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November 26th, 2008
Serious shooters spend lots of time in the reloading room. If you want to produce great ammo, start with a good, solid bench with a very rigid working surface and plenty of storage space. Here we present three sets of FREE workbench plans. Any one of these bench designs can be a good winter do-it-yourself project for those with basic word-working skills.
Easy-to-Build Basic Bench
Simpson, maker of Strong-Tie fasteners, offers FREE Workbench Plans for a sturdy, 48″-wide bench with a pegboard backing and both upper and lower shelves. A complete list of fasteners and cut lengths is provided. For use as a loading bench with mounted presses, double-up the bench-top for extra ridigity. Without much difficulty, the plans can be adapted to build a wider bench if you prefer. The same downloadable document also contains plans for an 80″-high 6-shelf unit, a 72″-high heavy-duty shelving unit (with 4 shelves), and a 48″-wide heavy-duty table.
FREE Strongtie Bench Plans (.pdf file).
Corner Bench with Swinging Doors
The next design is rather unique — a corner bench with swing-out cabinets. This reloading bench is based on plans by M. L. McPherson as published in the October 1993 American Rifleman. The compact footprint that makes good use of corner space that is usually poorly utilized. This set of plans is provided by from Ray-Vin.com, which sells scope stands, shooting carts, sight accessories, and AR15 parts.
FREE Corner Bench Plans (330kb .pdf file)
Classic NRMA Bench with Cabinets
The last bench design is a large, versatile bench with a full set of enclosed overhead cabinets. A National Reloding Manufacturers Association (NRMA) design, this bench requires many hours to build, but it will house all your reloading gear and provide a very stable platform for your presses.This bench was designed to be as versatile as possible to meet the needs of most reloaders. However, the bench design can easily be customized. For instance, it can be made larger or smaller to meet space requirements or quantities of equipment and components. As it is currently designed, the work area is about waist-high for a 6’2″ person. This can be adjusted to fit your height simply by making the legs longer or shorter.
FREE NRMA Reloading Bench Plans (2.42 megabyte .pdf file).
November 26th, 2008
Now through Jan. 11th, 2009, Sinclair International is offering a set of stainless-steel-framed digital calipers (item code MIC-14) for just $27.95. The folks at Sinclair tells us this item is extemely popular. These digital calipers feature an easy-to-read large LCD (display) and a one-touch zero function. With the push of a button, the calipers can switch from inches to millimeters on the fly.
Digital Neckwall Thickness Gauge for $49.95
Another slick new product in high demand is the InSize Digital Thickness Gauge. Sinclair reports this product is selling very well and customer feedback has been very positive. Designed for easy, one-handed use, this is a great tool for measuring neck wall thickness. You can make multiple thickness measurements around a case neck in just a few seconds, or easily calculate a needed neck bushing size without having a loaded round. The tool works with a spring-loaded sliding anvil to maintain consistent anvil pressure when taking multiple measurements. The ball anvil for case necks or tubing can be moved down to allow the gauge to measure flat stock up to 1” thick. The claimed accuracy on the digital display is 0.0005″ (half a thousandth), with controls for on/off, zero and inch/millimeter. The new InSize Gauge (item 52-9900) comes complete with a fitted plastic case and SR44/357 batteries.
November 25th, 2008
 Maybe, like fine wine, good shooters get better with age. This weekend, at the Sacramento Valley Shooting Center, 80-year-old Ken Schroeder shot a brilliant 50 (4X) at 600 yards. Pending approval, this will be a new, NBRSA 600-yard, single-target Light Gun score record. The group was a very small 1.680″, well-centered.
Ken was shooting the standard (unimproved) 6mmbr cartridge, with Lapua brass, Hodgdon Varget powder and Sierra 107gr MatchKing bullets. Ken’s tack-driving rifle was built by California smith Stu Harvey. The gun features a BAT action, Bartlein cut-rifled barrel, and a McMillan stock.
Forum member Ron Tilley was also competing in Sacramento on 11/23/2008 when Ken shot the pending record. Ron reports: “Ken is the kindest gentleman you will meet AND one of the toughest competitors. He is 80 years young and still kickin butt! Ken is always at the top when the dust clears and he can be hard to catch. All of us at Sac Valley are honored to shoot with Ken and support his accomplishments. I personally hope to be able to do what he does at his age.” For the match, Ken earned many honors. The record group was also Light Gun single target small group for the day. Ken won the two-gun, 6-target score Agg. with a 420 (10X), and Ken placed second in Heavy Gun score Agg. with a 282 (5X).
Congrats to Ken! He proves that we better watch out for those sharp-shootin’ octogenarians!
November 25th, 2008
Midway USA has the Tipton 12-piece multi-caliber Jag Kit on sale again. Now through Nov. 30th, you can purchase the Kit, item 582621, for $12.99, marked down from $16.99. The set includes 17, 22, 243/6mm, 25, 270/7mm, 30/32, 8mm/338, 35/9mm, 375, 40/416, 44, and 45 Caliber Jags, in a sturdy box with fitted holes for each jag. This editor owns two Tipton jag kits, one for the range kit and one for the loading room. The set works for everything from my 17 Mach2 up to my 45/70. I use the jags for both rifle and pistol calibers. I like the fact that you can easily switch from a bigger jag to the next smaller size to adjust patch fit as the job requires.
Midway also markets a 12-piece Jag Set with nickel-plated jags. This is a smart innovation that has been well-received by shooters. The nickel jags aren’t affected by solvents so they don’t give “false positives” when you’re cleaning copper fouling from your barrels. The Nickel Jag Kit, item 812503, is now on sale for just $17.99, marked down from $22.99. This sale price on the Nickel-Plated Jag Kit is good through Dec. 31, 2008.
November 25th, 2008
 We know many readers will be traveling to different states over the holidays. If you are carrying firearms for hunting, target shooting, or self-defense, you want to make sure you comply with all state and local laws during your journey. You could consult a team of lawyers, spend hours researching statutes on the internet, or you could simply get a copy of the Traveler’s Guide to Firearm Laws of the 50 States.
Available from the NRA Store website, the Traveler’s Guide includes key statutes for all 50 states plus contact information for state regulatory agencies and a section outlining interstate reciprocity.
Priced at $12.95, the Traveler’s Guide is a “must-have” for shooting enthusiasts and hunters who regularly travel across state lines to attend matches or visit new hunting grounds.
November 24th, 2008
Gun parts vendor Brownells recently reached a significant milestone. Brownells’ computers officially logged the company’s one millionth customer since the company computerized in the early 1980s. Lucky #1,000,000 was Jason Wright. Brownells presented Wright with a personalized Bushmaster AR-15 in his caliber choice, .450 Bushmaster, at Brownell’s Montezuma, Iowa facility. In the photo, Brownells President Pete Brownell, left, and Company CEO Frank Brownell, right, flank the smiling Jason Wright, holding his new Bushmaster.
The Brownells IT Department had been keeping track as the company neared the one-million, unique customers mark. The tech guys passed the word to company President, Pete Brownell, the instant Mr. Wright’s order came in. “I really wanted to say thank you to our customers and show how much they mean to us. When I saw that Jason ordered AR-15 parts I knew right away what we had to do. A big thank you to Bushmaster for providing the gun, and Trinidad State Junior College for [personalizing] the gun for Jason.”
Jason himself was astonished, “I just placed an order, my first, and was so surprised when they called to say they were giving me a gun. I have another Bushmaster and love their ARs, so this is really great.”
November 23rd, 2008
Members of Canada’s women’s winter biathlon team have come up with a novel way to raise funds for their 2010 Olympic bid. Five young women athletes have shed their lycra ski-suits to appear in a “tasteful yet revealing” promotional calendar. The Bold Beautiful Biathlon 14-month calendar features Rosanna Crawford (Canmore, Alberta), Megan Imrie (Falcon Lake, Manitoba), Sandra Keith (Calgary, Alberta), Zina Kocher (Red Deer, Alberta), and Megan Tandy (Prince George, British Columbia). Calendar profits will be used to cover training and competition expenses in preparation for the 2010 Olympics.
 
Biathlon is a challenging winter sport that combines Nordic skiing with rimfire target shooting. The sport requires very high aerobic fitness levels, plus superior shooting skills. The five Canadian biathletes kicked off the launch of their fund-raising calendar by roller-skiing through downtown Calgary, clad in shorts and race bibs (photo below).
For more information (and to view a slide show featuring more photos of the biathletes), visit the CTV.ca website.
CLICK HERE to view Bold, Beautiful Biathlon Slide Show.
The Biathlon Calendar is offered online for $20.00 CDN at Boldbeautifulbiathlon.com. Through that website, you can also send a donation via PayPal.
Photos courtesy of Rachel Boekel
November 23rd, 2008
Forum member Lew C. (aka “Thud”) has acquired a large quantity of brand new H-S Precision Varmint long action stocks and is selling them at significant savings. Thud is offering the stocks for $300.00 plus $10.00 shipping. Normally these sell for $350 and there can be a 2-4 month wait for delivery. Thud explains: “I have twenty (20) NEW H-S Precision PSV029 RH Long Action stocks inletted for Remington actions. Each as new from H-S. They are black and have a pad and sling eyes. You need bottom metal to complete. My price is $300.00 + $10.00 shipping.”
You can see examples of similar stocks on the H-S Precision website. Note however, that the photo on that page shows a tan camo finish. Thud’s stocks are plain black. These H-S Precision stocks feature an aluminum bedding block and a varmint contour barrel channel. The outer shell is woven Kevlar, fiberglass cloth, carbon fiber and an epoxy-based gel coat and laminating resin. The center core of the stock is a reaction injection-molded, polyurethane structural foam.
Before you contact Thud, also be sure you understand these stocks are for right hand LONG ACTION Remington BDL receivers. For more information, visit this FORUM Thread or contact Thud via email: lscohen [at] gowebway.com.
These same model PSV029 stocks are sold by MidwayUSA for $307.99, but Midway is currently back-ordered, with an anticipated re-stocking date in December.
November 22nd, 2008
 Thanksgiving is coming up soon. After partaking in the traditional Turkey Day feast, we know many of our readers will find time during the holiday to head to the range. A Thanksgiving Day shoot is a fun excursion, and a great way for young and old family members to share time together. For all you T-Day marksmen, we offer a special turkey target. This was created by our friend and Forum member Pascal (aka “DesertFrog”).
We’ve packaged the turkey target along with five (5) other varmint/animal-themed targets for your shooting pleasure. These are all offered in .pdf (Adobe Acrobat) format for easy printing.
CLICK HERE to download all six targets as a .Zip archive.
Program Works to Expand Hunting Opportunities for Families
Speaking of turkeys and families going shooting together, we’d like to give a plug for the “Families Afield” program. A joint effort of the Nat’l Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA), and National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), the “Families Afield” program works to expand the opportunities for young hunters with adult mentors. The goal of the program is to increase the number of young people getting involved in hunting. For every 100 adult hunters today, only 69 youth hunters are coming up to take their place. “Families Afield” works to reverse that trend. Several states that were restrictive to youth hunting have signed into law “Families Afield” legislation. These new laws make it possible for young hunters and their families to enjoy hunting traditions together. CLICK HERE to learn more.
November 22nd, 2008
Lee reloading products have always represented good “bang for the buck”. The Lee Classic Cast “O”-style press is no exception — it works as well as some other presses costing twice as much. One well-known “boutique” bullet maker has recently switched to Lee presses because the tolerances and lack of slop were actually superior to more expensive presses.
Though relatively inexpensive, the Lee Classic is a well-designed unit with a strong, cast-iron frame and all-steel linkage. It has important (and very cool) features you won’t find on an RCBS RockChucker. First, the ram is drilled in the center and fitted with a plastic drop tube so spent primers drop right out the bottom (where you position your trash can). Second, the handle adjusts for length and “attack angle”. This allows you to change the leverage to suit your task. As Lee explains: “The start and stop position is adjustable with a 48-tooth, ratchet-type handle clamp. In addition, the handle length is completely adjustable. Shorten when you’re loading handgun and short rifle cases.” As you can see from the photos, you can also mount the handle on either side, left or right.
 
You can purchase the Lee Classic Cast Press for under $75.00 at major vendors. MidwayUSA sells the Lee Classic (item 317831) for $72.99. Natchez Shooters Supply also offers the Lee Classic for $72.99, item LEE90998.
 Mark Trope of SurplusRifle.com has written a detailed Review of the Lee Classic Press. He notes that the press is “southpaw friendly” and he praises the priming system. Mark found that the spent primer drop tube worked very well and that the press “works perfect and has great sensitivity” when seating primers.
Not yet convinced? CLICK HERE to read comments from actual Lee Classic owners. Here are some highlights:
“It has a large, heavy-duty 1-1/8″ diameter ram that has been drilled out for spent primers … and a long clear plastic hose attached to it so you can route it to a trash can. [This is] a VERY well thought-out way to collect ALL primers to your trash can when you’re decapping.” –D. Oldham
“Fit and finish are impeccable. The spent primer disposal system is simple and neat. There is no spring or flexing of any kind. There is virtually no play in the ram, which is a good tight fit in the frame. Operation is totally smooth.” –R. Smith
“Totally outclasses any other press in its price range. Runs with presses in the $100-$120 range.”–W. Rose
“I like…the position of the ram at priming. The Lee seats the primer with the ram at the bottom of the stroke vs. the RC II, which seats in the middle of the stroke. Priming at the bottom of the stroke gives you a much better ‘feel’.” –M. Gallagher
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