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June 18th, 2008
This is important news for wholesalers, gunsmiths, and FFLs who ship firearms to California. Starting July 1st, 2008, FFLs wishing to send a firearm to a California FFL must first register with the California Dept. of Justice (CA DOJ), submit the details of the transaction(s), and then wait for the CA DOJ to issue a “Firearms Shipment Approval” letter. The letter must be enclosed within the gun shipment and the receiving FFL in California must retain the letter for three (3) years. Curios and relics are exempt, but otherwise this applies to all firearms — handguns, rifles, and shotguns.
To obtain approval, the shipping FFL must have the California FFL’s five-digit Centralized List number and fill out an application and provide the invoice number and quantity of long guns and handguns to be shipped. The application process will be available to FFLs online and via facsimile or telephone once the FFL is enrolled in the CFLC program. NOTE: This law only imposes burdens on FFLs. It is still legal for a private party in another state to ship a gun to a California FFL-holder (if the shipper otherwise complies with Federal law).
Bad Law Applies Even to Intra-State Shipments
The Democrat-controlled California Legislature has produced some bad gun laws before, but this is one of the worst ever. It is extremely burdensome. An FFL wishing to ship guns to California must obtain an approval letter with EVERY shipment. This law even applies to a California-based FFL wishing to ship in-state to another California FFL. The new regulations are administered as the “California Firearms Licensee Check System (CFLC)“, authorized by AB 2521, a terrible piece of legislation signed into law by Gov. Schwarzenegger in 2006.
CA DOJ’s official summary of the CFLC system:
“As of July 1, 2008, California Penal Code Section 12072(f)(1) prohibits all Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs), other than Type 03 or 06 FFLs, from shipping firearms to an FFL in California unless, prior to delivery, the FFL intending to deliver, sell or transfer the firearms obtains a verification approval number from the California Department of Justice (CADOJ) Bureau of Firearms. This includes transfers that occur at gun shows.
The verification approval number, which the Bureau of Firearms provides in a Firearms Shipment Approval letter, confirms that the intended recipient of the firearm shipment is properly licensed and listed in the state’s database of persons/entities authorized to receive firearm shipments. If the intended CA FFL recipient is not listed in the state’s database, the transaction will result in a Do Not Ship letter, and it is a crime for the intended recipient to receive the firearms (Penal Code Section 12083(c)(1)).
As a courtesy to impacted FFLs, the Bureau of Firearms has established an Internet application that is available to FFLs nationwide 24 hours a day 7 days a week (24/7) to obtain Firearms Shipment Approval letters. All Internet transactions will be handled on a secure server, and the information provided will be used solely for the purposes associated with the administration of the CFLC program. For FFLs that do not have Internet access, the Bureau has established a telephone service that allows nationwide FFL shippers to enroll and obtain Firearms Shipment Approval letters via telephone or facsimile prior to shipping firearms to a California FFL. However, the telephone service availability will be limited to Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
California FFL holders (other than Type 03 or 06) must enroll in the California Firearms Licensee Check (CFLC) Program to ship firearms to another California FFL. They must also be listed on the State of California Centralized List as either a dealer, manufacturer, or exempt. Once enrolled in CFLC, California FFLs will be able to obtain Firearms Shipment Approval letters to ship firearms to other FFL holders within the state.
For additional information regarding this new program, please refer to our CFLC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).”
CLICK HERE for GENERAL INFO and LINKS
New System Imposes Useless Red Tape
The author of AB 2521, CA Assemblyman Dave Jones, claims the new system is designed to “protect the consumer” by ensuring gun shipments are not sent to recipients whose Federal Licenses are not in good standing. That, of course is nonsense. Current Federal law already requires a shipping FFL to confirm that the shipment’s recipient has a valid license. No, the real purpose of the new law is to impose a wall of red tape blocking gun shipments to California. The new law has already had a chilling effect. We’ve seen notices on gun auction boards from dealers stating: “Due to new regulations, we will NOT ship this firearm to California.”
New Law Needs to Be Challenged
On its face, California’s new Approval Letter System probably cannot withstand legal scrutiny if it is challenged in court. First, insofar as it regulates and changes the record-keeping duties of Federal Firearms License holders, the CFLC should be 100% pre-empted by Federal Law. California is adding an additional layer of duties and responsiblities on FFLs in OTHER STATES, and then imposing criminal penalties if California’s new rules aren’t followed to the letter. Avoiding this kind of mess is precisely why we have uniform federal regulation in the first place. In addition, the California law may be Constitutionally invalid as a restraint on interstate commerce. We hope the NRA or NSSF immediately challenges California’s Firearms Licensee Check System.
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June 18th, 2008
Laminated wood stocks offer an excellent combination of price and performance, and they can be obtained in a myriad of styles to suit your discipline — hunting, benchrest, tactical, silhouette, or high power. Laminated stocks can be a little trickier to finish compared to a hardwood such as walnut, as laminates are often delivered in bright or highly contrasting colors. Traditional wood finishes can alter the colors. Also, filling the pores in laminated stocks is an issue.
Automotive clearcoat products have become popular for finishing laminated wood stocks because they won’t alter the stock’s colors, and the clearcoat provides a durable weather-resistant finish. Clearcoat is also easy to “touch up” and it fills pores better than some other alternatives. Mike Ricklefs has written a comprehensive article on stock painting that includes a special section on clearcoating over laminated woods. If you want to clearcoat a stock, Mike’s article is a must-read!
In that Stock Painting Article, Mike offers these tips:
When finishing laminated stocks with clear-coat, you need to prepare the wood carefully, and build up quite a few thin layers one at a time. Begin by sanding, with progressively finer paper, all the way to 400 grit. Certain laminated stocks are so rough when they come from the stock-maker, that you may have to be very aggressive at first. But be careful with angles and the edges of flats. You don’t want to round these off as you sand.
After sanding, use compressed air to blow out all dust from the pores of the wood. This is very important to avoid a “muddy” looking finish. If you don’t blow the dust out with air before spraying the clear it will migrate out as you apply the clear. Also, after each sanding session, clean your painting area to remove excess dust. I also wet down the floor of my spray booth to keept the dust down.
Some painters recommended using a filler to close the pores. That’s one technique, but the filler can detract from the clarity of the final finish. Rather than use a pore-filling sealer, I use a high solids or “build” clear for the initial applications. This is slightly thicker than “finish” clear and does a good job of sealing the pores. Three (3) fairly heavy coats of “build” clear are applied. If you get a thick spot or a run in the finish at this point, it is not the end of the world but this does create more sanding work.”
There is a current thread in our Shooters’ Forum that discusses the use of clear-coating on laminated stocks. Member BHoges offered this advice: “Stick with Diamont, Glassurit, and Spies. If anyone has questions, I painted cars for a long time.”
Forum member Preacher, whose bolt-action pistol is shown in the photo below, states: “I buy my two-art Clearcoat from the local NAPA dealer. They recommended Crossfire mixed 4:1. Ireally like the end results. There are six coats on that stock that were sanded down to bare wood for the first two, and then 600 wet sanded for the other four coats. Two to three coats would be sufficient if the pores were filled first, but I would rather fill em with the clear as it seems to make it appear deeper and I have the time to devote to it. I have PPG’s Deltron DC 3000 clearcoat on a few stocks of mine, but I like the NAPA better price wise, and it seems to hold up just as good as the Deltron.”
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June 17th, 2008
AccurateShooter.com has teamed with Robert Whitley and Carl Bernosky to develop a new AR15-based, 20-caliber rifle optimized for varminting. The chambering is a 20-223 with a PT&G (Kiff) reamer, aka the “20 Practical”, a name coined by Warren Brookman*. The cartridge uses standard .223 Remington brass. Case forming is simple — just neck down the brass (Robert did this in two steps, with .233″ and .225″ bushings). You do NOT have to move the shoulder back as with the 20 Tactical. You can even use your existing .223 Rem Redding dies by swapping out some internal components.
CLICK HERE to Watch 20 PRACTICAL AR VIDEO
While Carl is still working on special (top-secret) “furniture” to help the 20 Practical AR ride the bags, Robert was able to test the first complete 20 Practical AR upper built with a Bartlein barrel. Without any special load development, the gun has proved very accurate, putting 5 rapid-fire shots in a dime-sized group at 100 yards. Robert was using H335 with 40gr bullets. This load runs 3750 fps and Robert thinks more velocity may be possible with H335. We will also test other load recipes for both both 40gr and 32gr bullets. H322 should also be a good choice for both bullet weights. Quickload predicts H322 will send the 32-grainers past 4000 fps, and Warren Brookman says: “For both 32gr and 40gr bullets, Vihtavuori N133 is just about the perfect powder for the 20 Practical. It burns clean, delivers great accuracy and good velocity.”
Robert reports: “I loaded up some new brass today (Winchester brass, factory primed). I only used H335 and the Berger 40 gr BTHP bullets at about .010″ off the lands (2.228″ OAL). The thing is very accurate. First group shot off the bench after sight-in is shown in the video. Keep in mind this was done with no load work-up and I shot fast to ensure the video was not too long. The load was with 26.0 grains of H335 and the Berger 40-grainers going right around 3750 fps.”
If you shoot a .223 Rem currently it’s easy to load for the 20 Practical. You will need a Redding Type ‘S’ neck-bushing full-length sizing die, and Robert recommends a Redding Comp Seater. Then you’ll need some extra bits of kit:
1. Powder funnel that fits .20-Cal case mouths
2. Two neck bushings: .233″ and .225″
3. 20-Caliber cleaning rod with brushes, jag, patches, etc.
4. Decapping rod assembly for 20 Cal (a 204 Ruger one works perfectly — about $15)
*The 20 Practical chambering, a modern 20-223 Wildcat, was popularized by Warren Brookman, whose 20 Practical bolt gun was featured as our 61st Gun of the Week. In that 20 Practical Article, Warren explains the thinking behind the cartridge and shows how to adapt .223 Rem Redding dies.
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June 17th, 2008
We are very sad to announce that Texas shooter, Shelley Davidson, passed away this morning. He had cancer. Shelley was a great individual, and one of the most innovative and creative spirits we’ve ever seen in sport of Benchrest. In our conversations with Shelley, he was always full of interesting new ideas and concepts. And he always had a positive, forward-thinking attitude. He wasn’t satisfied with the status quo and was always thinking about new ways to “build a better mousetrap”. Butch Lambert notes, “you may remember Shelley as the builder of the Tinker Toy rifle. He developed the tuner that my company sells. Shelley really pushed the 30BR and its off-springs. He tried opposing magnets on the end of his barrels, he used an electric motor with a sensor to operate his powder measure, and many other things.”
Shelley Davidson’s Tinker Toy Rifle
Shelley will be missed but not forgotten. He was a credit to the sport, and we feel privileged to have been able to show some of Shelley’s innovations to the world.
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June 16th, 2008
Does the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution give individual citizens a right to “keep and bear arms”? If so, does that right override local regulations controlling firearms? These questions were presented to the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court by the D.C. v. Heller case.
Heller, a security guard and District of Columbia resident, was prohibited from keeping a handgun in his home by the DC’s strict anti-handgun law. Heller challenged that law and his case went all the way to the Supreme Court. Oral arguments were heard on March 18. At that time it appeared that a thin majority of the Justices , including Chief Justice Roberts, favored the view that the Second Amendment applies to individuals, not just state militias.
The High Court is expected to issue its written decision on the case on Thursday, June 19, when it reconvenes. This is a landmark decision that may impact local gun laws throughout the nation. There was some hope that the Heller decision would be issued yesterday, June 16, but the High Court ruled on only two cases (not including Heller) during its Monday session, so we’re still waiting on the Heller outcome.
Stay tuned to this column and to Fox News or C-Span for updates on the case. We will link to the printed decision as soon as it becomes availalbe.
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June 16th, 2008
Your editor wins the dunce of the week award, but he learned an important lesson. This weekend I shot the Varmint Silhouette match at Ojai, California. In preparation for the match, I (wisely) went to a range on Thursday to chronograph my match load and confirm my 100-yard, no-wind zero. All went well there, and after three sighters I put three rounds into 0.260″ right at point of aim. So far, so good.
| Editor moves his scope AFTER zeroing. End result? Zero shifts 2 MOA up and 11.5 MOA right. Yikes! |
 But, while testing, I noted that the scope, having been positioned for prone shooting, was much too far forward. It needed to be moved back about an inch for comfortable shooting at the bench.
No problem I think… I take the gun home, get my Leupold Torx wrench and loosen the rings. Now, I use Burris Signature rings, the ones with the plastic inserts that provide elevation preload: +10 in the rear and a -10 in the front. These are net values, created with pairs of +05 (thicker) and -05 (thinner) half-ring inserts. In the back the thicker +05 insert is on the bottom and thinner -05 on top, while in the front the thicker insert is on the top with the thinner on the bottom.
First thing I note when moving the scope is that it was hard to set the inserts in exactly the same spot (though I tried). I also note that the inserts seemed to flatten out or squeeze down more when I re-tensioned the ring bolts.
I figured I might have to make a minor correction to my zero at the range, so I wasn’t too concerned. Boy was I wrong.
Windage off Six Feet at 600 Yards
At the match, I dialed in my 600-yard come-up and aimed at a steel gong we use for sighter shots. Normally I can “certify” my 600-yard zero in three shots. This time, my spotter couldn’t even see the hits. “WTF”, I think… Then another shooter notes that my bullets are impacting about SIX FEET to the right of the Gong and about a foot too high.
I had to dial in 46 clicks (11.5 MOA) of left windage to get back on the Gong. At 600 yards, one MOA is 6.282 inches. My 600-yard Point of Impact had shifted 72″ to the right — a full six feet! That’s huge. That’s like being off a foot at 100 yards.
LESSON LEARNED: If you make ANY change to your scope, you should re-zero.
SIGNATURE RING LESSON LEARNED: If you are running the Burris Signature Rings, with plastic inserts, the change in POI when you move the scope can be extreme — way more than you’d expect with conventional rings. The plastic inserts take a different “set” each time you tension the rings, even if you do your best to maintain the inserts’ orientation in the rings. No matter how careful you are, those plastic inserts aren’t going to hold the scope in exactly the same place.
So, if you don’t want to win the Dunce Award like I did, make sure you re-test your scope’s zero AFTER you move the fore-and-aft position, and EVERY time you re-tension Burris Signature Rings. It’s worth noting that the ring set in question is five years old and it held zero perfectly until I decided to move the scope back. This was done because my club recently built benches at the 600-yard line so we now shoot from the bench rather than prone, F-Class style.
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June 15th, 2008
This is the first Father’s Day this Editor has spent without a father to share it with. My dad passed last August. That’s made me ponder the meaning of this day, and how important it is to share time with your father when you can. Life is short.
So, use your time wisely. Turn off this computer, and go be with your father today. Do something with him that makes him smile. Maybe go to a ball game, or go to the range together. If he lives far from you, give him a call and let him know how important he is to your life. Remind him of the old adage: “Good fathers make good sons”.
Some Thoughts on Fatherhood –
MY Father…
He was there when I didn’t understand, he was there when I was wrong, he was there when I cried, he was there when I lied. For some reason my dad was always there, when I needed him the most. His love was never ending. And now that he’s gone there is an emptiness in my world, but not in my heart. — Michael Jordan
My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, “You’re tearing up the grass”! “We’re not raising grass,” Dad would reply, “We’re raising boys”. — Harmon Killebrew.
When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years. — Mark Twain
Photo courtesy Free-Holiday-Ideas.com
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June 15th, 2008
“Holy ****, you’ve got to be kidding me…”, was this editor’s reaction when confronted with the $5.09 per gallon price of regular gasoline in California today. Gas prices in the Golden State have climbed from $4.29 to over $5.00 per gallon in the last two weeks — and fuel costs are expected to continue to rise throughout the summer.
Gas Prices Impact Shooting Matches
At many West Coast gun clubs, match attendance is down in recent months, primarily as a results of high gas prices. Now more than ever, it makes sense to car-pool with one or two other shooters when going to a match. Sharing with just one other shooter cuts your gas outlay in half.
Downsizing Your Wheels — Cost/Benefit Analysis
Most of the shooters we know drive trucks to the range — big, gaz-guzzling trucks. With the price of gas topping $5.00, it may be time to consider a shift to a more economical vehicle–at least for daily commuting and longer drives. Below is a chart showing the annual cost of gasoline, based on different fuel economy ratings (MPG). If you drive 15,000 miles a year, a 30-MPG vehicle will save you $2857.00 annually compared to a 14-MPG vehicle. Compound that savings for three or four years, and you’ve recouped much of the cost of a used econobox.
Annual Fuel Cost at $5.00 per Gallon
Based on Vehicle Miles Per Gallon |
Miles
Yearly |
30 MPG |
26 MPG |
22 MPG |
18 MPG |
14 MPG |
| 10,000 |
$1667 |
$1923 |
$2273 |
$2778 |
$3571 |
| 12,000 |
$2000 |
$2308 |
$2727 |
$3333 |
$4286 |
| 15,000 |
$2500 |
$2885 |
$3409 |
$4167 |
$5357 |
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June 14th, 2008
Tomorrow is Father’s Day. For all the dads out there, here’s a selection of cool tools and handy shooting accessories — all priced at fifty dollars or less. If you’re doing some last-minute shopping for the family patriarch, or just rewarding yourself for being a good dad, you’ll enjoy the bargains below. Many of the items are special sale priced for a limited period of time, so jump on these bargains while you can.
Cabela’s.com
Cabela’s Gun Vise, $29.99
This handy polymer Cabela’s Gun Vise, item 1AJ-227687, is on a special sale, marked down from $44.99 to just $29.99. The unit holds your rifle securely and contains compartments for solvents and cleaning tools. We’ve used similar units and they work well. The polymer material is impervious to most solvents and the light weight of the gun vise makes it easy to move around a loading room or bench. It’s light enough to easily lift to a high shelf for storage when not in use.
Sinclair International
Motorola FV700 Talkabout Two-Way Radio Set, $49.99
Compact, rugged, and easy to use, the Motorola FV700 walkie-talkie set is ideal for long-range shooting matches. With a range of 12 miles, the FV700 delivers reliable communications between the firing line and workers in the pits at 1000 yards and beyond. Employing both FRS and GMRS frequencies, the FV700 offers 22 talk channels, plus 11 NOAA weather channels. The units run on common AAA batteries or included NiMH battery packs. Priced at just $49.99, each set includes two radios, 2 belt clips, a charging adapter, and dual charging cradle.
Grafs.com
MTM Mini Digital Reloading Scale, $29.99
This light-weight, ultra-compact reloading scale is ideal for use at the range, and as a back-up for a larger digital or balance-beam scale. With output in both grams and grains, the MTM Mini offers resolution to ± one-tenth of a grain. Max capacity is 1200 grains–more than enough to weight 50-caliber bullets and cartridge cases. This unit has an easy-to-read backlit LCD display. To save battery power, there’s an auto shut-off after three minutes.
Midsouth Shooters Supply
ThermaCELL Insect Repellent System, $17.51
Nothing’s more annoying than mosquitos or black flies buzzing around your head. You can use creams or sprays to prevent bites, but the buzzing can still drive you nuts. Solution? ThermaCELL. The ThermaCELL portable “bug-buster” creates a 15′ by 15′ zone of protection around you that repels up to 98% of mosquitoes, black flies, and no-see-ums. Trust us, ThermaCELLs really work. We wouldn’t go camping without one. One fill lasts for about 12 hours. If you’re skeptical, READ these REVIEWS. Now through the end of June, ThermaCELLs are on sale at Midsouth for just $17.51.
Big River Tactical
Howard Leight Electronic Ear Muffs, $49.99
We’ve featured the Leight Impact Sport electronic ear muffs on the Bulletin before because they are a great product at an unbeatable price. Light weight with a slim profile, they don’t interfere with your cheek weld when shooting rifles or shotguns. One Forum member bought a pair recently and told us: “You guys were right, these are great. They work as well as units costing 4 times as much.” The Leight muffs help you hear range commands while diminishing rifle noise (sounds exceding 82db are attenuted). Note, the Leight Muffs have a 22 NRR (noise reduction rating). For enhanced ear protection we suggest using the muffs over a set of foam ear plugs.
MidwayUSA
Lyman Electronic Digital Trigger Pull Gauge, $44.99
Every serious shooter needs an accurate, repeatable trigger pull gauge, and the Lyman digital unit is the best available, plain and simple. The Lyman Gauge is on sale this month at MidwayUSA for $44.99, marked down from $48.99. The Lyman Gauge uses strain-gauge technology to read ± 0.1 ounce with a range of 0 to 12 pounds. The controls are easy to use, and we like the built-in Averaging function. Note: 9 volt battery must purchased separately.
Sears.com
Craftsman Wet-Dry Vac, $14.99 (Half-Price Sale)
If you have a home workshop, once you get a portable wet-dry vacuum you’ll wonder how you ever did without it. This editor has a similar unit that’s used almost on a daily basis. The Craftsman Clean N Carry model has a 1.5 hp motor providing ample cleaning power. Right now, through 6/15/2008, you can buy it for HALF PRICE. The machine costs just $14.99 at Sears, marked down from $29.99. That’s a steal. Hurry though, this is a special Father’s Day deal.
Craftsman Clean N Carry® 2 gal. Wet-Dry Vac
Sears item# 00917713000, Mfr. model# 17713
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June 14th, 2008
Farley Manufacturing, makers of the Coax II Front Rests and Farley actions, has asked owners to return bolts for inspection. There have been issues regarding bolt lug integrity that Farley wishes to resolve. This applies to all Farley actions except the current Black Widow actions. Farley has issued the following statement:
“To our customers and anyone who may own a Farley Action. We need to inspect your bolt. Most of these actions have been in service for 6-12 years. However, regardless of age or use we need to inspect the bolt.
If your Action is currently in use please send us the bolt as soon as possible. If it is not in use please call us to schedule it in. Black Widow Actions are not included. We understand that this is very inconvenient. We will try to turn them around to you in 7-10 days.
This is an important safety issue and we are depending on your help. Please send bolt(s) via UPS and we will reimburse shipping. If you would like a pre-paid mailer please contact us via email or phone and include serial # of Action along with your name, address and phone number.
Thank you,
Jim Farley Jr.
President, Farley Mfg.”
Farleymfg.com
farleymfg@yahoo.com
Phone: (405) 732-7852
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June 13th, 2008
Put the same load in a variety of barrels (with the same length and chamberings) and you’ll see a wide variance in muzzle velocity. In fact, it’s not unusual to see up to 100 fps difference from one barrel to the next. We demonstrated this with a comparison test of Lapua factory ammo.
Chron Testing Lapua Factory Ammo
We recently chronographed Lapua 105gr 6mmBR factory ammo in three different 8-twist barrels of similar length. The results were fascinating. Lapua specs this ammo at 2790 fps, based on Lapua’s testing with its own 26″ test barrel. We observed a speed variance of 67 fps based on tests with three aftermarket barrels.
Brand ‘S’ and Brand ‘PN’ were pre-fit barrels shot on Savage actions. Brand ‘K’ was fitted to a custom action. All test barrels were throated for the 100-108 grain bullets, though there may have been some slight variances in barrel freebore. With a COAL of 2.330″, the rounds were “jumping” to the rifling in all barrels. Among the four barrels, Brand ‘PN’ was the fastest at 2824 fps average — 67 fps faster than the slowest barrel. Roughly 10 fps can be attributed to the slightly longer length (27″ vs. 26″), but otherwise this particular barrel was simply faster than the rest.
Results Are Barrel-Specific, Not Brand-Specific
These tests demonstrate that the exact same load can perform very differently in different barrels. We aren’t publishing the barrel-makers’ names, because it would be wrong to assume that ‘Brand X’ is always going to be faster than ‘Brand Y’ based on test results from a single barrel. In fact, velocities can vary up to 100 fps with two identical-spec barrels from the SAME manufacturer. That’s right, you can have two 8-twist, 26″ barrels, with the same land-groove configuration and contour, from the same manufacturer, and one can be much faster than another.
Don’t Demand More Than Your Barrel Can Deliver
We often hear guys lament, “I don’t get it… how can you guys get 2900 fps with your 6BRs and I can only get 2840?” The answer may simply be that the barrel is slower than average. If you have a slow barrel, you can try using more powder, but there is a good chance it may never run as fast as an inherently fast barrel. You shouldn’t knock yourself out (and over-stress your brass) trying to duplicate the velocities someone else may be getting. You need to work within the limits of your barrel.
 Factory Ammo Provides a Benchmark
If you have a .223 Rem, 6BR, .243 Win, 6.5×47 Lapua, 6.5×55, .308 Win, 30-06, or 300 WM Rifle, we recommend you buy a box of Lapua factory-loaded ammo. This stuff will shoot great (typically around half-MOA), and it can give you a baseline to determine how your barrel stacks up speedwise. When you complete a new 6BR rifle, it’s wise to get a box of the factory ammo and chronograph it. That will immediately give you a good idea whether you have a slow, average, or fast barrel. Then you can set your velocity goals accordingly. For example, if the factory 6BR ammo runs about 2780-2790 fps in your gun, it has an average barrel. If it runs 2820+ in a 26″ barrel (or 2835 fps in a 28″), you’ve got a fast tube.
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June 13th, 2008
Erik Stecker of Berger Bullets confirmed that his company will be producing a new, high-BC 20-Caliber bullet this fall. The new bullet features a conventional, non-VLD tangent-ogive design for greater seating flexibility and, hopefully, increased precision. The new bullet should be the highest-BC bullet available to 20-Cal shooters from a major bullet-maker. Although production dies aren’t ready yet, Berger has set a 0.400 Ballistic Coefficient design goal for the bullet. That would be a significant step up from Berger’s current 50gr, 20-caliber bullet, which has a published BC of 0.295.
We expect the new 55-grainer to require an 1:8″ or faster twist barrel, but the exact twist required will depend on the final bullet dimensions when it is put into production. Expected ship date for the new 55gr bullet is “late August to early September”, according to Stecker. With the correct-twist barrel, the new bullet should work well in most popular 20-caliber chamberings, including 20 VarTarg, 20-223, 20 PPC, 20 BR, and .204 Ruger.
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