|
|
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.
Share the post "Money-Saving Promo Codes from Precision Reloading"
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.
Share the post "Summer Travelers — Locate Shooting Ranges with NSSF Database"
May 3rd, 2011
All gun owners, hunters, and target shooters are invited to participate in the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Photo Contest. Here’s your chance to win a $50 Cabela’s Gift Card and have your photos showcased on the NSSF website. Each month, from May through December 2011, NSSF will announce a contest theme*. This month’s theme is “Spring Hunts”, so post a photo of your spring hunt — whether turkey, game birds or small game.”
How To Enter NSSF Contest
To enter the photo contest, click the Contest Tab on NSSF’s Facebook page. Photos may be posted during the first three weeks of each month. (To post a photo, you must first “Like” the NSSF Facebook page.) At the end of the month, the ten photos with the most votes will be declared winners, and the top voter-getter each month will receive a $50 Cabela’s Gift Card. Click HERE for Contest RULES.
* Other monthly themes will focus on target shooting, youth participation, family and friends, hunter orange, wildlife conservation, AR-style modern sporting rifles and handguns.
Share the post "NSSF Announces 50th Anniversary Photo Contest"
May 2nd, 2011
The PMA Neck Turning Tool, review by Danny Reever
PMA Tool was founded by Matt Harris and Pat Reagin, two former employees of Fred Sinclair. They both worked their way through college working for and designing tools for Sinclair Int’l. They now have branched out on their own and are offering some unique tools for the reloader.
I, like many other shooters out there, would sooner take a beating than change the settings of my neck turner. Many shooters even go out and buy a separate neck turner for every caliber — just so they don’t have to adjust the settings. Most of you know what it’s like, you ruin half dozen cases (or more) getting your neck turner just right, and if you change it the chances of getting it back to where it was are practically nil. Let me be the first to tell you those days are over! Like many of you, I first saw the PMA Neck Turning Tool in an advertisement on this website’s home page. It’s hard to miss, blue anodized finish with the large PMA logo on the body.
PMA Tool Moves the Mandrel, Not the Cutter Tip
 From PMA’s website I learned that this turner does NOT use a coarse or fine drive screw to move the cutter towards or away from the mandrel. Nor does the PMA tool move the mandrel on an eccentric (another method of cutting depth control). The PMA tool does something very different. PMA’s Model A Neck Turning Tool simply adjusts by moving the mandrel toward or away from the stationary cutter with an 80 TPI drive screw with 60 indicating marks. Each mark moves the mandrel .0002″ (two ten-thousandths). I found, if you stop between the marks, .0001″ isn’t out of the question. It’s such a smart arrangement, I wondered “why didn’t anyone think of that before?”
Use PMA, 21st Century, or Sinclair Int’l Mandrels
My interest now piqued, I contacted Pat Reagin for one of the PMA tools. Pat suggested that I also use PMA’s stainless expander and turning mandrels since they have put a lot of effort to get them exactly right. I might mention that the 3/8 shank stainless or carbide mandrels from 21st Century or Sinclair Int’l will work also. PMA does have carbide turning mandrels in the works — a nice upgrade for those of you who turn lots of cases at one sitting. I personally didn’t encounter any unnecessary heat build-up with the stainless mandrels only turning 10-20 cases at a time. Considering that carbide mandrels run about $40.00 compared to $7.95 for stainless, it’s nice to save a couple of bucks when you can.
Cut-Depth Settings Can Be Dialed “Dead-On” (Even after Caliber Changes)
Upon receiving the PMA tool I immediately went to my reloading room to set it up for turning some culled .308 Lapua brass — to clean it up 75% for a no-turn chamber. I followed the directions included with the turner and it was a snap to set up. After turning a few of the .308s I made note of my setting and changed both mandrels to 6MM to turn some Lapua 6BR brass for my .269″-neck chamber. Again the change went smooth as silk and I was turning the 6BRs in no time for my preferred loaded neck diameter of .26730″. I then decided to take the leap of faith and change back to turning the .308s after making note of the 6BR setting. That worked, so I then again switched back again to the 6BR setting — again with success. I have gone back and forth (between calibers) numerous times in the last couple of weeks. Each time I easily returned to my caliber-specific settings and I did not ruin a single case in the process. Without sounding like I’m gushing here I must say this is the nicest neck turner that I have ever used. The adjustments are so easy and repeatable “Even a cave man can do it”!
If, like me, you absolutely hate setting up neck turners, for fear of losing your settings, you owe it to yourself to give the PMA Model A neck turner a try. I think you’ll be impressed. The PMA Neck Turning Tool costs $95.95, complete with one carbide cutter with your choice of 30° or 40° shoulder angle.
Disclosure: Danny Reever is a Forum Member. He received no “freebies” or compensation. PMA Tools advertises on AccurateShooter.com.
Share the post "Gear Review: PMA Neck Turning Tool"
May 2nd, 2011
The National Rifle Association’s Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Pittsburgh, PA wrapped up yesterday. The day’s special events started with the annual Prayer Breakfast, and concluded with a rousing seminar featuring Ted Nugent. Mid-day Seminars included: Women’s Pistol Instructor Training, Advanced Handloading Techniques, and a seminar on 100 Years of the Model 1911 pistol. As on Friday and Saturday, hundreds of exhibitors displayed firearms products, plus hunting and outdoor gear. This slide-show from the NRA Blog features some famous faces and other highlights from the NRA’s 3-day meeting in Pittsburgh. The next NRA Annual Meeting will be held April 13-15, 2012 in St. Louis, Missouri.
At the Glock booth, Top Shot Champs Chris Reed (Season 2) and Iain Harrison (Season 1) were on hand to meet the public, along with Gunny R. Lee Ermey. The appearance of “simple country boy” Reed drew much attention, as many booth visitors had watched the soft-spoken Reed capture his title only days before on the dramatic final episode of Top Shot Season 2. With two million+ viewers per week, Top Shot is a big hit. Top Shot Season 3 is in production and the show’s producers are now interviewing contestants for Season 4.
Story by Lars Dalseide, courtesy the NRA Blog
Share the post "Highlights from 2011 NRA Annual Meeting"
May 2nd, 2011
Here’s a very handy yet inexpensive item that can deliver years of service on your reloading bench (while protecting your firearms from nicks and scratches). We found this $11.97 Long Gun Cleaning Pad (item WX2-85518) on the Sportsman’s Guide website. This will help to protect the finish of your firearms, barreled actions, and optics while you’re working at your bench. The 16″x54″ Rifle Cleaning Pad uses a unique Zorb-Tech® fabric to absorb oils and solvents. Waterproof backing prevents chemicals from soaking through to your bench-top. The fabric has a soft, felt-like nap that is gentle on your gun’s finish and won’t scratch precision metal parts. Sportsman’s Guide also offers a Zorb-Tech 16″x20″ Handgun Cleaning Pad, item WX2-85517, for $6.97.
Made in the USA, these stain-resistant pads can be machine washed and dried. Priced at just $11.97, this pad is a bargain, considering how often you’ll probably use it. If you prefer a different color, the same pad, with blue fabric and white NRA logo, is sold by the NRA Store for $12.95 as item SS 21581, shown below:
Share the post "Large, Bench-top Cleaning Pad Has Many Uses"
May 1st, 2011
Want to dress up your Remington 700 or Rem-Clone receivers at a modest cost? Check out these new CNC bolt shrouds from Pacific Tool and Gauge (PTG). PTG now offers handsome Nesika-style and Lawton-style bolt shrouds for Rem-spec bolts. The aluminum Nesika-style shrouds come in silver or black finish and cost $18.50. The aluminum Lawton-style shroud comes in a silver finish only but it costs just $7.50 while supplies last. Give your Rem action the look of a custom, or enhance your Rem clone action for under twenty bucks.
 Affordable PTG Muzzle Brakes
Many of you may not know this, but PTG now makes muzzle brakes — and they are a great value. The Standard Muzzle Brake, shown at right, costs just $49.90. It measures 1.80″ OAL .817″ x .940″ Taper (5/8-28 thread pitch). PTG’s Universal Short Muzzle Brake, with dimensions 1.100″ OAL x .750″ OD with 1/2-28 x .300 deep thread, is just $39.90. Though very affordable, these PTG muzzle brakes really work. A well-designed muzzle brake can reduce felt recoil by up to 30% (depending on caliber). When installed properly, quality brakes normally won’t hurt accuracy, although they can affect barrel harmonics so you may need to adjust your load.
This story suggested by Edlongrange. We invite other submissions from our readers.
Disclosure: Pacific Tool and Gauge has advertised with AccurateShooter.com.
Share the post "Pacific Tool and Gauge Offers Bolt Shrouds and Muzzle Brakes"
May 1st, 2011
What’s a “wallet group”? It’s a singularly spectacular proof target that entitles its bearer to bragging rights. The wallet group may or may not have been shot in competition, and, by definition, it may not be repeatable. But it exists as incontrovertible proof that, at least once, the stars aligned, and the wind gods smiled on the shooter.
 Five Shots in 0.178 MOA at 1000 Yards
A couple seasons back, Forum member and F-Class shooter Gary Wood was testing his 6.5-284 rifle at the 1000-yard range in Coalinga, California, getting ready for an up-coming long range match. In practice, Gary nailed a witnessed 1.859″ five-shot group, with four of the five shots well under an inch. Use this as proof to win those club-house arguments about whether it is possible to shoot “in the ones” at 1000 yards. Gary’s group worked out to 0.178 MOA!
Gary reports: “I was load testing with 5-shot groups. Each group was shot on a new F-Class center and pulled by Ret. Master Chief Jerry Pullens and spotted by an other long-range shooter. The second 5-shot load group looked really small … by our reckoning four out of five shots measured under an inch. I was amazed. What’s more, when I shot the group, the 4th shot blew the spindle out of the 3rd shot. My spotter saw that in his scope and Jerry Pullens told me about it afterwards”.
As measured with the OnTarget Software, using a scan of the target, Gary plotted the group size at 1.859″ total for five shots, or 0.178 MOA. Gary noted: “I had everyone sign the target which I saved and photographed.” Yes, Gary, this may be the wallet group to end all wallet groups. You should have that target framed.
Gary’s Load and 6.5-284 Rifle Specs
Gary’s load was 48 grains of Hodgdon H4350 and CCI BR-2 primers, pushing 142gr Sierra MKs, in Lapua 6.5-284 brass. The rifle features an F-class, single-shot Surgeon action with a Bartlein 5R barrel chambered with a no-turn neck. Gary says “The barrel only has 70 rounds through it… yep, I think it will shoot.” Gary did all of the gunsmithing and barrel work himself.
Did Gary have any special reloading tricks? Apparently not: “Other than weighing the cases and the powder very carefully, there really were no magical reloading secrets used. The Sierra 142s were moly-coated straight from the box of 500, but they were not weighed or checked for bearing surface. The powder was dropped with a RCBS ChargeMaster then checked with an Acculab scale (to under a tenth). The Lapua cases were not neck-turned, but I did weight-sort them. The five cases for the small group weighed: 195.05, 195.03, 195.03, 195.03, 195.01.”
Share the post "Best Wallet Group Ever? 1.86" 5-Shot Group at 1000 Yards"
May 1st, 2011
 How do you haul a heavy front rest, jumbo rear sand-bag, ammo boxes, and all the miscellaneous gear you need for a Benchrest or F-Class match? Stanley makes an inexpensive, lockable Pro Mobile Tool Chest (product 033023R) with a 25-quart capacity that holds plenty of gear.
This wheeled tool chest is big enough for large joystick rests, and rolls on large rubber-coated wheels. Two feet long and 16″ deep, the cargo compartment has lots of space for the big stuff, and the included yellow tool tray will hold smaller components such as dies, priming tools, and loading blocks. On the left and right side of the top lid are two small transparent parts compartments that can store small parts, bullets, ear-plugs, nuts and bolts. Overall, it’s a very handy, versatile rig.
The Stanley Pro Mobile Tool Chest, model 033023R, is available online and through major home hardware stores. Amazon.com sells the Pro Mobile Tool Chest for $48.68. And if you want even more storage space, Stanley makes an even larger 19″x29″x18″, 24-gallon-capacity wheeled chest (product 029025R) that sells for $70.49.
Australian Robert Carnell uses this rolling tool chest to haul his SEB rest and other gear: “Below is the Stanley cart I modified to use for carting all my various gear around from bench to bench at a match. By cutting out one of the pockets in the liner, my SEB rest fits in nicely on its side, with lots of room for the rear bag and pads etc. I also often pack all the various loading gear around this as well. Then I wheel it into the loading room, drop the loading stuff on the bench, then park it outside on the line behind my first bench.”
Share the post "Stanley Rolling Tool Chest Holds Your Bench Gear"
|
