We’ve stated that getting more young people and women involved in shooting is key to the preservation of shooting ranges and the protection of our rights as gun-owners. The good news is that CNBC reported last week that more women than ever before are acquiring firearms and learning to shoot.
CNBC reports: “A good part of the [increase in gun sales] is women. While gun sales last year were up 14% nationwide from the year before, 47% MORE women are now shooting than they were ten years ago. And 23% of all women now own a gun — according to Gallup (2011 Gallup Poll)”. As a result of this trend, gun manufacturers’ profits are up and their stocks are rapidly climbing on Wall Street. Both Ruger and Smith & Wesson equity share prices are way up this year. Moreover, CNBC reports that mainstream retailers such as Cabela’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods are seeing “big profits from guns”. The NSSF observes that, across the nation, many local gun shops are now holding “Ladies Nights”, and enrollments in womens’ training classes is up significantly.
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Powder Valley just announced it has received 120 4-lb kegs of Vihtavuori N320 powder. This stuff has been hard to find lately, so Powder Valley suggests: “Get em quick. They won’t last long!”
We know why N320 powder is in high demand (most vendors are sold out right now). This is a truly outstanding propellant for the .45 ACP. It is very accurate, burns clean, and it meters well from progressive presses. This Editor has tried a dozen different powders for my .45 ACPs and N320 is my top choice for 180-200gr bullets. Nothing was more accurate, and N320 burned cleaner (with fewer sparks and unburnt particles flying back) than WW 231 (which is also very accurate).
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Catherine Green, a 19-year-old sophomore at Texas Christian University (TCU), is a rising star. Over the past few days, Catherine finished her National Junior Olympic Shooting Championships (NJOSC) career on a high note — she won Gold in BOTH Women’s 10m Air Rifle and Women’s 50m Rifle 3-position events. Catherine’s double-gold performance earned her an appointment to the USA National Junior Rifle Team. Catherine, one of the nation’s top young shooters, displays dedication and “mad skills” with a rifle. We predict we may see Catherine standing on an Olympic podium in the not-too-distant future.
In the prelims, Green shot 1158 match points to take a ten point lead over her competitors. She followed it up with 94.7 points in the final. Sporting dangling air-pellet earrings all week, 19-year-old Green won the NJOSC Women’s 10m Air Rifle title on Sunday. Her performance reasserted her appointment on the National Junior Rifle Team. Green turns 21 next year so she will not be eligible for the 2013 NJOSC. “I was a little worried today that I would lose the ten point lead,” said Green. “I tried to stay focused and not think about missing, about coming down on my target and envisioning a ten. I was diligent about completing my shot process and focusing on the ten-ring. I’m grateful for the support of my parents, coaches Makucevich and Monez and God.”
Long-range hunters may want to add Shooter’s Bible Guide to Rifle Ballistics to their reference library. Written by Dr. Wayne van Zwoll, this 224-page resource focuses on the basic principles of ballistics. While the book concentrates on the many factors that affect bullet trajectories, the book also includes chapters on everything from rifle design to bullet construction and handloading. Gunsmith and long-range shooting school instructor Darrell Holland recommends the book highly. Darrell tells us: “Friend and noted author Wayne van Zwoll has authored another fine book on long range shooting. Wayne is a great shot (probably one of the best sling shooters I’ve been around) and superb hunter in his own right. We applaud his efforts to provide sound and accurate knowledge on long range hunting.” For an autographed copy of this color-illustrated book, contact Wayne van Zwoll at: wvanzwoll [at] amerion.com .
Van Zwoll is the “real deal” — an experienced outdoorsman, with serious shooting and writing “creds”. Over his career, Van Zwoll worked for the BLM, then Washington’s Department of Game. He worked as a photographer for the U.S. Forest Service, then became one of the Elk Foundation’s first field directors. He has guided hunters in Utah and Wyoming, and has hunted on five continents. Wayne has shot competitively since his days on the Michigan State University rifle team. He qualified for the final Olympic smallbore tryouts in 1972 and later won two state prone titles. For 14 years he has conducted shooting seminars for Safari Club International (SCI). Wayne van Zwoll has authored 14 books, and written more than 2,000 articles for numerous magazines, including Field & Stream, and Outdoor Life. In 2006 he received the Jack Slack Outdoor Writer of the Year award from Leupold. Wayne now serves as Special Projects Editor for Intermedia Outdoors.
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Shaving bullet jackets is a problem reloaders encounter from time to time. It can be caused by excessive neck tension, burrs on the case mouth, or over-aggressive chamfering that leaves a ragged edge on the case mouth. Larry Medler discovered some rounds where the bullet jackets were getting shaved. Diagnosing the problem, he found that this was caused by his outside neck chamfer. He was using a powered screwdriver to rotate the case, and over-cutting plus tool chatter was causing the case neck to roll inwards. This created a thin, sharp edge that actually cut into the bullet jacket as the bullet was being seated.
Larry has a Load Force 250 measuring instrument that records the dynamic bullet seating force and displays the results on a computer screen. Larry noted that spikes in seating force were associated with the cases where the bullets were shaved. Inspecting the cases, Larry realized what was happening. Chamfering the outside after doing the inside allowed his tools to cut too much. Combined with tool chatter, this actually created a sharp, ragged edge that rolled inward towards the bullet: “I discovered I had rolled the case mouth rim inward while deburring the outer edge. When deburring the case mouth on the outside edge, every now and then I could hear some tool chatter. The effects of this chatter really show in the picture.”
The above chart shows the dynamic bullet seating force for the bullet with the shaved jacket. Note the large initial force used to cut and scratch the bullet outer surfaces. The final seating force of 47 pounds is just before the Wilson Seating Die bottoms out and the force on the load cell jumps. The chart below shows normal bullet seating force.
As a fix, Larry decided to reverse the neck deburring operations. Now he deburrs the outside first. This reduces tool chatter and prevents the edge from rolling over, because the neck thickness has not been thinned by inside chamfering. While Larry uses a powered screwdriver to speed his case processing, the lesson applies to those who chamfer manually as well–do the outside first and never overcut.
Remember, you simply want to remove burrs and create a slight chamfer. You don’t want to thin the brass significantly at the case mouth. This is why it is important to be very careful when using a deep-angle cutter such as the K&M inside neck chamferer. Click HERE to read Larry’s full report on neck chamfering, with more details on use of the Load Force 250 measuring instrument. Using device such as this, or a K&M arbor press equipped with a seating force gauge, will help you diagnose problems with your neck tension and reloading procedures.
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If you haven’t heard by now, the deadline for filing Federal and state tax returns is tomorrow, April 17, 2012 at 11:59 pm. So you may have one more day than you expected. This year, the IRS has pushed out the deadline by two calendar days because April 15 is a Sunday and April 16 is Emancipation Day — a public holiday in the District of Columbia.
So, you have until midnight Tuesday. Year 2011 returns must be post-marked or e-filed by that time, unless you file for an extension. If you do get an extension, be aware that you still have to pay all taxes owed by the deadline. Submitting Form 4868 (Application for Automatic Extension of Time), can give you more time to file your Fed tax return, but it does NOT extend the time to pay. Also, if you need an extension, you may have to file a separate extension request for your state returns.
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The NBRSA Long-Range Nationals will be held this upcoming week, April 18-22, 2012 at the Sacramento Shooting Center in Sloughhouse, California. This five-day program encompasses three separate events, starting with the 2-day 600-yard Nationals, followed by an F-Class Benchrest Match, and concluding with the 1000-yard Nationals on Saturday and Sunday. Entry/information forms are now available for the NBRSA 600-yard Nationals (Sloughhouse 600: April 18-19), 1000-Yard F-Class Bench Match (April 20), and 1000-Yard Nationals (Sloughhouse 1000: April 21-22, 2011). All three events will be held at the Sacramento Valley Shooting Center, located outside Sacramento, California.
There will be hot dogs for purchase April 18, 19, 20 and 22. The organizers have arranged a catered lunch on Saturday, April 21st. (April 23rd, Monday is reserved as a “make-up” day in the event of bad weather). Match Fees for the two Nationals Events are $50.00 per class (Light Gun and Heavy Gun), while the fee for the F-Class Bench Match (22-lb class) is $30.00. Make checks payable to: FOLSOM GUN CLUB. Mail to Craig St Claire, 10607 Sacramento Road, Galt, CA 95632. Click the links below for more information or visit the NBRSA website.
Get Some ‘Tax Relief’ by Joining the Fun at Sloughhouse this Week
The 2012 Tax Deadline for tax returns to be filed (unless you get an extension) is April 17th. So this provides some added incentive to get those returns done and then go have some fun in Sacramento. You can compete at 600 yards, or 1000 yards, or both, and F-Class shooters can try their hand at long-range shooting from the bench.
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Creedmoor Sports now sells authentic Springfield 1903 A3 and A4 rifles that have been re-stocked, re-barreled, and refinished by by Curt Wolfe at Rockridge Machine Works. If you have been interested in acquiring one of these rifles for use in Vintage Military Rifle matches, here’s some good news. As of April 2, 2012, the Rock Ridge Springfield 1903-A3 and A4 are now both recognized as Curios and Relics. This means that anyone possessing a valid 03 FFL (Curio and Relics Federal Firearms License) are now eligible to have these particular rifles shipped directly to them. (However, please check with local laws to see if other restrictions may apply — such as waiting periods and storage restrictions). The A3 variants start at $875.00 while the 1903 A4 “Sniper” model sells for $1135. The Rock Ridge A3s and A4s both feature turned-down GI Bolts, and NEW 1:10″ twist .30-06 original contour barrels.
The C&R status of the Rock Ridge 1903 A3/A4 has been confirmed by an April 2, 2012 letter issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). CLICK HERE to read ATF Letter.
Dennis DeMille, G.M. of Creedmoor Sports, reports: “These rifles are NICE! Issue condition nice. Much nicer than the one I set a National Record with.” The A4s feature original Remington actions with turned-down GI bolt, fitted to new 4 groove, 1:10″ twist barrels chambered in .30-06. All fire-control parts are original GI. The A4s come with walnut-stained reproduction “C” stock, Malcolm reproduction of original Weaver 330C (M73B1) scope, original GI buttplate, and repro GI military leather sling. The A3s have original Smith Corona M1903 actions, and click-adjustable iron sights. NOTE: Both the A3s and A4s use intact receivers, NOT re-welded decommissioned versions.
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In 2010, the staff of AccurateReloading.com Forum completed a massive .22LR Rimfire Ammunition Testing Project. Some 55 different types of ammo were tested, using a highly-accurate Swiss-made Bleiker rifle, with a 2-stage trigger. All ammo varieties were tested at 50 yards, 75 yards, and 100 yards, shooting five, 5-shot groups at each distance. Though these tests were completed some time ago, many readers have requested a “reprint” of the ammo rankings, so we’ve republished this data below.
The results are fascinating to say the least (and perhaps eye-opening). The tester observed: “I got some amazing groups, and some which are, frankly, absurdly bad! This has re-enforced what I had experienced with 22 ammo in the past — that is being consistently inconsistent.”
While we strongly caution that .22LR rimfire ammo may work well in one gun and not another, and ammo performance can be improved through the use of barrel tuners, the AccurateReloading.com research provides invaluable guidance for smallbore shooters. Overall, the testers burned through over 4,000 rounds of ammo, and you can see the actual test targets online. To read all the test reports, and view target photos visit AccurateReloading.com.
0.162 Eley Tenex Ultimate EPS
0.164 Lapua Midas Plus
0.177 Lapua Polar Biathlon
0.187 Eley Match EPS
0.193 Eley Match
0.203 Lapua Midas M
0.215 Lapua Center X
0.216 Western Value Pack
0.229 Lapua Signum
0.241 Lapua Master L
0.243 Eley Pistol Match
0.256 Olin Ball
0.256 Akah X-Zone
0.261 Lapua Midas L
0.261 Lapua Master M
0.263 Eley Tenex Semi Auto
0.270 Lapua Super Club
0.272 Eley Tenex
0.303 Lapua Standard Plus
0.312 CCI Standard Velocity
0.319 RWS R 50
0.319 Eley Standard
0.328 SK High Velocity
0.339 Eley Club Xtra
0.340 Winchester T22
0.356 Federal Champion
0.362 Eley Subsonic HP
0.371 CCI Mini Mag
0.376 Federal American Eagle
0.377 Norinco Target
0.380 Sellier & Bellot Club
0.384 Eley Club
0.387 Eley Sport
0.388 Totem
0.392 Swartklip Match Trainer
0.398 Federal Gold Medal
0.403 Swartklip HV
0.409 Eley Match Xtra Plus
0.424 Sellier & Bellot Std
0.443 Remington Target
0.461 Lapua Crow HP
0.475 Eley Silhouex
0.479 Magtech
0.498 Eley High Velocity
0.513 Winchester Super X
0.516 Kassnar Concorde
0.539 CCI Blazer
0.560 Winchester Supreme Pistol
0.576 Norinco Pistol Revolver
0.593 SK Standard
0.611 Sellier And Bellot HP
0.626 SK Standard HP
0.686 Logo HV
0.956 Pobjeda Target
0.274 Lapua Center X
0.283 Lapua Standard Plus
0.295 Eley Tenex Ultimate EPS
0.307 Lapua Midas M
0.329 Lapua Master M
0.346 Eley Match
0.373 Lapua Polar Biathlon
0.399 RWS R 50
0.432 Lapua Midas L
0.448 Eley Tenex Semi Auto
0.467 Eley Match EPS
0.474 Lapua master L
0.491 Eley Match Xtra Plus
0.494 CCI Standard
0.496 Eley Subsonic HP
0.507 Eley Sport
0.512 Federal American Eagle
0.513 SK High Velocity
0.514 Eley Standard
0.516 Eley Tenex
0.516 Lapua Crow HP
0.532 Western Value Pack
0.533 Fed. Champion Target
0.535 Lapua Midas Plus
0.564 Akah X Zone
0.566 Olin Ball
0.573 Eley Club Xtra
0.616 Lapua Signum
0.631 Winchester T22
0.639 Swartklip HV HP
0.641 Eley Club
0.642 Eley Silhouex
0.647 CCI Mini Mag
0.679 Eley Pistol Match
0.682 Swartklip Match Trainer
0.690 Federal Gold Medal
0.692 Remington HV
0.703 Lapua Super Club
0.720 Winchester Super X
0.738 Eley High Velocity
0.759 Kassnar Concorde
0.765 Sellier And Bellot Club
0.770 Winch. Supreme Pistol
0.770 Norinco target
0.775 CCI Blazer
0.802 Norinco Pistol Revolver
0.841 LVE Logo HV
0.855 Sellier & Bellot Std
0.871 Magtech
0.923 Sellier & Bellot HP
0.934 SK Standard HP
1.017 Remington Target
1.257 Totem Standard
1.442 SK Standard
1.578 Pobjeda target
0.455 Eley Match
0.510 Lapua Midas Plus
0.549 Lapua Midas M
0.611 Lapua Polar Biathlon
0.611 Eley Tenex Ultimate EPS
0.619 Eley Match EPS
0.622 Eley Club
0.630 Lapua Center X
0.631 RWS R50
0.679 Eley Tenex Semi Auto
0.694 Lapua Midas L
0.729 Eley Tenex
0.739 Lapua Master L
0.753 Lapua Super Club
0.785 Lapua Master M
0.831 Eley Sport
0.851 Eley Match Xtra
0.859 Lapua Standard Plus
0.867 Akah X-Zone
0.877 Eley Pistol Match
0.907 Norinco Target
0.924 Eley Silhouex
0.939 CCI Standard
0.952 Eley Subsonic HP
0.963 Magtech
0.970 Olin Ball
0.978 Kassnar Concorde
0.995 Eley Club Xtra
1.009 Western Value Pack
1.032 Federal Champion
1.087 Norinco Pistol Revolver
1.100 CCI Mini Mag
1.112 Lapua Crow HP
1.143 Winchester T22
1.142 Federal Gold Medal
1.144 federal American Eagle
1.156 Swartklip Hollo Point
1.165 Lapua Signum
1.170 Swartklip Match Trainer
1.175 Fed. Champion Value Pk
1.182 SK high Velocity
1.201 Totem
1.224 Winchester Super X
1.358 Eley Standard
1.367 Remington High Velocity
1.375 CCI Blazer
1.414 Eley High Velocity
1.450 Remington Target
1.504 LVE Logo
1.813 SK Standard
1.879 S&B Club
1.947 S&B Hollow Point
2.073 SK Standard HP
2.221 S&B Standard
2.266 Pobjeda Target
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If you’re lucky enough to be able to attend the NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits in St. Louis, stop by the Zeiss Booth (#1111) today or tomorrow. For NRA members on a mission to buy, Zeiss Sports Optics is offering special discounts on optics sold through an authorized retailer in the Zeiss booth during the show.
The Zeiss Conquest 3-9×40 riflescope (#20 reticle) will be available for only $399.00 and show attendees will also receive 10% off all other Zeiss products, except for the Victory RF and Victory FL 42mm binoculars. Zeiss already has a national consumer rebate promotion for the Victory RF binoculars ($300 rebate) and Victory FL 42mm binoculars ($200 rebate). NRA members who purchase a Victory RF or Victory FL 42mm binocular at the NRA show will instantly receive the rebate, on the spot. NRA Meeting attendees can also receive discounts on gear. Stop by the Zeiss booth, mention the Gear Store offer and you’ll receive a discount voucher for your purchase at ZeissGear.com. For more info on Zeiss optics, visit www.zeiss.com/sports or call 1-800-441-3005.
Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40mm
RifleScope with #20 Reticle.
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Pacific Tool & Gauge is now offering a Full-Length Re-Size Reamer and Die Blank Kit for $107.50. Yep, you read that right — you get a solid pilot (HSS) reamer AND the die body blank for $107.50, total. The reamer can be a standard-spec chambering or you can send in a file or print to have the FL re-size reamer match your current chambering. Some folks have wondered: “Can’t I just make a sizing die using my chambering reamer?” The answer is no. A resize die needs to be smaller than your actual chamber so that it can down-size the brass to ensure proper feeding and extraction. This kit from PT&G is a great way to get a custom sizing die for an affordable price. NOTE: You must still get a competent gunsmith to run the FL re-size reamer into the die body blank to create the finished die.
The resizing die kit (item N3861330) contains: One (1) Solid Pilot (HSS) Re-Size Reamer (excludes 50 BMG & Canon Type Reamers); and One (1) Caliber-Specific Die Blank. NOTE: This offer excludes 50 BMG and canon-type reamers.
PT&G 10% Discount for Owners of Stiller Actions
Here’s a great deal if you own a Predator, Tac30/300 or other Rem-clone type action from Stiller’s Precision Firearms. Last week, PT&G announced that it will give a 10% Discount on Remington-type PT&G parts used with compatible Stiller Actions. To qualify for the 10% discount, customers must provide proof that they own, or have purchased a Stiller Action for which there are compatible parts from Pacific Tool & Gauge. Please contact the PT&G sales staff for more information. Send email to pacpes [at] medford.net or call (541) 826-5808.
Story Tip from EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
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Sierra Bullets has introduced two new hunting bullets with the proven bullet design of Sierra’s popular .30-cal 165gr GameKing. Sierra’s Carroll Pilant tells us: “Customers have been asking us for years to make a 6.5mm and 7mm version of our very popular .30-caliber 165 grain HPBT GameKing and we are happy to say we have fulfilled that request. Just like their .30-caliber cousin, these bullets will be ideal for mid-sized game with standard and magnum calibers. The thicker jacket promotes deep penetration while the skives (pre-cut longitudinal lines) at the meplat provide reliable expansion.”
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Catherine Green, a 19-year-old sophomore at Texas Christian University (TCU), is a rising star. Over the past few days, Catherine finished her National Junior Olympic Shooting Championships (NJOSC) career on a high note — she won Gold in BOTH Women’s 10m Air Rifle and Women’s 50m Rifle 3-position events. Catherine’s double-gold performance earned her an appointment to the USA National Junior Rifle Team. Catherine, one of the nation’s top young shooters, displays dedication and “mad skills” with a rifle. We predict we may see Catherine standing on an Olympic podium in the not-too-distant future.
Long-range hunters may want to add 
Van Zwoll is the “real deal” — an experienced outdoorsman, with serious shooting and writing “creds”. Over his career, Van Zwoll worked for the BLM, then Washington’s Department of Game. He worked as a photographer for the U.S. Forest Service, then became one of the Elk Foundation’s first field directors. He has guided hunters in Utah and Wyoming, and has hunted on five continents. Wayne has shot competitively since his days on the Michigan State University rifle team. He qualified for the final Olympic smallbore tryouts in 1972 and later won two state prone titles. For 14 years he has conducted shooting seminars for Safari Club International (SCI). Wayne van Zwoll has authored 14 books, and written more than 2,000 articles for numerous magazines, including Field & Stream, and Outdoor Life. In 2006 he received the Jack Slack Outdoor Writer of the Year award from Leupold. Wayne now serves as Special Projects Editor for Intermedia Outdoors.
If you haven’t heard by now, the deadline for filing Federal and state tax returns is tomorrow, April 17, 2012 at 11:59 pm. So you may have one more day than you expected. This year, the IRS has pushed out the deadline by two calendar days because April 15 is a Sunday and April 16 is Emancipation Day — a public holiday in the District of Columbia.
In 2010, the staff of 
If you’re lucky enough to be able to attend the NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits in St. Louis, stop by the Zeiss Booth (#1111) today or tomorrow. For NRA members on a mission to buy, 
