|
|
February 4th, 2008
For the next three days, we’ll provide evening Shot Shot Reports with many large photos and video clips. Topic Highlights of the SHOT reports will be posted here in the Bulletin.
Click HERE for Part One of our SHOT Show reports. Here are the highlights from this first installment:
Savage Displays New Palma Rifle with Deluxe Metal Adjustment Hardware.
Battenfeld Technologies Unveils $220.00 Co-Axial “Fire Control” Front Rest.
Anschutz Will Continue to Produce Series 2000 Action. Dieter Anschutz Announces Retirement.
Lapua Debuts X-ACT Ultra-Premium Rimfire Ammo. Is this the Most Accurate Rimfire Ammo Ever?
Dave Kiff Displays new PT&G Products. Offers Discounts to 6mmBR.com Readers.
READ FULL REPORTS HERE: Shot Show 2008 Report
February 4th, 2008
Ace California shooter Jerry Tierney added a few more feathers to his cap this past weekend. Shooting a “spacegun” chambered in 6mmAR by Robert Whitley, Jerry, a retired computer engineer, set no less than six (6) new records in a reduced High Power course match on Saturday, February 2nd. Note, while distances are shorter, the targets are reduced proportionately in size so the course of fire remains very challenging. Half in jest, Jerry reported: “High Power is more fun than full-bore!”
Based on his recorded scores, it’s believed Jerry set all these records on Saturday: 3 Grand Senior records; 1 Senior record; 1 Civilian Record; and 1 Open Record (best regardless of age group or military/civilian status).
The 6mmAR is a wildcat based on the 6.5 Grendel case necked down to 6mm. It provides performance very similar to that of the 6mmBR Norma with a cartridge that will mag-feed in an AR style rifle. Robert Whitley has done extensive development for this round, developing optimal loads he’s posted on www.6mmAR.com. Robert also sells “space gun” accessories, and complete 6mmAR upper assemblies.
Jerry has enjoyed considerable success in other disciplines–as you can see from the photo below, Jerry did pretty well when he tried his hand at the 1000-yard Benchrest game. He won the 2005 NBRSA 1K BR championship with a dominant performance. Now the High Power crowd has to worry about Jerry as well…
February 3rd, 2008
David Tubb’s Superior Shooting Systems currently offers two high-BC bullets, both produced by Sierra Bullets to David’s specifications. The original DTAC is a 115-grainer with a normal match hollowpoint. The second bullet is a 117gr MJPT (Metal Jacket Plastic Tip), with a super-high 0.600 BC, confirmed by actual field tests.
We’ve just learned that DTAC plans, shortly after SHOT Show, to introduce a new, 110 or 111-grain 6mm bullet. Like the 117 MJPT, this will have a plastic tip. However, it should have a shorter base-to-ogive measurement than the 117-grainer. Hopefully the new bullet will be short enough to work in rifles throated for the 105s and 108s. David Tubb tells us that the bullet will be about .050″ shorter than the 117 and should need .020-.025 less throat. It should look like the 117 in the photo below, but with a shorter bearing surface, and a BC around 0.545:
David explained that the shot-to-shot BC variance of his bullets has been substantially reduced by the addition of the polymer bullet tip. With conventional bullets, true BC can vary from bullet to bullet because the meplats aren’t consistent. David tells us: “With the new bullet tip you no longer have to uniform the meplats to get a consistent BC shot-to-shot. As a bonus, the BC is higher overall due to improved aerodynamics. What we’ve seen in field testing is a spread of only 2% in actual bullet BC. This has reduced the measured shot-to-shot velocity spread at long range.”
Independent testing confirms many of David’s statements. A series of dual-chronograph tests done by Larry Bartholome and Ken Oehler showed that there IS significant bullet-to-bullet BC variance in most boxes of bullets. After testing over 30 brands of projectiles, Larry and Ken found the average extreme spread in BC was 0.019. On the other hand, plastic-tipped Hornady A-Max bullets showed the smallest BC variance of the samples tested. So maybe Tubb really is on to something here.
 Bullet pointing tests also suggest the importance of reducing bullet-to-bullet BC variance. Jason Baney’s recent work with the Whidden Pointing Die showed that the reduction of bullet meplat diameter (by pointing) produces a significant increase in effective BC–as demonstrated by less bullet drop at long range.
CLICK HERE to Read Jason’s Bullet Pointing Analysis.
February 2nd, 2008
The 30th Annual NSSF SHOT Show kicked off today. Nearly 2,000 exhibitors and 40,000-plus attendees are expected to pour into the Las Vegas Convention Center as the 2008 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show opens.
To preview new products to be featured at SHOT Show, 2008, download the SHOT Daily, Feb. 2 Edition. This 8.5 megabyte Adobe Acrobat File has a dozen pages dedicated to new products from rifles to optics. Download future editions of the SHOT Show Daily at www.SHOTShow.com.
Today’s SHOT Daily has an interesting interview with Mark DeYoung, the President/CEO of Federal/ATK Industries. ATK’s sporting brands include Federal Cartridge, CCI/Speer, RCBS, Outers, Ram-Line, Alliant Powder, and Redfield, Simmons and Weaver mounts, rings and bases.
DeYoung says ATK will be launching two new brands of Asian-manufactured optics, “Intensity” and “Nitrex”. DeYoung explains, “Nitrex is positioned for a more discriminating customer. Nitrex is going to be lined up head to head with a line like the Nikon Monarch. The price point for Nitrex will be right around $200 to $300 for the binoculars, and the scopes will be in the $300 to $400 range. The Intensity will be
positioned to compete against some of the less expensive Bushnell and Tasco products.”
ESPN Outdoors will also provide extensive SHOT Show coverage for the next four days. CLICK HERE for photos from the Media Preview events on Friday.
February 2nd, 2008
Here’s an early product story from SHOT Show. Glen Seekins of Seekins Precision announced that he is producing a new detachable magazine system for Remingtons. This combines new bottom metal with a fitted magazine. Five sizes are offered: short action .223 (2.5″), short action .308 (2.9″), WSM (3.05″), long/magnum action (3.65″), and .338 Lapua (3.9″). Glen cautions the system may require small alteration of factory BDL inlets. Pillars will be included in the kit.
Seekins hopes to start shipping the first run of magazine systems by mid-February. Retail price is $289.99 with one 5-round magazine. Extra mags will be $59-69 depending on caliber. For now, only 5-round mags are available. 10-round mags will be produced at a later date for most calibers.
February 1st, 2008
The new Bushnell 6500 series of riflescopes has been much anticipated. Today, Bushnell announced that its new 6500s, with 6.5x zoom range, will start shipping to vendors in March 2008. Bushnell claims the 6500 series delivers the highest resolution and widest field of view in its lineup of rifle scopes.
Three models are offered: 2.5-16x42mm, 2.5-16x50mm and 4.5-30x50mm. All three models feature side parallax adjustment, 30mm main tubes, and multi-coated optics with RainGuard®. The 2.5x models can be adjusted from 10 yards to infinity while the 4.5x model adjusts from 25 yards to infinity. Suggested retail prices are: 2.5-16x42mm – $699; 2.5-16x50mm – $779; and 4.5-30x50mm – $899. Expect “street prices” to be about $75 – $100 less for each model, once sufficent supplies reach the marketplace.
Our readers will probably be most interested in the 4.5-30X version. It has a 30mm main tube, 50mm objective, and weighs 21 ounces. The 4.5-30x offers 80-MOA of elevation and windage with 1/4-MOA clicks. Only two reticles are currently offered, a “Multi-X” fine-plex and a mil-dot.
The new 6500 Elite 4.5-30x50mm competes head to head with Sightron’s new 6-30x56mm SIII scope. At SHOT Show we’ll get a look at both new optics and then post our impressions. For target shooters, the Sightron appears to have the edge–as it offers a larger front objective, and target turrets standard.
CLICK HERE for more info on Bushnell 6500 Scopes.
February 1st, 2008
 Fifty-two competitors, many clad in historic military uniforms, shot period-correct rifles and pistols in the So. Michigan Gun Club’s 8th Annual CMP “Snow Shoot” Vintage Rifle Match. Cold, snowy weather on January 26th didn’t stop the diehard shooters from enjoying friendly competition and supporting the M1 for Vets Program, which provides M1 Garand Rifles to disabled American veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Over $1000 dollars was raised for the M1 for Vets Program.
The overall match winner was Caleb Hughes. Hughes shot a 289-3X with a K-31 Swiss 7.5×55 and received the First Place Trophy, a plaque and a gold Military CMP pin. The second place winner was Phil Randall who shot a 283-6X and received the Second Place Trophy, a plaque and a gold M1903 CMP pin. Alexandra Verburg was the top female shooter of the match. Competing in her very first Snow Shoot, Verburg shot an impressive 214-1X with an M1 Carbine to win the First Place Women’s Trophy. CLICK HERE to learn more about the Michigan Snow Shoot.
|
