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September 16th, 2008
High-School senior Paul Wagner set two potential IBS 600-yard Light Gun records this past weekend at the Piedmont Gun Club in Rutherfordton, NC. Paul started off with a .711″ 5-shot group for his first target in LG class. He ended up with a spectacular 1.6288″ 4-target Aggregate. In order, his four targets were: 0.711″, 1.848″, 2.191″, and 1.765″. We are told that both the 0.711″ group and the Agg are potential IBS records for the new 600-yard target. In the process of setting the records, Paul won LG class (group), beating some pretty good trigger pullers, including 2008 Nationals Winner Samuel Hall. Paul also out-shot his own dad, Rodney Wagner (aka “Eggman” on our Shooters Forum). Rodney reports: “My son Paul is pretty humble about his trigger-pulling abilities. As a Dad, I’m probably more excited than he is!”
Rodney Wagner tells us: “Paul started going to IBS 600-yard matches last year and actually shot his first match the end of 2006 season using a custom Savage model 12 with a SharpShooter Supply 20BR barrel. This year, when I built Paul a rifle he could call his own, he really started winning. Some even thought he had a chance of winning the IBS 600 Nationals at Oak Ridge this year. Several old timers have commented on his good ‘table manners’. I think his secret is he just doesn’t get excited, and takes everything in stride. He has been known to nap between relays with his IPod and earplugs in a folding chair. Paul shoots free recoil using a Protektor bag with medium high ears and a Bald Eagle front rest on a plate.”
Record-Setting Rifle Specs
The rifle features a Stiller drop-port Diamondback action, Jewell trigger, and a 28″, 8-twist Krieger barrel (heavy varmint contour). It was chambered as a “no-turn” 6 BRX by Mike Davis using his 6 BRX reamer. The stock is a Shehane Obeche Tracker II bedded and finished by Mike Isenhour who added his own weight system. On top is a Nightforce 12-42x BR scope mounted with Burris Signature ZEE rings. The load is just basic 6 BRX: 33.6 grains Varget, 105gr Berger VLD, CCI 450 primers, Lapua brass on the 7th firing. Rodney Wagner reports: “I sometimes sort bullets by bearing length but have not done that in a while as I have been getting really good bullets right out of the box from Berger.”
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September 16th, 2008
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) reports that, less than a decade after entering the ammunition market, Minneapolis-based Alliant Techsystems (NYSE:ATK) has become the nation’s largest ammo manufacturer. The company said it is on track to deliver 1.4 billion rounds of ammunition in fiscal year 2009. Yep, that’s BILLION with a ‘B’. ATK-made ammunition now generates more revenue than all other commercial ammo brands, including Winchester and Remington. While military sales make up almost 70 percent of revenues for ATK’s $1.6 billion Armament Systems Division, ATK is aggressively working to increase its sales to target shooters and hunters, according to Business Week:
“[ATK] pushed its way into small-caliber ammunition in 2000 with an aggressive bid to run the U.S. Army’s Lake City Ammunition Plant in Independence, Mo., that made it the military’s biggest ammo supplier. It has since moved swiftly into the civilian sphere, wooing hunters and police officers with creative marketing and bold promises of better performance. Military sales make up almost 70% of revenues for ATK’s $1.6 billion Armament Systems Div., one of ATK’s fastest-growing units. On Aug. 7 the unit reported a 32% increase in sales for the last quarter, to $442 million, while profits jumped 53%, to $44 million.”
ATK’s strategies are paying off, not only in the military sector, but in the civilian sport and hunting markets as well. As a result, ATK’s stock value has more than doubled in the last 5 years, showing robust growth when many companies’ stock prices are being hammered.
ATK Expands Lake City Production Facililty
ATK announced it has received an additional $104.3 million in military small-caliber ammunition orders from the U.S. Army. Work on the contracts will be performed by ATK at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP) in Independence, Missouri. Working in partnership with the Army, ATK has expanded manufacturing capacity at the plant.
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September 15th, 2008
The Colorado Rifle Club will be hosting the 2008 NBRSA 1000-yard Nationals at Byers, Colorado from Septermber 18-21. Many of the nation’s top long-range shooters will be competing. Thursday the 18th will be a practice day. Matches will be shot Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (9/19 through 9/21) with two light gun targets and two heavy gun targets each day. For match info and late registrations, call Jim Brummerstedt at (303) 772-5145.
Byers is located on the Colorado plains, east of Denver. The Byers facility, situated on 2080 acres, was founded in 1925. It is considered the best shooting range in the state. At the 1000 yard line (actually 1005 yards) there are 21 bench rest tables with additional benches at 300 yards and at 600 yards for load development. You can learn more about the range by visiting the Colorado Rifle Club website. Traditionally, Byers has been a challenging location, with unpredictable weather and sometimes very strong winds. Luckily, the Colorado Rifle Club has a dedicated weather page on the internet, with current conditions “web-cast” in real time.
CLICK HERE for current weather conditions in BYERS, COLORADO
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September 14th, 2008
We recently followed an auction for a Cooper 17 HMR. Such a rifle (in normal trim) might typically sell for $1300.00 on Gunbroker.com. But the bids on this particular rifle soared, eventually closing at $3126.00! What made this Cooper so desireable? Well it did have a case-colored receiver, but the main attraction was custom-crafted stock from Stocks by Umberger. Shown below is a centerfire stock produced by Brent Umberger.
 Artisan’s Legacy Lives On
Brent Umberger practiced his trade as a master stockmaker for four decades. Sadly, he passed away a couple of years ago. However, the company he started, and the legacy of fine craftsmanship he created, are being carried on. In recent years, Brent worked with Adam Fraley and Jason Basham, training them in the fine arts of gunsmithing and stockmaking and sharing his expertise. After Brent’s passing, Adam and Jason purchased the business from Brent’s widow. Adam and Jason are now continuing the tradition of fine-crafted, hand-checkered wood stocks built from the finest woods available. Stocks by Umberger products are showcased on the website, StocksByUmberger.com.
Umberger rifles and shotguns have been featured in many publications including American Shotgunner, Gun Week, Peterson’s Shotguns, Sporting Clays, American Walnut Industry and Trap and Field magazines. Umberger guns have graced the cover of The Shooters’ Bible, and a fabulous Purdy sidelock shotgun stocked by Brent is on display at the ATA Hall of Fame.
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September 14th, 2008
Readers often ask us: “What is a good, affordable hard-shell gun case for benchrest and varmint rifles with long barrels and wide stocks?” While there are many excellent options, many premium hard cases (such as the SKB) cost $150.00 or more. For about $30.00, the unique Plano AirGlide™ is a great choice. Right now the AirGlide, item WX2-110200, is on sale at Sportsmans’ Guide for just $29.97 (or $26.97 for SG’s Buyers’ Club members). Lockable and airline-approved, the Plano AirGlide offers excellent performance for the price.
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″.
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September 13th, 2008
 How would you like a full-length sizing die perfectly fitted to your fired brass? At one time that required you to purchase a die blank, a special undersized reamer (a chamber reamer is too big), and send the work out to a skilled gunsmith. You could expect to have $250-$350 tied up in your custom die when all was said and done.
Now Hornady’s custom shop offers a much less expensive alternative. For $100-$120, plus shipping, Hornady will produce a custom-made die based on your reamer print, spec sheet or fired brass. (FL dies for cases up to 2.55″ COAL are $101.00; larger dies are $120.00) That’s the price for one (1) full-length sizing die. You can either order a conventional non-bushing FL die, or a FL die that uses bushings to size the case-necks. (Standard non-micrometer seaters are also available for another $20.00-$25.00.) To order, we recommend you send 3 or 4 fired cases along with a reamer print to Lonnie Hummel at Hornady Mfg., Box 1848, Grand Island, NE, 68802. Give Lonnie a call first at (800) 338-3220, ext. 208, to discuss design details and get an estimated delivery date.
Lonnie and his team of skilled machinists have produced custom dies for many top shooters. Scott Parker had Hornady produce a custom full-length die for Scott’s 6BRX. Scott reports: “The die is great. I’m very impressed. The die is a perfect fit for my brass and the sized brass has very low run-out.”
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September 13th, 2008
 The NBRSA 100-yard and 200-yard Nationals will be held Oct. 6-11 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix, Arizona. Match organizer Gary Ocock states that there are plenty of entry spots left for the match and registrations are still welcome. Four classes will be contested at the NBRSA Nationals: Light Varmint (LV), Heavy Varmint (HV), Sporter, and Unlimited (Rail guns). 4-Gun Fee is $220, 3-gun Fee is $160. Pre-Registration is required. NBRSA requires a $40 late registration fee after September 6, 2008. Match Directors anticipate three (3) relays. Shooters requesting the same bench rotation, sharing equipment must request this in writing. Camping at the range is $10/day. Click the links below to view/download registration forms in MS Word and Acrobat (.pdf) format.
| NBRSA Nat’ls Registration Form (Word Doc)
| NBRSA Nat’ls Registration Form (.pdf)
Write checks payable to AZ Benchrest. Mail checks and registration forms to Arizona Benchrest Shooters, 15231 West Gelding Drive, Surprise, AZ 85379. If you plan to attend but won’t be able to mail in your registration in time, email Gary Ocock at onehole149 [at] aol.com. For NBRSA membership information and application form, visit NBRSA.org.
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September 12th, 2008
The 43rd Annual World Military Shooting Championships will be held in Boden, Sweden from September 14-21. Over 550 shooters from 45 countries are slated to attend. From the U.S.A., 14 armed services shooters will compete in Sweden, including three-time Olympian Sgt. 1st Class Jason Parker, and four-time Olympian Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Callahan.
 The Military Shooting Championship are conducted under the auspices of the Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM). Male and female shooters will compete in separate divisions, shooting both pistols and rifles. Events will include: 25-meter .22-caliber pistol, 25-meter .32-caliber centerfire pistol, 50-meter Sport Rifle (both prone and 3-position), and 300-meter Standard Rifle (both prone and 3-Position). In addition, there will also be 300-Meter Rapid Fire Military Rifle Matches. The 300m competition is still dominated by the 6mmBR Norma cartridge, though some teams will be shooting 6XC ammo from Norma.
The competitions are to be held at Rödberget Shooting Centre, about four kilometres southwest of Boden town centre. Two new shooting ranges have been built and two ranges have been overhauled. The new facilities were set up in 2007, when Boden hosted the Nordic Military Shooting Championships.
One of the three women on the Swedish 50-meter team is Christina Bengtsson, an officer at the Armed Forces Technical School in Halmstad. Christina, who won gold in the World Military Shooting Championships in Switzerland in 2005, observed that Boden offers first-rate facilities. Christina comments: “[Boden has] excellent shooting ranges. I can safely say this is one of the very best facilities in Sweden, and I hope it will be put to good use in civilian competitions.” For more information about the CISM World Military Championship, visit the Swedish Armed Forces web site: www.mil.se/wmsc08. Starting Sept. 15, that site will offer weblinks with updated event news and match results.
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September 12th, 2008
Looking for a cool extended bolt knob to provide extra leverage and more secure grip while working the action of your rifle? Bolt Knobs by Bill offers a wide array of styles and colors, all hand-crafted with great precision. Bill Hawk’s products range in price from $20 to $30. The O-Ring style provides excellent comfort and grip. The Tactical style knob is slightly longer and has no o-rings. It is available with or without knurling. Bill also offers a conventional oversized ball in plastic or metal. Click images below to see LARGE PHOTOS.
 
 
Custom bolt knobs are made from aluminum stock that has been machined, media blasted, and powder coated for a durable and uniform finish. Choose from dozens of powder-coat colors. Knobs are drilled and tapped to fit 5/16 x 24 threaded bolt handles. A round ball style is available in aluminum, steel, or phenolic (hard plastic with threaded brass insert). This configuration still provides plenty of gripping surface but keeps the overall length of the bolt handle shorter compared to the tactical model.
Bill Hawks tells us that all his products can be customized: “I started selling bolt knobs a few years ago when I began to combine my passion for metal working and my passion for shooting. Of course, there were other manufacturers who already made bolt knobs, but I wanted to offer something a little different by allowing the shooter to tell me what they wanted and do my best to produce it. Hence the ‘custom’ part. Most people are happy with the tactical and o-ring knobs that are featured on my website, but I also make them to customer spec. Length, profile, thread size, and material can all be adjusted at no extra charge in most cases. My emphasis is primarily on offering a service to my fellow shooters.” There is a secure shoping cart on Bill’s Website, so it’s easy to order. Direct questions to info [at] boltknobsbybill [dot] com, or call (319) 321-0827.
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September 11th, 2008
 Every long-range precision shooter can benefit from an accurate, full-featured portable wind and weather monitor. Right now the relatively new Kestrel 4500 is the best hand-held weather station on the market. Introduced at the 2007 SHOT Show, The Kestrel 4500 Pocket Weather Tracker is a complete weather instrument, offering instant and accurate measurement of wind speed, wind direction (including crosswind and headwind/tailwind), temperature, humidity, density altitude, barometric pressure and numerous other derived functions. The Kestrel 4500 has a built-in digital compass, a feature not found on other Kestrels. This allows you to track and log wind direction as well as wind speed. Wind direction is displayed in degrees and cardinal compass points.
 Weekend shooters and military snipers alike have been calling for a Kestrel Meter with crosswind calculation for years — and the Kestrel 4500 now offers that capability. By means of its built-in digital compass, the Kestrel 4500 provides Wind Direction and velocity, Crosswind direction and velocity, and Headwind/Trailwind direction and velocity. In addition to these wind functions, the Kestrel 4500 will also display: Max Wind Gust, Average Wind Speed, Temperature, Wind Chill, Relative Humidity, Heat Stress Index, Dewpoint Temp, Wet Bulb Temp, Barometric Pressure, Altitude, and Density Altitude. These features are illustrated in a handy flash-based “Virtual Tour” that shows all the Kestrel 4500’s product features.
CLICK HERE for Kestrel 4500 Virtual Tour with Feature Demos.
The bright yellow Kestrel 4500 is available for $289.00 from Kestrelmeters.com. An olive drab version with Night Vision-friendly backlighting is offered for $309.00 from the same vendor.
Full Review of Kestrel 4500 by SniperWorkx.com
A very detailed field-test of the Kestrel 4500 was conducted by Sal Palma for SniperWorx.com. In his write-up, Sal Palma explains why a precision shooter needs a tool such as the Kestrel 4500: “Altitude, temperature, barometric pressure, and relative humidity are critical pieces of data. As is wind speed and direction. What used to be a good 300-yard zero may now be a full minute or more off. At a range of 300 yards, a one minute error makes a 3″ difference in the point of impact. The [Kestrel 4500] has some major and significant new features not found in any of their other models. To start with, the 4500 offers a built in electronic compass, the compass can be configured to indicate true bearings as well as magnetic. In addition to the basic wind functions the [Kestrel 4500] also provides crosswind, headwind and tailwind data.”
CLICK HERE to download SniperWorkx.com KESTREL 4500 Review in .pdf format.
Kestrel Sponsors U.S. Teams in Spirit of America Match
Nielsen-Kellerman, maker of Kestrel Weather trackers, is sponsoring the U.S. Long Range Rifle Teams in the Spirit of America Match (SOA) running this week at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, NM. The SOA features one of shooting’s most prestigious international matches, the America Trophy Match. This September, the Match will be held for the first time since 2005. The national teams from Great Britain and Australia will compete against the U.S. National Team shooting at distances from 300 to 1,000 yards. The U.S. Long Range Rifle Teams consist of the National Team (who include former members of the Palma® team), the Veterans’ team, and the USA Young Eagles Under 21 / Under 25 team.
“The effects of wind and weather play a huge role in our sport. Not only does the wind affect the flight of the bullet, but differences in altitude, pressure, and temperature can also change the bullet’s impact,” said Dennis Flaharty, Team Captain of the National / Palma® Team. “Tools like the Kestrel Pocket Weather Tracker can often mean the difference between being a winning team, or being at the weather’s mercy.”
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September 11th, 2008
The 4th Annual Shilen Swap Meet will be held on Saturday, October 18th. The Swap Meet runs from 8am to 3pm in Shilen’s parking lot at 205 Metro Park Blvd., Ennis, Texas. All buyers and sellers are invited — and you’re welcome to just come and mingle or take a tour of the factory. Anyone can set up a table or just drop your tailgate. There are no fees and the Swap Meet will go forward rain or shine (Shilen rents a tent). Shilen provides complementary chili, frito pie and soft drinks. Shilen’s organizers noted: “Please call (972) 875-5318 if you plan on attending so we can have a rough head count. If you want to put up a table please call, fax or email us and let us know. We will add you to the list of vendors.”
Butch Lambert tells us: “Bring all your guns and gun-related stuff. No charge for anything. They will have regular tours of the shop. They are planning on a few shooting seminars also. Dr. Oltersdorf has said he will be there with his weedwacker blender serving up a few toddies, and Shilen will serve Chupacabra chili and drinks. ”
For more info, or to reserve space, call (972) 875-5318 or email jennifer.hull [at] shilen.com.
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September 10th, 2008
We’ve all heard the old adage: “Keep your powder dry.” Well, tests by Norma have demonstrated that even normal environmental differences in humidity can affect the way powders burn, at least over the long term. In the July issue of Precision Shooting Magazine, Fred Barker reviews the current Norma and Vihtavuori reloading manuals. Fred notes that, in the Norma manual, Sven-Eric Johansson, head of ballistics at Nexplo/Bofors, presents a very important discussion of water vapor absorption by powder. Johansson shows, with supporting test data, that the same powder will burn at different rates depending on its water content.
Powders Leave the Factory with 0.5 to 1.0% Water Content
Johansson explains that, as manufactured, most powders contain 0.5 to 1% of water by weight. (The relative humidity is “equilibrated” at 40-50% during the manufacturing process to maintain this 0.5-1% moisture content). Importantly, Johansson notes that powder exposed to moist air for a long time will absorb water, causing it to burn at a slower rate. On the other hand, long-term storage in a very dry environment reduces powder moisture content, so the powder burns at a faster rate. In addition, Johansson found that single-base powders are MORE sensitive to relative humidity than are double-base powders (which contain nitroglycerine).
 Tests Show Burn Rates Vary with Water Content
Reviewer Fred Barker notes: “Johansson gives twelve (eye-opening) plots of the velocities and pressures obtained on firing several popular cartridges with dehydrated, normal and hydrated Norma powders (from #200 to MRP). He also gives results on loaded .30-06 and .38 Special cartridges stored for 663 to 683 days in relative humidities of 20 and 86%. So Johansson’s advice is to keep powders tightly capped in their factory containers, and to minimize their exposure to dry or humid air.” Confirming Johansson’s findings that storage conditions can alter burn rates, Barker observes: “I have about 10 pounds of WWII 4831 powder that has been stored in dry (about 20% RH) Colorado air for more than 60 years. It now burns about like IMR3031.”
What does this teach us? First, all powders start out with a small, but chemically important, amount of water content. Second, a powder’s water content can change over time, depending on where and how the powder is stored. Third, the water content of your powder DOES make a difference in how it burns, particularly for single-base powders. For example, over a period of time, a powder used (and then recapped) in the hot, dry Southwest will probably behave differently than the same powder used in the humid Southeast.
Reloaders are advised to keep these things in mind. If you want to maintain your powders’ “as manufactured” burn rate, it is wise to head Johannson’s recommendation to keep your powders tightly capped when you’re not actually dispensing charges and avoid exposing your powder to very dry or very humid conditions. The Norma Reloading Manual is available from a variety of sources, including MidwayUSA.com.
| Real-World Example — “Dry” H4831sc Runs Hotter
Robert Whitley agrees that the burn rate of the powder varies with the humidity it absorbs. Robert writes: “I had an 8-lb. jug of H4831SC I kept in my detached garage (it can be humid there). 43.5-44.0 gr of this was superbly accurate with the 115 Bergers out of my 6mm Super X. I got tired of bringing it in and out of the garage to my house for reloading so I brought and kept the jug in my reloading room (a dehumidified room in my house) and after a few weeks I loaded up 43.5 gr, went to a match and it shot awful. I could not figure out what was going on until I put that load back over the chronograph and figured out it was going a good bit faster than before and the load was out of the “sweet spot” (42.5 – 43.0 gr was the max I could load and keep it accurate when it was stored in less humid air). I put the jug back in the garage for a few weeks and I now am back to loading 43.5 – 44.0 gr and it shoots great again. I have seen this with other powders too.
If you have two jugs of the same powder, one kept in a room in your house and one somewhere else where it is drier or more humid, don’t expect the two jugs of the same lot of powder to chrono the same with the same charge weights unless and until they are both stored long enough in the same place to equalize again. Been there … done that!” |
Do Your Own Test with Sun-Dried Propellants
Johansson studied the effects of humidity variances during long-term storage. Keep in mind that a powder’s water content can change in a much shorter period of time if it is exposed to extreme heat, or if it is used in a very humid environment. You can do your own simple test to show how heat can de-hydrate powder. Throw 100 grains of powder and weigh it. Then put it out in direct sunlight for a full day (shielded from the wind so you don’t lose any kernels). Re-weigh the sun-dried powder. You’ll find it has lost a bit of weight from the water baking out.
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