Here’s a photo of the private range where a match was to be held…
“Local Shoot Cancelled, Everything Cancelled….” That was the report from Forum member “Dixie PPC”. He was planning to attend a 600/1000-yard match. Well, there was just a little bit too much of the white stuff this morning. The match was cancelled, and he told us “pretty much everything was cancelled”.
The local Interstate was closed down because of the snow…
Conditions were bleak and cold…
Despite the snow, things weren’t completely cancelled on DixiePPC’s farm: “My Farm was not shut down… Cattle gotta’ eat.”
SHOT Show, the firearms industry trade show, is a huge event. There are more guns and shooting accessories than you can possibly imagine. On Thursday we saw everything from a giant CADEX .50 BMG with a 24″-long suppressor to a tiny Kahr .380, the thinnest carry gun in production. Here are some highlights from Day Three, a combination of old and very, very new. McMillan has a new, as-yet-unnamed tactical stock, Walther showcased an amazing electronic trigger, and Uberti revived America’s Wild West heritage with a line of single-action revolvers.
CZ 455 Tactical/Varmint Rimfire Rifles
CZ USA still continues to offer some of the best .22 LR rifles for cross-training and tactical rimfire games. The CZ 455 Varmint Tacticool and Varmint Precision Trainer (Camo) feature proper, full-size stocks (with adult-scale ergonomics) so these rimfires look and feel like a centerfire tactical rig. CZ 455s have smooth actions and crisp triggers.
Walther LG400 Air Rifle with Electronic Trigger
Look carefully — this Walther LG400 Alutec air rifle is different than any gun you’ve ever shot. You see it has an ELECTRONIC trigger. This sophisticated, battery-powered trigger offers a super-precise, super-light release (it’s more a “touch” than a “pull”). For top-level international and Olympic shooters, the electronic trigger can offer a competitive advantage. Later this year Walther will offer an electronic trigger in its top-of-the-line smallbore rifle.
“Name This Stock” — New Tactical Stock from McMillan
Kelly McMillan, president of McMillan Fiberglass Stocks is holding the latest tactical stock from McMillan. It features a girder-style open fore-end that fits any barrel contour. At the rear, the stock boasts an adjustable cheekpiece along with a straight toe for riding a sandbag. Interestingly, this stock has no name (as yet). At SHOT Show, McMillan is running a “Name This Stock” contest. The winner will receive a free stock.
Giant Super-Sized Scope at Zeiss Booth
At its booth, Zeiss displayed what must be the world’s largest rifles-scope replica. This giant scope, as big as a totem pole, certainly did draw the attention of anyone who walked by. The big news at Zeiss this year is the Victory V8 line of scopes with 8X zoom ratio.
Uberti Classic Single Action Pistols
We love vintage-style revolvers. This year Uberti offered a beautiful array of single-action pistols in a variety of styles. Along with its line of “Wild West” repro pistols, Uberti makes excellent lever guns based on classic Winchester designs. This editor owns two Uberti lever-action rifles, and they are both beauties.
Anschutz Model 9015 Competition Air Rifle
Our friend Steve Boelter, President of Anschutz North America, showed us the latest and greatest competition rifles from the respected German gun-maker. In this photo, Steve is holding the new Anschutz 9015 air rifle. Above is the new, top-of-the-line Anschutz smallbore target rifle. In a week or so we’ll release a video showing the details of both these rifles.
SHOT Scenery — From Russia with Love
It wouldn’t be SHOT without a few Booth Babes, or should we say Booth Babe-bushkas. These charming young ladies really ARE from Russia. Yuliya, on the right, hails from far-away Vladivostok in Siberia. She said she appreciated the warmer weather in Las Vegas.
Tikka T3 Compact Tactical Rifle for the Canadian Rangers
On display at the SAKO booth was the Tikka T3 Compact Tactical Rifle which has been adopted by the Canadian Rangers. This will replace the Ranger’s beloved, but antiquated Lee-Enfield rifles. The Canadian Rangers, an element of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Reserve, serve as the CAF’s eyes and ears in sparsely-settled northern and coastal areas of Canada. The Rangers have helped secure Canada’s hinterlands since 1947.
Browning “Hell’s Canyon” Gun Vaults
Browning showcased a series of large gun safes with much-enhanced fire-proofing and thicker steel walls. The new “Hell’s Canyon” Series of gun vaults offer 40% thicker steel plus 2 – 3 times the fire protection of typical gun safes. These “Hells Canyon”-series safes are impressive.
Kim Rhode — Olympic Gold Medal Winner
We had a chance to interview shotgun superstar Kim Rhode, who has won Gold Medals at multiple Olympic Games. She told us some very interesting facts. For example, did you know that roughly 70% of females are left-eye dominant? Kim revealed some techniques that right-handed, cross-dominant shooters can use to improve their scores. We’ll reveal that in an upcoming video interview with Kim, shown here at the autograph table with some of her Olympic medals.
We had a chance to meet with Jerry Miculek and his wife Kay at SHOT Show. These are very nice people who also happen to be superb shooters. They are great ambassadors for the shooting sports. We talked about Jerry’s many titles and match wins over recent decades. He explained: “It didn’t come easy… the winning comes after years of hard work”. Jerry’s name is synonymous with revolvers. But Jerry is also one heck of a rifleman, as he demonstrates in this video.
Three Shots Standing at 400 Yards in 4.37 Seconds
For those of use who usually shoot from the bench, hitting a silhouette target at 400 yards from an standing position (unsupported) would be a big challenge. Here Jerry Miculek makes it look easy.
In this video, Jerry hits not one but THREE c-zone targets at 400 yards. And — get this — he does this in under 4.4 seconds starting with his rifle laying on a support. It took Jerry two tries (on his first run he hit 2 out of 3 in 4.65 seconds). On the second attempt (see video starting at 2:19), it takes Jerry just 4.37 seconds to shoulder his rifle, aim, and fire three shots, each hitting a separate steel target. Wow. That’s truly remarkable. Most of us would need ten seconds (or more) just to get the scope on the first target.
Trust us folks, this ain’t easy. It takes remarkable marksmanship skills to shoot with this kind of precision at this kind of pace. As Jerry would say himself, “Not bad for an old guy who needs glasses”.
For those who prefer to neck-size their brass (rather than full-length-size), the LEE Collet Die is a popular, inexpensive option. It works by having collet tangs or “fingers” press the neck against a central mandrel. The benefit is that you get a very straight neck, which is sized consistently from top to bottom. Canadian shooter Jerry Teo explains: “LEE Collet Dies produce sized cases with very low runout (measured runout is under .001″ using a Sinclair concentricity gauge). You also don’t get the build-up of brass at the base of the neck, as can happen with bushing neck dies. The neck-shoulder junction stays nice and crisp.”
TIP ONE — Adjusting Tension
LEE Collet dies don’t have a specific mechanical adjustment for neck tension. But you CAN easily modify the die to provide more or less tension. If you want to adjust the neck tension using a Lee Collet die, you can simply chuck the mandrel in a drill and reduce the diameter with some sand-paper (to increase neck tension) or you can order a mandrel the next caliber larger and turn it to whatever diameter you want (the larger the mandrel diameter, the less the neck tension). You can also order custom mandrels from Lee sized to any diameter you want.
Lee also offers Custom Collet Dies, made from two fired cases. Lee offers custom standard collet dies for $78.00 and custom large collet dies for $160.00. CLICK HERE to ORDER.
TIP TWO — Polish and Tune for Easy Case Removal
Some users have complained that their Collet Dies grab the case-neck too firmly, making the case hard to remove. There are solutions to this problem. First inspect the collet fingers and smooth the inner surface up a bit with polishing compound or an extra-fine sanding pad. Second, you can open up the fingers a little bit. LEE recommends that if your Collet Die is sticking, take a steel punch and tap the fingers apart a little bit so that the natural “unloaded” position is wider. Lastly, you should lightly lubricate the outside of the collet fingers (see arrows) before you re-assemble the die. This will ensure they slide smoothly. Also, to prevent the collet fingers from closing too tight, never load up the die with your press without putting a case in place first. Without a case neck between the collet fingers and the mandrel, the collet can clamp itself too tight as you raise the ram.
TIP THREE — Size Twice and Spin Your Case 1/8th Turn
After reaching fully “down” on your press handle, withdraw the case about an inch and manually rotate it about 1/8th (NOT 1/4 or 1/2) turn while still in the shell-holder, then size again. This will place the die’s collet petals on the four “high spots” of the case neck and will result in a rounder, more evenly-sized neck with slightly more bullet tension. This takes only about one second more per case and is well worth the slight extra effort. (We thank reader Stonecreek for this smart tip).
Here are eleven of the more interesting products (and people) we saw on Day Two of SHOT Show. This is only the tip of the iceberg folks. With 12.5 miles of aisles, and over 1600 Exhibitor booths, we can only show a tiny fraction of the products on display. There are tactical rifles and gear everywhere in sight. We also found some interesting target systems and reloading tools. Stay tuned for more product previews tomorrow from SHOT Show at the Sands Convention Center.
Savage 10/110 BA Stealth
You asked for it — here it is — the new Savage 10/110 BA Stealth. This new rifle features a strong yet light aluminum chassis that accepts AR-compatible rear sections. Savage says the actions have been “factory blueprinted”. Available chamberings are: 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester, .300 Win Magnum, and .338 Lapua Magnum. We shot this rifle, in .308 Win, at Media Day and we liked the ergonomics.
NEW Alliant Reloder 16 Powder
Alliant’s engineers showed us “top-secret” data charts comparing various popular powders. This new Reloder 16 is one of the most temp-stable propellants ever created. Burn rate is slightly faster than H4350. Initial accuracy results have been very promising. AccurateShooter.com will be testing this powder very soon. Stay tuned.
Savage A17 in Laminated Thumbhole Stock
Here is the 17 HMR Savage A17 in new laminated, thumbhole stock. We want one. The wood-stocked A17 balances well and feels good. This is a definite upgrade over the original plastic stock.
Vortex 6-24x50mm FFP Razor HD
Vortex unveiled a very impressive new tactical scope, the 6-24x50mm Razor HD. Vortex says this top-of-line optics was engineered to compete with anything on the market — including the big-name German brands. The glass was excellent, and we loved the fact the elevation turret offers a full 25 MOA of elevation in one rotation. Great feature.
Pardini Competition Air Rifle
Design for Olympics-level competition, this new Pardini is one of the most sophisticated air rifles ever made. It has a very sophisticated loading system that allow you to load pellets without changing your hold on the rifle. It was designed with input from Olympic Champion shooters.
Ken Oehler and the New System 88
Chronograph Guru Ken Oehler explained the capabilities of his “enterprise-grade” System 88. This combines a proof-channel chronograph at the firing line with sonic sensors at 1000 yards (and other distances in between if desired). This allows very precise calculation of true bullet BCs.
$38,000 JANZ Multi-Barrel, Multi-Caliber Revolver
You are looking at the world’s most expensive wheelgun, the JANZ multi-caliber system. Custom-built for each customer, this amazing revolver shoots multiple cartridge types — even rimfire. As far as we know this is the only revolver in the world that shoots .22 LR rimfire as well as centerfire cartridges up to .500 SW. The builder, JANZ-Praszisionstechnik GmbH, will craft the gun with as many barrels and cylinders as the owner wants. As shown in the photo, the price is around $38,000.
New Bullets from Sierra
Sierra Bullets had its new Tipped MatchKings on display, and well as the very impressive new 7mm 183-grain MatchKings, which are “tip-uniformed” at the factory. Lester Bruno shot some of these 183-grainers and said they held amazing waterline at 1000 yards, indicating that the bullet-to-bullet BC is very consistent. Listed G1 BC for the 183gr MK, SKU #1983, is .707.
Jerry Miculek, World’s Fastest Wheelgunner
We met up with the legendary Jerry Miculek at the Hornady Booth. The world’s fastest wheelgunner (and a darned good rifleman too) had fans lined up for autographs. What’s the secret to Jerry’s success? Hard work, hands of steel, and a positive attitude.
New Throat Erosion Gauge from PT&G
Pacific Tool and Gauge had a bunch of new products on display. One item that caught our eye was an interesting Throat Erosion Gauge. Index marks on the main shaft let you determine, with precision, how much your throat has moved. Screw-on, caliber-specific pilots let you gauge all popular calibers.
Sig Sauer 5-25x52mm “Whiskey 5″ SFP Scope
We were very impressed with Sig Sauer’s optics, which offer a lot of capability for the price. The new 5-25x52mm Whiskey 5 optic offers positive controls and a nice illuminated reticle center (good for low light). The “street price” is around $1200.00 – $1300.00. READ Full Review Here.
At SHOT Show 2016 we visited the Sellier & Bellot pavilion. You may not have heard of this company, but it is one of Europe’s older ammunition manufacturers. The video below shows ammunition being made from start to finish, starting with raw materials. This is a fascinating video that is well worth watching. It shows some amazing machines in operation:
Based in in Vlašim, Czech Republic, Sellier & Bellot was founded in August 5, 1825 by a German businessman of French origins called Louis Sellier. His family were royalists who fled France during the French Revolution. Louis Sellier began manufacturing percussion caps for infantry firearms in a factory in Prague, Bohemia on the request of Francis I, the Emperor of Austria. Sellier was joined by his countryman Jean Maria Nicolaus Bellot.
At the S&B booth, we also saw an interesting CGI video that shows what happens inside a rifle chamber and barrel when a cartridge fires can’t be seen by the naked eye (unless you are a Super-Hero with X-Ray vision). But now, with the help of 3D-style computer animation, you can see every stage in the process of a rifle round being fired.
In this X-Ray-style 3D animation illustrates the primer igniting, the propellant burning, and the bullet moving through the barrel. The video then shows how the bullet spins as it flies along its trajectory. Finally, this animation shows the bullet impacting ballistic gelatin. Watch the bullet mushroom and deform as it creates a “wound channel” in the gelatin.
Watch Video – Cartridge Ignition Sequence Starts at 1:45 Time-Mark
SHOT Show offers a unique opportunity to see a host of new products AND reconnect with old friends in the shooting world. We met with our friends John Krieger (Krieger Barrels), Ian Kelbly (Kelblys.com), Dave Kiff (PT&G), and Eric Stecker (Berger Bullets). On SHOT Show Day One we saw many interesting items, including a new $1500.00, 15-60x52mm comp scope from Vortex and the amazing Bix’n Andy Elypse action. That 15-60X Vortex should prove a great choice for F-Class competition and the Elypse “raises the bar” for lightweight benchrest actions.
Everyone involved in long-range target shooting should check out this New Vortex “Golden Eagle” 15-60x52mm scope. It offers a 4X zoom ratio with 60X max magnification, with an affordable street price of around $1500.00. That undercuts the competition from other major brands by hundreds of dollars. Two reticle options will be offered, a fine cross-hair and one with MOA-based hold-over lines. We’ll provide a more complete report soon….
Howa — Mini-Action Bolt Gun
We finally got our hands on the Mini-action Howa, a very nice little rifle. I immediately noticed that the bolt is extremely smooth — really nice. The HACT 2-stage trigger is excellent — just about perfect for a varmint rifle. The action is nearly an inch shorter than a conventional “short action” so bolt movement is shorter. The rifle is currently offered in .204 Ruger and .223 Remington, and Howa may release a .222 Remington, 6.5 Grendel and 7.62×39 version in the future. Street price on this rifle is around $600.00. I give this rifle two thumbs up, way up. I want one.
Kelbly’s — New Composite GRS Stocks
Kelbly’s is the North American distributor for GRS stocks from Norway. For 2016 GRS has introduced advanced composite stocks. These share the ergonomic design of GRS wood stocks, but offer greater strength, rigidity, and durability. If you are looking for an advanced composite-matrix stock for hunting and tactical applications, you should check out this new GRS. We were very impressed.
Bix’n Andy — Titanium Elypse Action
This may be the most sophisticated benchrest action ever created. The new Bix’n Andy Elypse action will be offered in both stainless and Titanium (shown above). The action features an elliptical profile and a drop port. The trigger, sold separately, is superb, absolutely superb. There are many unique features, such as the flared loading port ramp and easy-change bolt handle. This is truly the Rolls-Royce of precision actions.
Shilen — AR and Savage Drop-in Barrels
We visited the Shilen booth and chatted with Wade Hull, Shilen’s President. Wade explained that Shilen now offers a variety of Drop-in Barrels for Savages as well as “large-format” ARs (AR10 type rifles in 308-family chamberings). Wade also noted that Shilen has streamlined its production process, so wait-time on chambering work has been reduced significantly.
Stocky’s Stocks — New 3D-Printed Prototype Stock
3D Printing and Rapid Prototyping has come to the gunstock world. Stockys Stocks showed off a high-tech 3D-printed prototype of its new tactical stock with removable cheekpiece. We also checked out Stocky’s impressive Long Range composite stocks. Very strong, and very rigid, these stocks feature a CNC-milled aluminum bedding block. These are a stunning value for just $199.99.
RAS Tuners — Combo Tuner + Muzzle Brake
Tuners work — though it may take a bit of time and effort to dial in your tune. The RAS Tuner system combines a sensitive tuner with a removable muzzle brake. There are systems for ARs as well as bolt guns. The inventor of the RAS says he has seen significant reductions in group size.
Tactical Solutions — High-Bling Rimfire Rifles and Pistols
If bling is your thing, then Idaho-based Tactical Solutions has you covered. This company offers a wide variety of firearms including .22 LR rimfire target pistols and rifles. The rifle in this photo is configured with a permanent barrel extension that makes it ATF-compliant. But the actual barrel is threaded below the barrel extension so you can add a suppressor and still have a short overall-length “fun gun”.
Hygenall — LeadOff Products
Anyone who does a lot of shooting may be exposed to lead residues. Lead is a tough substance to remove from human skin. We chatted with the scientists who created these LeadOff products and were quite impressed. The product uses sophisticated chemistry to “grab and remove” the lead molecules on your skin. This product has earned health agency certifications.
Champion — Plinking Targets for Fun Shooting
Among all the “Operator-ready” Black Rifles and Tactical gear, it was nice to see a display dedicated to the simple fun of shooting. As kids, we all started our shooting careers plinking with a BB Gun or a simple rimfire rifle. Champion makes a variety of reactive targets that are great for plinking.
Each Wednesday, the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit publishes a reloading “how-to” article on the USAMU Facebook page. Yesterday’s post covered primer seating depth. This article offers many useful tips — including a clever way to measure primer seating depth with ordinary jaw-type calipers. Visit the USAMU Facebook page next Wednesday for the next installment.
Primer Seating Depth — Why Uniformity is Important
The first concern is for safety: for that reason, primers should be seated below flush with the case head. One primary cause of “slam fires” (which includes catastrophic failures from firing out of battery) is “high,” or protruding primers. These stand above the case head, are readily felt with simple finger-tip inspection, and may fire when slammed by the bolt face and/or a floating firing pin in feeding.
Here at the USAMU, we ensure our rifle primers generally run -0.003″ to -0.005″ below the case head. Maximum primer depth is -0.006″ and minimum is -0.002″. Upon inspection, any cases with high primers will be corrected before loading. Aside from improving ballistic uniformity, ensuring the primers have proper compression upon seating also helps reduce possible misfires. These can be caused by the firing pin’s expending part of its energy either seating the primer or having to deform the primer cup enough to reach the anvil.
SMART TIP: How to Measure Primer Seating Depth with a Set of Calipers
A zeroed, precision set of standard calipers will also measure primer seating depth. (You don’t really need a custom tool.) Merely close the jaws and place the calipers’ narrow end squarely across the center of the case head/primer pocket. Keeping the narrow end in full contact with the case head, gently open the jaws, and the center bar will extend until it reaches the primer face. Voilà! Primer depth is read on the dial. Taking a few measurements to ensure accuracy and repeatability is recommended until one is familiar with this technique.
Brass and Primer Defects Can Cause Seating-Depth Variances
Factors affecting variance of primer seating depth include brass maker and lot number — all primer pockets are not created equal! Another factor is the primer manufacturer and individual primer lot. We’ve encountered occasional primer lots by top-quality makers that included some primers with slight defects affecting seating. While finely accurate, these primers were out-of-round or had small slivers of cup material protruding which affected primer feeding or seating depth.
Has one’s brass been fired previously? If so, how many times and the pressures involved also affect future primer seating. Obviously, this is another factor in favor of segregating one’s high-accuracy brass by maker, lot number, and number of times fired, if possible.
Measuring Primer Seating Depth with Purpose-Built Gauge
The next question, “How do we measure primer depth?” happily can be answered using tools already owned by most handloaders. [See tip above on how to measure depth with calipers.] At the USAMU, we have the luxury of purpose-built gauges made by the talented machinists of the Custom Firearms Shop. One places the primed case into the gauge, and the dial indicator reads the depth quickly and easily. The indicator is calibrated using a squarely-machined plug that simulates a case head with a perfectly flush-seated primer, easily giving meaningful “minus” or “plus” readings. The gauge is usable with a variety of case head sizes.
Primer Seating with Progressive Presses
Methods of primer seating include hand-seating using either hand held or bench-mounted tools, vs. progressive-press seating. Progressive presses may either seat by “feel,” subjective to each operator, or by using a mechanical “stop” that positively locates primers nearly identically every time. Testing here has shown that we get more uniform seating with the latter type progressive press, than we do with a high-quality bench-mounted tool lacking a positive stop.
Primer stop depth adjustments on our main progressive presses involve turning a punch screw in and out. While the screw is not calibrated, fine “tick” marks added to the top of the press help users gauge/repeat settings by “eye” efficiently with practice. Then, once a sample of primed cases is run to confirm the range and accuracy of depths, the identifying lot number and maker is noted on the press for reference. When it’s necessary to switch brass/primer lots, changes are easy to make and settings are easily repeated when it’s time to switch back.
Some folks feel that they don’t have to worry about rust and corrosion on stainless steel barrels, actions, and other components. That’s not really true. “Stainless” is a bit of a misnomer. First, there are different types of stainless steel alloys, with different degrees of rust resistance. 300 series stainless is more corrosion resistant than the 416 stainless commonly used in barrels. The composition (by percentage weight) of 416 stainless is 0.15% carbon, 12-14% chromium and the rest iron. 416 stainless steel lacks the roughly 10% nickel content that makes the 300 series more corrosion resistant in atmospheric conditions. But because 416 handles pressure better and is easier to machine (than 300 series steel), 416 stainless remains the better choice for barrels.
Though some grades of stainless are more corrosion-resistent, ALL varieties of stainless steel can rust if they are not handled and stored properly. Forum reader Kells81 observed: “Wanna see some rusted stainless? Go to the big “C” brand store in Ft. Worth. Every stainless gun they have on the used gun rack is rusted.” Tom Easly of TRE Custom explains: “Sweat is very corrosive. Sweat and blood will rust many stainless steels. I hate to handle my guns or drip on them when I sweat. It really helps to just wipe them good with a wet rag, dry and wipe on a light coating of gun oil. I think most stainless barrels are made from type 416 stainless, and it is generally pretty corrosion resistant, but not when exposed to sweat, blood, or chlorates (corrosive priming), and some other electrolytes.”
Forum member Jacob, who is studying materials science at LSU, provides this technical information: “The basic resistance of stainless steel occurs because of its ability to form a protective coating on the metal surface. This coating is a ‘passive’ film which resists further ‘oxidation’ or rusting. The formation of this film is instantaneous in an oxidizing atmosphere such as air, water, or other fluids that contain oxygen. Once the layer has formed, we say that the metal has become ‘passivated’ and the oxidation or ‘rusting’ rate will slow down to less than 0.002″ per year (0.05 mm per year).
Unlike aluminum or silver, this passive film is invisible in stainless steel. It’s created when oxygen combines with the chrome in the stainless to form chrome oxide which is more commonly called ‘ceramic’. This protective oxide or ceramic coating is common to most corrosion resistant materials.
Halogen salts, especially chlorides, easily penetrate this passive film and will allow corrosive attack to occur. The halogens are easy to recognize because they end in the letters ‘ine’. Listed in order of their activity they are: fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astatine.
These are the same chemicals that will penetrate Teflon and cause trouble with Teflon coated or encapsulated o-rings and/ or similar coated materials. Chlorides are one of the most common elements in nature and if that isn’t bad enough, they’re also soluble, active ions. These provide the basis for electrolytes. The presence of electrolytic solutions can accelerate corrosion or chemical attack.”
CONCLUSION: Stainless steel barrels and components won’t rust nearly as fast as blued steel, but you still have to take precautions — particularly removing sweat and corrosive salts from the barrel. Also, don’t let moisture build up inside or outside of the barrel. We recommend wiping your barrels and actions with Eezox, or Corrosion-X after each use. These are both extremely effective rust-fighters that go on thin, without leaving a greasy residue. (Eezox leaves a clear finish, while Corrosion-X has a slightly waxy finish.) Also store your guns in Bore-Store bags when the guns go in the safe. Bore-Stores wick away moisture, and the synthetic fleece inner surface is treated with rust-fighting chemicals. Bore-Stores also protect your guns against dings and scratches.
Scores of manufacturers showcase their products at the SHOT Media Day event, held each year in Boulder City, Nevada. This year we saw some legendary names (such as Colt and Winchester), as well as new, 21st-century gun-makers (such as Tracking Point). Savage and Kimber had some surprising new offerings, and we saw impressive new optics from Zeiss and Minox. There were some interesting trends. Many firearms were equipped with “factory” suppressors. Ruger, much to our surprise, showcased a Ruger 10/22 takedown rifle fitted with a Ruger-branded suppressor. It was extremely quiet. Many of the handgun manufacturers, including Ruger and Walther, supplied ammunition with composite polymer matrix bullets. These bullets are significantly lighter than conventional pistol bullets of the same caliber (the reduced bullet mass did lessen felt recoil with 9mm and 45 acp pistols). The polymer bullets are lead-free, and they don’t ricochet, so they are both more “eco-friendly” and safer when used on steel targets.
New Savage 110 BA Stealth Rifle
Savage unveiled a modern, “monolithic” metal-chassis tactical rifle. Designed to compete with the Ruger Precision Rifle (RPR), the new Savage 110 BA Stealth has an AR-type hand grip, skeletal buttstock, and a low-profile vented forearm. This rifle will be offered in .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor while a slightly bigger model will be offered in .300 Win Mag and .338 Lapua Magnum. Savage says that all the 110 BA Stealth models will feature “factory blue-printed actions” for improved accuracy. MSRP varies from $1200 to $1600 depending on caliber and configuration. It should be available starting next month.
The model on display, chambered in .308 Winchester, proved accurate in the hands of Ed M. of 65guys.com. Ed liked the trigger and the fact that the rifle uses PMags. The stock, based on a design by Drake Associates, is very light but also very rigid. Ed thought this stock would work well on barricades in tactical matches. Steve L. of 65guys.com said there is “pent-up demand” for a rifle like this, and he predicts the 110 BA Stealth will be a big seller for Savage.
New K6 Revolver from Kimber
Kimber, known for its 1911-type semi-auto pistols, has introduced an all-new K6 .357 magnum carry revolver. Kimber’s hammerless wheelgun was very nicely crafted and had one of the smoothest double-action pulls we’ve tried. The trigger pull was long, but very consistent and smooth. With the Kimber, you don’t feel a series of “stages” or transitions as you do with most other double-action revolvers. The other impressive thing about the new revolver is the finish — the stainless is very smooth and shiny, the result of “much hand polishing” according to Kimber engineers.
Ruger 10/22 Takedown with Factory Suppressor
The most fun we had all day was at the Ruger booth. There we got to test a Ruger 10/22 Takedown fitted with a Ruger-branded factory-made suppressor. This little rifle was a hoot to shoot, and with the suppressor in place it was amazingly quiet. We really liked this set-up and the take-down system worked brilliantly — just pull one lever, then twist and the barrel section comes off. For those states where you can own a suppressor, we strongly recommend this configuration. The “can” is sold separately and buyer must still comply with all applicable state and Federal laws.
Zeiss Victory V8 4.8-35x60mm Rifle Scope
Zeiss showed off its impressive Victory V8 line of riflescopes. These offer an 8X zoom ratio, with handy BDC turrets — just dial the yardage indicated on the turret (you can custom-order BDC rings calibrated for your favorite load). The new V8 scopes offer many impressive features. We shot a rifle fitted with the new 4.8-35x60mm V8, which features a very beefy 36mm main tube. The glass was bright and ultra-sharp. Zeiss claims 92% light transmission. Fiber optic technology provides a very precise red dot in the center of the reticle. This was visible even in bright sunlight. Zeiss will offer three other V8 models: 1-8x30mm, 1.8-14x50mm, and 2.8-20x56mm.
APO .338 Lapua Magnum
Bigger is apparently better when it comes to serious tactical rifles. There were quite a few rifles chambered for the powerful .338 Lapua Magnum Cartridge. We tried out a .338 LM from Ashbury Precision Ordnance. With some help from a laser rangefinders, we were able to put rounds on a large steel plate at 960 yards. The trigger was nice and the suppressor reduced felt recoil. This was a nice rifle, with a comfortable cheek-piece and ergonomic grip.
Minox MD 88 Spotting Scope
We noticed a BIG front objective on a brand-new Minox spotting scope — one of only two in the country. This new spotter features low-dispersion glass and dual focusing rings — a large “fast focus” ring and a second smaller, fine focus ring. The price, including 20-60X eyepiece, will be around $1750.00. Jason Baney, who works for EuroOptics, says this new Minox spotting scope compares well with other spotters that cost considerably more.
Blaser R8 Professional Thumbhole Fancy Wood
If there was one rifle I wanted to take home with me, it was this nice Blaser R8 “Professional Success” model with a fancy wood new thumbhole stock. This rifle was very comfortable in all shooting positions. The gun balanced well and the straight-pull Blaser action is fun to use. It can be cycled rapidly without disturbing your position on the rifle.
This is always something new and unusual on display at Media Day at the range. This tracked one-man rig provides all-terrain mobility so disabled persons can enjoy hunting and wilderness recreation.
TIP TWO — Polish and Tune for Easy Case Removal
CONCLUSION: Stainless steel barrels and components won’t rust nearly as fast as blued steel, but you still have to take precautions — particularly removing sweat and corrosive salts from the barrel. Also, don’t let moisture build up inside or outside of the barrel. We recommend wiping your barrels and actions with Eezox, or Corrosion-X after each use. These are both extremely effective rust-fighters that go on thin, without leaving a greasy residue. (Eezox leaves a clear finish, while Corrosion-X has a slightly waxy finish.) Also store your guns in 
