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May 8th, 2011
An impressive new, 26-bay, 1200-yard rifle range has been constructed at the Midlands National Shooting Centre of Ireland. Dubbed the “Creedmoor” Range, the new 1200-yard facility, the only one of its kind in Ireland, will host long-range matches. These will include an historic F-Class Challenge match to be held June 25, 2011 between U.S. and Irish Teams. This event, the 2011 Creedmoor Cup, harkens back to the classic rifle matches of the late 19th Century.
Creedmoor Competition in the 1800s
History buffs will know that the NRA Range at Creedmoor, New York, was the site of many famous long-range rifle tournaments in the 19th Century. The great rifle matches of 1874 and 1875 between Ireland and America were a fantastic saga in the history of our two nations. The NY Creedmoor range continued to host a series of international matches during the 1870s and 1880s until public interest eventually declined and sadly, in 1910, shooting finally ceased at Creedmoor and the land was deeded back to the state of New York. Much history has passed between then and now in our two countries. Throughout all those years the NRA in America has grown enormously, becoming an integral part of America’s sporting identity. Ireland, sadly, had seen a decline in long range shooting. But that all began to change at the start of the 21st century….
 Midlands National Shooting Centre of Ireland
In the year 2000, the National Rifle Association of Ireland (NRAI) was formed. One of its primary goals was to promote fullbore target shooting in Ireland. The NRAI needed a home and that home was found on the bog of Derrymore in Blueball just outside Tullamore in County Offaly. In 2000, a 400-yard range was built on the site. Three years later the 600-yard “Windmill” range, the first of its kind in modern Ireland, was also built to allow for mid-range target shooting. The site was christened the Midlands National Shooting Centre of Ireland (MNSCI) and with it the story of Irish F-Class began. No sooner had the 600-yard range been built at the MNSCI, when the NRAI formed a national F-Class league bringing together like-minded shooters from all over Ireland to compete in the modern F-Class discipline. The league continued to grow over the following six years, and, in 2008, a temporary 1000-yard range was built to facilitate Ireland’s bid to compete in the 2009 F-Class World Championships.
The 2011 Creedmoor Cup
Following the 2009 World Championships, America’s F-Classers issued a challenge to the F-Class riflemen of Ireland for an International Rifle Match. The challenge was made by then-president of the American NRA, John Sigler, to the chairman of the NRAI, Noel Kelly, who accepted the challenge on behalf of the riflemen of Ireland. The match will be called “The Creedmoor Cup” and will be held every four years, alternating between Ireland and America. The first Creedmoor Cup of the modern era in Ireland is scheduled for June 25, 2011 at the MNSCI range outside Tullamore.
To coincide with the Creedmoor Cup, two other events will be held at the start of that week. First will be the Irish Open, two days of F-Class shooting for individual competitors. This will be followed by the Europe vs. America team match. Think of this as a “Ryder Cup with Rifles”. The Europe vs. USA team competition, first held at the Lodi, Wisconsin range in 2008, is always a fiercely-fought grudge match between the Yanks and the “Continentals”.
To host the 2011 Creedmoor Cup events, a spectacular 1200-yard rifle range has been built at Ireland’s Midlands National Shooting Centre. The new 1200-yard range has been christened the NRAI “Creedmoor” Range, honoring the place where the sporting rifle traditions of America and Ireland became forever entwined. This venue was completed at the end of 2010, exactly one hundred years after the closing of the original Creedmoor range in America.
Notable developments in Ireland over the last decade — the formation of the NRAI and the opening of the Midlands National Shooting Centre — parallel what occurred in America during the 1870s with the founding of the NRA and the dedication of the Creedmoor range in New York state. The Midlands National Shooting Centre is an outstanding facility that has spurred the growth of the shooting sports in Ireland. We envy those who will compete in next month’s inaugural Ireland vs. USA Creedmoor Tournament at Tullamore.
May 7th, 2011
X-Treme Shooting Products now has its new Titanium Short Actions and Long Actions in production. Made from Grade 5 Ti-6Al-4V Titanium, these are the only custom Titanium actions currently manufactured in the USA. The long and short X-Treme Ti actions are available with +20 MOA Taper Titanium Picatinny Scope rails and Titanium Recoil Lugs. The .338 Actions will be coming soon, and will be offered with +20, +25, and +30 MOA Taper rails and integral recoil lugs.
We thought you’d enjoy some views of the short and long Ti actions, fitted in tactical rifles. Shown below is and X-Treme Titanium Short Action in the regular Accuracy International AICS 2.0 chassis stock. This rifle features a Krieger fluted barrel (chambered in .260 Rem), withe an X-Treme 2-stage trigger, and Nightforce 5.5-22×56 NXS scope.
The slide show below features the X-Treme Titanium Long Action in the new Accuracy International AX chassis stock. This impressive beast also has a Krieger barrel, but chambered for the 6.5×284 cartridge. The gun also has an X-Treme 2 stage trigger, and a Nightforce 5.5-22×56 NXS scope.
Story Tip from Edlongrange. We welcome submissions from our readers.
Disclosure: X-Treme Shooting Products advertises with AccurateShooter.com.
May 7th, 2011
 Shooting USA has officially become a one-hour television show. The “Sighting In” segments will no longer air as a separate half-hour series. Instead, “Sighting In” will be included in the new one-hour format on the Outdoor Channel. Look for Shooting USA as a single listing in your cable and satellite menus. Here are air times for the Shooting USA hour, Wednesdays :
Eastern Time: 4:00 PM, 8:00 PM, 12:00 Midnight
Central Time: 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM, 11:00 PM
Mountain Time: 2:00 PM, 6:00 PM, 10:00 PM
Pacific Time: 1:00 PM, 5:00 PM, 9:00 PM
Shooting USA SHOT Show Special on May 11
The next hour-long Shooting USA episode airs Wednesday May 11, 2011 — and it’s worth watching. On May 11, Shooting USA serves up its SHOT Show special from the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas. Shooting USA’s reporters interview gun industry notables and spotlight new products. You’ll see some of the best new firearms for 2011, along with other new outdoor gear. If you could not attend SHOT Show, don’t miss the May 11 episode of Shooting USA.
May 6th, 2011
Mossberg has announced its new MVP (Mossberg Varmint Predator) line of dedicated varmint and predator bolt-action rifles, based on the Mossberg 4×4™ centerfire rifle. The big news is that Mossberg’s MVP rifles have a unique, patent-pending bolt design which allows them to reliably feed from AR15 magazines. Yes, we’ve been waiting for that functionality for a long time. Congrats to Mossberg for finally building a small bolt-gun that takes AR mags.
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The first MVP Series Varminters were recently unveiled at the 2011 NRA Convention in Pittsburgh, PA. Two MVP versions will be offered initially. The first is a standard rifle with 10-round mag and factory-installed, Weaver-style bases. The second is a combo package which includes the rifle, 4-16x50mm scope (mounted), bipod, and 10-round magazine. Both guns have 24″ fluted, medium-contour barrels, with 1:9″ twist rates. MVP rifles will ship from the factory with sling swivel studs and factory-installed Weaver-style scope bases. Without scope, the MVP varminter weighs roughly 7.25 pounds. Mossberg claims its MVP rifles can deliver “MOA accuracy right from the box!”. We’ll see…
 MVP Rifles Feature Adjustable Triggers
MVP rifles are fitted with Mossberg’s LBA “Lightning” Adjustable Trigger System, which adjusts from 2 to 7 lbs. pull weight. The LBA trigger, like the Savage Accutrigger, features a central blade that blocks sear movement unless fully depressed.
Nice Laminated Stock with Wide Fore-End
One of the best features of the MVP rifles is the stock, which comes with factory-fitted pillars. Mossberg fitted the MVPs with a nice, laminated stock that should work well either on sandbags or when shot from bipod. To ride the bags better, the fore-end is wider than typical hunting stocks, with a flat bottom. Stippling on the fore-end and pistol grip provide for positive hand placement. We think this stock is a pretty good design for the rifle’s intended uses.
Mossberg MVP Series Varmint Rifle Specifications:
ITEM: 27700
CALIBER: 5.56mm NATO (.223 Rem)
TOTAL CAP: 10+1
BARREL: 24″, Med Bull Fluted Matte Blue
TWIST RATE: 1:9″ Twist
SIGHTS: Weaver-type bases
STOCK: Benchrest-Style Grey Laminate
WEIGHT: 7.5 lbs.
MSRP: $649 |
ITEM: 27710
CALIBER: 5.56mm NATO (.223 Rem)
TOTAL CAP: 10+1
BARREL: 24″, Med Bull Fluted Matte Blue
TWIST RATE: 1:9″ Twist
SIGHTS: 4-15x50mm Scope, Weaver-type bases
STOCK: Benchrest-Style Grey Laminate
WEIGHT: 10 lbs.
MSRP: $796 |
Story tip from Edlongrange. We welcome submissions from our readers.
May 6th, 2011
Fans of high-grade precision hardware should log on to the all-new Barnard Precision NZ Ltd. website. Barnard’s new site is easy to navigate, and you’ll find plenty of eye candy — large-size, high-quality photos. Many handsome Barnard-actioned rifles are showcased, including rifles belonging to AccurateShooter.com FORUM members. And of course there are complete, detailed specs (with weights and dimensions) for all the Barnard rifle actions.
The new site showcases Barnard’s full line of actions, plus complete rifles, and accessories such as V-blocks and sight bases. For more than 18 years Barnard Precision has crafted some of the highest-quality actions available, and now there are more options than ever, in both Barnard P-type actions and Rem footprint actions. Click the links below to see particular action variants:
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Barnard Offers Complete .338 Lapua Tactical Rifle — the Mighty Model ’10’
One of the highlights on the new Barnard web site is the new Barnard ’10’ Rifle. If you’re interested in a serious, heavy-caliber Tactical rig, the Model ’10’ is very appealing. The Model ’10’ is designed around the .338 Lapua case and Accuracy International 5-shot magazine.
The Model ’10’ chassis is constructed predominantly from billet 6061 aluminum, with heavy-duty, marine-grade anodizing. It can be fitted with either a Right-Hand or Left-Hand Barnard .338 actions. Both the cheekpiece and the butt plate are adjustable, and the Model ’10’ also has a combo rear buttspike/bag rider.
Story tip from Edlongrange. We welcome submissions from our readers.
May 4th, 2011
 OK, you .260 Rem shooters, break out your credit cards. The Lapua .260 Remington cartridge brass has finally arrived. Kevin Thomas of Lapua tells us: “Sorry for the wait guys, but it’s here. Grafs.com has its shipment and will begin shipping orders [May 4, 2011]. Kaltron Pettibone received theirs a few days ago and should be filling existing orders as I write. Let us know what you think of this stuff. Looks pretty good so far, but the proof’s in the pudding.” Grafs.com has the .260 Rem brass in stock at $96.99 per 100-ct box (Shipping included with $4.95 handling fee). Eabco.com has the .260 Rem brass in stock for $92.50 per 100-ct box.
May 4th, 2011
The 6mmBRX (6BRX) is an outstanding cartridge that has set world records and harvested many trophies. Just last week Peter White used his 6BRX to win the NBRSA 600-yard Nationals convincingly. Peter loves his 6BRX, but he has one gripe — he must use two different dies to size his cases because a standard 6mmBR die won’t reach down far enough. White uses a .308 Win or .243 Win die to size the bottom of his 6BRX case then finishes up with his 6mmBR FL bushing die.
 Redding 6BRX Dies Available Soon
Now 6BRX shooters have a single-step solution — Redding 6BRX dies. Robert Whitley has commissioned a special run of Redding 6BRX dies. Robert will offer a Redding Type ‘S’ full-length sizing die that will size the whole case, with bushing control over the neck. What’s more, Redding 6BRX micrometer-top Comp Seaters will also be available. Robert, who runs 6mmAR.com, expects these special-order Redding 6BRX dies to arrive within a few weeks. This is a very limited run of 6BRX dies, and Redding is not currently selling them through other sources. So if you want a Redding 6BRX Type ‘S’ FL sizer or Comp Seater die, you’d better contact Robert soon. Order through:
AR-X Enterprises, LLC (Attn: Robert Whitley)
Phone: (215) 348-8789
Email: rcw3 [at] erols.com
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 6BRX Cartridge Basics
The 6BRX is a modified version of the 6mmBR Norma case. The 6BRX has the shoulder blown forward about 0.100″, but it retains the same 30° shoulder angle of the parent case, and the same sidewall angle. You can use “normal” 6mmBR dies for the 6BRX — that’s one of its appealing factors — but the 6mmBR full-length sizer will miss part of the bottom of the case down near the web.
To compensate for this, many 6BRX shooters full-length size their brass first with a .308 Win or .243 Win FL Die, and then switch to a 6BR die. That system works, but it creates unnecessary steps. With a dedicated 6BRX sizing die, you can size the whole case in one pass, so you don’t need to use two dies. The $89.95 Redding Type ‘S’ Full-length bushing die sold by Whitley is one-die sizing solution that works. Whitley will also offer a package of the 6BRX Type ‘S’ FL sizing die plus a Redding Comp Seater for $199.95. That gives you a complete set of dies for your 6BRX wildcat. |
May 4th, 2011
The May digital edition of Shooting Sports USA has a good article on Power Case Trimmers for rifle brass. Trey Tuggle reviews self-powered units from Giraud, Gracey, Hornady, and RCBS, plus a drill-mounted trimmer fitting from Little Crow Gunworks. Tuggle reviews the main features of each unit. Reading this article is recommended for any one in the market for a high-output, powered case prep machine. CLICK HERE to read story.
 State Champions Listed by Discipline
The May edition of Shooting Sports USA also dedicates six full pages to 2010’s State Champion shooters, listed discipline by discipline. The recognition give these many shooters is well-deserved. As you’ll find in every edition of Shooting Sports USA, there is a comprehensive calendar of NRA shooting competitions for a vast range of disciplines: Action Pistol, Air Pistol, Pistol Silhouette, Black Powder Target Rifle, Black Powder Silhouette, Lever Rifle Silhouette, Air Rifle, Smallbore Rifle, Smallbore Rifle Silhouette, High Power Rifle, High Power Silhouette, and more. You’ll find match listings for hundreds of shooting clubs around the country.
May 3rd, 2011
In today’s economy, smart shoppers use discount codes. Here’s an attractive money-saving promotion from Precision Reloading, good through the end of May, 2011. With these Promo Codes, you get $10 off an order of $100.00 or more, $20 off an order of $200.00 or more, $30 off an order of $300.00 or more, and a full $50 off an order of $500.00 or more. NOTE: These codes only work for online orders made via www.precisionreloading.com, and the promos are valid only on regularly-priced, in-stock inventory.
Precision Reloading PROMO CODES:
1052011 for $10 off | 2052011 for $20 off | 3052011 for $30 off | 5052011 for $50 off.
Enter the promotion code into the “Coupon Code” box on the checkout page. The discount will calculate automatically and appear in your shopping cart total. If you haven’t received a Precision Reloading 2011 print catalog, call 800-223-0900 to request one today.
FINE PRINT: Offers limited to online orders only. Promo Codes can not be combined with any other offer. The discounts apply to regular, in-stock products only (not wholesale, sale or clearance items). Promo Codes and Discounts expire Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 11:59 pm.
May 3rd, 2011
In a few more weeks, many readers will hit the road for a summer holiday. Would you like to find a convenient shooting range near your destination? Perhaps you’ve recently relocated and want to join a shooting club near your new residence. Or maybe you’re just looking for a facility close to home that offers instruction or specialized programs for women or juniors. You can quickly find exactly what you want at the WhereToShoot.org website.
A service of the NSSF (Nat’l Shooting Sports Foundation), WhereToShoot.org offers a Searchable Database of pistol, rifle, and shotgun ranges around the country. You can search by state, or select a particular distance from any zip code. The database is very complete. The individual range pages also include web addresses, phone numbers, and map links. The example below shows the results of a search for rifle-specific ranges in Arizona:
Five-Star Ranges
Your search results may reveal ranges identified with up to five stars. This is a rating system developed by the National Association of Shooting Ranges (NASR) that distinguishes these ranges as the best at providing quality-level recreational experiences.
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