pieces with a partially-obstructed flash hole. It’s a good idea to remove any flake or thin crescent left as an artifact of the flash-hole forming process. Because the flash-hole itself is normally centered and of the correct diameter, it is not necessary to ream the flash-hole to a larger diameter. All you really need to do is remove the small obstruction(s). This can be done quickly with inexpensive tools.
Use a Small Pin Vise to Remove Flash-Hole Obstructions
Folks have asked if there is a tool that can remove obstructions from a Lapua small, BR-sized flash hole without opening the hole size. The Lapua PPC/BR flash hole is spec’d at 1.5mm, which works out to 0.059055″. Most of the PPC/BR flash-hole uniforming tools on the market use a 1/16″ bit which is nominally 0.0625″, but these often run oversize — up to 0.066″.
If you want to just clear out any obstructions in the flash hole, without increasing the flash hole diameter, you can use an inexpensive “pin vise” with an appropriate drill bit. For $0.99 ($0.50 on sale), eHobbyTools.com sells a 1.5mm drill bit, item 79186, that matches the Lapua flash hole exactly. Other vendors offer a #53 pin vise drill bit that measures .0595″ or .060″ (depending or source). An 0.0595″ bit is close enough. You can find pin vises and these small-diameter drill bits at hobby stores.
For quite some time, Sinclair Int’l has sold a similar device for small (PPC and BR-size) flash holes. Like the 07-3081 unit for large flash holes, the 073000 Reamer for small flash holes works from the outside, so it can index off the primer pocket. It reams to .0625″, and also costs $29.99. The standard dimension for Lapua 220 Russian and 6mmBR flash holes is 1.5mm or .0590″. This tool will permit standard-size decapping rods with .0625″ tips to work without binding. However, note that both Forster and Redding normally supply .057″ decapping pins with their PPC and BR dies. So, it is NOT necessary to ream your Lapua BR/PPC flashholes, unless you prefer to do so for uniformity. It IS, however, a good idea to check BR/PPC flash holes for burrs before loading the first time.
NOTE: If you purchase either the 073081 or 073000 Sinclair Flash Hole Reamer tools, we recommend you mic the cutter tip before you process a bunch of cases. Sometimes a tip comes through that is oversize. This will ream the flash holes larger than you may intend.
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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. Creedmoor Sports — American Bullet Company Sale
⏺ Excellent prices on .224 (5.56) and .308 caliber bullets
American Bullet Company offers quality bullets at very attractive prices — as much as 40% less than some name brands. Starting at just $24.95 per 100, these are a good choice for service rifle shooters and Garand/Springfield competitors. These bullets are made in the USA by major manufacturers. They are all first-run bullets — no blems or seconds. These bullets are packed in 100-ct and 500-ct boxes, with all bullets in each box coming from a single lot. These value-priced bullets let you shoot more without breaking the bank.
2. Midsouth — Peterson Brass Sale
⏺ Large variety of cartridge brass, including hard-to-find types
We have found that Peterson Brass is consistently very good, and lasts a long time. Right now Midsouth has a large variety of Peterson brass in stock at competitive prices. Available types include: 22 Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, .260 Rem, 6.5 PRC, .280 Ackley Imp, 28 Nosler, 7mm PRC, 7mm RemMag, .300 WinMag, .300 Rem UltraMag, 30 Nosler, 33 Nosler, and .338 Weatherby (rebated).
3. Creedmoor Sports — Redding Boss ProPak, $299.95
⏺ High quality Redding press with scale and tools
The Redding Boss is a great press for novices and pros alike and now you can pick up the Redding Boss ProPak for only $299.95 (#ad). That’s a $278 (48%) savings. The Boss ProPak includes: Boss Single-Stage Reloading Press, Model 2 Powder and Bullet Scale, Powder Trickler, Pad Style Case Lube Kit, Deburring Tool, Model 18 Case Preparation Kit, Powder Funnel and Hodgdon Annual Manual. Dies sold separately.
4. Graf & Sons — Nikon Binoculars Sale
⏺ Big savings on Nikon Binocs from 7X to16X, compact and full sizes
A good set of binoculars is great at the range and/or in the field. Binoculars are useful when hiking and hunting and just enjoying nature. Right now Graf’s is running a Nikon binocular sale with prices 30% Off! Nikon makes high-quality binoculars in many sizes and powers, from compact 8X versions to high power 16X. For hikers, we like the 8×25 Travelite Compact now just $76.97.
⏺ Sophisticated wind speed meter at a super-affordable price
Knowing wind speed is critical to making accurate ballistic adjustments both on the line or in the field. If you need a reliable yet affordable wind speed meter, consider the BTMETER BT-100 Handheld Anemometer (#ad). The BT-100’s multi-function capabilities include Wind Speed, Wind Temperature, and Wind Chill factor. The BT-100 portable wind speed gauge can accurately measure wind velocity in 5 units: m/s, km/h, ft/min, knots, mph. The unit also records air temperatures in degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit.
6. Amazon — Allen Deluxe Rifle Case, $75.99
⏺ Quality case for long-barreled hunting rifles, PRS rifles, and shotguns
This Allen Long Gun Case in Mossy Oak Break-Up Country Camo has three large external pockets. This case fits scoped rifles (and other long guns) up to 50 inches overall. Well-made, with lots of features, this gun case has earned 84% 5-Star ratings from verified purchasers. Right now this handsome case is $75.99 on Amazon (#ad), a 22% discount.
⏺ Handy adjustable rest fits nearly all types of pistols and revolvers
A small compact rest definitely helps when doing load development and accuracy testing with handguns. A good choice (at a great price) is the Caldwell Pistolero shooting rest (#ad), now just $27.99 on sale at Amazon. The Caldwell Pistolero rest is durable, and the support surfaces will not mark your pistols. The hand support is comfortable to use. With 5 inches of rear pad movement and and 3 inches of vertical adjustment in the front, the Pistolero rest accommodates virtually all handguns, providing a stable shooting surface.
8. Harbor Freight — 105-Piece Tool Set and Chest, $44.99
⏺ Get a complete tool kit for the price of a couple wrenches
If you’re looking for a very complete tool set at a bargain price check out this Harbor Freight 105-piece tool kit with 4 drawer chest. On sale now for just $44.99, this major tool kit includes wrenches, sockets, screw drivers and more — everything you need to perform multiple tasks at home and in the reloading room. NOTE: Use Coupon 77484334 to get the $44.99 price through 10/29/23.
9. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Media Separator, $46.99
⏺ Very effective Media Separator that works for both wet AND dry media
After tumbling brass, separating the brass cases from cleaning media can be a challenge. You need to separate the brass from corncob/walnut media, or stainless pins and water. The Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Wet/Dry Media Separator (#ad) will get your brass clean quickly and efficiently. For use with wet or dry media it features a sturdy center sphere with handle, a useful cover, and a specially designed corner filter to strain water out. We’ve used this unit and it works well.
Sooner or later, every reloader needs a good bullet puller. Hornady Lock-N-Load Impact Bullet Puller, just $21.59 at Midsouth, will do the job. With a couple smacks the bullet will pop loose and then be captured along with the powder for re-use. The base of the handle has a storage area to hold two extra brass holders (collets). This Hornady LNL Impact Bullet Puller works for most rifle or pistol cartridges up to .45 caliber. For a few bucks more ($25.99), Amazon sells this Hornady Bullet Puller (#ad) with free delivery.
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Even with high-quality brass from Lapua, Peterson, Norma, Alpha and RWS, occasionally you may find one or two cases per box which have a small flake or obstruction in the flash-hole. This will appear like a thin crescent on one side of the flash hole (see photo). You should inspect ALL new brass before loading to identify any pieces with a partially-obstructed flash hole. It’s a good idea to remove any flake or thin crescent left as an artifact of the flash-hole forming process. Because the flash-hole itself is normally centered and of the correct diameter, it is not necessary to ream the flash-hole to a larger diameter. All you really need to do is remove the small obstruction(s). This can be done quickly with inexpensive tools.
Use a Small Pin Vise to Remove Flash-Hole Obstructions
Folks have asked if there is a tool that can remove obstructions from a Lapua small, BR-sized flash hole without opening the hole size. The Lapua PPC/BR flash hole is spec’d at 1.5mm, which works out to 0.059055″. Most of the PPC/BR flash-hole uniforming tools on the market use a 1/16″ bit which is nominally 0.0625″, but these often run oversize — up to 0.066″.
If you want to just clear out any obstructions in the flash hole, without increasing the flash hole diameter, you can use an inexpensive “pin vise” with an appropriate drill bit. For $0.99 ($0.50 on sale), eHobbyTools.com sells a 1.5mm drill bit, item 79186, that matches the Lapua flash hole exactly. Other vendors offer a #53 pin vise drill bit that measures .0595″ or .060″ (depending or source). An 0.0595″ bit is close enough. You can find pin vises and these small-diameter drill bits at hobby stores.
For quite some time, Sinclair Int’l has sold a similar device for small (PPC and BR-size) flash holes. Like the 07-3081 unit for large flash holes, the 073000 Reamer for small flash holes works from the outside, so it can index off the primer pocket. It reams to .0625″, and also costs $29.99. The standard dimension for Lapua 220 Russian and 6mmBR flash holes is 1.5mm or .0590″. This tool will permit standard-size decapping rods with .0625″ tips to work without binding. However, note that both Forster and Redding normally supply .057″ decapping pins with their PPC and BR dies. So, it is NOT necessary to ream your Lapua BR/PPC flashholes, unless you prefer to do so for uniformity. It IS, however, a good idea to check BR/PPC flash holes for burrs before loading the first time.
NOTE: If you purchase either the 073081 or 073000 Sinclair Flash Hole Reamer tools, we recommend you mic the cutter tip before you process a bunch of cases. Sometimes a tip comes through that is oversize. This will ream the flash holes larger than you may intend.
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The 6.5 Creedmoor is now one of the most popular cartridges chambered in factory rifles. It found favor among hunters and PRS competitors, but then its little brother the 6mm Creedmoor became widely adopted because the 6mm version delivered less recoil, equivalent or better ballistics, and lower bullet cost.
There’s another Creedmoor cousin, the 22 Creedmoor, basically a 6mm Creedmoor necked down to .224 caliber. While this certainly can be used for PRS and tactical competition, the 22 Creedmoor seems to be ideally suited as a high velocity varmint round — something to replace the 22-250. You get 22-250 class velocities with a more modern cartridge design, and high-quality brass.
LEARN MORE about the 22 Creedmoor
There is an excellent write-up in the GunsAmerica Digest about the 22 Creedmoor cartridge. Reviewer Jeff Cramblit built a 22 Creedmoor rifle and tested it with a variety of bullet weights. He concluded it worked best as a varminter, but could also do PRS duty, provided it is loaded under the 3200 fps velocity limit common in PRS matches. CLICK HERE to read full GunsAmerica 22 Creedmoor test report.
Since there is not yet a SAAMI spec for the 22 Creedmoor, the cartridge is officially still a wildcat. However some ammo-makers have produced 22 Creedmoor loaded ammo: Copper Creek, Gunwerks, and Spark Munitions. Copper Creek has produced the most 22 Creedmoor loaded ammo varieties, with 18 different bullet options from 68 grains to 95 grains, including two lead-free bullet types. However, most everything is “out of stock” right now. Copper Creek also offers load development packs with either Peterson or Hornady brass. Here are five Cooper Creek options with Sierra and Berger bullets:
In addition, multiple companies have offered 22 Creedmoor cartridge brass: Alpha Munitions, Atlas ADG, Hornady, and Peterson Cartridge. The Peterson 22 Creedmoor brass is excellent.
Of course you can neck down high-quality Lapua 6mm Creedmoor brass. Lapua brass has outstanding consistency and durability. Choose from large primer or small primer types. Necking down is a relatively easy one-step operation with a neck-sizing or full-length sizing die. You’re just stepping down to .224 from .243 — not that big of a jump.
22 Creedmoor Brass from Peterson Cartridge
According to Derek Peterson, President of Peterson Cartridge, “We decided to build the tooling to make our .22 Creedmoor brass in response to the uptick in long-distance predator and varmint hunting. Plus the round is just straight-up fun to shoot. It is a low-recoil, flat shooting, wind-bucking round [that is] deadly accurate up to 800 yards.”
“When we designed the tooling for the .22 Creedmoor we set out to make casings with improved features”, Peterson added. “And we were successful. We increased the head hardness to tolerate higher pressures. And we increased our internal volume slightly to work better with the slow-burning powders [such as Reloder 26 or H1000].”
22 Creedmoor for Varmints — Video from the Varmint Fields of Eastern Oregon
Bullet Choices for 22 Creedmoor
If you have an appropriate twist-rate barrel, you can load the 22 Creedmoor with heavy 85-95 grain bullets. However, we think that, for varminting, the cartridge is better suited for lighter 65-80 grain bullets. This yields high velocities that provide explosive impacts on small varmints.
This GunsAmerica photo shows, L to R, 90gr Sierra MK, Hornady 88gr, 80gr, and 75gr .224 caliber bullets.
What is the Best Role for the 22 Creedmoor?
GunsAmerica tester Jeff Cramblit favors the 22 Creedmoor as a varmint round: “The performance of the 22 Creedmoor with 75-80 grain bullets makes it an outstanding varmint cartridge. I’ve seen claims of 80 grain Bergers at 3500 fps out of 26″ barrels, which would be devastating on any varmint. Loaded ammunition is available with bullets in the 70-75 range leaving 24” barrels at velocities around 3400+ fps, a bit more conservative than personal hand-loading, but still making it a very flat shooting, low recoiling round delivering impressive results.”
Jeff says the 22 Creedmoor will also work for PRS with heavier bullets: “I built the 22 CM to be a dual-purpose gun, or actually a 3-purpose gun. The first was for the coyotes and varmints previously mentioned. The second was for shooting PRS (Precision Rifle Series) style matches on occasion, and the third was for hunting deer-sized game. As with any multi-purpose tool there tends to be compromises.”
22 Creedmoor Cartridge Dimensions (No SAAMI Spec Yet)
More Efficient Alternatives — the 22 BR and 22 BRA
If you already have a 6mmBR rifle, and you want a higher velocity cartridge for varmint shooting, you may want to consider just necking down your brass. We’ve shot the 22 BR in the varmint fields and a steel match. This cartridge offers excellent accuracy, and is very flat shooting. We recommend getting a fairly fast-twist barrel so you can shoot the longer, high-BC bullets if you want to use your 22 BR in local matches. You’ll find that shorter 40gr to 66gr varmint bullets shoot great even in the faster-twist barrels.
For more information on the 22 BR for varminting and target shooting, with recommended loads for 40gr to 90gr bullets, read our Accurate Shooter 22 BR Cartridge Guide.
If you want more velocity than a 22 BR offers, you can have your barrel chambered for the 22 BRA (BR Ackley). With its 40-degree shoulder, the 22 BRA offers a few more grains capacity, so you can get more FPS with all classes of bullets. Fire-forming is easy — just use a normal 22 BR load with good bullets and shoot. We’ve fire-formed a 22 BRA in a varmint match and it showed excellent accuracy — there’s no need to waste bullets fire-forming. Go ahead and fire-form during a fun match.
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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. Graf & Sons — Peterson Brass In Stock
⏺ Very high-quality brass for popular cartridge types
If you need hard-to-find cartridge brass, check out the Peterson Brass at Grafs.com. At Graf’s you’ll find a big selection of Peterson brass IN STOCK now. Yes Graf’s even has the very popular cartridge types such as 6mmBR, 6mm Dasher, 6mm Creedmoor, and 6.5-284 (neck up to .284 Win). Graf’s also carries 500-piece Peterson bulk boxes. If you need a lot of brass, those Peterson bulk packs offer the lowest unit price for quality brass.
2. Amazon — Plano 52″ Wheeled Gun Case, $145.93
⏺ Outstanding wheeled case with anti-rust interior
With modern competition rifles costing $4000 or more (with optics) you NEED a top-quality transport case. A really good heavy-duty case for the price is Plano’s All Weather Gun Case with Rustrictor. This TSA-approved wheeled rifle case has strong materials and rugged hinges for protection during travel or storage. At 52″ overall this case can fit larger F-Class and ELR rifles. The Plano All Weather Case features a watertight, dust proof Dri-Loc seal and the interior has built-in rust inhibitors. Bottom Line — this rifle case is as good as some other cases costing twice as much.
3. EuroOptic — Bushnell Optics Blowout
⏺ Major savings on Bushnell scopes, Reflex sights, and Red Dots
Did you pick up a new pistol or rifle and need a scope or sight for it? Then check out the super-bargain prices at the Bushnell Optics Closeout over at EuroOptic. You’ll find everything from Reflex sights to long range scopes. Prices have been slashed — with discounts up to 66%.
4. Amazon — Howard Leight Impact Sport Elec. Muffs, $39.00
⏺ Quality Electronic Muffs deeply discounted this week
Here’s a great deal on a quality, comfortable set of electronic ear muffs. The popular Howard Leight Impact Sport muffs have a 22 dB Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). These electronic muffs block loud impulse noises like gunfire, while allowing you to easily hear range commands. Slim and comfortable, these muffs are offered in Black, Blue, OD Green, Tan, MultiCam, Alpine (white), Smoke, Teal. Price varies by color, but basic black is on sale now for $39.00 on Amazon. NOTE: When shooting at busy ranges with many shooters nearby, we recommend running foam plugs under these muffs.
Still using a basic scale to trickle up your powder charges with? Consider upgrading to the new Creedmoor TRX-925 Precision Reloading Scale. This premium scale is less than half the price of a top-end force restoration scale. Yet the new TRX-925 offers precision offered only by a few scales on the market. With a 925 grain max capacity, this scale boasts laboratory-grade electronics, optimized strain gauges, and gold-anodized static-free powder pan. The TRX-925 comes standard with three precise calibration weights (2g, 10g, 50g). User reviews of this new Creedmoor scale have been very positive. The TRX-925 is a top choice if you want a very high-quality scale, but cannot afford a force restoration unit.
6. Natchez — RCBS ChargeMaster, $309.99
⏺ Solid scale/dispenser with detachable scale section
The RCBS ChargeMaster has been one of the most consistent workhorses in the reloading world. The ChargeMaster Combo features the ChargeMaster 1500 Scale and ChargeMaster Dispenser, mated to form a very reliable combination of dispensing speed and accuracy. Unlike other powder dispensers, with this ChargeMaster you can detach the scale and use it separately. This ChargeMaster is on sale now at Natchez at a significant discount.
7. Midsouth — Aguila .22 LR Ammo 500 Rds, $34.99
⏺ Great price on good, high-velocity rimfire ammo
This Aguila bulk pack .22 LR ammo has impressed purchasers though the price works out to just $3.50 for 50 rounds — a true bargain. This high-velocity ammo delivers 1255 fps with copper-plated 40gr bullets. Actual buyer reports have been very positive: “Great .22 ammo. Good velocity and clean burning”; “Very accurate and consistent in my Ruger 10/22″; “Great price and functions well in my Buckmark”.
8. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Hand Deprimer, $34.99
⏺ Deprime fired cartridge brass anywhere — no press needed
Decapping brass can be a tedious, time-consuming, and messy chore. Simplify the task (and avoid messing up your reloading area) with the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Hand Deprimer Tool. This device lets you remove spent primers anywhere — no press needed and all the mess (cups/anvils/residue) stays in the capture chamber. You can deprime cases while watching TV. This tool features a universal collet that works with all case types, along with a removable spent primer catch tube. With good leverage, this tool is easy on the hands too.
⏺ Insanely low price for a 12 gauge defensive shotgun
Have you wanted a home defense or tactical shotgun but didn’t have the budget? Right now you can get a good 12ga pump shotgun for under $150.00! We found a fantastic deal on the Emperor Firearms MXP12 12Ga 18.5″ Pump Shotgun. Despite the ultra-low price, user reviews have been quite positive. This shotgun package even includes a tactical light and shell holder — all for under $150.
10. Amazon — Assorted Funny Gun Shirts
⏺ Good gifts for friends who enjoy shooting sports
Need modestly-priced gifts for your shooting buddies (both guys and gals)? Consider getting a gun-themed T-shirt. Amazon has a wide selection of Humorous Gun T-Shirts. With quirky prints and sassy sayings these fun and gun-friendly shirts are sure to be a hit under the tree.
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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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Even with high-quality brass from Lapua, Peterson, Norma, Alpha and RWS, occasionally you may find one or two cases per box which have a small flake or obstruction in the flash-hole. This will appear like a thin crescent on one side of the flash hole (see photo). You should inspect ALL new brass before loading to identify any pieces with a partially-obstructed flash hole. It’s a good idea to remove any flake or thin crescent left as an artifact of the flash-hole forming process. Because the flash-hole itself is normally centered and of the correct diameter, it is not necessary to ream the flash-hole to a larger diameter. All you really need to do is remove the small obstruction(s). This can be done quickly with inexpensive tools.
Use a Small Pin Vise to Remove Flash-Hole Obstructions
Folks have asked if there is a tool that can remove obstructions from a Lapua small, BR-sized flash hole without opening the hole size. The Lapua PPC/BR flash hole is spec’d at 1.5mm, which works out to 0.059055″. Most of the PPC/BR flash-hole uniforming tools on the market use a 1/16″ bit which is nominally 0.0625″, but these often run oversize — up to 0.066″.
If you want to just clear out any obstructions in the flash hole, without increasing the flash hole diameter, you can use an inexpensive “pin vise” with an appropriate drill bit. For $0.99, eHobbyTools.com sells a 1.5mm drill bit, item 79186, that matches the Lapua flash hole exactly. Other vendors offer a #53 pin vise drill bit that measures .0595″ or .060″ (depending or source). An 0.0595″ bit is close enough. You can find pin vises and these small-diameter drill bits at hobby stores.
For quite some time, Sinclair Int’l has sold a similar device for small (PPC and BR-size) flash holes. Like the 07-3081 unit for large flash holes, the 073000 Reamer for small flash holes works from the outside, so it can index off the primer pocket. It reams to .0625″, and also costs $29.99. The standard dimension for Lapua 220 Russian and 6mmBR flash holes is 1.5mm or .0590″. This tool will permit standard-size decapping rods with .0625″ tips to work without binding. However, note that both Forster and Redding normally supply .057″ decapping pins with their PPC and BR dies. So, it is NOT necessary to ream your Lapua BR/PPC flashholes, unless you prefer to do so for uniformity. It IS, however, a good idea to check BR/PPC flash holes for burrs before loading the first time.
NOTE: If you purchase either the 073081 or 073000 Sinclair Flash Hole Reamer tools, we recommend you mic the cutter tip before you process a bunch of cases. Sometimes a tip comes through that is oversize. This will ream the flash holes larger than you may intend.
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At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. Graf’s — Peterson Catridge Brass In Stock
⏺ Peterson brass is strong and consistent, good selection of cartridge types
Peterson makes great brass for a wide variety of popular cartridges. Peterson has earned a great reputation for its consistent, long-lasting match-grade brass. Right now Graf’s has Peterson brass IN STOCK for a wide range of cartridge types — from small varmint rounds to F-Class cartridges all the way up to big magnums for ELR. Whether you shoot a .22-cal or even a .408 CheyTac round, you should find in-stock Peterson brass that suits your needs.
2. EuroOptic — Vortex Optics Closeout Sale (Save Hundred$)
⏺ Huge discounts on excellent scopes with superb warranty
Need a scope for your next rifle project, but have a limited budget? You can save hundreds of dollars with EuroOptic’s Vortex Optics Close-Out Sale. EuroOptic has FFP and SFP Vortex scopes with a variety of feature sets and magnification ranges — all at crazy low prices. All Vortex scopes on sale are brand new, with full factory warranty.
3. Creedmoor Sports — American Practice Bullets
⏺ Major discounts on big-name factory bullets; great for practice
We can all use more live fire practice. To shoot more without breaking your budget, we recommend these American Practice bullets. These are good quality “big name” bullets in a wide range of calibers. You can get 500 bullets for a fraction of their normal costs. CLICK HERE for the full selection. We recommend: 77gr .224 bullets; 107gr 6mm bullets; and 168gr .308 bullets. With these deals you can practice more often.
4. Powder Valley — Accurate Powders IN STOCK, Low Prices
⏺ Good selection of Accurate-brand powders at VERY favorable prices
For a long time, Powder Valley Inc. has been one of the best resources for reloading supplies. Powder Valley is a highly ethical company, run by honorable folks who have worked hard to hold down prices on powder and primers. Powder Valley has also been a staunch supporter of AccurateShooter since the beginning. Right now Powder Valley has a good selection of Accurate-brand powders in stock at very fair prices — from $27.25/lb (Accurate #2) to $34.50/lb (Accurate 4064). If you could use one of the available Accurate-brand powders, head over to Powder Valley today.
5. Midsouth — Hornady V-Max Bullet Sale
⏺ Get high-quality, first-rate tipped hunting bullets at bargain prices
V-Max bullets are favored by game hunters and varmint shooters. Right now Hornady V-Max bullets, in a wide assortment of calibers/weights, are on sale at Midsouth. The Hornady V-MAX polymer tip increases the ballistic coefficient and also initiates dramatic expansion upon impact — even at velocities as low as 1600 fps. For varmint hunting in .20, .224, and 6mm calibers, the V-Max bullets are a great choice, and now you can save big. 22-Caliber shooters can select 40gr, 50gr, 53gr, and 55gr bullets all for just $21.59 for 100 bullets.
6. Palmetto SA — S&W M&P15-22 Sport Rimfire Package, $449.99
⏺ Good, reliable rimfire AR clone for NRL22 and cross-training
This Smith & Wesson AR-style M&P15-22 provides the fun of an AR15 with the low cost of rimfire ammo. This can work well for cross-training or NRL22 matches. The S&W M&P15-22 SPORT features a slim M-LOK handguard that easily accepts a variety of accessories without removing the handguard. The M&P15-22 SPORT comes standard with removable Magpul MBUS front and rear folding sights. This $449.99 package includes 3 magazines and a nice gun case.
7. Midsouth — Bulldog Rifle Case 54″, $69.99
⏺ Good deal on excellent case for long rifles up to 52.5″
Highly rated by purchasers, the Bulldog Long Range Rifle Case fits rifles up to 52.5″ long. This premium 54″ soft case is on Sale Now for $69.99 at Midsouth, 18% off the regular $84.99 price. The Bulldog LR works great for long-barreled match rifles. This versatile case boasts a tough 600-dernier water-resistant outer shell, plus quilted inner lining with Velcro tie downs. There are two zippered center pockets plus an external zippered pocket at front. The main compartment zippers are lockable. Choose either Dark Tan (shown), or Matte Black for the same $69.99 price.
8. Amazon — Lyman Brass Smith Case Trim Xpress, $119.99
⏺ Efficient, well-designed power trimmer that indexes off shoulder
Trimming brass is critical to precision reloading. However, with most case trimmers it’s a pain to adjust trim length, plus the hand-cranking becomes tiresome. A better, more efficient case trimming solution is offered by the Lyman Brass Smith Case Trim Xpress. We like this case trimmer for good reason. The smart design allows for .001″ trim length adjustments with the click of a dial. The tool ships with 10 bushings that cover the most popular neck sizes on the market. To see a video of the Case Trim Xpress in action, check out our Lyman Case Trim Xpress Review.
9. Amazon — Caldwell The Rock Jr. Front Shooting Rest, $35.19
⏺ Low-cost rest works for young shooters and as back-up varminting rest
Simple and light can be good. When teaching youngsters to shoot or when sighting in a hunting rig, this Caldwell Rock Jr. Rest may be all you need. Weighing under 5.5 pounds, this compact rest is easy to set up. It offers 7.75″ vertical adjustment. One verified buyer states: “After lugging [a heavy front rest] to and from the range a few times I realized it was just too big and heavy for what I really needed. This little rest is inexpensive, yet it’s ideal for sighting-in firearms and airguns, and for informal shooting. A hint: Lubricate the elevation screw and the thrust washer that sits under the elevation wheel with a dab of lithium grease, and your adjustments will be smoother and easier.”
10. Brownells — Wipe-Out Foam Cleaner, $10.99
⏺ Wipe-Out Foam is effective, particularly when used right after shooting
Walking the firing line at the Berger SW Nationals, 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 good deal. The same 5 oz. can is $23.87 on Amazon!
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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.
1. Graf’s — Peterson Brass and Loaded Ammo
⏺ New loaded ammo offering and excellent cartridge brass
Accurate loads start with high-quality brass. American-made Peterson Brass is VERY high-quality. It’s extremely uniform and long-lasting. Right now you can get a large selection of Peterson cartridge brass at Grafs.com. Peterson offers both popular as well as hard-to-find brass types. Along with the match-grade brass, Peterson now offers excellent loaded ammo for many cartridge types, including 6×47 Lapua, 6.5-284 Norma, and .308 Win.
2. Amazon — Frankford Universal Case Trimmer, $79.99
⏺ Smart system fits drills and trims nearly all popular rifle case types
Here is a good option for trimming cases, if you shoot many different cartridge types. Frankford Arsenal Universal Precision Case Trimmer handled most popular cartridges from .17 Rem all the way up to .460 Weatherby. Just choose the right collet then attached the unit to the end of your power drill for fast, easy trimming. The built-in depth micrometer allows for fast trim-length adjustments, and the brass-shaving ejection port ensures a clean trim. The universal collet system indexes on case shoulders for precise and consistent trimming. This trimming system works with just about any 1/2″ power drill.
3. Sportsman’s WHSE — Sig Sauer P365XL Package, $549.99
⏺ Most popular new SIG pistol with holster and 3 mags
SIG Sauer P365 pistols are a fine choice for a carry gun — they are slim, well-made, and accurate. And right now Sportsman’s Warehouse has a great SIG Sauer P365XL package on sale. The P365 series now ranks second among Gunbroker’s top-selling handguns of 2021. Given the proven reliability, small form factor, and class-leading accuracy, the SIG P365XL is very popular. With an attractive price, PLUS 3 magazines and a molded belt holster, this is a good pistol package deal.
4. Bullet Central — Micron Dies In Stock
⏺ Superb quality dies can produce match-grade ammo
If you’re in the market for a new sizing die and want a premium die with superb tolerances and excellent internal finish, consider Micron Precision Series Sizer Dies. These are some of the straightest, best-crafted dies you can find. Each die blank is caliber-specific in length. JGS resize reamers are used to chamber the dies which are hand-polished and inspected before surface treatment. These Micron Sizers boast sub-0.0002″ runout from OD to bushing pocket and die chamber. All dies come with a bushing retainer cap for full neck sizing.
5. Precision Reloading — Hornady Auto Charge Pro, $299.99
⏺ Save over $70 on advanced powder scale/dispenser
A good electronic scale/dispenser is a vital tool for precision handloading. Right now you can get the high-tech Hornady Auto Charge Pro at significant savings. The Auto Charge Pro is precise to within +/- 0.1 grain, and offers customizable trickle speeds and custom time settings. This machine has its display screen on top so the unit takes up less space on your loading bench. This is an excellent deal — the Auto Charge Pro sells for up to $380 elsewhere (e.g. $373.99 at MidwayUSA).
6. Natchez — Frankford Quick-N-Easy Case Tumbler Kit, $79.99
⏺ We’ve used this Combo Kit for many seasons — very good value right now
Keeping your brass clean is important (and essential if you anneal). If you’re looking for a new, affordable setup to clean cartridge brass, consider the Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Case Tumbler Master Kit. You get everything needed to dry-tumble your brass and remove the media. This is all available now for a very low $79.99. You could pay that much for a good vibratory tumbler alone, yet this combo kit includes tumbler, media separator, bucket, brass polish, and media.
7. Amazon — Real Avid Torque Wrench, $70.79
⏺ Essential tool for mounting scope rings, rails, and accessories
Every serious gun owner should have a good tool to properly set torque values for scope mounts and other accessories. Here’s a good product at an attractive price. The Real Avid torque wrench kit includes a torque wrench, 12 common bits/drivers, a force lever, and a hard case. The adjustable torque wrench adjusts from 10-70 inch-pounds with precise one-lb increments. The special “force assist driver” increases torque power when needed to tighten screws and fasteners.
8. Amazon — Tipton Action Cleaning Kit, $11.99
⏺ Get inside of actions clean with inexpensive kit
Everyone knows to clean your barrel but do you know that cleaning your action and lug recesses is equally important? Pick up the Tipton Action Cleaning Kit and you’ll be able to get into every nook and cranny of your gun. With a rod that accepts standard 8/32 brushes and tips as well as a specially-designed lug recess tool that uses cotton rolls to get the gunk out of there you’ll be clean in no time.
9. Amazon — Caldwell Pivot Bipod, $38.39
⏺ Good basic bipod with legs that can swivel around center axis
For both prone shooting and bench work, a good bipod is a vital accessory. The Caldwell Pivot Bipod provides a stable shooting support that conveniently attaches via a sling swivel stud. The legs can spring out to the shooting position with the touch of a button, and height is easily adjusted via leg notches. The bipod is able to cant 18 degrees left or right around the center axis (essentially rotating left or right). This allows your firearm to be quickly leveled on uneven ground.
⏺ Quality name-brand shooting eyewear — buy multiples at this price
Every shooter needs eye protection EVERY TIME you go to the shooting range. Right now Midsouth has the good Radians clear lens Outback Shooting Glasses for just $5.88. These ANSI Z87.1 Radians Shooting Glasses provide 99.9% UVA/UVB protection with the coated lenses. These offer excellent wrap-around protection and are fairly light and comfortable. A handy neck cord is included. With this low $5.88 price, you can buy 3 or 4 sets and keep spares in your vehicles, so you always have protective eyewear for yourself and your friends.
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The .375 EnABELR cartridge was developed to offer magazine-feeding capabilities with the highest-BC solid bullets available. The .375 EnABELR cartridge is slightly shorter than a .375 CheyTac so it allows the round to mag-feed. Applied Ballistics is currently using brass made by Peterson. The .375 EnABELR has achieved impressive velocities — 2990 FPS — with prototype Berger 379-grain solid bullets fired from a 1:7″-twist 30″ barrel. Applied Ballistics may also test 1:8″-twist and 1:9″-twist barrels. READ Bullet Testing Report.
The .375 EnABELR cartridge was designed to offer .375 CheyTac performance in a slightly shorter package: “The problem with the .375 CheyTac is that, when loaded with the highest performance .375 caliber bullets (379-407 gr Berger Solids, and the 400-425 grain Cutting Edge Lazers) the round is not magazine feed-able in any action that’s sized for CheyTac cartridges.
Here is Mitchell Fitzpatrick, shooting the 375 EnABELR in an ELR Competition.
“Knowing the .375 CheyTac produced substantial performance, and that it was just too long for magazine feeding, made it easy to converge on a design for the .375 EnABELR. We just had to make the case short enough to achieve magazine length with the desired bullets, while adding a little more diameter to keep the case capacity similar to the .375 CheyTac. The resulting basic shape is quite similar in proportions to the successful .338 Norma Magnum Cartridge which, interestingly, was selected as the cartridge for General Dynamics Lightweight Medium Machine Gun (LWMMG).”
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Even with high-quality brass from Lapua, Peterson, Norma, Alpha and RWS, occasionally you may find one or two cases per box which have a small flake or obstruction in the flash-hole. This will appear like a thin crescent on one side of the flash hole (see photo). You should inspect ALL new brass before loading to identify any pieces with a partially-obstructed flash hole. It’s a good idea to remove any flake or thin crescent left as an artifact of the flash-hole forming process. Because the flash-hole itself is normally centered and of the correct diameter, it is not necessary to ream the flash-hole to a larger diameter. All you really need to do is remove the small obstruction(s). This can be done quickly with inexpensive tools.
Use a Small Pin Vise to Remove Flash-Hole Obstructions
Folks have asked if there is a tool that can remove obstructions from a Lapua small, BR-sized flash hole without opening the hole size. The Lapua PPC/BR flash hole is spec’d at 1.5mm, which works out to 0.059055″. Most of the PPC/BR flash-hole uniforming tools on the market use a 1/16″ bit which is nominally 0.0625″, but these often run oversize — up to 0.066″.
If you want to just clear out any obstructions in the flash hole, without increasing the flash hole diameter, you can use an inexpensive “pin vise” with an appropriate drill bit. For $0.99, eHobbyTools.com sells a 1.5mm drill bit, item 79186, that matches the Lapua flash hole exactly. Other vendors offer a #53 pin vise drill bit that measures .0595″ or .060″ (depending or source). An 0.0595″ bit is close enough. You can find pin vises and these small-diameter drill bits at hobby stores.
For quite some time, Sinclair Int’l has sold a similar device for small (PPC and BR-size) flash holes. Like the 07-3081 unit for large flash holes, the 073000 Reamer for small flash holes works from the outside, so it can index off the primer pocket. It reams to .0625″, and also costs $29.99. The standard dimension for Lapua 220 Russian and 6mmBR flash holes is 1.5mm or .0590″. This tool will permit standard-size decapping rods with .0625″ tips to work without binding. However, note that both Forster and Redding normally supply .057″ decapping pins with their PPC and BR dies. So, it is NOT necessary to ream your Lapua BR/PPC flashholes, unless you prefer to do so for uniformity. It IS, however, a good idea to check BR/PPC flash holes for burrs before loading the first time.
NOTE: If you purchase either the 073081 or 073000 Sinclair Flash Hole Reamer tools, we recommend you mic the cutter tip before you process a bunch of cases. Sometimes a tip comes through that is oversize. This will ream the flash holes larger than you may intend.
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The 6.5 Creedmoor is now one of the most popular cartridges chambered in factory rifles. It found favor among hunters and PRS competitors, but then its little brother the 6mm Creedmoor became widely adopted because the 6mm version delivered less recoil, equivalent or better ballistics, and lower bullet cost.
Now there’s a new Creedmoor kid on the block, the 22 Creedmoor. While this certainly can be used for PRS and tactical competition, the 22 Creedmoor seems to be ideally suited as a high velocity varmint round — something to replace the 22-250. You get 22-250 class velocities with a more modern cartridge design, and high-quality brass.
LEARN MORE about the 22 Creedmoor
There is an excellent write-up in the GunsAmerica Digest about the 22 Creedmoor cartridge. Reviewer Jeff Cramblit built a 22 Creedmoor rifle and tested it with a variety of bullet weights. He concluded it worked best as a varminter, but could also do PRS duty, provided it is loaded under the 3200 fps velocity limit common in PRS matches. CLICK HERE to read full GunsAmerica 22 Creedmoor test report.
Since there is not yet a SAAMI spec for the 22 Creedmoor, the cartridge is officially still a wildcat. However some ammo-makers are producing 22 Creedmoor loaded ammo right now: Copper Creek, Gunwerks, and Spark Munitions. We expect Hornady and possibly Federal might also produce loaded ammo in the near future. Currently Cooper Creek has the most 22 Creedmoor loaded ammo varieties, with 17 different bullet options from 60 grains to 95 grains. Copper Creek also offers load development packs with either Alpha or Hornady brass. Here are five Cooper Creek options with Sierra and Berger bullets:
In addition, multiple companies are now selling 22 Creedmoor cartridge brass: Alpha Munitions, Atlas ADG, Hornady, and Peterson Cartridge. The Peterson 22 Creedmoor brass is excellent.
Of course you can neck down high-quality Lapua 6mm Creedmoor brass. Lapua brass has outstanding consistency and durability. Choose from large primer or small primer types. Necking down is a simple one-step operation with a neck-sizing or full-length sizing die.
22 Creedmoor Brass from Peterson Cartridge
According to Derek Peterson, President of Peterson Cartridge, “We decided to build the tooling to make our .22 Creedmoor brass in response to the uptick in long-distance predator and varmint hunting. Plus the round is just straight-up fun to shoot. It is a low-recoil, flat shooting, wind-bucking round [that is] deadly accurate up to 800 yards.”
“When we designed the tooling for the .22 Creedmoor we set out to make casings with improved features”, Peterson added. “And we were successful. We increased the head hardness to tolerate higher pressures. And we increased our internal volume slightly to work better with the slow-burning powders [such as Reloder 26 or H1000].”
22 Creedmoor for Varmints — Video from the Varmint Fields of Eastern Oregon
Bullet Choices for 22 Creedmoor
If you have an appropriate twist-rate barrel, you can load the 22 Creedmoor with heavy 85-95 grain bullets. However, we think that the cartridge is better suited for lighter 65-80 grain bullets. This yields high velocities that provide explosive impacts on small varmints.
This GunsAmerica photo shows, L to R, 90gr Sierra MK, Hornady 88gr, 80gr, and 75gr .224 caliber bullets.
What is the Best Role for the 22 Creedmoor?
GunsAmerica tester Jeff Cramblit favors the 22 Creedmoor as a varmint round: “The performance of the 22 Creedmoor with 75-80 grain bullets makes it an outstanding varmint cartridge. I’ve seen claims of 80 grain Bergers at 3500 fps out of 26″ barrels, which would be devastating on any varmint. Loaded ammunition is available with bullets in the 70-75 range leaving 24” barrels at velocities around 3400+ fps, a bit more conservative than personal hand-loading, but still making it a very flat shooting, low recoiling round delivering impressive results.”
Jeff says the 22 Creedmoor will also work for PRS with heavier bullets: “I built the 22 CM to be a dual-purpose gun, or actually a 3-purpose gun. The first was for the coyotes and varmints previously mentioned. The second was for shooting PRS (Precision Rifle Series) style matches on occasion, and the third was for hunting deer-sized game. As with any multi-purpose tool there tends to be compromises.”
If you already have a 6mmBR rifle, and you want a higher velocity cartridge for varmint shooting, you may want to consider just necking down your brass. We’ve shot the 22 BR in the varmint fields and a steel match. This cartridge offers excellent accuracy, and is very flat shooting. We recommend getting a fairly fast-twist barrel so you can shoot the longer, high-BC bullets if you want to use your 22 BR in local matches. You’ll find that shorter 40gr to 66gr varmint bullets shoot great even in the faster-twist barrels.
