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November 12th, 2007
We’ve looked through many different types of spotting scopes. Initially we thought angled was the only way to go. This lets a shooter mount the spotting scope at his side and easily glance through the lens with the scope body rotated 90°. However, at matches where you spot for a partner, the straight scopes seem to work better. You don’t have to bend your neck down or remove your hat and your “free” eye can scan downrange for wind changes. When spotting for your partner (while seated or standing), a tripod-mounted straight scope was definitely the most “user-friendly” set-up.
Straight (in-line) Spotting Scope
Danny Reever, author of our Spotting Scope Review, tell us: “Straight vs. angled? Man, that’s a tough call! Having used both personally for over a year I’d have to say this: I feel the straight gives you a clearer, sharper image. One less mirror to contend with. If you have a dealer that can give you a side-by-side look at a couple of hundred yards the difference is apparent. That’s one reason Chip Allen chose the straight Zeiss over the angled. On the other hand the angled gives you more options in the way of setup which can be a bonus between cramped benches, when you’re spotting for yourself. I don’t shoot prone, but I think the angled would be the way to go for a solo prone shooter, again more setup options. Another benefit of the angled is that you can keep the tripod lower, a plus on a windy day. The 100MM scopes like the Pentax and Optolyth do not offer an angled body option–maybe there are some engineering issues, or perhaps that’s just to control costs.”
Angled Spotting Scope
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November 11th, 2007
This falls in the “industry rumor” category, but we have it on good authority that Alliant Powder plans to introduce a new powder in the Reloader Series early next year, Reloder 17. That’s right, Seventeen. This powder should work well with many of the high-accuracy cartridges used in competition.
 As expected from its product title, the new propellant will be a mid-range, high-energy powder that is a bit slower than Varget or Reloder 15, but slightly faster than H4350 or Reloder 19. The new Reloder 17 could be ideal for the new mid-size match cartridges such as the 6-6.5×47, 6XC, 6.5×47, and 6.5 Creedmoor. (FYI, Hornady plans to load the 6.5 Creedmoor with H4350.) We expect the new powder to be a double-base formulation for high velocities.
Reloader 15 is currently very, very similar to Norma 203B, produced by Dynamit Nobel in Europe. If Alliant is getting the new Reloder 17 from the same source, we predict RL17 may be similar to the new Norma URP (Universal Rifle Powder) released earlier this year in the USA. We have tested URP in a 6-6.5×47, and it is indeed slightly faster than Reloder 19, performing similarly to fast lots of H4350. Price at $19.00 per pound, Norma URP can be ordered through Powder Valley, (800) 227-4299.
Illustration is an “artist’s concept”. Actual packaging may differ.
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November 11th, 2007
This Sunday, Veterans Day, we honor the veterans, living and dead, who have given so much to protect our country. Formerly known as Armistice Day, Veterans Day (November 11) is celibrated on the same day as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world. (On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, World War I formally came to an end with the German signing of the Armistice.) This is a day we honor all those who have served in the military, from 1776 to the present, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.
“They fought together as brothers-in-arms
They died together and now they sleep side by side
To them we have a solemn obligation.”
— Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
Joseph Ambrose, a World War I veteran, attends the dedication day parade for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1982, holding the flag that covered the casket of his son, who had been killed in the Korean War. Ambrose, now deceased, was 86 years old in 1982 when this photo was taken. There are now just three surviving American WWI Veterans. Related STORY.
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November 11th, 2007
The Ace Skeleton stock for AR15s is a quality product that is popular with 3-Gun and USPSA competitors. MidwayUSA has the stock on sale for $69.99 now through the end of November. That’s a $15.00 savings off normal pricing. The sturdy, light-weight ACE stock offers three (3) sling positions: right and left behind the receiver and at the toe of the butt. The closed-cell foam overtube provides a comfortable cheek weld and insulates the shooter’s face from temperature extremes. Midway purchaser J. McDaniel reports: “Excellent product–the foam tube gives a comfy cheek weld and the multiple sling stud attachment points come in handy when using a 3-point sling. The foam doesn’t hold up very well to rough handling, but replacements are very inexpensive.”
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November 10th, 2007
While devotees of this site are hard-core accuracy addicts, who normally shoot tiny groups with sophisticated Benchrest and Varmint rifles, we should not overlook the pure fun of shooting a simple rifle at reactive targets.
Nailing a nice, tight 1/4-moa group is very satisfying. But for pure unadulterated shooting fun, it’s hard to beat a slicked-up “race-ready”, Winchester-clone lever gun. In fact, this editor’s favorite rifle for “fun shooting” is my 20″ Uberti Model 1866 “Yellowboy” Lever gun. Shooting light-loaded 38 SPL rounds at steel targets from a standing position offers old-fashioned shooting satisfaction. On the “fun meter” this tops the scale. My rifle features a slicked-up action and lightened trigger. After a “CodyMatic” action job by cowboy gunsmith Cody Conagher, my Yellowboy’s lever can be cycled with just one finger. Trigger pull is about a pound and a quarter. The high-gloss, blued octagonal barrel is very accurate and the mirror-finish bore cleans up easily.
Based on the Model 1866 Winchester, Uberti’s Yellowboy, and its Model 1873 “older brother”, feature a toggle-link action that is extremely smooth. The toggle action design also keeps the linkages separate from the chamber so the gun runs extremely clean. After firing a hundred rounds or more, all you need to do is wipe off the bolt and breech-face with some solvent and run a bore-snake down the bore a few times. To be honest, the Yellowboy is more fun to shoot at steel than my AR Carbine. And maintenance-wise, for every minute I spend maintaining the 1866, I’ll spend an hour detail-stripping and cleaning the AR. The shooting to cleaning ratio favors the lever gun by orders of magnitude.
These Italian-made Winchester clones are very handsome, with nicely figured wood under a durable clearcoat. You can polish the brass receiver to keep it shiny, or leave it alone to develop an authentic, dulled patina. Uberti’s Model 1873 features a steel receiver with gorgeous color case-hardening.
After the fun factor, what’s the nicest quality of Uberti lever guns? Resale value. I can sell my 1866 for quite a bit more than I paid for it. With the steady decline of the U.S. Dollar compared to the Euro, the price of Italian-made Uberti lever guns has been steadily rising. This means that older rifles fetch a premium on the used market.
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November 10th, 2007
Among injection-molded rifle cases, Plano’s AirGlide™ case is unique in holding a rifle vertically, in foam cradles. This allows ample room for the 3″-wide fore-ends on BR and Varmint rifles. The foam blocks front and rear can even be trimmed for a custom fit, and velcro webbing straps hold the rifle securely. The AirGlide’s hinged top-opening lid provides ample clearance for large target scopes, with no side load on the turrets. (We’ve found that some eggcrate foam-lined gun cases can put enough pressure on scope knobs to alter your zero.) Measuring 51 1/2″L x 7 3/4″W x 12 1/4″H, the AirGlide can easily handle rifles up to 50″ in length. That should hold BR rifles with barrels up to 29″.
Priced attractively, ($29.97 at Sportsman’ Guide), the AirGlide has proven very popular with Varmint shooters and BR competitors. We’re told that, at last year’s West Pennsylvania Groundhog Shooting Championships, 1/3 of the competitors stowed their rifles in Plano AirGlides. Lockable and airline-approved, the Plano AirGlide offers excellent performance for the price.
CLICK HERE for a window with Zoomable Air-Glide Photo.
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November 9th, 2007
Timney Triggers now offers a true drop-in trigger for the AR10 rifle platform, similar to Timney’s successful drop-in trigger for the AR15. The new AR-10 trigger is a self-contained, 100% drop-in unit that can be easily owner-installed (no professional gunsmithing required). The new trigger is a single-stage design with pull weight factory-set at 4 pounds. The trigger module installs using your rifle’s original hammer and trigger cross-pins. The MSRP is $234.95, but we expect the trigger to be available for $210 or so from other vendors.
The new trigger is solidly built and precision-machined. The housing is lightweight, 6061 T6 aluminum alloy, anodized for durability. The hammer is EDM-machined from S7 tool steel for superior hardness and impact resistence, and the hammer is Teflon + Nickel coated to provide greater lubricity and a smooth pull. Other components are EDM-cut from A2 tool steel, then heat treated to Rc 56-60 for longer service life. For more information on Timney Triggers, call (866) 484-6639, or visit TimneyTriggers.com.
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November 9th, 2007
This coming Sunday, November 11th, is Veterans Day. We suggest you take time on Sunday to remember all of those who have served their country in the military. As a way of honoring veterans and current military personnel, on Nov. 11th, the National Park Service will provide FREE National Park admission to ALL military personnel, active and retired, AND their families. This extends to all 391 Park service areas nationwide. Many National Park Service battlefields and historic sites commemorate the services of American veterans. Click HERE for more info on these historic sites.
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November 8th, 2007
The editors of the NRA’s American Hunter magazine recently tested 10 brands of shooting glasses, determining how well the eyewear could shield users from shotgun birdshot. Eyewear samples were tested at 25, 15, 10, 8, and 5 yards, using #8 shot. One ANSI Z87.1-certified set of polycarbonate eyewear was then repeat-tested with #6 shot, #4 shot, #2 steel and buckshot.
CLICK HERE for Full TEST Report.
The tests provided some very important conclusions:
1. The glasses marked Z87.1+ (“plus” is a high-impact rating) performed the best. Overall, Z87.1-rated polycarbonate lenses provided excellent protection from birdshot at 10-15 yards and beyond. Some Z87.1+ eyewear even blocked birdshot at 8 yards.
2. You can’t necessarily rely on price as an indicator of quality. The $12 Bollé VX and the $5.95 Pyramex Rendezvous both worked better than some much more expensive brands. The $5.95 Pyramex, in fact, was one of only three products that stood up to the #8 birdshot at 8 yards. The Pyramex does carry a Z87.1+ rating.
3. Avoid no-name, un-rated plastic eyewear. American Hunter Editor Jeff Johnston writes: “It’s a mistake to assume that any plastic-lens sunglasses off the rack at the local 7-11 are made of polycarbonate and therefore are effective as shooting glasses—cheap plastics are not polycarbonates; in fact, wearing them could be worse than wearing nothing, as they can introduce sharp shards of plastic to your eyes in addition to the projectile(s) that caused them to break.”
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November 7th, 2007
Hornady has announced a new, 6.5mm cartridge designed for Across-the-Course and High Power shooters, and 3-gun competitors. (We think the new round may also prove very popular with hunters and tactical shooters.) Dubbed the 6.5 Creedmoor, the cartridge is smaller than a .260 Remington (.308-size case) but larger than the 6.5×47 Lapua. Measuring 1.920″ from base to mouth, 6.5 Creedmoor brass features a 30° shoulder and minimal body taper. Case capacity is “right around 53.0 grains of H20″ according to Hornady. The 6.5 Creedmoor uses a large rifle primer and large flash hole.
Hornady says its 6.5 Creedmoor is designed to operate at “standard” .308 Winchester pressures, for increased “barrel and case life”. The 6.5 Creedmoor factory ammo is loaded to “under 60,000 psi” according to Hornady engineers. That’s quite a bit less than the 62,000 psi SAAMI max pressure limit for the .308 Winchester, or the 63,090 rated max psi of the 6.5×47 Lapua. Compared to max-loaded 6XC or 6.5×47 cases, the lower-pressure 6.5 Creedmoor should, theoretically, provide good barrel life. Dennis DeMille, who has been testing the factory 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, reports that the factory ammo is “not on the ragged edge at all–pressures are ‘sensible’, with excellent reliability as a result.”
6.5 Creedmoor Loaded Ammo Specifications
| Bullet |
COAL (max) |
Powder |
Grains |
Primer |
Velocity |
PSI |
| 120gr Amax |
2.820″ |
H4350 |
43.5 |
LrgR |
3020 fps |
under
60,000 |
| 140gr Amax
| 2.820″ |
H4350 |
41.2 |
LrgR |
2820 fps |
under
60,000 |
The new cartridge looks speedy on paper. Hornady claims its factory-loaded 6.5 Creedmoor ammo will deliver 3,020 fps with the 120gr Amax and 2,820 fps with the 140gr Amax from a 28″ barrel. Those velocities are at the extreme high end of what we’ve seen a 6.5×47 Lapua deliver with 123gr and 139gr Scenars. In the 6.5×47, with handloads, it’s more realistic to expect 2950 fps with the 123-grainer, and about 2800 with the 139. Lapua’s factory-loaded 6.5×47 rounds are considerably slower. So, it appears the 6.5 Creedmoor will enjoy a slight velocity edge over 6.5×47 handloads, and a sizeable speed advantage over Lapua 6.5×47 factory ammo (with similar bullet weights).
BALLISTICS: 6.5 Creedmoor vs. .308 Win vs. .223 REM
Background of Cartridge
 The new cartridge was conceptualized by Dave Emary, Hornady’s Senior Ballistician, and Dennis DeMille, General Manager of Creedmoor® Sports and two-time NRA National High Power Rifle Champion. Dave and Dennis wanted to provide factory-loaded ammo that would be 100% competitive with any High Power chambering, including the 6XC and 6.5×47 Lapua. The 6.5 Creedmoor was purpose-built for match rifles, including the Tubb 2000 and DPMS/Panther Arms LR Series. Its case is shorter than the 260 Remington, so you can load even the longest bullets into .308-Win length magazines. Pushing a 120gr Amax at 3000+ fps, the 6.5 Creedmoor offers a nice, flat trajectory plus good wind-bucking ability. Dennis Demille has used the prototype cartridge for many months now in a Tubb 2000 rifle. He says, the load is “moderate and very reliable. There have been no issues with stiff bolt lift or primer cratering.” The factory ammo runs “under 60,000 psi” according to Emary, and uses Hodgdon H4350 powder–43.5 grains with the 120 Amax and 41.2 grains with the 140 Amax.
Loaded 6.5 Creedmoor ammo is slated for release in January or February 2008 “at the latest”, according to Dave Emary. Ammo should be priced about $22 per box of 20 rounds, roughly the same as Hornady .308 Win match ammo. Brass, produced by Hornady in the USA, should be available by late spring. The new 120gr Amax bullet should be released very early next year.
DOWNLOAD 6.5 Creedmoor Illustrated Brochure
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November 7th, 2007
 This week, the “Sighting In” segment of ShootingUSA focuses on youth shooting. The television broadcast features youth shooting organizations, and explains how to fit rifles and shotguns properly to young shooters of small stature. The episode also spotlights the appropriate types of arms for young marksmen, including air rifles, 22LRs, and centerfire guns chambered with light-recoiling cartridges such as the .223 Remington. CLICK HERE for links to youth shooting organizations profiled in the episode. ShootingUSA airs Wednesday nights on the Outdoor Channel at: 8:30 pm and 12:30 am Eastern Time, 7:30/11:30 pm Central Time, 6:30/10:30 pm Mountain Time, and 5:30/9:30 pm Pacific Time.
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November 6th, 2007
Here’s a simple procedure that lets you get a solid zero for a hunting rifle in just four shots. Of course you probably want to fire a few more rounds to confirm your zero before you head off to your hunting grounds, but this will let you get on-target with a minimum amount of time and ammo expended.
1. First, remove the bolt and boresight the rifle so you can see the center of the target through the bore. Secure the rifle in the rests to maintain its position as boresighted. Then, without moving the rifle, center the reticle. That should get you on paper. With the rifle solidly secured in front and rear rests or sandbags, aim at the center of a target placed at your zeroing distance (100 or 200 yards). Fire one shot. Then, return the gun to the exact position it was when you pulled the trigger, with the cross-hair centered on the target as before.
2. Locate, in the scope, where your first bullet landed on the target. Now, while you grip the rifle firmly so it doesn’t move, have a friend adjust the turrets on your scope. While you look through the scope, have your friend turn the windage and elevation turrets until the cross-hairs, as viewed through the scope, bisect the bullet hole on the target. In other words, you use the turrets to move the center of the reticle to the actual position of shot number one.
3. After you’ve adjusted the turrets, now re-aim the rifle so the cross-hairs are, once again, positioned on the target center. Keep the rifle firmly supported by your rest or sandbag. Take the second shot. You should find that the bullet now strikes in the center of the target.
4. Take a third shot with the cross-hairs aligned in the center of the target to confirm your zero. Make minor modifications to the windage and elevation as necessary.
5. Now shoot the rifle from a field rest (shooting sticks, bipod, or rucksack) as you would use when actually hunting. Confirm that your zero is unchanged. You may need to make slight adjustments. Some rifles, particularly those with flexy fore-arms, exhibit a different POI (point of impact) when fired from a bipod or ruck vs. a sandbag rest.
If you recently cleaned your rifle, you may want to fire two or three fouling shots before you start this procedure. But keep in mind that you want to duplicate the typical cold bore conditions that you’ll experience during the hunt. If you set your zero after three fouling shots, then make sure the bore is in a similar condition when you actually go out hunting.
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