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September 24th, 2007
Richard Franklin (Richard’s Custom Rifles) has pioneered the use of lightweight (110-130 grain) 30-caliber bullets in a new generation of hyper-velocity varmint rifles. Richard’s new trademark cartridge is the “300 Varminter”. Using 30″ barrels with the 300 WSM case, Richard’s “maxi” varminter delivers incredible levels of energy at both short and long range. Traveling at 4000+ FPS, the lightweight, plastic-tipped bullets literally explode when they hit. This can lift a groundhog up to 10 feet in the air–and Richard has VIDEO to prove it.
Richard tells us that demand is high for the 300 Varminter: “I have built 25 of these rifles just this year, and orders are increasing. I’m building them for coyote hunters out west, and well as Eastern groundhog shooters.” Richard adds: “This cartridge is fast AND accurate. My 300 Varminter is now my favorite rifle, and it may be the most accurate long-range varmint rifle I own. Accuracy is really outstanding–I’ve shot groups under 1.5″ at 500 yards with this. And the effect of these bullets at 500+ yards on a ‘Hog has to be seen to be believed.” Richard uses VV 550 and Norma 300 WSM brass: “Norma is the only way to go–the Win and Rem brass is nowhere near as good”.
Richard explains: “The 300 Varminter is built around the 300 WSM case. In good custom actions such as the BAT or Nesika this round will deliver 4000+ FPS with the 125gr Nosler Ballistic tips and a bit more with the 110gr Hornady V-Max. Remington-action rifles will handle velocities up to around 3800 to 3900 FPS with these bullets. We use Norma brass in a tight-neck chamber with zero freebore and slow-twist 30″ barrels to obtain these velocities. Accuracy is excellent with either of these bullets. If you want air time and red mist on large varmints then this is the caliber for you.”
Above is Richard’s personal “300 Varminter” in its distinctive South American Bloodwood stock. That is the true color of the wood–not a stain. Note the deeply recessed crown. Richard says this helps keep noise and blast away from the shooter. Richard’s “Big Red” features a BAT Machine 1.600″ diameter ‘B’ action, Bat 20 MOA rail, Burris Signature Zee rings, Jewel 1.5 oz. trigger, and a Bartlein 1.250″ X 30″, 1:15″ twist barrel. Total weight is 24 lbs. which includes about 4 lbs of lead added to the buttstock. Richard tells us “The Bartleins have been outstanding, with consistent quality and accuracy I can count on.” Richard uses a Nightforce NSX 8-32 X scope with MLR reticle.
How good can one of Richard’s 300 WSM Varminters shoot? Below is a 100-yard target. The fouling shot went a little low, but then the next six (6) shots went into 0.162″. That is amazing for factory varmint bullets. CLICK HERE to view a video of what the 300 Varminter will do (warning–very LOUD and GRAPHIC–turn down your audio before playback).
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September 24th, 2007
 U.S. air carrier American Airlines has announced a change to its official policies. Starting today, September 24, 2007, American Airlines will forbid the carrying of any firearms as checked baggage on flights to or from Europe or Asia. The airline’s notice states: “Effective with tickets purchased on/after September 24, 2007, American Airlines will no longer accept firearms in checked baggage to/from any European or Asian destination (except for military/government personnel with proper documentation).” This applies to target rifles and pistols as well as hunting guns. It is unclear whether American Airlines will apply this policy to the Indian subcontinent, Australia, and New Zealand.
Those of you planning to travel to Europe or Asia for competitive or hunting purposes should take note of this new rule. Thankfully, there are other carriers, both domestic and foreign, which still allow rifles to be shipped in locked hard cases as checked baggage. Check with each carrier to determine their particular policies, and you should, of course, also check to ensure you comply with all laws of both your home country and the nation to which you are traveling.
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September 23rd, 2007
By uniforming meplats, shooters can reduce variances in the Ballistic Coefficients of a set of bullets. Many top shooters, such as David Tubb, feel that meplat trimming can also reduce group size. Danny Reever has tested and reviewed the Meplat Trimmer from Montour County Rifles. Danny reports this $75.00 tool is well-crafted, easy to use, and it offers some advantages over other meplat trimmers on the market. Starting with a lot of bullets that varied in length up to .008″, Danny was able to bring them all within .003″ using the Montour Trimmer. CLICK HERE for Danny’s full report.
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September 23rd, 2007
 A quality borescope is a pricey tool, but once you have the opportunity to use one, it is hard to imagine how you ever did without it. Rifle Shooter magazine has an excellent article about using a Gradient Lens Corp. HawkEye BoreScope. In this feature, What the Eye Can See, writer Terry Wieland explains how to inspect for defects in new barrels, how to recognize different kinds of fouling (in both barrels and brass), and how to spot throat erosion in its early stages. The current generation of HawkEyes can be attached to a still or video camera to record digital images of your bore. The most interesting part of the article is on the second page. There, author Wieland provides photos of various types of internal flaws that can appear in barrels. This will help you spot pitting, excessive land wear, rust damage, and damage from corrosive primers.
Wieland also explains that BoreScopes aren’t just for barrels: “The borescope has other uses as well. It can be used to examine the interior of a cartridge case to look for the beginnings of a case separation or to examine the interior of a loading die that is giving you trouble. When you consider the number of tubular objects that play such an important role in rifle shooting, it is a wonder we were ever able to function without such a method of studying bores.”
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September 22nd, 2007
The 300m Lapua European Cup Final 2007 is now underway at the Orbühl range in Winterthur, Switzerland. Shooters from throughout Europe will be competing. Men will shoot both the target (free) rifle and standard rifle in 3-position and prone events, while women will compete with target rifles only in both prone and 3-position events. There will also be a “SuperFINAL” event with money prizes. There will be a total of 12,000 Euros up for grabs at the event. CLICK HERE to download event brochure and map.
Most shooters will be using 6mmBR factory ammo, but many of the Scandinavians will shoot Norma 6XC factory loads, and some of the Swiss shooters will use RUAG 6×47. As with most high-level 300m events in Europe, electronic scoring will be used. The scoring system employs acoustic targets from the Swiss Sius-Ascor firm that output shot placement (and score) directly to target monitors at each shooting position.
Photos used here are from the 300m Europa Cup Championships held earlier this year in Plzen, Czech Republic.
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September 22nd, 2007
This weekend, it officially becomes fall. With the changing of the seasons, now, more than ever, it’s important to protect your firearms from rust and corrosion. For guns stored in a safe or enclosed locker, a GoldenRod unit is a must-have accessory. The GoldenRod, marketed as a dehumidifier, is a small, low-wattage electric heating element you place in the safe. Running 24/7 at 140° F, the GoldenRod warms the air in your safe. This changes relative humidity and raises the dew point in the safe so water vapor does not condense on your arms and valuable accessories. When combined with Desiccant packs that absorb moisture, the GoldenRod is extremely effective at keeping your guns rust-free during long-term storage. We do recommend wiping down your guns with Boeshield, Eezox, or Corrosion-X before putting them in storage. These are three of the best corrosion-inhibiting metal coatings you can buy.
Now through September 30, 2007, MidwayUSA offers the 18″ GoldenRod heating unit (item 614184) for just $16.99, marked down from $19.99. This is rated for up to 200 cubic feet safe. All GoldenRods come with a detachable plugs for easy installation.
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September 21st, 2007
 They don’t call Jerry Miculek a “living legend” for nothing. Competing at the United States Practical Shooting Assn. (USPSA) Nationals held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, earlier this month, Miculek captured his Fifth National Revolver Championship. Jerry also holds numerous wheelgun speed-shooting records. This year’s USPSA match featured 18 stages of fire, with a variety of steel and paper targets. Miculek, competing with a Smith & Wesson Performance Center Model 627 8-shot revolver, faced tough competition throughout the 3-day match.
“This year’s match had a little bit of everything,” said Jerry, “The courses of fire were some of the toughest I have ever seen and the changing weather conditions were a constant factor throughout the match. I am very pleased…when you consider the talented field of competitors. The USPSA staff did an outstanding job of setting up the courses of fire that were both fair and well balanced.”
CLICK HERE for a Video (hosted on YouTube), showing Jerry’s blazing speed. In the video, filmed a couple years ago, Jerry puts 8 rounds on 4 targets in 1.06 seconds. Then he does 6 shots, a reload and 6 more shots in 2.99 seconds. If you haven’t seen Miculek on camera before, we guarantee you’ll be amazed.
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September 21st, 2007
Hodgdon powder has recently updated its interactive Reloading Data Center to include load information for the new 17 Remington Fireball. Introduced earlier this year, the 17 Fireball is based on a .221 Fireball necked down to 17 caliber. It is similar to the 17 Mach IV wildcat, but case dimensions aren’t identical. Kurt Nelson of Redding Reloading explains: “Headspace and the shoulder/neck geometry are different–plus there are variations of the 17 Mach 4 out there.” Hodgdon’s Data Center provides loads for 20-35 grain varmint bullets, with velocities up to 3758 fps. Powders include Benchmark, H332, H335, H4198, and IMR 4198.
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September 20th, 2007
For better accuracy and more consistent tracking, it is important to match your rear sand bag to the profile of your stock. Some stocks are curved on the bottom of the buttstock (also called the “toe”), while others have a flat, ranging from 3/8″ wide to as much as 3″. Additionally, the amount of down-angle or “drop” in a stock can vary considerably. Traditional hunting stocks have a lot of drop, whereas a 1000-yd BR stock may have “zero drop” — meaning they are completely straight from the bottom of the grip to the buttplate.
Stocks with a flat on the bottom rear normally work best in a sandbag that has a slot between the ears. (See photos below, courtesy Forum member Rayjay.) NOTE: Ideally, you do not want the flat resting directly on the stitching–it’s better to have the bottom of the stock contacting the sides of the ears a little bit above the center seam (Read comments). But you still need spacing between the ears to get the right fit–it should not be so tight as to pinch or “grab” the stock unevenly as seen in the second photo. With a more conventional round-bottomed stock, with a radiused toe, you’ll probably get best results from a bag with taller ears, and you should experiment with spacing.
Recently, Forum member Jon complained that his rifle was not tracking well, and needed to be re-positioned after every shot. Jon’s rifle has an HS Precision stock with a radius and quite a bit of drop. He was having the problem because he was using a bag with ears that were too short. See below.
Jon will have better results with a bag with taller ears and more spacing. Rayjay explains why Jon’s rifle wasn’t tracking well: “Everytime you fire the rifle the sand in the ears gets displaced. Then when you slide the rifle forward and work the bolt, etc., the sand moves around some more. Then on the next shot it displaces again… it is not consistent shot to shot.”
Jon also had a sling swivel stud on the rear underside of his stock. Swivel studs, both front and rear, can hang up on sandbags, causing a variety of problems. Ideally, when shooting with sandbags, remove the swivel studs. If that’s not possible, at least adjust your fore-end so the front swivel stud will NOT contact the front bag at all, and adjust the rear bag so that the swivel stud is not dragging between the ears.
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September 20th, 2007
Bottom Line: The declining U.S. Dollar will help American action, stock, and barrel-makers export more products. However, key imported components, such as Lapua and Norma brass, will become more expensive in the months ahead.
 Today, the Canadian dollar (known as the “Loonie”) reached virtual 1:1 parity with the U.S. Dollar. This will mark the first time since 1976 that Canadian currency has traded on equal terms with the American Greenback. As of today, one Canadian dollar was worth 0.9985 U.S. Dollars. The steady rise in crude oil prices, combined with the Fed’s recent interest rate cut, contributed to the slump of the U.S. Dollar.
Meanwhile the U.S. Dollar slipped to a record low against the Euro. One Euro now buys 1.4073 U.S. Dollars. The Euro, since it was first adopted, has gained over 50% in value against the U.S. Dollar.
The implication for the shooting sports is both positive and negative. First, U.S.-made goods, such as stocks, actions, and barrels, will be cheaper for Canadians and Europeans to buy. That should be a plus for companies like Krieger (barrels) and BAT Machine (actions). The folks at Kelbly’s and Sinclair Int’l have told us that their export sales have increased dramatically over the last three years, due in large part to the stronger Euro making American goods more of a bargain.
For American shooters, the negative aspect of the sinking U.S. Dollar is that the imported products we love, including Lapua and Norma brass, Zeiss Optics, and Robertson Composites stocks, will probably go up in price in the months ahead. So, if you are thinking of laying in a supply of Lapua brass, now is the time to buy. Experts predict that that U.S. Dollar will continue its slide against the Euro for the next 2-3 years.
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September 19th, 2007
 In the 100/200 Benchrest game, perhaps the most prestigious distinction a shooter can earn is entry into the Benchrest Hall of Fame. Now that concept has been extended to all bench disciplines and distances. The NBRSA has announced a new program — the NBRSA ‘Hall of Masters’. It will recognize all NBRSA National and Regional shoots including 100, 200, 300, 600, 1000-yard, Hunter Class and any new disciplines that are added. The program embraces Europe and any venue, worldwide, where NBRSA events are held.
‘Hall of Masters’ point accumulation will include NBRSA match performances from the past. The program will retroactive as far back as the NBRSA can obtain valid match reports. In other words, if you won an NBRSA match last year, or even ten years ago, you’ve earned ‘Hall of Masters’ points already. The point system will be similar to the existing short-range Hall of Fame except all yardages and aggregates at NBRSA nationals will be counted. You can also accumulate a maximum of three (3) points at any Regional match. Only NBRSA points will be used. (By contrast, both IBS AND NBRSA Nat’l Comp points count for the 100/200 BR Hall of Fame.)
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September 19th, 2007
Ever wanted to hunt Red Deer in New Zealand, Gemsbuck in Africa, or Dall Sheep in Alaska? Well here’s your chance to win the “hunt of a lifetime”. Go to Weatherby’s “Dream Hunt” website, WeatherbyDreamHunt.com, and describe your ultimate hunting trip. Be sure to include the species you would hunt, who you hunt with, where the hunt would be, and why it’s your dream hunt. Bird hunting, big game hunting, varmint hunting—whatever stuff your dreams are made of is good stuff for this contest.
The grand-prize winner will receive the hunt described in his or her entry as well as a Weatherby Mark V® Accumark® or Ultra Lightweight rifle in the caliber of choice, a soft side case, riflescope with mounts and a hunting journal. Runner-up prizes include:
· First Prize: Mark V Accumark or Ultra Lightweight
· Second Prizes: (3) Orion® D’Italia II Over/Under Shotguns
· Third Prizes: (5) Mark XXII® Rifles
· Fourth Prizes: (7) Vanguard® Deluxe or SUB-MOA Rifles
· Fifth Prizes: (10) Weatherby Soft Side Gun Cases
· Sixth Prizes: (100) Hunting Journals with Weatherby Logo
To be eligible, you must be at least 21 years of age and a legal resident of the United States. The contest begins September 15 and ends December 31, 2007.
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