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April 11th, 2008
 Shooting Sports USA, an NRA publication for all types of competition shooters, has compiled a comprehensive event calendar covering matches from April 2008 through the end of the year.
A wide array of disciplines are calendared, including: Air Pistol and Rifle, Bullseye Pistol, F-Class, Rifle and Pistol Silhouette, Lever Action Silhouette, CMP matches, Black Powder Target Rifle, and NRA Highpower. The Highpower Rifle listings are extremely comprehensive, with over 100 match listings, including all notable State Championships.
CLICK HERE to download the Calendar.
Readers can also download a free copy of Shooting Sports’ “Score Sheet”. This publication features recent match reports from throughout the country. The emphasis is mostly on small-bore silhouette and position shooting, but there are also reports on pistol, High Power, long-range prone, and Black Powder events. It’s an interesting read and some of our Forum members are featured.
April 10th, 2008
At Thunder Valley, Ohio, stockmaker Joel Russo recently shot an 0.44 MOA group at 1,680 yards (just 80 yards short of a mile), with four shots well under quarter-MOA (3.806″). Joel offers this report: “About two months ago, my good friend and custom rifle builder Bruce Baer, challenged me to shoot the Mile. I told him that if he builds the rifle, I’ll take him up on the challenge. I gave him a barrel that I had and then pestered him repeatedly for two months to chamber it. After he chambered the barreled action, I bedded it in the stock and completed load development under his guidance.
Rifle Specifications
The rifle is chambered as a .338 Big Baer, a .338-.408 Improved design by Baer. We load the 300gr .338 Sierra MatchKing bullet. The gun features a Lawton 8000 repeater action, Krieger barrel, Vais muzzle brake, Jewell trigger, Nightforce NXS 8-32×56 scope, NP1 reticle, and McMillan A-5 stock modified by Baer to accommodate the larger actions. The rifle weighs about 21 pounds.
Thunder Valley in Ohio
This weekend we made the trip to Thunder Valley in Kimbolton, Ohio. Thunder Valley is an IBS-sanctioned 1000-yard range. Range owner and rangemaster, Tom Sarver, also holds a ‘Mile Shoot’ in conjunction with the 1000-yard match. (The ‘Mile Shoot’ targets actually sit 80 yards shy of a mile, at 1680 yards.) Along for the trip was Bud Williams, Bruce Baer, and my father.
Bruce and Bud both shot the ‘Mile’ at Thunder Valley two years ago. In 2006, Baer won group with 22.5″ and Williams won for score. This year, we shot 5-shot groups with a spotter only for sighter shots. No communication would be allowed between spotter and shooter during record fire.
Four Shots in 3.806″ at 1680 Yards
I shot the first relay with Baer as my spotter. First shot on cold clean barrel was center mass on the white sighter steel plate. Second shot was approx 17″ high but center mass. I made a correction and the next three shots were in the center of the plate. I immediately went to the record target. I fired five shots with no correction for conditions between shots.
Sarver retrieved the target and told us that the fifth shot was 1.5″ right off the paper but in the group. He officially measured the 4-shot group at 3.806″. Estimate of the 5-shot group was 7.75″.
Oh well, I’ll settle for a 4-shot group like that.”
0.44 MOA at 1680 Yards — Mighty Impressive
One MOA at 1680 yards is 17.59″. Joel’s 4-shot cluster went into 0.216 MOA! Counting the fifth shot, the 5-shot group was 0.44 MOA — still remarkable shooting….
April 10th, 2008
If you are a moly-coated bullet shooter, here’s a good deal on Berger Bullets offered by Lock, Stock & Barrel. LockStock.com has a wide selection of Berger moly bullets. These have been discontinued by Berger, so they are being offered at deep discounts, up to 23% off the regular price. The prices shown below are all for 100-count boxes, except the 17-Cal, 20-grainers, which are packed 200 to a box.
April 9th, 2008
600-yard World-Record-holder Terry Brady gave us a call this morning and reported: “You may not believe it, but a factory Savage won it all this year at the Hickory Groundhog Shoot.” Terry said it was raining through much of the event, and many of the custom rifle shooters had tight groups but were not centered up on the target. This is a score event, with concentric scoring rings on cardboard groundhog silhouette targets at 100, 300 and 500 yards. The overall match winner shot a Savage factory.223 Rem varminter, according to Terry. “A couple of them Savage guys had their groups nicely centered up on the targets, and that’s what it took to win.”
In related news, the Savage factory 6mmBR rifles will start shipping this week. The 6mmBR chambering is now offered in three versions: F-Class, Varmint single-shot, and Varmint repeater (with box magazine). The 6BR F-Class model is a right bolt, right port single-shot weighing 13.3 lbs without optics. It features an 8-twist 30″ barrel and a heavy, laminated wood stock with a flat buttstock toe that runs parallel to the underside of 3″-wide forearm. The Long-Range Precision Varminter (LRPV) has a 12-twist, 26″ barrel, and a synthetic, H-S Precision stock with alloy bedding system. The LRPV is offered as BOTH a right bolt, left port single-shot, AND as a right bolt, right port repeater.
April 9th, 2008
 On today’s episode of ShootingUSA, RCBS factory expert Allan Jernigan demonstrates safe, basic reloading techniques for pistol, rifle, and shotgun. You may be an expert rifle reloader, but specialized techniques can help you load more consistent pistol ammo, on both single-stage and progressive presses. And, of course, shotshell reloading is a different game altogether — you have more components to deal with, and up to three separate stages just for the crimp. In this show, Jernigan offers tips on optimizing accuracy and explains how to save money on components — so you can maintain your reloading output even as the costs of bullets, shot, primers and powder are on the rise. Jernigan demonstrates reloading methods using the RCBS RockChucker, RCBS 2000 Progressive, and RCBS Grand shotshell loader. Also in this episode, Wheelgun wizard Jerry Miculek offers speed-shooting Pro Tips for revolver fans.
ShootingUSA airs Wednesday Nights on the Outdoor Channel:
Eastern Time – 4:30 PM, 8:30 PM, 2:00 AM (Thursday)
Central Time – 3:30 PM, 7:30 PM, 1:00 AM (Thursday)
Mountain Time – 2:30 PM, 6:30 PM, Midnight
Pacific Time – 1:30 PM, 5:30 PM, 11:00 PM (And Arizona)
April 8th, 2008
Norma 203B has been nearly impossible to obtain in the USA in recent years. Expressly formulated for the 6mmBR cartridge, many consider the elusive Norma 203B powder to be the “Holy Grail” of propellants for this popular chambering. It also works well in cartridges for which Varget, VV N150, or Reloder 15 is suitable.
Now, with Black Hills Shooters Supply (BHSS) as a distributor, Norma is finally making 203B available again for American reloaders. Consumers can’t buy direct from BHSS, but retail vendors can place wholesale orders with BHSS, which has 472 pounds of Norma 203B as of 4/7/2008. Powder Valley has Norma 203B in stock right now at $19.00 per pound, and Grafs.com has it for $21.99 per pound (item NP203B1).
Industry scuttlebutt says that Norma 203B is the same as Alliant Reloder 15. While both are crafted by European powder-maker, Bofors, we’re told that 203B is not identical to Reloder 15. At Shot Show, this editor put the question directly to Norma’s CEO, Torb Lindskog: “Is Norma 203B the same as Reloder 15?” Lindskog answered: “The two powders are very similar, yes. But there are some differences–they are not exactly the same. We like to think our powder is more uniform.”
We’ve tried 1998 vintage Norma 203B in a 6BR and it was very similar to Reloder 15 in appearance, but the Alliant powder yielded slightly higher velocities. What we noticed shooting a 6BR with Norma 203B was a HUGE accuracy window. With 105gr bullets, the powder shot very well at a wide variety of charge weights, from mild to max. Plus, ES and SD were extremely low. Average 5-shot Extreme Spread was 8 fps, with three 5-shot groups measured. Norma 203B did display greater temp sensitivity than Varget, however. If you want to try Norma 203B for yourselves, don’t hesitate — call Powder Valley, (800) 227-4299, or other stocking retailer before the current supply is exhausted. It could be many months before the next shipment arrives.
April 8th, 2008
The Harrington & Richardson plant in Gardner, MA is the latest victim in the series of consolidations in the firearms industry. Remington announced on April 7, 2008 that it would close the H&R 1871 facility in Gardner, and all plant operations would be shut down by the end of the year.
Remington Arms, part of the Cerberus family of companies, acquired Marlin Firearms earlier this year. The Marlin deal also included H&R 1871 Inc., which was purchased by Marlin in 2000. H&R operated as New England Firearms. With its line of Harrington & Richardson rifles, and L.C. Smith shotguns, H&R 1871 was the leading seller of single-shot rifles and shotguns in the world.
Remington’s official press release states: “Unfortunately, an estimated 200 Gardner employees will be impacted by the closure, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2008. A number of employees will transition from Gardner to other capacities within the Company. For those not transferred, the Company will be offering severance, outplacement, and referral services in order to assist in this difficult transition.”
Gardner, Massachusetts Mayor Mark Hawke criticized the plant closure, saying that local officials were blind-sided by the move. He stated that Remington never contacted state or local officials prior to announcing its decision to close the Gardner factory.
April 7th, 2008
Matt Dienes, Williamsport Public Relations officer, has announced important changes to the Club’s Rules for 2008 and beyond:
“The Original Pennsylvania 1000 Yard Bench Rest Club is pleased to anounce that that following rules are effective immediately:
1) The light gun weight limit has been raised from 16.5 lbs. to 17 lbs. (making it consistent with IBS and NBRSA rules). For Williamsport, this weight limit is now the only restriction (no stock width, barrel diameter, or attachment rules anymore.) However, the existing Light Gun front/rear rest rules still apply, and the gun has to be a single shot only (no semi-automatics).
2) You can now shoot any rifle in the Heavy Gun class, including rifles with Muzzle Brakes. So now you can shoot your Light Gun with the break on.”
We like these changes. This will make it easier to compete with a Light Gun in both classes, which should encourage more shooters and help keep costs down. A good Light Gun CAN be competitive in Heavy Gun class. Not too long ago our own Jason Baney won the HG class at the Williamsport World Open shooting his 16.5-lb 6BR.
Matt Dienes added: “Remember the 600-yard matches follow the 1000-yard Light Gun matches on Saturday. So nobody has an excuse not to shoot at our top notch range — everyone is welcome.”
April 7th, 2008
Robert Whitley has produced a new video showcasing an AR15-based varminter chambered in the 6mmAR cartridge, a 6.5 Grendel necked down to 6mm (.243). In the video, Robert cycles through ten rounds (two magazines) loaded with Hornady 87-grain BTHP bullets (item 2442, 0.376 BC). The rifle features a custom 6mmAR upper with a side charging handle. Note the ease with which Robert operates the charging handle from the prone position. The 6mmAR cartridge allows an AR shooter to use high-BC 6mm projectiles with superior down-range energy. Robert offers complete uppers and other accessories. For more information and load data, visit 6mmAR.com.
CLICK HERE to WATCH VIDEO
April 7th, 2008
 Virgil Tripp is a respected gunsmith and member of the American Pistolsmiths Guild. For over a decade, his company, Tripp Research of Alpine, TX, has provided superior metal-coating services for firearms. Tripp’s work was as good as it gets. If you wanted a superb hard chrome job, with uncompromising attention to detail, Tripp Research was the place to go. However, take note: Tripp plans to halt its gun-coating operations soon — if you want Tripp to refinish your gun, you MUST submit the work before June 13, 2008!
Unfortunately, Tripp Research has decided to concentrate on retail sales of magazines and other shooting products, so it will halt its metal coating services, effective June 13, 2008. The following notice appears on the Tripp website:
“Tripp Research Inc. is discontinuing its refinishing division on 06/13/2008. This includes both Hard Chrome and Coating services. This is a permanent cessation of refinishing services. It is not temporary. We will not accept refinishing jobs received after this date.
Tripp Research Inc. continues to stand by all of our refinishing work. Should you have any warranty questions regarding our refinishing, please contact Virgil Tripp…..Thank you for a over a decade of refinishing successes and all your support. The following is a partial list of firearm refinishers. This list, naturally, is not an endorsement, but rather a starting point for you to research[.]”
Metaloy
APW Cogan
Fords Guns
Robar
Techplate
Metalife
Rebel
Black T (coating) – 601-939-74488
Elite Custom Guns
Bear Coat
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