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March 13th, 2008
The United States F-Class Rifle Team announced that Lapua, a division of the Nordic Nammo Group, has committed to provide world class cartridge cases for use by the U.S. Team in the 2009 World F-Class Long Range Rifle Championships.
In July 2009, 35 of America’s best F-Class shooters from across the United States will travel to England to face team competition at distances of 600 to 1000 yards in the third World F-Class Long Range Rifle Championships. The United States won the first world championships in 2002 held in Ottawa, Canada, followed by a second place finish in 2005 in South Africa.
In an effort to reclaim the world title in 2009, the team officers have created a training program designed to greatly increase their odds. “We have worked hard to modify both our team selection process and training regimen,” said Robert Bock, United States F-Class Rifle Team captain. “It brings us great pride and pleasure to have our efforts both acknowledged and supported by Lapua. We can’t thank Lapua enough for its support and dedication or our future success.” Team USA currently uses the 6.5-284 cartridge, and it is likely the team will stick with that chambering in 2009.
F-Class is shot from the prone position at distances of 300 to 1,000 yards. In Open Class Competitors may use almost any caliber rifle, a scope, and both front and rear rests. An ideal sport for both male and female competitive shooters, this shooting discipline is unique in the fact that anyone can excel in it, even with little experience. “F-Class shooting is performed with a scoped, rested rifle,” said Adam Braverman, U.S. sales and business manager for Lapua. “Men, women, teenagers, the elderly and the physically disabled are able to compete on an even playing field, making F-Class the fastest growing long-range shooting discipline in the world. It is our pleasure to support the national team and we look forward to them returning to the United States as World Champions.”
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March 12th, 2008
 “What trigger would you like us to build next?” That’s the question Timney Triggers is asking shooters. Timney wants customer input on what type(s) of new triggers it should develop, and the reasons why. Just log on to the Timney Triggers website, and share your ideas on the Trigger Survey Page.
Timney tells us: “Since its inception in 1946, Timney has always looked for ways to improve their products by listening to the customer. After all who knows better about the product than the end user? Timney would like to pose the question to all shooters and hunters. What trigger would you like us to build next? Perhaps a new bolt action, semi-auto pistol, shotgun, or tactical rifle? The sky is the limit so be creative.”
Arizona-based Timney Triggers currently offers a line of 75 replacement triggers, including a popular set of drop-in, modular AR-15 triggers. For more info, call 866-484-6639 or visit TimneyTriggers.com.
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March 11th, 2008
The popular media often depict hunting and shooting as ‘niche’ activities, out-of-step with general trends in society. And of course golf and tennis receive much more coverage in the media than do shooting sports.
In fact, hunting and shooting are hugely popular. Americans spend more money on hunting and shooting equipment than on golf, tennis, fishing, or skiing gear. $3.7 billion was spent on hunting and shooting equipment in 2006, including $2.18 billion in firearms sales. According to data released from the National Sporting Goods Assn., sales of hunting and shooting-related equipment exceeded gear sales for every other sport activity, except exercise equipment. That means hunting and shooting are more important to the economy than golf, more important than tennis, more important than sport fishing.
New statistics show that hunting gear and firearm sales topped $3.7 billion in 2006, up 4.1 percent from the previous year. Only exercise equipment performed better, with sales of $5.22 billion, according to NSGA’s most recent “Sporting Goods Market” report. Golf equipment, which claimed the No. 2 spot the previous year, fell into the third spot with $3.66 billion in sales.
Included in the hunting- and shooting-related equipment category are firearms ($2.18 billion in 2006 sales), airguns ($224.1 million), ammunition ($977.1 million), knives ($51.8 million), paintball guns/packages ($220.9 million), and reloading equipment ($52.0 million).
“These statistics not only further demonstrate the willingness of America’s 40 million hunters and shooters to spend big bucks to enjoy their lifestyles, but also show our industry’s success in continuing to develop new products to meet their needs,” said Doug Painter, president of the firearm industry’s trade association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
Top 10 Sports Equipment Sales Categories (2006):
1. Exercise – $5.22 billion
2. Hunting and firearms – $3.71 billion
3. Golf – $3.66 billion
4. Athletic goods team sales – $2.62 billion
5. Fishing tackle – $2.22 billion
6. Camping – $1.53 billion
7. Optics – $1.01 billion
8. Snow skiing – $615.0 million
9. Billiards / indoor games – $570.9 million
10. Tennis – $419.8 million
This report appears courtesy the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).
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March 11th, 2008
Currently, MidwayUSA is running a promotion on a dozen popular items, with sales prices up to 50% off. Included in the sale are hot-selling products from Butches, Champion, Federal, and Shooter’s Choice. Shown below are a few of the special sale items.
CLICK HERE to view Full Sales Sheet
Shooter’s Choice Solvent
24% OFF
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Champion Rimfire Bullet Trap
11% OFF
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HySkore Modular Pistol Rack
24% OFF
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Butch’s Triple Twill Patches
36% OFF
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March 10th, 2008
How much does it cost you to send a round downrange? Ask most shooters this question and they’ll start adding up the cost of components: bullets, powder, and primers. Then they’ll figure in the cost of brass, divided by the number of times the cases are reloaded.
For a 6BR shooting match bullets, match primers, and 30 grains of powder, in brass reloaded a dozen times, this basic calculation gives us a cost per shot of $0.46 (forty-six cents):
Bullet $0.30 (Berger 105 VLD)
Primer $0.03 (Fed 205m)
Powder $0.08 (Varget @ $18.00/lb)
Brass $0.05 (Lapua priced at $60/100, 12 reloads)
Total $0.46 per round
$1.00 Per Shot True Cost? Yikes!
OK, we’ve seen that it costs about $0.46 per round to shoot a 6BR. Right?
Wrong! — What if we told you that your ACTUAL cost per round might be closer to double that number? How can that be? Well… you haven’t accounted for the cost of your barrel. Every round you fire down that tube expends some of the barrel’s finite life. If, like some short-range PPC shooters, you replace barrels every 700 or 800 rounds, you need to add $0.60 to $0.70 per round for “barrel cost.” That can effectively double your cost per round, taking it well past the dollar per shot mark.
Calculating Barrel Cost Per Shot
In the table below, we calculate your barrel cost per shot, based on various expected barrel lifespans.
 As noted above, a PPC barrel is typically replaced at 700-800 rounds. A 6.5-284 barrel can last 1200+ rounds, but it might need replacement after 1000 rounds or less. A 6BR barrel should give 2200-3000 rounds of accurate life, and a .308 Win barrel could remain competitive for 4,000 rounds or more.
The table below shows your barrel cost per shot, based on various “useful lives.” We assume that a barrel costs $500.00 total to replace. This includes $300.00 for the barrel itself, $160.00 for chambering/fitting, and $40.00 in 2-way shipping costs. Yes, you may have a smith that works for less, but these are typical costs shooters will encounter when ordering a rebarreling job.
The numbers are interesting. If you get 2000 rounds on your barrel instead of 1000, you save $0.25 per shot. However, extending barrel life from 2000 to 3000 rounds only saves you $0.08 per round.
NOTE: We assume component costs of $0.46 per round based on our 6BR example. If you shoot a larger caliber that burns more powder, and uses more expensive bullets and/or brass, your total cost per round will be higher.
How to Reduce Your TRUE Cost per Round
What does this tell us? First, in figuring your annual shooting budget, you need to consider the true cost per round, including barrel cost. Second, if you want to keep your true costs under control, you need to look at ways to extend your barrel life. This can be accomplished in many ways. First, you may find that switching to a different powder reduces throat erosion. Second, if you’re able to slow down your shooting pace, this can reduce barrel heat, which can extend barrel life. (A varminter in the field is well-advised to switch rifles, or switch barrels, when the barrel gets very hot from extended shot strings.) Third, modifying your cleaning methods can also extend the life of your barrel. Use solvents that reduce the need for aggressive brushing, and try to minimize the use of abrasives. Also, always use a properly fitting bore guide. Many barrels have been prematurely worn out from improper cleaning techniques.
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March 10th, 2008
On Friday and Saturday, April 11-12th, Brownells will host its Second Annual Gunsmith Job Fair at the Iowa Speedway. If you are looking for work as a professional smith, you can meet dozens of prospective “big name” employers at the Job Fair. If you run a company seeking qualified new personnel, the Job Fair gives you a chance to interview multiple candidates in one spot. In addition, Job Fair seminars on firearms regulation, legislation, and other important business issues will be offered.
 “Our commitment to the trade extends well beyond our products,” said Pete Brownell, president of Brownells. “Our goal with the job fair is to help quality gunsmiths connect with the many outstanding employers in the industry and to provide quality educational seminars to help our attendees get started on the right foot.” Space is filling up quickly. Industry members interested in this opportunity to recruit new talent are encouraged to visit Gunsmithjobfair.com to learn more and to register.
Employers and Manufacturers Expected to Attend include:
American Pistolsmith Guild
Army Marksmanship Unit
Ahlman’s
Les Baer Custom
E. Arthur Brown Co., Inc.
Ed Brown Products
Brownells
Caspian Arms
Cylinder and Slide
DPMS
Forster Products
Gander Mountain |
HS Precision
Nowlin Manufacturing
Power Custom
Remington
Sinclair Int’l
Springfield Armory
STI International
Taurus
Turnbull Restoration
Volquartsen Custom
Wichita Arms
Wilson Combat |
CLICK HERE for Job Fair Reservation FORM
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March 9th, 2008
A color printer serves many functions for shooters. You can reprint web articles, output load data, print range maps, and even produce your own colored Shooting Targets. Inkjet color printers are inexpensive to purchase. However, the price of factory OEM ink cartridges can quickly bust your budget. Our Epson C60 printer cost under $100.00, but a pair of Epson-brand ink cartridges (one for black and a second for color) runs nearly $60.00!
Here’s a solution. For as little as $3.00 per cartridge, InkQuik.com offers 100% compatible replacement cartridges for all popular inkjet printers. We recently purchased Six (6) cartridges for under $25.00 total cost delivered. That’s six cartridges for less than the cost of a single Epson-brand black ink cartridge. InkQuik.com also offers regular OEM cartridges for less than you’d pay at most retail outlets.
Speedy Delivery and 100% Functionality
Oregon-based InkQuik.com promises rapid delivery. We ordered our cartridges on a Wednesday and they arrived in California two days later in Friday’s mail. That’s fast!
The cartridges worked perfectly. There were no software or hardware glitches — the printer recognized the InkQuik cartridges as the “real deal.” The ink quality is as good or better than the factory product. We had zero problems, but if you do, InkQuik.com offers a 30-day, no questions-asked guarantee.
Using InkQuik replacement cartridges can easily save you $100.00 or more annually on printing supplies. We recommend this service for anyone who uses inkjet printers.
CLICK HERE to read other customer reviews.
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March 8th, 2008
With any precision rifle you have a ton of money tied up in the action, trigger, stock, and optics. If you want to shoot a different caliber, you can buy a complete new gun of course. But if you want to get the most out of your existing investment, switching barrels is a very cost-effective alternative. For example, the SAKO Quad, shown below, comes from the factory with four different rimfire barrels, each with a different chambering:
There are also reasons to have multiple barrels in the same caliber, as Forum member Donovan explains:
“I switch barrels very often in my 1000-yard gun. One barrel is for fire-forming only, and a second is a dedicated test barrel. I have four more competition barrels; they all have different accuracy potentials. I change barrels at the range with a barrel vise and an action wrench. I use 40-lbs of torque on oiled threads. Each barrel has it’s own POI (Point of Impact) and is simple to re-zero the scope for each by simply having a POI Log.
I also have a second stock for varminting/hunting. This stock has a 2-1/4″ rounded fore-end, and is is five pounds lighter [than my comp stock]. Now my ‘highly accurate’ bench gun can go into the field for hunting off hand or for bi-pod use. So guess you could say I have a ‘switch barrel /switch stock’ gun.
Buy using one gun for multiple purposes, I save barrel life on the best competition barrels. I get more use out of my $1300.00 scope and $175 trigger. Importantly, by switching barrels and stocks, I retain the same action and trigger feel (with the exact same scope, heights, over all lengths, etc.).”
One Gun, One Hundred Barrels
Forum Member Hammer may be the king of switch barrels. He tells us: “I’ve played with switch-barrel rifles for over 30 years. I have had them on Montana, Remington, Ruger, Sako, Savage, and Weatherby actions. As stated by Donovan, there are real economies to having a single rifle share top-of-the-line scopes, triggers, and stocks, while switching between calibers just by changing the barrel. On a single barreled action, I may employ multiple stocks ranging from lead-weighted benchrest stocks to ultra-lightweight synthetic stocks.
There are also economies to having multiple barrels in the same caliber. I have been in the prairie dog towns and switched amongst a dozen barrels while some barrels cooled and soaked in cleaning solvent.
The rifle in the two pictures below has multiple bolt assemblies. This allows a single rifle to shoot cartridges ranging from the 14-221 Walker to the 470 Capstick. Currently, I have over 100 barrels for it. I can switch barrels in the field in less than five minutes.”
How to Get the Most from Your Switch-Barrel Rifles
Hammer offers this advice: “Quick-detachable scope rings allow easy changing of scopes based on the shooting situation. For example, on one Savage have five scopes — a 4X Leupold, a 6-24X Sightron, a 8-32X Bushell 4200, a Nightforce, etc taking advantage of different scope reticles, different field-of-views, different weights, etc. Scope settings for a given barrel and load are easily determined and returned to given a good scope with click settings. Some return well enough that you don’t even check them on paper in the prairie dog towns, just use the next prairie dog as the confirmation. Would always check the scope setting, maybe with a collimator tool, before going after big game.
Some switch-barrel rifle setups require a barrel wrench, some use a barrel wrench and an action wrench, some use a barrel vise and an action wrench, and some use other tools. The John Dustin Rifle barrel wrench can be carried in your pocket. None that I use require a sophisticated tool for measuring barrel tension or tightness, though some others might recommend it. Hand tight is my approach.
The rifle below is a left-hand Montana 1999 with 300 Wby, 375 H&H, and 458 Lott barrels allowing one rifle to be a complete three-gun set for Africa. The barrels can be changed in the field (though not between shots at charging cape buffalo). I Have a Sako setup made by John Dustin that allows field changing in under a couple of minutes.
Hammer freely admits that while switch barrels are fun, “switch barrels cannot be defended as a necessity. We really only need two rifles — a 22 long rifle and a 460 Wby — and I haven’t found a way to switch easily from rimfire to centerfire in a bolt action.”
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March 8th, 2008
Lester Bruno of Bruno Shooters Supply contacted us recently and told us he acquired twenty (20) Remington 700 ADL short actions with .308 bolt face and black, matte finish. Lester noted: “Nobody else has this particular configuration in stock right now at a decent price — you can find .223 actions, or long actions, or magnums, but the .308 short action with safety is hard to find.” These 8″-long actions feature a right bolt, right port, .308 bolt face with ejector pin, 1.350″ chrome moly body. The actions include factory top right safety with bolt-release trigger. The actions will work with 6BR, .243 Win, .308, 6.5×47, 260 Rem, 7 BR and other calibers taking a .308-sized bolt face.
Bruno Shooters is offering a special deal on the actions. Price for a basic action, including factory trigger (but no trigger guard) is $425.00. Bruno’s also offers the action in “trued form” for $525.00. Bruno’s does the blueprinting in-house for the $525.00 action. This includes lapping the lugs, truing the action threads, squaring off the face of the action. NOTE: Trueing must be requested when ordering the action. FFL required for delivery.
We expect these actions to sell quickly. Contact Bruno Shooters’ Supply and ask for Item REM-6 for $425.00, or item Rem-6-BP for $525.00. Call (623) 587-7641 or 1-800-455-0350. Hours are Saturday 9:00am-12:00pm and Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:00pm.
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March 7th, 2008
Recently, we have been updating our Event Calendar with 2008 entries. We have a sophisticated template that allows you to easily search by keyword, date range, event type (BR, Long-Range, F-Class etc.), or location.
Submit Important Events for Calendar
Folks, please send in your events for inclusion in our calendar. We especially need info on major state, regional, and national matches, and popular “fun shoots” such as the Hickory Ground Hog Match. Be sure to include basic info on the type of competition (and classes of rifles), along with cost. It also helps to provide a link to your club website or match registration webpage. Note: While we don’t have space to include most regularly scheduled club-level events, don’t hesitate to submit info on special events (such as an annual championship) that may be of interest to a larger audience.
Send Photos and Range Maps
Our Calendar software allows us to display photos, club logos, or range maps, so you can attach those to your submissions. Please send your calendar items to: mailbox@6mmBR.com . Thanks!
We reserve the right to edit any entries.
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March 7th, 2008
 Legendary shooter Lones Wigger Jr. is among 18 finalists selected by the U.S. Olympic Committee for the Olympian Hall of Fame. Now 70, Wigger is a three-time Olympian, having competed at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico and the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, where he won a combined two gold medals and one silver. Wigger also set multiple world records and has won many world championships, both individually and as a Team USA member. Vote for Wigger online at USOlympicHallof Fame.com to help him in joining the Olympic Hall of Fame inductees. To learn more about Wigger’s accomplishments, visit the USA Shooting Team site.
 Lones Wigger, along with fellow Olympic shooter Lonny Bassham, has created one of the best guides to wind reading, Winning in the Wind, an interactive DVD. Winning in the Wind covers mirage and the strategies for shooting in different wind conditions. The DVD has over 100 digital graphics, photos, and ilustrations, plus a complete interactive shot chart showing wind effects. The DVD also offers helpful hints for staying mentally focused when dealing with fickle and erratic winds. This CD-Rom is available for $35.00 from Champion’s Choice, or directly from the Lanny Basham website, MentalManagement.com.
Lones Wigger (center), 1972 Olympic Gold Medalist, 300m Free Rifle. (This centerfire event is no longer held in the Olympics.)
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March 7th, 2008
Now through March 31, 2008, MidwayUSA has Ramshot X-Terminator powder on sale for just $10.49 per pound, marked WAY down from the $20.49 regular price. X-Terminator is a double-based, high-energy ball powder that is designed for the varmint hunters who demand a clean burning powder. X-Terminator’s small, spherical kernels meter easily and precisely, so this is a good choice if you plan to load a large quantity of ammo on a progressive press. X-Terminator has a burn rate similar to Accurate 2230, Hodgdon H322, and Win 748. X-Terminator is well-suited for the 222 Remington, 223 Remington and 22 BR cartridges.
Note, the sale price does NOT includes a $20.00 hazmat charges and $9.99 special handling fee. You may want to combine your order with fellow shooters to “amortize” the hazmat fee over a larger quantity of powder.
Powder Burn Rate Chart from The Reload Bench.
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