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January 15th, 2015
Is that target good enough? Yes that’s really five (5) shots. This amazing group was shot, in competition, with 6 PPC cartridges loaded with Accurate LT-32 powder. If you’d like to try out this powder in your rifle, Western Powders has released loading data for the LT series of powders. LT-32 is a good choice if you’re currently using propellants with burn rates similar to Vihtavuori N133 or Hodgdon Benchmark powders. (Caution: NEVER simply substitute loads powder for powder. Always start low and work up when trying a new powder). The other powder in Accurate’s LT series, LT-30, has a burn rate similar to Hodgdon H4198. LT-30 is a superb performer in the 30 BR cartridge. LT-30 also is a good choice for small varmint cartridges such as the 17 Rem Fireball.
Download FREE Reloading Guide for Accurate and Ramshot Powders
You can also download the complete Western Powders Reloading Guide in PDF format. This covers Accurate and Ramshot propellants.
January 15th, 2015
Story by T. Logan Metesh for NRABlog.com
Since beginning in 1979, SHOT Show has become one of the premier firearms industry event of the year. As I was packing up amazing and historic guns from the NRA Museums for SHOT Show, I was led down a path of historical whimsy — what would SHOT Show have been like 160 years ago in 1855?
 All of the today’s household names in firearms would have been in attendance: Remington, Colt, Smith & Wesson, Winchester, and others. Some of them were already well established; others were on the edge of greatness. Eliphalet Remington (right) would have been there. Already a well-known and respected businessman, he would have been representing the company he founded 39 years before in 1816.
Samuel Colt would have been in very good spirits. He had just renamed his company — Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company — and had broken ground on a new factory that would open the following year in 1856. His revolver patent was also set to expire in 1856. Colt had recently fired Rollin White, a trivial matter at the time, but it would come back to haunt him.
Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson would have been there, too. At this point, the now-venerable firearms company had only been a partnership for three years. They would likely have been joined by one of their investors, Oliver Winchester, and showcasing their lever-action “Volcanic” arms.
Very shortly, Winchester would buy Volcanic, Rollin White would patent a bored-through cylinder that Colt had rejected, and Smith and Wesson would form Smith & Wesson Revolver Company utilizing White’s new patent.
As you can see, many of the technologies we consider antiquated were, at the time, revolutionary. Some of the designs we take for granted today were in their infancy in 1855.
Other lesser-known (and less successful) gunmakers hoping to capitalize on their new products would have been there as well. After all, there’s no better place to unveil new designs than at SHOT Show!
Thomas Wright Gardener Treeby (often known as T.W. Treeby) would likely have been at SHOT Show displaying his new 14-shot, .54 caliber chain rifle. Designed in 1854 and patented in 1855, these rifles were made in an attempt to create a successful repeating rifle design. The British military tested the gun with a 30-round chain, but the idea never caught on.
Rare, Antique Firearms on ForgottenWeapons.com
See the Treeby Chain Gun and other rare firearms on ForgottenWeapons.com. It is believed that only two Treeby Chain rifles were ever made. The 14 chain-linked “chambers” rotated into place via a sprocket (like on a bicycle), and each had a separate percussion cap. Watch this ForgottenWeapons.com video to see how it worked.
January 14th, 2015
Handgun owners have debated the comparative merits of the 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP cartridges for decades, ad nauseum. If one focuses on downrange energy, there IS an answer to the age-old 9mm/40SW/45ACP debate, namely “none of the above”. Bottom line, if you really want the most powerful, widely available semi-auto handgun cartridge, the 10mm Auto beats the other three contenders. Don’t just take our word for it — check out the ballistics comparisons on GunData.org:
9mm vs. .40 S&W Summary and Ballistics | .40 S&W vs. 10mm Auto Summary and Ballistics
The .40 S&W has more energy than the older 9mm Parabellum cartridge, but the .40 S&W is trumped by the larger 10mm Auto. In fact, the .40 S&W is actually just a “detuned”, shortened 10mm. The .40 S&W was developed when the original 10mm Auto proved a bit too snappy for FBI agents.
Fans of the original hard-hitting 10mm Auto, have reason to celebrate. Now one of the great semi-auto handguns, the Sig P220, is available in 10mm Auto. “A 10mm version of the legendary P220 is at the top of the list of ‘most requested products’ from fans of our products,” said Jeff Creamer, Executive Director and General Merchandise Manager for SIG SAUER, Inc. “We heard the demand, and created a P220 that will make full use of the cartridge’s potential.”
Four different 10mm P220 models will be offered, all with 5˝ barrels. There will be one DA/SA model and three single-action-only (SAO) models. The Match Elite Reverse Two-Tone P220 is the one DA/SA model. It features match sights, G-10 grips, an Elite Beavertail, and a stainless finish with front cocking serrations
The Stainless Elite P220 and Stainless Elite Nitron® P220 are single-action only pistols featuring the Elite Beavertail, Siglite night sights, and front cocking serrations. Last but not least, the SAO “Hunt Ready” P220 comes with Sig Sauer Romeo1 mini red-dot sight installed, black G-10 Piranha grips and a Kryptek® Highlander camo pattern finish.
Sig Sauer Introduces 10mm Auto Pistol Ammo
To feed its new 10mm P220s, Sig Sauer will offer two new types of 10mm pistol ammo: 1) 180gr Elite Performance Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) target load; and 2) 180gr Elite Performance V-Crown™ Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP) and for self-defense and hunting. “We are pleased to add this accurate, powerful round to our Elite Performance Ammunition line,” said Bud Fini, Sig Sauer Marketing VP.
January 14th, 2015
 The NRA Gunsmithing Guide contains 336 pages of solid, comprehensive gunsmithing info drawn from articles originally published in the American Rifleman magazine.
The $24.95 book includes 116 articles by expert smiths who build, repair, accurize, and customize all types of firearms (with a strong emphasis on rifles). The three main subject areas are: improving rifle accuracy, customizing fine rifles, and restoring old rifles. Roughly one-third of the articles cover these three topics.
As you would expect from content that first ran in American Rifleman magazine, the articles in the NRA Gunsmithing Guide are richly illustrated with photographs, charts, drawings, diagrams, and data tables. Not Available in bookstores, the NRA Gunsmithing Guide is sold online through Palladium Press, the NRA’s Book Publishing Affiliate.
Click Here for NRA Gunsmithing Guide ORDER Page
January 13th, 2015
Forum member Erik Cortina recently launched his own YouTube Channel dedicated to precision reloading and accurizing. Erik’s videos demonstrate the proper use of specialized reloading tools and provide helpful hints. Erik’s latest video is about the “mother of all brass trimmers”, the Giraud powered case trimmer. Erik says: “It you do volume reloading… this is the only trimmer to get. It not only trims to length but it also chamfers your case mouth inside and out.” In his video, Erik offers some very clever and useful tips that will help you get the most from your Giraud.
The Giraud trimmer is very precise. When set up correctly, it can trim brass with amazing consistency. In the video, Erik trims 5 pieces of brass in 15 seconds (6:32 mark). He then measures all five with precision calipers (7:00-8:08). All lengths are exact within .0005 (half a thousandth). Erik notes that the Giraud trimmer indexes off the case shoulder. As long as you have fire-formed brass with consistent base-to-shoulder dimensions, you should get very consistent trim lengths.
The secret to the system is a 3-way cutting head. This cutter can be swapped in and out in a couple minutes with wrenches provided with the kit. Erik has three different heads; one each for 6.5mm, 7mm, and .30 caliber. The video shows how to adjust the cutting heads to match caliber diameter (and to get the desired amount of inside/outside chamfer).
This is a manufacturer’s photo showing an older model.
To trim and chamfer cases, you simply insert them nose-first into the cartridge-specific case-holder. Erick offers a smart tip — He uses a die locking ring to position the cartridge holder (3:15). This can be locked in place. Erik says die locking rings work much better than the hex-nuts provided by Giraud (with the hex-nut, one must re-set cut length each time you change case-holders.)
The Giraud can be used in either horizontal or vertical modes. Erik prefers to have the trimmer aligned vertically, allowing him to push cases down on the trimmer head. But the trimming unit has twin sets of rubber feet, allowing horizontal or vertical orientation.
Improved Case-Holder Made with Chamber Reamer:
For his .284 Shehane, Erik had to create his own case-holder (Giraud does not make one for that wildcat cartridge). Erik used his chamber reamer. To his surprise, Erik found that the brass was easier to trim in the custom case holder (compared to the Giraud-made spring-loaded holders). With a perfect fit, trimming and case extraction went more smoothly and the process was easier on his hands. (See 9:00-10:00). Based on Erik’s experience, you may want to create your own custom case-holder.
Trim Bullet Meplats Also
With a special bullet-holder fitting and meplat cutter head, the Giraud power trimmer can be used to trim bullet meplats. Trimming meplats can help make the Ballistic Coefficents of a batch of bullets more consistent. Uniforming meplats is also often done as a first step in the process of “tipping” bullets to improve BC.
January 13th, 2015
SHOT Show kicks off in exactly one week. What were some of the more unusual items unveiled at last year’s show? Well how about a convincingly authentic 1911-style pistol made entirely of wood. That’s right, every component — frame, barrel, slide, hammer, grips, trigger, even the functional beavertail grip safety — are made from wood. The gun shouldn’t be used with live, full-power ammunition of course, but otherwise it operates just like a real 1911. It will feed dummy rounds, the slide racks, and the trigger causes the hammer to fall — just like on a real 1911 made from metal. Somehow, we think John Moses Browning, father of the 1911, would have been proud….
This unique all-wood pistol is a “tour de force” of craftsmanship. NRA Blog Editor Lars Dalseide was so impressed with the “all organic” wood 1911, that he named it as his favorite story subject for 2014:
#1 – A Fully Functional 1911 Pistol Made from Wood
When walking the SHOT Show floor last January I spotted what I thought was an incredible carving. But it was more than a carving – it was a fully functional 1911 pistol made out of wood.
From the Wood Caliber workshop in Davidson, Michigan, this beauty acts and feels just like a regular 1911. For the pure beauty of it, the 1911 wooden pistol is my top story for 2014.
January 13th, 2015
 Are you re-barreling a match rifle and need to know if you will still make weight? Or perhaps you want to select the right contour to hit an optimal carry weight for a new varmint rifle? Dan Lilja offers FREE software that will calculate barrel weight for straight contour, straight taper, and radius-tapered barrels. Dan’s software even calculates how fluting alters barrel weight.
For general info on barrel weight calculation for straight and straight tapers, read this article on Lilja’s website. Click HERE for another article explaining weight calculation with barrels that have a radiused (curved) contour section.
Here are the free software programs offered by Dan Lilja. Right click and “Save As”:
Straight Contour (.exe file) | Straight Contour (Excel file) | Contoured Barrels with Radius (Excel file)
January 12th, 2015
Here’s an item for the tactical operators out there. On the new SnipersHide Forum you’ll find a thread titled AX AICS: The New Hotness. This is a very thorough Owner’s Review of the Accuracy International AX Chassis by “TriggerMonkey”. With eight large, detailed photos, this “show-all, tell-all” thread does a great job of describing and illustrating the AX chassis system. Here’s a short sample:
2014 AX AICS Chassis
A couple of years ago I took a chance and purchased my first Accuracy International chassis, specifically the AX AICS, for my Remington 700. I say I took a chance because there was the possibility that I wouldn’t like it, I’ve never really considered myself a chassis system type of guy beforehand but it had features that appealed to me. I had nothing to worry about as it turns out because I got great accuracy out of the rifle without having to bed it and the adjustability of the stock made it very comfortable to shoot. When I saw that Accuracy International was rolling a new version of the AX AICS last year I knew that I had to have one for an upcoming build. Well now that I have one in hand I can see that the differences go far beyond just the addition of a right-hand folding stock. Nearly every part has been revised from the previous generation so let’s go through some of them.
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The 2014 AX AICS comes in a pretty non-descript cardboard box in two pieces, neatly packaged in closed cell foam to protect of dings and such in transit. I would say this is a step up from my first AX AICS where the packaging was sufficient but not nearly as nice.
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With the 2014 AX AICS you get the following:
2014 AX AICS “Main Body”
KeySlot Forend
2 Short Picatinny Rails w/ QD Sockets
1 Long Picatinny Rail w/ QD Socket
1 Short Picatinny Rail
1 Harris Bipod Adapter
Assembly Instructions |
January 12th, 2015
Sierra Bullets Ballistic Technician Gary Prisendorf has written a nice essay about how reloading can become a life-time hobby, a rewarding pastime that can bring together a father and son…
by Gary Prisendorf
For as long as I can remember I have been around reloading. I have tons of childhood memories of my father reloading and shooting. I remember how he would let me help him load his ammunition, by letting me clean primer pockets or wipe the sizing lube off of his cases. I really thought I was doing something. Well, I guess I was, I was spending quality time with my father doing something that would become a great hobby and eventually land me a great job working for Sierra Bullets.
I remember watching my father sizing cases on his Herters press, dropping his powder charges with a Belding & Mull powder measure and weighing powder charges with his Texan scales. Heck, I can even remember when he would buy powder at a local pawn shop, and they would weigh it out and put it in a paper sack. He would save his empty powder cans, wrap them with masking tape and write what the powder was on them with a black magic marker.
When I was in Junior High, I got my first shotgun, a 20 gauge Mossberg 500 and within a couple of weeks my father came home with a 20 gauge Lee Load-All and a pound of Blue Dot. He gave me a crash course on how to use it, and got me up and running with a couple of safe loads. I put a lot of shells through that old 20 gauge.
From that day forward I was hooked. If I got a new gun, I was loading ammunition for it. I don’t buy factory ammunition unless I just want to shoot it up so I can get some once fired brass. I reload everything that I shoot, except for rimfire stuff, and if I could figure out how to do that safely, I would probably load that too.
Through the years I have learned to appreciate things — such as once-fired military .30-06 cases that can be converted to obscure cartridge types. And I know the value of a five-gallon bucket of lead wheel weights that will be melted down and cast into bullets.
I remember finding 19 once-fired Norma 7.7×58 Arisaka cases laying on the ground at a public shooting range, and it was like Christmas came early. I must have looked for that 20th case for about thirty minutes, but I never did find it.
I can’t thank my father enough for getting me started in reloading, he gave me a great hobby, many wonderful memories and taught me the skills that gave me a career doing something that I love.
If you are a reloader, teach someone. You may just give them a hobby for the rest of their life and who knows, you could help them find an enjoyable career, doing something that they love. — Gary Prisendorf
January 12th, 2015
If you are planning to attend SHOT Show but haven’t registered yet, don’t delay! Registration fees DOUBLE after January 13, 2015. To take advantage of the early-bird registration discount, go to SHOTShow.org/apply and complete your application. You have just two (2) more days to take advantange of the discounted pricing, so don’t miss out. NSSF-member buyers and manufacturer reps using this discount pay $35, and other qualifying non-buyer attendees pay $175. After January 13, registration fees will move to $70 for NSSF-member buyers and manufacturer reps, while all other qualified attendees will incur a registration fee of $350.
Hotel Rooms Are Hard to Find…
It seems like Las Vegas is almost completely booked out for SHOT Show week this year. Finding an affordable room is harder than in years before. The reason is simple. There are THREE major industry conventions in Las Vegas this same week, including the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (24,000 attendees) and International Builders Show (49,000 attendees), which run simultaneously in the Las Vegas Convention Center. If you haven’t booked a room yet, expect to pay a premium. And expect it to be harder than ever to find a taxi.
 Preview SHOT Show
with Online Show Tracker
To see a list of exhibitors, locate booths, research seminars, and even get shuttle bus schedules, visit the 2015 SHOT Show Tracker. This handy online show guide helps you plan your visit to Vegas. With the help of the Tracker, you can map out your SHOT Show experience in advance. The Tracker contains a list of all exhibitors, and also has a handy map of the Sands Expo & Convention Center, marked with booth locations.
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