“On that day, let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting and enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.”
– 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Veterans Day proclamation.
108 Years Later…
On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month of 1918, bugle calls signaled the ‘cease fire’ ending the First World War. (The official Armistice was signed earlier that morning.) To those who endured it, WWI was the “Great War”, “the War to End All Wars.” Tragically, an even greater conflict consumed the world just two decades later.
Today, 108 years after the end of WWI, Americans mark the anniversary of the WWI Armistice as “Veterans Day”. In Canada it is known as Remembrance Day. On this solemn occasion we honor all those who have served in the military in times of war and peace. SEE History of Veterans Day.
While more armed forces veterans pass away each year, there are still 17.3 million veterans in the United States. Veterans (from all services) now represent 6.2% of America’s 18 and older civilian population. There are about 15.1 million male veterans and 2.2 million female veterans. The median age of veterans is approximately 62 to 63 years.
Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James Peake asked Americans to recognize the nation’s 17.3 million living veterans and the generations before them who fought to protect freedom and democracy: “While our foremost thoughts are with those in distant war zones today, Veterans Day is an opportunity for Americans to pay their respects to all who answered the nation’s call to military service.”
On Veterans Day we especially need to remember the seriously wounded combat veterans. These men and women summon great courage every day to overcome the lasting injuries they suffered in battle. Some of these soldiers have lost limbs, yet volunteered to return to combat duty. That is dedication beyond measure — true patriotism.
Take time today to honor those soldiers, sailors, and airmen who have served their nation with pride. And remember that… “All gave some, and some gave all.”
World War II Hero — Maj. Gen. John V. Meyer III and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax stand with former Master Sgt. Charles N. Shay in Saint-Laurent-Sur-Mer, France, June 5, 2023. The ceremony honored Shay and Native American soldiers who fought on D-Day. Photo by: Army Spc. Daniela Lechuga.
National Veterans Day Ceremony
The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations. The ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Major regional ceremonies and events are also held throughout the country.
On this 11th day of the 11th month, MidwayUSA is running a major Veterans Day Sale. Hundreds of high-quality products are on sale, with discounts up to 70%. Here are ten notable deals — good products at great prices. Mind you, this is just a small sample of the many Veterans Day discounts. Visit the MidwayUSA Sale Page to see dozens of other great deals. As an added incentive, MidwayUSA is offering FREE Shipping with purchases over $100.00.
Sebastian “Seb” Lambang, creator of the excellent and very popular SEB front rests and JoyPod-X Joystick-controlled bipods, has created a new product. The innovative “SEBcoil” is a recoil-reducing attachment attached to the rear of a rifle stock. Replacing a conventional buttpad, the SEBcoil has an energy absorbing system that reduces felt recoil significantly. Email Seb for ordering and pricing info. The first production run will be for fifty (50) sets only.
The SEBcoil is field adjustable, so it can attach/detach in seconds without any tools. SEBcoils will be available in Black and Polished finishes with combinations of Black, Red, Blue, Green, Orange, Gold, Purple, and Bronze. The SEBcoil metal blank (2″ x 6″, grind to fit) is 12.4 ounces before fitting. It would be about 10 ounces once finished. The SEBCoil silicon pad prototype in Black and Red (medium size 1.85″ x 5.15″x 1″ thick) is 3 ounces. Center to center between drill holes is standard 3-1/8″.
To learn more, visit Seb Lambang’s Facebook page or the SEBrests.com website. If you are interested in purchasing this new SEBcoil product, Seb says to contact him directly via email: “Yes, please use email for ordering and pricing info: sebastianlambang (at) yahoo (dot) com.”
It appears the SEBCoil recoil reduction system may reduce recoil significantly using multiple components. This will allow the SEBCoil to function much like the Ken Rucker “Bump-Buster” Hydraulic Recoil Reduction system.
Rather than absorbing energy through a simple spring or rubber pad alone, the Bump-Buster hydraulic buffer slows and spreads out the rearward movement of the gun over a fraction of a second. The Bump-Buster recoil reduction system was originally designed for shotguns and hard-hitting, big game rifles. But this hydraulic buffer has also been adapted to modern F-Open rigs.
Rimfire plinking with reactive targets is FUN and affordable. We always like to include REACTIVE TARGETS during a trip to the range with our .22s. Decent .22 LR rimfire ammo is not expensive, and a wide variety of affordable steel targets are available. Rimfire-class steel is much less costly than the heavy AR500 steel plates used for centerfire rounds. In fact, Birchwood Casey makes a wide variety of reactive steel rimfire targets that retail for under $60.00. These offer great “Bang for the Buck”.
A fast-cycling, semi-auto .22 LR rifle like the Savage A22 is great for shooting reactive targets.
GunsAmerica Digest has reviewed a variety of reactive rimfire target systems from Birchwood Casey. We recommend you read this detailed article Little Targets, Big Fun, by Jordan Michaels. He acquired four different steel target systems and tested them at his Texas range. Michales was impressed: “At $20-$50 a pop, Birchwood-Casey’s targets are small enough to be challenging and cheap enough to buy four or five for the price of one centerfire-rated target. They’re also light, portable, reactive, and easy to set up.”
Birchwood Casey Reactive Rimfire Steel Targets
Birchwood Casey Rimfire Steel Targets with current pricing at MidwayUSA
Check out how these Birchwood Casey steel targets perform. These animated GIFs show actual shooting sessions with .22 LR rifles and pistols. The targets hold up well, though the black paint comes off. The reviewer notes: “You shouldn’t worry about durability as long as you stick to .22 LR. I shot the heck out of these targets with rifles and handguns using both standard and high-velocity cartridges, and I didn’t notice any denting or cracking. If the targets are going to be kept outside, however, keep an eye out for rust – the black paint comes off immediately.”
Safety Considerations with Steel Reactive Targets
The tester said the targets worked best with a .22 LR ammo with at least 1000 fps MV at the targets. He tested with .22 LR pistols as close as 7 yards, and .22 LR rifles out to 100 yards. Be advised — when shooting steel targets at relatively close ranges ALWAYS wear full-coverage eye protection because ricochets and splash-backs are definite risks. Also comply with all range rules.
Coating bullets with a friction-reducing compound such as Molybdenum Disulfide (Moly) offers potential benefits, including reduced barrel heat, and being able to shoot longer strings of fire between bore cleanings. One of the effects of reduced friction can be the lessening of internal barrel pressures. This, in turn, means that coated bullets MAY run slower than naked bullets (with charges held equal).
To restore velocities, shooters running coated bullets are inclined to “bump up” the load — but you need to be cautious.
Be Careful When Increasing Loads for Coated Bullets
We caution shooters that when your start out with coated bullets in a “fresh barrel” you should NOT immediately raise the charge weight. It may take a couple dozen coated rounds before the anti-friction coating is distributed through the bore, and you really start to see the reduced pressures. Some guys will automatically add a grain or so to recommended “naked” bullet charge weights when they shoot coated bullets. That’s a risky undertaking.
We recommend that you use “naked” bullet loads for the first dozen coated rounds through a new barrel. Use a chronograph and monitor velocities. It may take up to 30 rounds before you see a reduction in velocity of 30-50 fps that indicates that your anti-friction coating is fully effective.
We have a friend who was recently testing moly-coated 6mm bullets in a 6-6.5×47. Moly had not been used in the barrel before. Our friend had added a grain to his “naked” bullet load, thinking that would compensate for the predicted lower pressures. What he found instead was that his loads were WAY too hot initially. It took 30+ moly-coated rounds through the bore before he saw his velocities drop — a sign that the pressure had lowered due to the moly. For the rounds fired before that point his pressures were too high, and he ended up tossing some expensive Lapua brass into the trash because the primer pockets had expanded excessively.
LESSON: Start low, even with coated bullets. Don’t increase your charge weights (over naked bullet loads) until you have clear evidence of lower pressure and reduced velocity.
Procedure After Barrel Cleaning
If you shoot Moly, and clean the barrel aggressively after a match, you may want to shoot a dozen coated “foulers” before starting your record string. Robert Whitley, who has used Moly in some of his rifles, tells us he liked to have 10-15 coated rounds through the bore before commencing record fire. In a “squeaky-clean” bore, you won’t get the full “benefits” of moly immediately.
To learn more about the properties of dry lubricants for bullets, read our Guide to Coating Bullets. This covers the three most popular bullet coatings: Molybdenum Disulfide (Moly), Tungsten Disulfide (WS2 or ‘Danzac’), and Hexagonal Boron Nitride (HBN). The article discusses the pros and cons of the different bullet coatings and offers step-by-step, illustrated instructions on how to coat your bullets using a tumbler.
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.
Brownells — Veteran’s Day Huge Sale 17.76% OFF
⏺️ » 17.76% discount on gun components, optics, ammo, reloading gear
Definitely check out the big Veteran’s Day Sale at Brownells. You’ll find great deals on optics, gun components, barrels, reloading presses, ammo and more. NOTE: Apply Code HONOR1776 for 17.76% savings for eligible regular-priced items. And if you need a chrono, the Athlon RangeCraft Electronic Chronograph is just $328.96 with Code HONOR1776. The deals featured above are good through 11:59 pm on November 12.
KYGUNCO — Major Fall Discount Programs
⏺️ » Good deals on rifles, pistols, optics, and ammunition
KYGUNCO is already running a November Sale in advance of Black Friday. And along with the Black November Sale, there are other many other ongoing sales at KYGUNCO. We noted major deals on ammunition, and there are some big discounts on handguns and hunting rifles. If you’re looking for a nice camo-finish hunting rifle, the Savage Axis 2 Pro is a very good deal at $491.60, a 15% savings.
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Do you know how gun primers are made — how the explosive elements are applied into those tiny cups? Find out by watching this video filmed at a Federal ammunition factory. It starts out with empty primer cups loaded, 1000 at a time, into trays using vibration (0:05 time-mark). While much of the process is automated, there is still a significant role played by production workers who apply a green, paste-like charging compound to the inside of hundreds of primer cups.
At the 0:17-second time-mark you can see the factory worker “charging” the primers with the priming compound. After the cups are filled, then the plate of cups “mates up with a plate of anvils” (0:40 time-mark). Then the primers are unloaded from trays and inspected.
Primer “Mysteries and Misconceptions” Article
There is an excellent article about primers on the Shooting Times website. This authoritative Shooting Times article explains the fine points of primer design and construction. The author reveals some little-known facts about primers and corrects common misconceptions. Here are some highlights:
Size Matters
Useful Trivia — even though Small Rifle and Small Pistol primer pockets share the same depth specification, Large Rifle and Large Pistol primers do not. The standard pocket for a Large Pistol primer is somewhat shallower than its Large Rifle counterpart, specifically, 0.008 to 0.009 inch less.
Magnum Primers
There are two ways to make a Magnum primer — either use more of the standard chemical mix to provide a longer-burning flame or change the mix to one with more aggressive burn characteristics. Prior to 1989, CCI used the first option in Magnum Rifle primers. After that, we switched to a mix optimized for spherical propellants that produced a 24% increase in flame temperature and a 16% boost in gas volume.
Foiled Again
Most component primers have a little disk of paper between the anvil and the priming mix. It is called “foil paper” not because it’s made of foil but because it replaces the true metal foil used to seal early percussion caps. The reason this little disk exists is strictly a manufacturing convenience. Wet primer pellets are smaller than the inside diameter of the cup when inserted and must be compacted to achieve their proper diameter and height. Without the foil paper, the wet mix would stick to the compaction pins and jam up the assembly process.
.17 HMR and .22 WMR Options Enhance Ruger Precision Rimfire for Varmint Work
Many readers may not know this, but the Ruger Precision Rimfire rifle is available in three rimfire chamberings: .22 LR, .17 HMR, and .22 WMR. While .22 LR ammo is considerably cheaper, .17 HMR and .22 WMR shoot flatter and deliver MUCH more energy. These .17 HMR and .22 WMR chamberings are way more suitable for varminting. In fact we think this .17 HMR transforms the Ruger Precision Rimfire into a very good “carry-around” varmint rifle. We really like the .17 HMR — it’s our favorite rimfire cartridge for small varmints out to 160 yards.
Both cartridge types, .17 HMR and .22 WMR, also offer higher velocities, less wind drift, and flatter trajectory than the .22 LR. This is a benefit when cross-training. You can shoot at more distant targets with considerably less elevation dialed in your scope. And the windage corrections will be less extreme.
Ruger says: “Faster, flatter and with high-performing bullets, .17 HMR and .22 WMR cartridges expand the capabilities of the Ruger Precision Rimfire platform. Like its .22 LR predecessor, these new magnum offerings maintain the same ergonomics, trigger and manual of arms as the larger centerfire Ruger Precision Rifle.”
Here’s an excellent video review of the .17 HMR Ruger Precision Rimfire rifle by YouTuber 22 Plinkster. The reviewer was impressed with the rifle’s accuracy with 17gr ammo.
Both Ruger Precision Rimfire rifles feature 18″ hammer-forged barrels threaded for muzzle devices, including the Ruger® Silent-SR®. The 15″ free-float handguard with Magpul M-LOK slots provides generous scope clearance and easy mounting of M-LOK-compatible rails and accessories.
Like its .22 LR version, the magnum Ruger Precision Rimfire models featured an adjustable bolt throw (that can emulate a centerfire action if desired), along with trigger that adjusts from 2.25 to 5 pounds. The .17 HMR and .22 WMR models ship with a 0 MOA Picatinny rail and one, 15-round BX-15 Magnum magazine or one, 9-round JMX-1 rotary magazine. The BX-15 Magnum mag works very well with the .17 HMR and .22 WMR chamberings.
The standard finish for the .17 HMR and .22 WMR Ruger Precision Rimfire rifles is Black hard-coat anodized. But there is also a Burnt Bronze Cerakote Special Edition available through Iron Valley Distributor.
Rain-Soaked Week at the 2026 NRA F-Class National Championships at Ben Avery
A Week Shaped by WeatherReport by John Masek
I came away from the 2026 F-Class Nationals at Ben Avery in Phoenix, Arizona feeling that the weather had shaped the week as much as the competition. Held from October 25 through November 1, 2026, the championships brought together F-Open and F-TR shooters for Mid-Range and Long Range matches with nearly 300 competitors in attendance.
Difficult Calls, Safety First
The Mid-Range matches opened in beautiful conditions, with mild but challenging winds. By the long-range portion, however, the weather had deteriorated. Match directors had to balance keeping the championship on schedule with the risks of flash flooding and lightning, while following Ben Avery’s inclement-weather safety rules. Another consideration not apparent to most of the shooters was the condition of the pits where excessive rain created flooded pools and treacherous-to-drive water-soaked sand. That made access for the staff and competitors very difficult. As the week progressed, worsening weather forced changes to the match schedule and challenged shooters to adapt and stay flexible.
Here is a modern F-Open rifle, similar to the rifles used by top F-Open competitors.
From my perspective, the Match Directors made the best decisions they could with the conditions in front of them, putting shooter safety first — even when those decisions were unpopular. That is never an easy balance at a National Championship, where delays disrupt a tightly planned program and affect competitors who have traveled a long way to take part. Despite the challenges, match officials were able to ensure that all scheduled shooting for the week took place minus just one long range match. The is a very good result all things considered.
Standout Performances
Despite the difficult week, the winning scores were impressive:
▶ Long Range F-TR Champion: Keith Trapp, 1383-62X
▶ Long Range F-Open Champion: John Girgis, 1400-87X
Long Range F-TR Winning Team: Team Vortex 1578-71X
Long Range F-Open Winning Team: Bayou Chingones 1594-97X
2026 F-Class Nationals Long Range F-Open Champion John R. Girgis. John won with a score of 1400-87X, with every shot scoring ten points, not dropping a single point! His 87 X-count was also very impressive.
Notably, Long Range F-Open Champion John Girgis scored 1400-87X — a perfect score. That is truly remarkable given the conditions. I don’t believe we’ve seen that before in the Long Range match and it is pretty remarkable. John also finished second in the 600-yard Mid-Range match, just two points behind the winner. His results stood out in a championship that demanded both precision and adaptability in a sea of potential winning performances.
2026 F-Class Nationals Long Range F-Open Champion Keith Trap. Keith, a past champion, won the F-TR division with a strong consistent performance. Keith also was the coach for Team Vortex, winner of the Long-Range F-TR team competition.
The fierce competition, unpredictable weather, and remarkable scores made this one of the most memorable national matches I’ve ever attended and leaves me already excited to attend next year.
Along with the clouds and moisture, there were some challenging wind conditions at times during the 2026 matches but nothing overly crazy. There were some moderate to strong winds this year, but the winds were generally consistent and not that unpredictable. Here is a video taken at Ben Avery at the 2022 NRA F-Class National Championships. In this video, shooters fight through extremely strong 18-30 mph winds at 600 yards. In these kind of extreme conditions, a major unexpected gust can send your bullet off-target.
F-TR rifle from previous competition at Ben Avery range. F-TR (F-Class Target Rifle) rules allow bipods and rear sandbags. The total weight limit (with bipod and scope) is 18.18 pounds (8.25 kg). In NRA F-TR competition, rifles are strictly limited to two cartridge types: .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm NATO and .223 Remington/5.56x45mm NATO.
Here’s a shot from Ben Avery when the sun is shining…
When shooting any match that requires moving back and forth between multiple target distances it is very handy to have your ballistics data, i.e. your “come-ups”, placed within easy view. That way you can instantly see your elevation for various target distances in seconds. This can really help a PRS/NRL competitor on timed stages. And having a convenient “Dope” display of elevation at various distances can also benefit varminters who are shooting critters. In our varmint hunters we targeted p-dogs from about 80 yards out to 500+.
PRC DOPE Roller QD Ballistic Data Turret
The PRC DOPE Roller QD Ballistic Data Turret provides a handy, low profile display of windage and elevation data. You can see your “dope” without breaking position from behind the rifle. Then simply rotate the knob to display data from various distances. The ballistic data is placed by wrapping a simple 1″ x 3″ adhesive address label around the outside surface of the DOPE Roller. This handy quick-detach roller retails for $64.95 from Precision Rifle Components.
MDT M-LOK Data Card Holder
The MDT M-LOK Data Card Holder has an adjustable neck allowing you to easily position your ballistics data for optimal viewing. Data entries are written on on a reusable card that attaches with Velcro. The Data Card Holder Kit comes with hardware to mount to any M-Lok rail. In addition the card holder fits directly to an MDT ACC chassis attachment point. This MDT kit includes: M-LOK Data Card Holder, Wet Erase Data Card, Wet Erase Marker, and installation hardware. NOTE: The Card Holder sticks out about 6.7″ when fully extended, but arm links can be removed to make the arm shorter. The unit folds flat for storage. This complete kit is $59.95 at Creedmoor Sports.
Warne Universal Data Card Holder
The Warne Universal Data Card Holder easily attaches to the scope tube, in left or right configurations, for a universal fit. Data is displayed in a convenient location to make quick and accurate target transitions, and the articulating arm allows for low profile storage while not in use. The Warne Universal Data Card Holder retails for $88.49 at Warnescopemounts.com. Three ring sizes are offered: 30mm, 34mm, 35mm. A 50-pack of Warne Data Card label refills is currently $16.99 from Warne.
Scope-Cover Mounted Ballistics Table
Another option is to place your ballistics card on the back of the front flip-up scope cover. This set-up is used by Forum member Greg C. (aka “Rem40X”).
With your ‘come-up’ table on the flip-up cover you can check your windage and elevation drops easily without having to move out of shooting position.
Greg tells us: “Placing my trajectory table on the front scope cover has worked well for me for a couple of years and thought I’d share. It’s in plain view and not under my armpit. And the table is far enough away that my aging eyes can read it easily. To apply, just use clear tape on the front objective cover.”
Cheap But Effective — Tape on the Stock with Ballistics Data
At the 2021 Nightforce ELR Steel Challenge, Applied Ballistics guru Bryan Litz wrote his come-ups on blue masking tape applied to his stock. He did this based on a tip from Chase Stroud. With the tape applied behind the action, the numbers are easily visible. This “cheap trick” does work apparently — Bryan won the match with a convincing victory over 220 other shooters. READ Match Report.
Cheap But NOT So Effective — Numbers on Hand
Many of us have scribbled some come-ups on the back of a hand or on our forearm using a marking pen. That can work if you only have a couple distances to deal with — say 100 and 300 yards. But if you want a more complete Come-up table, get one of the card-holders shown above. Writing numbers on the skin is generally not such a good idea….
It appears the SEBCoil recoil reduction system may reduce recoil significantly using multiple components. This will allow the SEBCoil to function much like the 
.17 HMR and .22 WMR Options Enhance
Scope-Cover Mounted Ballistics Table
