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September 25th, 2013
 Following the success of CFE 223, Hodgdon Powder Company has released a new addition to the CFE (“Copper Fouling Eraser”) line of propellants. Hodgdon’s new CFE™ Pistol, a general purpose handgun powder, is designed to deliver less copper fouling. CFE Pistol is a spherical (ball) powder that meters very well. Hodgdon hopes to have CFE Pistol available in January 2014.
When CFE 223 rifle powder was first introduced, people were skeptical about claims that CFE reduced copper fouling in barrels. In fact, field reports from our Forum members indicate that CFE 223 does deliver on the promise of reduced copper fouling. Our readers also found CFE 223 to be very accurate in a variety of cartridge types. Hopefully CFE PISTOL will perform as well in handguns.
 The secret to CFE products’ reduced copper fouling is a proprietary “Copper Fouling Eraser” chemistry developed for U.S. rapid-fire military systems. Better living (and less cleaning) through chemistry, as they say. Hodgdon states: “Whatever your game is… you will benefit significantly with longer periods of top accuracy with less barrel cleaning time and minimal muzzle flash.”
Load data for CFE Pistol should be available on Hodgdon’s Reloading Data Center starting in December 2013. Hodgdon plans to provide over 100 available loads for 15 pistol cartridges, and 37 bullet weights. Load data will be offered for 9mm Luger, 38 Super, 40 S&W, .45 ACP and many other cartridge types. To find out more, visit Hodgdon.com, see Hodgdon’s upcoming 2014 Annual Manual, or call Hodgdon at 913-362-9455.
September 24th, 2013
The 10th Western CMP Games and Creedmoor Cup Matches will be held at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix, Arizona, on 11-20 October 2013. The Western CMP Games Matches run 11-15 October 2013. The Creedmoor Cup Matches take place on 16-20 October 2013. All interested shooters, (whether new, recreation-oriented shooters or experienced, national championship contenders) are invited to participate in these unique, national-level competitions. NOTE: Registration for the Creedmoor Cup matches must be done online via www.creedmoorsports.com.
Western CMP Games Entry Form | Western CMP Games Online Registration
Western CMP Games & Creedmoor Cup Program | Directions to Ben Avery Range
| Western CMP Games Matches
Garand & Springfield Match Clinic
John C. Garand Match
Springfield Match
Vintage Military Rifle Match
Small Arms Firing School/M16 Match
Rimfire Sporter Match
Carbine Match
Vintage Sniper Match
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Western Creedmoor Cup Events
High Power Rifle Clinic
Creedmoor Cup (2400 point aggregate)
4-Man Team Match
Creedmoor EIC Match
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A Garand-Springfield-Military Rifle Master Instructor Clinic (lead by Gary Anderson, DCM Emeritus) will be head 11-12 October, prior to the Western CMP Games. For more info about the Western CMP Games email croguski[at]thecmp.org or call (888) 267-0796, ext. 1114. For Creedmoor Cup info, contact Dennis DeMille, demille[at]creedmoorsports.com or call (800) 273-3366 (Mon–Fri, 8 am to 4 pm.)
September 24th, 2013
Get into the NRA National Firearms Museum for free this Saturday, September 28, 2013. As part of Smithsonian magazine’s 9th Annual Museum Day Live! event, the National Firearms Museum will open its doors at no charge to those have downloaded a free event ticket from Smithsonian.com/museumday.
The NRA National Firearms Museum is the finest firearms collection in the Western Hemisphere. More than 2,700 of America’s most significant firearm treasures are showcased among 15 galleries spanning six centuries. On September 28th, Senior Curator Doug Wicklund will lead a guided tour of the galleries.
Museum Day Live! tickets can be downloaded at Smithsonian.com/museumday. Visitors who present a Museum Day Live! ticket will gain free entrance for two at participating venues for one day only. One ticket is permitted per household, per email address. To learn more about the NRA National Firearms Museum, visit nramuseum.org.
Participating museums emulate the policy of the Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. by providing free admission. Last year’s Museum Day event drew over 400,000 participants, and this year’s event expects record-high participation.
September 24th, 2013
 The National Shooting Sports Foundation has launched an improved, redesigned website at www.nssf.org — the organization’s hub for providing timely news and educational materials to industry members and consumers. The new site features improved navigation, better search functionality and quick access to news and information. The new site’s Responsive Template design also makes it mobile-friendly for those accessing it via smartphones or tablets. (A ‘Responsive’ website automatically formats the site layout to best fit the type of device used by the visitor.) The new site is now live. NSSF invites its regular visitors and new visitors to check it out at www.nssf.org.
September 23rd, 2013
 Do you enjoy plinking with rimfire rifles and shooting reactive targets with handguns? Champion has developed a series of fun targets that tilt, spin, hop, or roll when hit. Made from a “self-healing” rubber-like polymer, Champion’s DuraSeal Targets can be hit dozens of times before they need to be replaced. (If you shoot only rimfire, they might last 200 rounds or more.) Along with the varmint spinners, we like Champion’s weighted wobble targets. These are offered in both a bowling pin shape and a sphere on a post (photo right). When you hit these targets they rock back and forth and side to side. Weights in the round bottom then bring the target back to an upright position.
Champion also offers “bouncing balls” and a 3D Star targets that hop and roll when shot. These make good long-range tactical rifle targets. The lifespan is not that great with large heavy bullets, but one of the ball or star targets should survive many dozens of hits with a .223 Rem or 6mmBR.
September 23rd, 2013
 Are you a high-volume shooter who needs large quantities of bullets at a reasonable cost? Well here’s a very good deal on name-brand bullets. Grafs.com has recently acquired a big inventory of factory seconds from a major, top-tier bullet maker. These bullets should shoot fine, but they may have water spots, discoloration, or some other cosmetic defect. We can’t reveal the manufacturer, but you may be able to figure it out from the list of bullets below. Here are some of the current offerings:
.224 Caliber (5.56 mm), 77gr HPBT, $18.99 per hundred (Item #: GRB2277)
.243 Caliber (6mm), 80gr SP Varmint, $15.59 per hundred (Item #: GRB2480)
.243 Caliber (6mm), 100gr SPT, $18.99 per hundred (Item #: GRB24100)
.308 Caliber, 155gr HPBT, $25.99 per hundred (Item #: GRB30155)
.308 Caliber, 168gr HPBT, $25.99 per hundred (Item #: GRB30168)
.308 Caliber, 175gr HPBT, $27.99 per hundred (Item #: GRB30175)
.308 Caliber, 220gr HPBT, $29.99 per hundred (Item #: GRB30220)
September 23rd, 2013
 What is the most-used piece of equipment on this editor’s reloading bench? No it’s not my Rock-Chucker press, or even my calipers. The one item in near-constant use is a small, folding magnifying glass. Mine folds into a square case and offers 4X viewing with an 8X bifocal insert. With this handy tool I can inspect case mouths for burrs, check primer pockets, inspect meplats, and look for flaws on bullet jackets. I also use the magnifier to see rifling marks on bullets seated into the rifling, or check my bolt for galling. The number of uses is nearly endless. I keep one magnifier at my reloading bench and another in my range kit.
Folding magnifiers are so handy yet inexpensive that you should own a couple spares (including one in the range box). I bought my magnifier in a book-store, but you can also find them on the web at FoldingMagnifier.com and WidgetSupply.com starting at just $1.95. To see the finest details, Widget Supply offers a powerful 17X/50X slide-out magnifier with a built-in, battery-powered LED light. With that gadget, you can easily see any minute flaws in your barrel crowns. That’s important because crown damage can cause hard-to-diagnose accuracy issues. We’ve known guys who spend weeks tinkering with loads, when the real problem was a worn-out or damaged crown.
September 22nd, 2013
Report for International Benchrest Shooters (IBS)
 On August 30-31, 2013, Robert and Chrissy Ross hosted this year’s 2013 IBS 1000-Yard National Championships at their Midwest Benchrest range in Yukon, Missouri.
This year’s format was run with all the Light Gun (LG) relays shot on Friday, followed by all the Heavy Gun (HG) relays on Saturday. The competition was very tight as the Two Gun Overall Champion, Henry Pasquet from Elsinore, Missouri, didn’t even realize he had won until his name was called out at the award ceremony. Henry, an active AccurateShooter Forum member, secured a well-deserved National Championship with strong performances in both classes. Henry registered a fifth place in LG Group along with tenth place in LG Score. Henry then finished first in HG Score along with eleventh in HG Group to earn the 2013 Two-Gun Overall Title.
IBS 2013 1000-Yard National Championships Results (PDF)
Matthew Kline traveled from Pennsylvania to take second place in the Two Gun competition. He garnered that honor with an eighth Place in LG Group and a fourth place in LG Score. Matthew followed up these with a ninth place in HG Group and eleventh place in HG Score.
Kansas’ Jim Bauer came in a close third in the Two Gun rankings, by finishing first in LG Score and 21st in HG Group, then adding a second place in HG Group and 16th place in HG Score. Jim’s wife Sally, last year’s IBS long-range Shooter of the Year winner, was the Top Female Shooter. Rory Jacobs, from Vapor Trail Valley Shooting Club in Spickard, MO was the Top Junior Shooter.
Hot Temperatures and Fickle Winds Challenge Shooters
The Midwest Benchrest range is literally in the Ross’ back yard and is cut right out of the middle of a Missouri forest, which gave the shooters new to the range a false sense of confidence, thinking the trees would block the winds. The shooters had to deal with temperatures in the upper 90s (and the shade trees offered little relief). With the incredible humidity present, it felt it was even hotter. Although the winds weren’t very high, they weren’t very cooperative either, as they were never consistent throughout both days. One minute it was directly behind the shooters and the next it was quartering to the right. A moment later it was to the left.
The early relay winners seemed to favor the end benches, while later in the day, they seemed to favor the middle benches. There was was nothing but bright sunshine for the two-day event. Cloud cover and cooler temps, which were earlier forecast for the shoot, finally showed up the day after the tournament. Needless to say, the “heat monkeys” were making small groups difficult at this year’s shoot. Most small groups that were shot, were followed up with larger groups, in both the LG and HG events.
All in all, everyone still had a great time competing, seeing friends and fellow shooters from other parts of the country, and enjoying the Ross’ hospitality. It wasn’t long after the shoot was over before everyone started talking about where the 2014 Nationals would be. Perhaps, Robert Ross said it best: “Ultimately, the competition yields to the resulting friendships, which are fostered as part of a common goal: Raising the bar in long range precision shooting.”
The two-day competition was run as smoothly as any monthly shoot is run. The weekend’s shoot really started off on Thursday night though. Jim and Sally Bauer, Hornady, and Midwest Benchrest, sponsored a fantastic fish fry for all the competitors and their spouses. This provided some neutral ground to meet up and catch up with both new and old friends alike before the actual shooting began. If possible we will add equipment lists and individual relay results to this story on Accurate Shooter.com.
Featured Hardware at the 1K Nationals (Click Photos to Zoom)
September 22nd, 2013
 It’s crunch time in Calfornia. Golden State gun owners need to band together and urge Governor Jerry Brown to veto extremely radical anti-gun measures that were recently passed by the California State Legislature. Along party-line votes, California legislators approved a series of bills that will severely restrict Californians’ Second Amendment rights, and curtail hunting statewide.
These bills will do everything from banning ALL semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines (even flush-mount mags in hunting rifles) to outlawing the use of traditional lead ammunition in hunting, the first such statewide ban in the nation. The anti-gun package of legislation was approved over the opposition of law-abiding gun-owners, hunting and shooting sports organizations, as well as many business and labor leaders. NSSF urges all sportsmen, gun owners and retailers to contact Gov. Brown and urge him to veto these these anti-gun/anti-hunting bills. For more info, See the NSSF Legislative Alert.
- AB 711 (Rendon) Hunting: nonlead ammunition
- SB 374 (Steinberg) Firearms: assault weapons
- AB 48 (Skinner) Firearms: ammunition: sales
- AB 169 (Dickinson) Unsafe handguns
- AB 180 (Bonta) Registration and licensing of firearms: City of Oakland
- SB 567 (Jackson) Firearms: shotguns
September 22nd, 2013
Robert Whitley of AR-X Enterprises, LLC builds match-grade uppers for AR-platform rifles. Many of Robert’s favorite chamberings are based on the 6.5 Grendel case necked-down to 6mm. Until 2011, Lapua was the only source for 6.5 Grendel brass. As you’d expect, Lapua’s Grendel brass is truly excellent, but it is also pricey, and sometimes hard to find. Now Hornady is producing USA-made 6.5 Grendel brass. Robert Whitley has worked with the Hornady 6.5 Grendel brass for over a year now and he is able to assess its performance compared to the original Lapua version. Writing in our Shooters’ Forum, Robert reveals: “It’s decent brass but hot loads will loosen the primer pockets fast. With moderate loads you will get good case life and service from the brass and it can deliver excellent accuracy as well. Not Lapua but not bad either.”
Robert reports: “I was able to get my hands on some of Hornady’s 6.5 Grendel brass. My big question was how it would measure up, particularly the loaded necks, and whether it would be compatible with our existing 6mmAR and Turbo 40 die sets. As it turns out, this brass looks like a perfect fit for our existing die sets (and obviously 6.5 Grendel die sets too). Accordingly, folks with existing die sets will be able to use the Hornady brass without any issues.” However, as the loaded neck on the Hornady brass is .001″ (one-thousandth) slimmer than Lapua brass, you may want to try a smaller bushing when sizing Hornady Grendel brass.
The Hornady 6.5 Grendel brass has a LARGE Flash Hole, about .078″ versus .0591″ for Lapua brass. Dimensionally, the biggest difference is the shoulder diameter, with the Hornady brass measuring 0.428″ vs. 0.424″ for the Lapua brass. The Hornady is actually a better fit for 6mmAR chambers which are about 0.432″ at the shoulder. Interestingly, case H20 capacity is virtually identical. Water capacity of new, unfired Hornady 6.5 Grendel brass is 35.1 grains, while new, unfired Lapua Grendel brass holds 35.0 grains of H20. Both brands of Grendel brass increase to about 36.0 grains H20 capacity after firing and full-length sizing.
Here are some of the particulars of the Hornady cases:
| Hornady 6.5 Grendel Brass |
Lapua 6.5 Grendel Brass |
Flash hole diameter: ~ .078″
OAL of brass: Average 1.515″
Weight of cases: 111.7 to 113.0 grains
Web diameter, unfired: 0.4375″
Shoulder diameter, unfired: 0.428″
Loaded neck diameter: 0.2895″
6mmAR loaded neck: 0.270″ |
Flash hole diameter: 1.5mm (0.0591″)
OAL of brass: Average 1.515″
Weight of cases: 111.0 to 112.5 grains
Web diameter, unfired: 0.4385″
Shoulder diameter, unfired: 0.424″
Loaded neck diameter: 0.290″
6mmAR loaded neck: 0.271″ |
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