|
|
August 11th, 2012
 Highs in the low 60s and puddles from yesterday’s rain created a chilly, muddy atmosphere for the start of the Long Range Championships. The Band of Brothers Trophy Match was the first match fired. The early scores show that the elite shooters, such as past Long-Range Champion John Whidden, brought their ‘A’ game, and are able to handle the cooler weather and cloudy skies. There were a number of 200s shot on the range this morning at the Band of Brothers match.
Band of Brothers Trophy Match
1. John Whidden, 200-15x
2. Shane Barnhart, 200-15x
3. Serge Bissonnette, 200-11x
4. Robert Steketee, 200-11x
5. David Calvert, 200-11x
Watch Slide Show from Long Range Championships, Day One
August 11th, 2012
Bushnell is now offering rebates on popular rifle scopes and spotting scope. Through this “Bushnell Bonanza” promo, you can save up to $75.00 on Elite, Legend Ultra HD, or Trophy XLT Riflescopes and Spotting Scopes. An Elite would be a choice for an affordable optic for your hunting or varminting rifle. Bushnell’s Elite series of scopes are pretty darn good for the price, and Bushnell offers a ‘Bullet-Proof’ money-back gaurantee — if you don’t like the scope, send it back, and Bushnell will refund 100% of the purchase price. Can’t argue with that.
To get your rebate, you must purchase a qualifying product before the end of October. Then you must complete a REBATE FORM and mail it (along with Sales Receipt, and Package Barcode tag) back to Bushnell before 11/15/2012.
Promo Tip from EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
August 10th, 2012
Story based on report by Kyle Jillson in the NRA Blog
Today, Friday August 10th, is the last day of the NRA Individual High Power Championships. Heading into the last day, Carl Bernosky (2011 Champ) and SGT Sherri Gallager (2010 Champ) are tied on points at 1795, while Carl has five more Xs. This is a tight battle. There are three matches left to shoot: Crescent Cup (slow fire, standing, 200 yards); Cavalry Cup (rapid fire, prone, 300 yards); and Crowell Trophy (slow fire, prone, 600 yards).
 This Championship should go down to the wire. Carl is one of the best standing shooters in history, so he should do well in the Crescent Cup, while Sherri is a long-range wizard so we can expect her to do well in the 600-yard Crowell Trophy match. What’s more, Sherri is shooting a .260 Remington which may offer better ballistics at 600 than Bernosky’s 6mm Hagar. FYI, on Thursday, Gallagher shot superbly in the 600-yard Air Force Cup match — her 200-17X score was just one X shy of the National Record (which was set by Sherri’s mother, Nancy Tompkins).
Gallagher’s showing in the Air Force Cup helped close the gap between her and leader Carl Bernosky. The two shooters are slowly pulling away from the rest of the pack, although there is the possibility of another winner if one of the leaders has a real disaster. SSG Brandon Green and Rodrigo Rosa are both just three points back from the leaders (Green has more Xs than Rosa though). The high Service Rifle shooter is still SSG Tyrel Cooper, who has a 1787-71X score. Ty’s score is remarkable considering his AR-platform rifle has relatively crude military sights and non-adjustable buttstock.
High Power Rifle Championship — Match 400
Scores As of Thursday 8/9/2012
1. Carl Bernosky, 1795-106X
2. SGT Sherri Gallagher, 1795-101X
3. SSG Brandon Green, 1792-104X
4. Rodrigo Rosa, 1792-101X
5. David Tubb, 1790-107X
August 10th, 2012
Nosler has announced that they will be giving away three Nosler rifles, starting with a Model 48 Trophy Grade™ Rifle chambered in .243 Winchester. This award-winning rifle will be topped with a Leupold VX-2, 4-12x40mm scope. Retail value of the Model 48 rifle, by itself, is $1995.00.
To enter the Nosler Sweepstakes go to the Nosler Facebook Page, and click the “LIKE” icon. Then complete the official entry form by clicking the bright orange “Sweepstakes” tab and providing the required information. Entrants are encouraged to enter daily and to “share” with friends to receive bonus entries. For more details and to sign up, visit Nosler’s Facebook Sweepstakes Page.
How to Avoid Being Spammed
If you enter the Sweepstakes, Nosler will capture your email address. But when entering the contest, you can “Opt Out”, declining to receive future promotional emails. Also be aware that, when you “Like” a company on Facebook you will, by default, start receiving Facebook updates from that company which may appear in your Facebook Feed. You can block those company updates manually within Facebook, or you could later “un-Like” the company to turn off the updates.
August 10th, 2012
When Hornady (and CCI) developed the 17 HMR cartridge, they really hit a homerun. And the rifle manufacturers quickly marketed some nice rifles to chamber this 17-cal rimfire round. But unlike .22 LR rifles which, typically, require very little cleaning, 17 HMRs demand frequent bore cleaning to maintain good accuracy. That’s because 17 HMRs shoot copper-jacketed bullets at 2550 fps velocities.
 17-Cal Bore Guides — The Challenge
The problem is, it’s hard to find a well-designed, quality bore guide for 17-caliber rimfire rifles. With many 17 HMR (and 17 Mach 2) rifles, you encounter mechanical interference when you try to use a standard bore guide to protect the delicate chamber edge and the bottle neck area of the chamber. A fixed ejector is in the way. On many 17 HMR rifles, this little “shark fin” ejector is right in line with the chamber and is fixed — it doesn’t retract. Therefore the kind of bore guide you might use for centerfire rifles won’t work in 17 HMRs — it will hang up on the ejector.
Polymer bore guides exist for this type of action, but they are typically open-bottom designs that do not enter and seal the chamber. These open-bottom designs don’t protect the delicate chamber edge or the bottleneck area of the chamber, and they also allow some seepage of solvents out of the chamber. That’s why Roy Bertalotto created his RVB Precision Bore Guide for 17 HMR rifles. The 7075 aluminum tube on his Bore Guide is thin enough to pass by the ejector, yet it is extremely rigid. (Photos below.)
Roy explains: “My bore guide is made of 7075 anodized aluminum tubing, which is totally unaffected by any type of cleaning solution. One end is swagged down to fit completely into the chamber of a 17 HMR rifle. This guides your cleaning rod perfectly to the bore without touching the chamber walls or front edge of the chamber. The tight fit of the bore guide in the chamber also stops cleaning solvents from getting into the action, magazine, and trigger housing.” (Editor: Solvent seepage can do damage. We had a 17 Mach 2 rifle that rusted internally because solvents leaked past an open-bottom bore guide.)
 Using the RVB 17 HMR Guide – Once the bore guide is in place, slide the supplied aluminum bushing over the tube, and gently push the bushing into the rear of the action. This centers the guide rod in the action to keep the guide rod tube aligned. Once the guide rod and bushing are in place, you can use a 17-caliber cleaning rod* with patches and/or brushes to clean the barrel. Use the rod normally, but make sure your patches are quite small and don’t apply too much pressure as these small-diameter rods can kink if you try to force over-size patches down the bore.
The RVB Precision 17 HMR Bore Guide costs $19.95 plus $5.00 shipping. To order, email Roy Bertalotto via rvb100 [at] comcast.net. Roy will then send you shipping/payment details.
* NOTE: You really do need a dedicated .17-cal cleaning rod for this job. Most other rods are too fat to pass through the barrel. Dewey Mfg. makes a decent 17-caliber cleaning rod that is reasonably stiff and doesn’t kink too readily. It is available sizes from 7″ to 36″, either bare stainless or with a nylon coating. We prefer the nylon-coated version, in either 26″ or 36″ lengths, depending on barrel length.
If you have a high comb on your rifle, you may need extra length to avoid interference with the rod handle. Use this formula to determine correct rod length: Length of barrel + action or breech rod guide length + 2-3″ clearance + high comb if applicable = total rod length needed.
There are other quality 17-cal cleaning rods, but we’ve used the Dewey and it functioned well. The nylon coating cleaned easily and was gentle on the throat and crown. You should clean the coating before and after each use to ensure it does not embed grit or other contaminants.
August 9th, 2012
Story by Kyle Jillson for the NRA Blog.
After a day of steady shooting while those ahead of him faltered, Carl Bernosky regained the lead in the 2012 NRA National High Power Rifle Championship. Sporting a 1195-66X at the halfway point in the competition for the Mumma Trophy, Bernosky is ahead of the pack, but that lead could change with a single shot out of the 10-Ring. And bad weather is expected, increasing the chances of a missed shot. Thunderstorms are predicted today — that means rain, gusty winds, and range delays. Blustery winds will prove particularly challenging during today’s Air Force Cup match, shot at 600 yards.
Gallagher and Bernosky Are Neck and Neck
SGT Sherri Gallagher, who started the morning one point ahead of Bernosky, increased her lead to two following the Navy Cup. Following a practically clean round of 199 (Bernosky fired a 198), Bernosky made up a point each in the Coast Guard match and the afternoon’s Army Cup. Their point totals tied, it came down to an X-count. That’s where Bernosky holds the lead … by seven. Behind only a handful of Xs, Gallagher sits in second, for now.
Close behind the two leaders is SSG Brandon Green of the USAMU. Green’s 1194-67X score places him in third place, down just one point of the current leader. And Forum Member Rodrigo Rosa, currently in fourth Place with 1193-70X, is just two points off the lead. Note that Rosa has the highest X-count among the top five — this could come into play in the days ahead. Yesterday’s leader, SSG Tyrel Cooper, slipped a couple points, but is still in the running at fifth. And as the highest Service Rifle shooter, Cooper holds the lead in the Service Rifle Championship. It’s remarkable that Ty Cooper is right up with the leaders, shooting a AR-platform rifle with standard buttstock and military sights.
|
High Power Rifle Championship — Match 400
Current STANDINGS:
1. Carl Bernosky, 1195-66X
2. SGT Sherri Gallagher, 1195-59X
3. SSG Brandon Keith Green, 1194-67X
4. Rodrigo Rosa, 1193-70X
5. SSG Tyrel Cooper, 1193-63X
There are still two full days of shooting in the High Power Rifle Championships. A lot can happen to shift the standings on the leaderboard. Here are the specific matches scheduled today, August 9th:
Appreciation Cup — Rapid fire match shot in the sitting/kneeling position at 200 yards.
Marine Corps Cup — Rapid fire prone match shot at 300 yards.
Air Force Cup — Slow fire prone match shot from 600 yards. |
 |
August 9th, 2012
Some clever F-Class competitors, such as Forum Member Peter White, have fitted remote flexible-drive-shaft windage controls to their front rests. This allows you to easily adjust windage with the twist of a knob without leaving your shooting position. Until recently, if you wanted a flex-drive windage system on your rest you had to fabricate it yourself.
 Now you can enjoy the advantages of remote flex-drive windage adjustment in a ready-made product. Bald Eagle Precision Products has introduced a trio of front rests with “factory” flex-drive windage controls. There are three (3) models. The model BE1006 boasts a heavy, cast-iron slingshot-style base with heavy-duty 1/2″ x 13 TPI threaded feet. Weight is 20 pounds without front bag. This heavyweight model BE1006 should be popular with F-Classers shooting the 7mm and magnum calibers, as the added mass provides great stability.
The slingshot base design has a longer rear leg, bringing the windage control closer to the shooter’s hand. Bald Eagle’s model BE1005, shown below, shares the clever slingshot design of the ME1006 along with remote windage adjustment, but the BE1005’s base is cast aluminum. This drops total weight to 11 pounds (without front bag), making the BE1005 easier to carry than its heavyweight cousin. The aluminum-based BE1005 saves you 9 pounds compared to the BE1006.
 The third new Bald Eagle front rest, model BE1004, features a more conventional triangle pedestal design. Like the model BE1005, it has a cast aluminum base, and weighs 11 pounds without front bag. All three Bald Eagle rests, BE1004, BE1005, and BE1006 can be equipped with over-size disc-type feet (item BE1007) for greater stability in soft or soggy ground.
SEB-Made Bags with MicroFiber Tops Available for Bald Eagle Rest
Bald Eagle offers high-quality front bags to fit its line of front rests. These bags are crafted by SEB and feature a low-friction, smooth microfiber surface. We have used SEB front bags with micro-fiber tops and we think they are some of the best available. The microfiber allows your rifle to slide easily without powders, silicon sprays, or other surface lubricants. Having two fill spouts, the front bags are also easy to fill to the firmness level your gun prefers. The front bags measure 4-5/8″ wide by 1-3/4″ tall, and come in three configurations: 3″ wide for F-Class and Benchrest; 2-1/4″ wide for medium-wide flat forearms; and a 3″ radius for sporter/hunting stocks.
All Three Bald Eagle Rests, Front Bags, F-Class Feet, and other accessories can be purchased from Grizzly Industrial and other retailers nationwide. Here are “street prices” of the three rests, as sold on Grizzly.com:
BE1006 is priced at $475.00 but has an introductory sale price of $425.00.
BE1005 is priced at $450.00 but has an introductory sale price of $399.95.
BE1004 is priced at $450.00 but has an introductory sale price of $399.95.
August 8th, 2012
 Burris is expanding its line of Eliminator range-finding Laserscopes. Burris is rolling out three new Laserscope models: 4-16x50mm Eliminator III, plus 4-12x42mm Eliminator II, and 3.5-10x40mm Eliminator. The innovative Eliminator technology, first introduced in the original 4-12x42mm model, combines a variable-power zoom optic with a built-in Laser RangeFinder. The range-finder calculates the distance to your target, and then displays a red dot range-corrected hold-over point. Just put the dot on your target and pull the trigger. You don’t have to spin your elevation knob.
New Eliminator III Ranges at All Powers
The new top-of-the-line 4-16x50mm Eliminator III is slimmer and less bulky than the original Eliminator. The Eliminator III features a new X96 reticle that will range at any magnification, and it offers a more sophisticated ballistics solver. With the Eliminator III you can now enter BOTH the bullet drop at 750 yards PLUS the ballistic coefficient (BC) for the specific bullet you are using.
The Eliminator III’s X96 reticle also incorporates a new windage compensation system of dots that show lateral hold-off points. By using the dots, you can compensate for wind-drift without dialing the windage knob. The digital readout displays a 10 MPH Wind Value as a “Dot Value” for the shooter’s specific cartridge at the indicated range. Suggested retail price for the new Eliminator III is $1,499.00.
Eliminator II Features Angle Compensation and Remote Activation Switch
The new 4-12x42mm Eliminator II laserscope features the X38 reticle. Burris claims the Eliminator II can range to 999 yards, but we suspect that’s optimistic. We are pleased that the new Eliminator II comes standard with angle compensation that helps hunters make uphill and downhill shots. The Eliminator II comes equipped with a remote activation switch that can be attached to the firearm’s forearm or the scope’s objective bell. Like the other Eliminators, you can program the ballistics solver for different guns/loads. Suggested retail price for the Eliminator II is $999.00.
The new Eliminator 3.5-10x40mm is similar in design to the original Eliminator. The 3.5-10x40mm ranges out to 800 yards, with a ballistics solver you can program for any gun/load. The 3.5-10X Eliminator must be set to 10x power when ranging targets or trophies. Suggested retail price is $799.00.
$100.00 Rebate on First Gen 4-12x42mm Eliminator Laserscope
The original Eliminator 4-12x42mm was the first affordable laser rangefinding riflescope, and now there is a $100 rebate on the first-generation 4-12x42mm Eliminator, making it even easier to fit within your budget. Visit www.BurrisOptics.com for more information.
August 8th, 2012
Creedmoor Sports is running a one-day sale, today only (August 8, 2012). Get 10% off the price of Lapua Brass, with order of two boxes or more. NOTE: This offer is limited to in-stock Lapua cartridge brass inventory only (supplies are limited). No coupon or discount code is needed — the discount will be applied at checkout!
August 8th, 2012
What outdoorsman would not want a thermos configured like an giant-sized shotgun shell? This is an ideal gift for the hunter who may be spending long hours in a cold blind or sitting in a tree stand. Stansport offers shotshell-style thermal bottles in two sizes. The “12 gauge” bottle holds 25 ounces of liquid while the smaller “20 gauge” bottle carries 16 ounces. Both bottles feature a faux brass screw-on top that doubles as a drinking cup. There is a second, gasket-sealed stopper with a quick-dispense feature. This allows you to pour the hot contents without needing to remove the screw-in stopper. We like that feature — that’s one less item to drop on the ground.
12ga Shotgun Shell Thermos — 25 oz.
These shotshell thermal cannisters are offered in four colors: Red, Black, Green, and Yellow. All shotshell thermal bottles feature double-wall 18-8 stainless steel insulated construction with insulated cap. Prices for the red, 25-oz. version start at $25.50 on Amazon.com. (Other colors may cost more).
20ga Shotgun Shell Thermos — 16 oz.
Shotshell Thermos Demo Video on YouTube
A hunter who owns one of these Shotshell Thermos bottles has posted a video of his bottle on YouTube. The video will give you an idea of the size of the cannister and how the outer cap/cup and inner stopper work. CLICK HERE to watch Shotshell Thermos Video.
Disclosure: AccurateShooter.com has an affiliate relationship with Amazon.com.
|
