This Monday, June 27, at 9:00 pm, Barrett Firearms Mfg. will be featured on a National Geographic special entitled Snipers, Inc.. The hour-long show tells the story of Ronnie Barrett, his innovative large-caliber sniper rifle designs, and how he built a multi-million dollar business. Barrett Firearms introduced the semi-automatic .50-Cal M82 in 1982 but did not make any significant sales until 1989. Soon afterward, the M82 was purchased by the United States armed forces, and it was deployed in the Gulf War. Today the company has contracts with dozens of countries to supply sniper rifles. The success of the M82A1 has spawned several other models of .50 BMG rifles, including the M95, M99, and M99-1. These are lighter, lower-cost bolt-action rifles. One of the most recent offerings from Barret is the M107A1, unveiled in January 2011. M107A1 enhancements include a 4-lb weight reduction, increased accuracy, and a quick attachment for a Barrett suppressor.
The Nat Geo promo states: “Selling guns to snipers is all in a day’s work for one small-town Tennessee family. Ronnie, the designer and businessman at the helm of Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, and his two children, are responsible for creating the M107 sniper rifle. The M107’s power and precision allow snipers to destroy multiple targets from more than 20 football fields away. NGC goes inside this family of firearm ‘rock stars’.” In the video below, Ronnie Barrett talks about the M107A1 and the new multi-caliber MRAD rifle system. (It’s an interesting Nat Geo video, well worth watching.)
Not much to say here — the photo and the price ($25.00) pretty much tell the story. Here’s a chance to pick up a nice range bag for a low, low price. Big enough for a couple full-size pistols, ammo, and muffs, this bag features zippered pockets on both ends and slot pockets on the sides for magazines and other thin items. We don’t know why Hornady slashed the price of the Team Hornady range bag from $59.99 to a mere $25.00. That’s a 58% reduction — what we’d call a serious discount. The bag is roomy and functional, and we think it’s pretty handsome — so long as you’re not logo-phobic.
This range bag, item 9919, is sold directly through Hornady’s website. Visit Hornady’s online store soon to grab one before the price goes back up. Click photo (above) to go to the Hornady order page.
Story tip by EdLongrange. We welcome submissions from our readers.
Bruno Shooters Supply is selling Federal 205M Small Rifle Match primers for just $27.95 per 1000-ct box. That’s a very attractive price — just a couple years ago, these primers were very hard to find, and were selling for nearly fifty bucks per box. Now Bruno’s has 205Ms available for immediate delivery at prices that are $10.00 – $12.00 per box cheaper than some other major vendors. If you prefer the 205Ms for your .223 Rems, PPCs, BRs and 6.5×47 Lapuas, here’s a chance to grab a good supply without breaking the bank. Note, however, that the $27.95/box price does NOT include shipping and hazmat fee. To order these primers, call Amy Bruno at 1-800-455-0350, or (623) 587-7641, or log on to www.Brunoshooters.com.
Story tip by EdLongrange. We welcome submissions from our readers.
FNH USA is kicking off the summer with an attractive “free ammo” promotion, designed to spur sales of FNH rifles and pistols. (FNH USA is the sales and marketing arm of FN Herstal, S.A., Belgium.) Here’s the deal: if you purchase selected models of FN rifles, pistols and carbines between June 27 and August 31, 2011, FNH USA will reimburse you up to $150.00 for ammunition purchased at the same time from the same dealer.
Here’s how the FNH “free ammo” deal works. If you buy a new FN FNAR rifle, an FN SCAR™ 16S carbine or an FN FS2000 carbine, you’ll be reimbursed for up to $100.00 in free ammo. If you purchase BOTH a new FN PS90 carbine AND a new FN Five-seveN® pistol and you’ll get up to $150.00 in free ammo.
If you needed a little extra incentive to add an FNH gun to your collection, perhaps this offer will seal the deal. You can even explain to the wife: “…but honey, just think how much money I’m saving on ammo by spending $4k on a rifle.”
If this deal seems attractive, don’t delay — the offer expires August 31, 2011. Visit FNH’s dealer locator to find an FNH USA retail dealer near you and CLICK HERE to learn more about the Free Ammo offer and to download official rebate forms.
Story tip by EdLongrange. We welcome submissions from our readers.
For the next few days, Harbor Freight is selling an 11-drawer rolling tool cabinet for just $169.99 with CODE 71638506. This U.S. General Roller Cabinet measures 17″ D x 27″ W x 52″ H (without handles), and can hold up to 350 pounds of tools and gear. The finish is a black powder-coat, and the lockable drawers have non-slip liners. The only assembly required is attaching the handles to the drawers. NOTE: You should pick this up at a Harbor Freight store, as the Roller Cabinet weighs 151 lbs. (crated) and has an $89.95 additional freight charge! Once the sale expires on 6/26/2011, you can still order the U.S. General 11-drawer roller cabinet for $199.99.
Get What You Pay For?
We know this is a thin-walled, entry-level unit. It certainly does NOT have the quality of a Snap-On Roll Cart tool chest, but you could pay nearly $1400.00 for a Snap-On rolling cabinet. Even a Craftsman mobile tool chest (of similar capacity) could easily set you back $700.00 or more. For some folks, the Harbor Freight unit will suffice pretty well until they can upgrade. And the money one saves can be used for tools to put in those many drawers. The video below does a good job explaining the cabinet’s features — and it shows the inside capacity of most of the drawers and compartments.
Brownells and Sinclair Int’l now offer a wide selection of rifle, handgun, and shotgun ammunition at competitive prices, backed by Brownells’ 100% satisfaction guarantee*. Brands include Winchester, Federal, Remington, CCI, Hornady, Fiocchi, Ultramax, Kent, Weatherby and more.
“For years, customers have told us, ‘I sure wish you had ammo,’ well, we listened. We are offering the highest quality product at competitive prices, all backed by the high level of service Brownells customers have come to expect,” said company President Pete Brownell.
Sinclair Int’l President and General Manager, Bill Gravatt told us, “When you don’t have the time to reload, you can count on Sinclair to offer you a wide selection of the highest-quality ammunition from the brands you know and trust.” The same Sinclair tech staffers who help customers with reloading questions are also available to help buyers select the right ammo.
Ammo Advisor Web Tool Speeds Ammo Selection Process
For their online customers, both Brownells and Sinclair Int’l offer the Ammo Advisor — an industry first. This interactive ammo database makes online shopping for ammunition quick and easy. Use any or all of the fields and the Ammo Advisor filters the selection based on the shopper’s criteria. The selection fields are populated with all the top brands in the calibers shooters use most. “65% of Brownells customers shoot more than 25 times per year. We are taking the ammo shopping experience to the next level by offering customers a tool that is user-friendly. It makes shopping for ammo quick, fun, easy and convenient,” continued Brownell. Of course, customers can always just head straight for their favorite brands without going through the Ammo Advisor.
*Brownells exclusive 100% guarantee applies to all purchases so customers can rest easy knowing that they can return anything they’re not happy with — no questions, no hassles.
The SlickGuns.com website, a resource for firearms sales and special deals, has a regularly-updated page dedicated to discount coupons. On SlickGuns.com’ Coupon Page you’ll find the latest money-saving coupons for major vendors including: Gander Mountain, MidwayUSA, and Sportsmans Guide. Check the Coupon Page regularly, as the Coupon Codes are typically replaced every 2-4 weeks.
Current Discounts Include:
MidwayUSA
Coupon code 1061175
Discount: $10 off $100
Expires: 6/24/2011
Gander Mountain
Coupon code GML20 (use at checkout)
Discount: $20 off $100
Expires: 6/30/2011
Sportsman’s Guide
Coupon code SH387
Discount: FREE $25 gift card AND $5 OFF
shipping on purchases of $99 or more.
Expires: 6/30/2011
On June 20th, SGT Sherri Gallagher of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit stopped by NRA Headquarters (in Fairfax, Virginia) for a tour of the facilities. A highly accomplished shooter, Sherri is the reigning National High Power Rifle Champion as well as winner of the 2009 Long Range High Power Championship at Camp Perry.
Priceless Wild West Guns in Museum Safes
While in Virginia at NRA Headquarters, Sherri met with members of the Competitive Shooting Division, NRA Publications, and stopped by National Firearms Museum Director Jim Supica’s office for look at his famed collection of Smith & Wesson revolvers as well as his safe filled with pistols bearing “# 1″ serial numbers. After digging through the collection, Sherri asked, “If I get a # 1 tattoo, do you think he’ll let me stay?”
Just how accurate can a modern 6 PPC benchrest rifle be? Would you believe five shots in 0.022″? That’s the size of the group shot by Rich Graham this past weekend in Visalia, CA. Rich was shooting his 6 PPC 10.5-lb LV bag gun in the Unlimited Class. Below is a photo of Rich with his target — yes there are five shots in that one hole (as confirmed by moving backers used in the match). This five-shot group could be a potential new NBRSA 100-yard record, if the 0.022″ measurement is confirmed. The current 5-100 NBRSA Unlimited record is 0.049″ shot by Gary Ocock in 2009. For reference, the 5-100 NBRSA Heavy Varmint Record is 0.027″ by Ralph Landon in 1975.
The Record-Setting Gun
Though Rich shot his small group in the Unlimited Class, his rifle is a typical 10.5-lb, short-range benchrest bag gun. Smithed by Gary Ocock, the rifle features a BAT action (we believe), Bruno Edge stock, Krieger Barrel, and March scope. The load was 27.8 grains of Hodgdon H322 with 65gr Flatbase bullets made on a Nielson die, in Lapua brass. We are told that Rich shot this potential world record with ammo pre-loaded before the match.
We think Rich’s target will definitely come in under the current 0.049″ Unlimited Class record. Using our On-Target plotting software, we measured Rich’s group at 0.029″. However, keep in mind that we were working from a photo, and the camera lens can distort dimensions a bit. Accordingly, the original 0.022″ measurement by the match scorers is probably more reliable, but this helps illustrate how small Rich’s group really is.
The faster a benchrester can send his rounds down-range, the better his chances to complete his 5- or 10-shot group in the same conditions before a major change. Shooting fast is NOT always the best strategy, but many world records have been set using this technique. Even if you’re a “picker”, there are times when you’ll benefit from shooting fast. With current benchrest hardware you still have to manually load each cartridge, even if you have a drop-port action or if you have an ejector that kicks out the fired case. To speed up the loading process, benchrest shooters employ elevated loading blocks that place the cartridges inches away from the loading port. That speeds things up, but you still have to manually pluck your cartridge and stuff it in the action… until now. Get ready for a major new technology that could change the benchrest game.
External Horizontal Benchrest Magazine
Carlos Gonzales, a benchrest shooter (and Professor of Engineering) from Argentina, has perfected a horizontal, external “floating” magazine that can reliably feed PPC cartridges as fast as you can work the bolt. This is interesting because, in 2009, this Editor discussed an attached horizontal feeding tray with three different action makers. All of them dismissed the idea as impractical or too radical. Well guys, it looks like Carlos pulled it off.
The Gonzales “magazine” is actually an open-ended, covered metal tray situated on the left side of the action (but it does not touch the gun — it is supported by the rest). This feeds into the left-side loading port. The cases are gravity-fed, but the shooter has positive control over feeding. A cable with a push-button control runs from the magazine down to the rear foot of the pedestal rest. You just push the button to drop one cartridge from the magazine. We don’t know exactly how the cartridge is released in the magazine itself, but in the video below you can see how the push-button works.
You push the button as soon as a spent cartridge ejects (watch Carlos’s left hand in the video above). It is a clever set-up, and as you can see, the magazine system works very, very fast. The video shows Carlos running five cartridges through his action in just 9 seconds (time marker 00:31 – 00:40). That’s fast! On a repeat viewing focus on Carlos’s left hand to see how he works the push-button cartridge dispensing control.
Kudos to Carlos for his great new invention. According to Pascale Fishbach: “Everything Carlos makes is of extreme quality. The magazine loader will be available just after the world championships in France, where hopefully a couple of them should be put to work.”
Now the question remains… will the official benchrest “powers that be” allow this device, or will they, fearing change, say it is forbidden under current rules. We would like to see the Gonzales magazine ruled legal for both domestic (American) and International competition. But, we acknowledge that Carlos’s invention could raise the cost of competition. The Gonzales mag would be one more “go-fast” item that serious benchresters would have to purchase.
Credit to Pascale Fischbach for sourcing this story and video link.
This Monday, June 27, at 9:00 pm, Barrett Firearms Mfg. will be featured on a National Geographic special entitled Snipers, Inc.. The hour-long show tells the story of Ronnie Barrett, his innovative large-caliber sniper rifle designs, and how he built a multi-million dollar business. Barrett Firearms introduced the semi-automatic .50-Cal M82 in 1982 but did not make any significant sales until 1989. Soon afterward, the M82 was purchased by the United States armed forces, and it was deployed in the Gulf War. Today the company has contracts with dozens of countries to supply sniper rifles. The success of the M82A1 has spawned several other models of .50 BMG rifles, including the M95, M99, and M99-1. These are lighter, lower-cost bolt-action rifles. One of the most recent offerings from Barret is the M107A1, unveiled in January 2011. M107A1 enhancements include a 4-lb weight reduction, increased accuracy, and a quick attachment for a Barrett suppressor.
On June 20th, 
