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July 13th, 2017
Camp Perry photos courtesy NRA Blog.
This has been pistol week at Camp Perry, site of the NRA National Trophy Pistol Championships. The handgun events started with the NRA Revolver matches and Prelim Pistol Agg on Monday, July 10. This was followed with .22 LR individual and team matches on Tuesday, and the CF Championship and Team Match on Wednesday. The pistol competitions conclude today, July 13th, with the NRA individual .45 Championship, .45 Team Match, and Pistol Awards Ceremony.
Precision (Bullseye) Pistol Championship (Camp Perry, OH — July 9-13, 2017)
Webpage: CLICK HERE for National Pistol Championships INFO
Program: 2017 NRA Pistol Championship Program (PDF)
Pistol Marksmanship with Brian “Gunny” Zins
The nation’s top bullseye pistol shooters were at Camp Perry this week. If you’ve every wondered what it takes to win a pistol match using the classic, one-handed hold, here are some tips from one of the best ever, Brian “Gunny” Zins, 12-Time NRA National Pistol Champion.
Brian has authored an excellent guide to bullseye pistol shooting. Brian’s Clinic on the Fundamentals recently appeared in The Official Journal of the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association. The CMP scanned the story so you can read it online. CLICK HERE to read full article.
Top Tips from Brian Zins:
Trigger Movement: If trigger control is ever interrupted in slow fire the shot needs to be aborted and the shot started over.
Relationship between Sight Alignment and Trigger Control: Often when the fundamentals are explained these two are explained as two different acts. Well, truth be told it’s really kind of hard to accomplish one without the other. They have a symbiotic relationship. In order to truly settle the movement in the dot or sights you need a smooth, steady trigger squeeze.
Trigger Finger Placement: Where should the trigger make contact on the finger? The trigger should be centered in the first crease of the trigger finger. Remember this is an article on Bullseye shooting. If this were an article on free pistol or air pistol it would be different.
Proper Grip: A proper grip is a grip that will NATURALLY align the gun’s sights to the eye of the shooter without having to tilt your head or move your or move your wrists around to do that. Also a proper grip, and most importantly, is a grip that allows the gun to return to the same position [with sights aligned] after each and every shot. The best and easiest way to get the proper grip, at least a good starting position… is with a holster. Put your 1911 in a holster on the side of your body[.] Allow your shooting hand to come down naturally to the gun.
It took decades of competition to acquire all those patches — that’s dedication to the sport.
July 13th, 2017
It’s official, Cabela’s is being acquired by Bass Pro Shops. The Shooting Wire reports:
Cabela’s Shareholders Approve Bass Pro Shops Merger
“It only took about 35 people around 20 minutes yesterday to approve a $4.2 billion merger that’s been lingering for months. Backed by what Cabela’s CEO Tommy Milner calls ‘overwhelming support’, the shareholders of Cabela’s approved [the] proposed merger with Bass Pro Shops. Under the current terms, shareholders will receive $61.50/per share for the stock which has been trading in the $58.90-$59.94 range. After the merger, the companies will be based in Springfield, Missouri. No word on how many of the 1,000 workers in Cabela’s Sydney, Nebraska, headquarters will be retained.”
Bass Pro Shops will acquire popular outdoor retail chain Cabela’s (NYSE:CAB) in a $4.2 billion deal expected to close in Q3 of 2017. According to The Street: “Cabela’s agreed in April to be bought by Bass Pro Shops for $61.50 a share, down from the original purchase price of $65.50 a share, valuing the acquisition at $4.2 billion.” After the merger, Bass Pro will continue to recognize Cabela’s CLUB points, and the branded credit cards will be serviced by Capital One.
History of Two Major Outdoor Retailers
CABELA’S
Founded in 1961 by Dick, Mary and Jim Cabela, Cabela’s is a highly respected marketer of hunting, fishing, camping, shooting sports and related outdoor merchandise. Today, Cabela’s has over 19,000 “outfitters” operating 85 specialty retail stores, primarily in the western U.S. and Canada. Cabela’s stores, catalog business and e-commerce operations will blend seamlessly with Bass Pro Shops and White River Marine Group. Over the past 55 years Cabela’s has built a passionate and loyal base of millions of enthusiasts who shop both at its retail stores and online.
BASS PRO SHOPS
Bass Pro Shops, founded in 1972 by avid young angler Johnny Morris, is a leading national retailer of outdoor gear and apparel, with 99 stores and Tracker Marine Centers located primarily in the eastern part of the U.S. and Canada. Morris started the business with eight square feet of space in the back of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Mo., the company’s sole location for the first 13 years of business. Johnny’s passion for the outdoors and his feel for the products and shopping experiences desired by outdoor enthusiasts helped transform the industry. Bass Pro Shops, which employs approximately 20,000 team members, has been named by Forbes as one of “America’s Best Employers.”
July 13th, 2017
 Like crosswords? Like guns? Well, thanks to Shooting Sports USA (SSUSA), you can try a crossword puzzle that tests your knowledge of gun stuff and competitive shooting. In the February 2013 digital edition of Shooting Sports USA magazine, you’ll find a crossword puzzle created just for shooters. There are some easy items, such as the location of the annual NRA National Pistol Championships (see story above). Other entries are more difficult, and may require some research. To print the crossword puzzle before you start working, click this Page 12 link, and then select the print icon. Spoiler alert — all the answers appear on PAGE 14 of the same February issue of SSUSA.
NOTE: These pages may be slow to load, but don’t fret, they WILL appear if you’re patient.
CLICK HERE for Crossword Puzzle Answers.
July 12th, 2017
Story based on Report by Ashley Brugnone, CMP Writer
SFC Brandon Green, 32, of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, fired a score of 2368-97X to earn the championship title in the 2400 Aggregate Rifle event held during the inaugural Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Cup Matches. The 2400 Aggregate award goes to the top shooter in the three combined 800 Aggregates. The 2015 National High Power Champion, SFC Green is a gifted competitor who has excelled in multiple rifle disciplines. In addition to Service Rifle and High Power events, Green has competed in PRS and tactical matches.
CLICK HERE to view larger version of this image.
CLICK HERE for 2017 National Matches Calendar (PDF).
Even before joining the USAMU Green was an ace marksman. As a junior, he earned Distinguished Air Rifle Badge #1. “I’ve been very fortunate to get support from friends, family and the ROTC programs in high school, and of course from the CMP and NRA as well, which kind of catered to someone like myself, coming in as a junior and shooting all the way up through the High Power sports,” said Green. “I’ve also been lucky enough to gain so many opportunities from being a part of the Army and the USAMU. It’s been a long learning journey, but it’s been a good one.”
The CMP Cup Matches, which kicked off the 2017 National Matches at Camp Perry, were introduced as an extra series of elite match and service rifle competitions. The schedule included a 4-Man Team Match, three consecutive days of 800 Aggregate matches, and an EIC Service Rifle Match.
4-Man Team Match kicked off a week of events fired entirely on the CMP’s electronic High Power targets.
The CMP Cup Series week marked a new era at Camp Perry, with the first successful competitions fired on the base’s ranges using CMP’s mobile electronic targets. Over 36,000 rounds were sent downrange, with less than 50 questioned by competitors throughout the week. For many, the Cup Matches provided an initial look at the CMP’s target system.
Also making marks in the 2400 Aggregate match during CMP Cup Week was SSG Amanda Elsenboss, 28, of the Army Marksmanship Unit, who earned the High Woman Award, as well as Serena Juchnowski, 18, of Richfield, OH, who snagged the High Junior credit. Paul Terrence, 65, of Cleveland, OH, was named the High Senior of the event.
July 11th, 2017
That fancy front rest is a Farley with custom polished aluminum magnum base, John Loh top, and upgraded large-diameter “Speed Demon Wheel” elevation adjustment. The barrel is a 1:8.75″-twist Bartlein fitted with Ralph Stewart 3-Disk rotary tuner. The 32″-long tube tapers from 1.250″ to 1.0″ diameter. Speedy prefers to have a bit of taper in barrels even when weight is not a factor.
The F-Class World Championships take place next month at the Connaught Ranges in Ontario, Canada. Here’s something special gunsmith Speedy Gonzales put together for F-Open shooter Brett Solomon. Christened the “Little Red Devil” by Speedy, this ruby red, flame maple-stocked beauty is chambered in .284 Winchester. It features a Melonited BAT 3LL action with two bolts (regular and magnum bolt face). The stock is the Speedy “Spear of Destiny” design crafted by Will McCloskey. These handsome McCloskey stocks are milled with advanced CNC machines, allowing ultra-precise tolerances for improved tracking and perfect geometry.
Speedy tell us: “Wish I could say the pictures do it justice. It is ten times nicer looking in real life. Bret will be rubbing on it for hours when it arrives…”
Torrefied Wood from Yamaha
This wood is very special — the flame maple was sourced from Yamaha which used a torrefaction process to stabilize the wood and prevent warping. Yamaha’s proprietary ARE process was developed by Yamaha for musical instruments. Speedy explained that Yamaha uses heat and pressure (we think) to stabilize the wood and dampen vibrations. During torrefaction, the sap in the wood actually crystallizes.
For this rifle build, the torrefied wood blank was CNC-milled by Will McCloskey to “best-in-industry” tolerances. Then Speedy did the inletting, fit the triggerguard, action pillars, butt-plate assembly, and other details. Then Speedy removed the metal parts and shipped the stock to Lee Garver, a noted guitar painter. Garver applied a special red-tone polyester finish. This is a very hard, yet glossy finish that makes the stock “pretty nearly scratch-proof” according to Speedy.
The rifle sports one of Ken Rucker’s new F-Class Bump-Buster Gold recoil reducers. This new system is optimized for prone shooting and works with minimal touch/hold shooting styles.
This video shows the CNC-Milling process with another Speedy stock, the adjustable-comb version of his “Spear of Destiny” design:
The BAT 3LL action comes with two (2) complete bolts, one with standard bolt face, the other with a magnum bolt face.
When One Stunning Rifle Is Not Enough…
If you aren’t yet totally consumed with envy, consider this. Brett Solomon has invested in THREE more Speedy-built rifles like this red wonder. There’s a TAN (natural finish) rimfire training rig that’s complete, and Speedy’s now working on a GREEN .284 Win “spare”, plus a BLUE dedicated Magnum rig. The tan, green, and blue rigs for Brett will have similar stocks, with “all the bells and whistles” just like the “Little Red Devil”. Brett is currently using the tan-stocked rimfire rig for training — getting lots of “trigger time” without burning out his precious centerfire match barrels.
July 11th, 2017
Inspired by the Prime Day Deals offered by Amazon.com this week, Brownells is offering some big discounts this week, plus Free Shipping. For June 11, 2017, the free shipping code is JNT. For other days, look for the code on Brownells’ Home Page.
We found that some of the best offers are products that come with money-value Brownells Gift Cards. These are premium items that are rarely (if ever) discounted. But with the Gift Cards, you can effectively save $50 or $100. Anyway you look at it, that’s a significant savings.
MagnetoSpeed V3 (Premium Model) Chronograph, buy for $380.00, get $50 Gift Card.
Weaver T-Series XR Fixed Power Scope, buy for $849.99, get $100 Gift Card.
Leica Geovid Rangefinder Binoculars, Buy for $2029.99, get $200 Gift Card.
July 11th, 2017
 In the archives of On The Mark magazine, DCM Emeritus Gary Anderson, an Olympic Gold medal-winning shooter in his younger years, offers sage advice for competitive shooters.
In his article Ten Lessons I Wished I Had Learned as a Young Shooter, Anderson provides ten important guidelines for everyone involved in competitive shooting. Here are the Ten Lessons, but you should read the full article. Anderson provides detailed explanations of each topic with examples from his shooting career.
READ Full Article by Gary Anderson in On the Mark.
LESSON 1 – NATURAL ABILITY WILL NOT MAKE YOU A SHOOTING CHAMPION.
(You also need hard work, training effort and perseverance.)
LESSON 2 – ANGER IS THE ENEMY OF GOOD SHOOTING.
(The key to recovering from a bad shot is to stay cool, no matter what happens.)
LESSON 3 – BAD SHOTS CAN TEACH YOU MORE THAN GOOD SHOTS.
(Today, error analysis is one of the most powerful tools for improving scores.)
LESSON 4 – NEVER GO WITHOUT A SHOT PLAN.
(A shot plan is a detailed breakdown of each of the steps involved in firing a shot.)
LESSON 5 – PRACTICE IN BAD CONDITIONS AS WELL AS GOOD CONDITIONS.
(Most competitions are fired in windy conditions or where there are plenty of distractions.)
LESSON 6 – CHAMPIONS ARE POSITIVE, OPTIMISTIC PEOPLE.
(Negative shooters expect bad results; positive shooters expect to train hard to change bad results.)
LESSON 7 – IT’S NOT ABOUT WHETHER YOU WIN OR LOSE.
(It’s about how hard you try to win.)
LESSON 8 – YOUR DOG WON’T BITE YOU AFTER SHOOTING A BAD SCORE.
(Hopefully your coach, parents and friends won’t bite you either.)
LESSON 9 – YOUR PRESS CLIPPINGS CAN HURT YOU OR HELP YOU.
(Winning can go to our heads. We start thinking we are so good we don’t have to work hard any more.)
LESSON 10 — YOU NEVER SHOT YOUR BEST SCORE.
(Great champions are always looking for ways to improve.)
About Gary Anderson
 Gary Anderson served as the Director of the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) from 1999-2009, and is now DCM Emeritus. As a Nebraska farmboy, Gary grew up hunting and shooting. Dreams of winning an Olympic Gold Medal in shooting led Gary to the U.S. Army. In 1959, he joined the elite U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit. Just two years later, he won his first national championship.
At the 1962 World Shooting Championships in Egypt, Anderson stunned the shooting world by winning four individual titles and setting three new world records. At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Gary won the 300m free-rifle Gold Medal, setting a new world record in the process. At the 1966 World Shooting Championships in Germany, Anderson won three additional world titles. At the 1968 Olympics, Gary won a second gold medal in the 300m free-rifle event.
 Gary retired from active international competition after the 1969 World Championships in Spain, where he set a 50m, three-position world record. After his “retirement” from international competition, Gary competed in the National High Power Championships, winning the President’s National Trophy in 1973, 1975 and 1976. Over his competitive career, Anderson won two Olympic Gold Medals, seven World Championships, and sixteen National Championships. No American has ever won more major shooting titles.
Gary’s influence on shooting sports extends beyond the United States. Gary has attended eleven Summer Olympic Games, three as a competitor and eight as technical delegate or a jury member. Gary is the first American ever elected as Vice President of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), and still serves in that capacity. In 2012, Gary received the International Olympic Committee’s highest honor, the Olympic Order.
July 10th, 2017
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. Powder Valley — Special Discount on Vihtavuori Powders
Powder Valley will be offering select Vihtavuori powders at a discounted price. With special SALE Pricing, you get $2 off 1-pound containers, $8 off 4-pound containers, and $16 off 8-pound containers. Sounds great right? Well, be patient — the sale starts Wednesday July 12th at 9:00 am CT. You’ll see the updated discounted sale pricing Wednesday morning at www.powder-valley.com. Sale excludes N110, N130, and 20N29. Offer valid for a limited time only!
2. Burris — $100 OFF XTR II Scope or Eliminator III Laserscope
Burris XTR II Rebate Form | Burris Eliminator III Rebate Form
Now through 10/31/2017, Burris is offering $100 rebates on popular scope models. Get $100.00 Off the XTR II series of scopes or the 4-16×50 Eliminator III laserscope. The XTR IIs are FFP scopes with 5X zoom range. With 1/10 Mil clicks, 10 mils per rotation turret, and Mil-defined reticles, the 4-20X and 5-25X XTR IIs are popular with the tactical crowd. (Quarter-MOA clicks with MOA-based reticle also offered). With this $100 rebate, they XTR scopes offer excellent performance for the price. As for the Eliminator, we like this unique laserscope for varmint work. The laser has proven very reliable out to 550 yards, about our max range for prairie dogs. The system ranges the distance and then instantly calculates hold-over — just put the red dot on the target and pull the trigger.
3. Midsouth — Lyman Case Prep Xpress, $84.99 after Rebate
This multi-function powered Case Prep station saves time and avoids repetitive manual labor (that can be downright painful after 50+ cases). The Case Prep Xpress lets you chamfer inside and out, brush case-necks, clean/uniform primer pockets, and ream military crimps. Midsouth just slashed its price on the Lyman Case Prep Xpress, and this unit also qualifies for a sweet $25 Rebate from Lyman. That puts your net cost at just $84.99. You can also purchase at Amazon for $107.71 with free Prime Shipping ($82.71 after Rebate).
4. Bruno’s Everything Sale — Ends Monday, July 10 at 11:59 PM
Bullets, brass, powder, optics, dies, tools, stocks, barrels, actions — all this and more is on sale at Bruno Shooters Supply right now. You’ll find savings on pretty much everything Bruno’s sells (except MAP-price items). But you have to act quickly. This storewide sale ends TODAY, July 10th at 11:59 PM. You snooze, you loose. NOTE: You don’t need a special discount code — the sale prices are already shown online, good for today (7/10/2017) only.
5. Monmouth — Luth-AR MBA 1 Modular Stock, $112.83
This is an adjustable rear stock for AR-platform rifles. Made from glass-filled nylon, it is half the weight of some other adjustable AR stocks. Get this stock for just $112.83 from Monmouth by using CODE “STOCK” during checkout. That’s a great deal. (Price before coupon is $131.55.) This is a good buttstock for a PRS Gas Gun Series rifle project. The ambidextrous Luth-AR MBA 1 has an adjustable cheek-piece, adjustable length of pull, and a flat toe for riding bags. Several options exist for sling attachment. With its rifle-length buffer tube, the MBA 1 is easy to install. There is 1″ vertical cheek-piece adjustment and a 1″ LOP adjustment. Additional length of pull is available with an extended buttplate.
6. Midsouth — Norma Tac-22 .22 LR Ammunition, $3.99/box
Check out those groups. That’s impressive accuracy at 50 yards. You’d expect to pay $10.00 or more per box for rimfire ammo that can shoot this well. But you can now get the Norma Tac-22 for just $3.99 per box at Midsouth Shooters Supply. That’s the best price we’ve found. NOTE: The target photos above come from Champion Shooters Supply, which may have gotten an exceptional lot. This vendor tells us: “We have found this to run very well in Ruger rifles, handguns, and target pistols. These are 5-shot groups at 50 yards with an Anschutz 1913 rifle. This is an incredible value.”
7. CDNN Sports — Remington RP9 9mm, $249.99 with Rebate
Here’s a killer deal on a modern, full-size, 9mm pistol. The striker-fired Remington RP9 is similar to Smith & Wesson’s popular M&P9, but we prefer the Remington’s grip ergonomics. The RP9 comes with three (3) grip inserts and two (2) 18-round magazines. CDNN’s retail price is $299.99, but this pistol qualifies for a $50 mail-in Rebate from Remington. That knocks your net cost down to $249.99. That’s less than half the price of a Glock 17 or Glock 19. It’s also considerably less expensive than competitive full-size 9mm pistols from Ruger or Smith & Wesson. Put the money you save into ammo and a good holster. NOTE: Remington $50 Rebate is good through July 30, 2017.
8. Amazon — RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Press, $126.99
The RCBS Rock Chucker remains a classic — a big, strong, versatile press that can handle most reloading chores with ease. And now you can get a genuine Rock Chucker Supreme for $126.99 — a very good deal. The Rock Chucker offers plenty of leverage for case-sizing and the “O” is tall enough for long cartridges. The Rock Chucker has a very strong base and should last a lifetime. We’re not fans of the Rock Chucker’s priming system but most serious reloaders use a separate priming tool.
9. MidwayUSA — Packable Shooting Mat, $19.99
Here’s a heck of a deal on a good light-weight shooting mat. MidwayUSA has slashed the price on its Packable Shooting Mat. Available in Coyote Tan or Olive Drab, this 67″ Long x 31″ Wide padded mat is now just $19.99. This Packable Mat has some nice features, such as 12″ front flap, elbow pads, 0.15″ thick padding, and six staking grommets. It’s easy to transport, rolling up to a 9″ x 4.5″ package, secured with a heavy strap. If you need a low-cost shooting mat, check this out. Weighing just 1.5 pounds, this is a good, light-weight mat to keep in a vehicle or use on a “walk-around” varmint hunt.
10. Amazon — EC Technology 22400mAh Battery Pack, $32.99
This EC Technology 22400 mAh Power Pack is what AccurateShooter’s Editor uses to run a LabRadar Chronograph and recharge smartphones and his iPad on the road. This unit charges cell phones very rapidly, and will give an iPad 2-3 charges. One nice feature is an LED light near the three (3) ports. NOTE: This unit can recharge itself faster than most battery packs since it has a 2 Amp-capable input port. The $32.99 price is very good — we’ve seen this 22400 mAh Power Pack sell for $45.00 elsewhere.
July 10th, 2017
M1 Garand Springfield Armory July 1941 production. Facebook photo by Shinnosuke Tanaka.
This month at Camp Perry, competitors will be competing with the classic M1 Garand, and its more modern descendant, the M1A. Both the CMP Garand Match and M1A Springfield Match will be held at Perry on July 22, 2017. The Garand and M1A are fun to shoot, but they are NOT so easy to clean because it’s impractical to insert a cleaning rod from the breach. Just take a look at the above photo and you’ll see why. Accordingly, when using a cleaning rod with an M1 Garand or M1A, one normally works from the muzzle. That runs the risk of damage to the critical crown area. Solution? Use a muzzle protector like this….
To avoid undesired muzzle/crown wear when cleaning, Creedmoor Sports sells a special Delrin bushing that fits over the end of the barrel. Produced by Dewey (makers of Dewey rods), these Muzzle Guides feature a brass insert that supports the cleaning rod, and also protects the crown from dirty brushes. Creedmoor offers these Delrin Muzzle Guides for the M1 Garand ($10.95), M14/M1A ($9.95), and also AR15-platform rifles ($9.95). If you own a Garand or M1A you should definitely get one — the ten-dollar price is nothing compared to the cost of recrowning a worn or damaged barrel.
Here a lady competitor shoots in the Springfield M1A match at Camp Perry
Creedmoor also offers special Cleaning Kit for AR-platform rifles, both the AR15, and its bigger brother, the AR10. These deluxe cleaning packs include: 8/32 female threaded chamber cleaning rod, 8/32 male threaded lug recess cleaning head, Delrin sleeve, 50-pack cotton cleaning rolls, chamber brush, chamber mop and a double ended nylon cleaning brush. The price for the complete kit is $35.95. We think that’s reasonable for a system the allows you to clean those critical yet hard-to-reach areas of your AR. With the gas system dumping powder residue right back into the bolt, ARs tent to run dirty. You want to keep your chamber and lug recess area clean to ensure 100% reliablity.
July 9th, 2017
“The press is the heart of the handloading operation, also traditionally the most expensive single tool employed…” — Laurie Holland
British competitive shooter Laurie Holland has reviewed three popular, single-stage reloading presses for Target Shooter Magazine (targetshooter.co.uk). Laurie bolted up a Forster Co-Ax, RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme, and RCBS Summit to his reloading bench and put the three presses through their paces. These three machines are very different in design and operation. The venerable Rock Chucker is a classic heavy, cast-iron “O”- type press that offers lots of leverage for tough jobs. The smaller RCBS Summit press is an innovative “upside-down” design with a large center column and open front. It offers a small footprint and easy case access from the front. The Co-Ax is unique in many respects — dies slide in and out of the upper section which allows them to “float”. The cartridge case is held in the lower section by spring-loaded jaws rather than a conventional shell-holder.
If you are considering purchasing any one of these three presses, you should read Laurie’s article start to finish. He reviews the pros and cons of each press, after processing three different brands of brass on each machine. He discusses ergonomics, easy of use, press leverage, smoothness, priming function, and (most importantly), the ability to produce straight ammo with low run-out. The review includes interesting data on case-neck run-out (TIR) for RWS, Federal, and Norma 7x57mm brass.
 Review Quick Highlights:
RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme
“My expectations of the antediluvian RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme’s performance weren’t over high to be honest as I mounted it in the place of the Summit. As soon as I sized the first of the stretched RWS cases though, I saw why this press has been such a long-running favorite. The workload was considerably reduced compared to the other two presses and doing 40-odd cases took no time at all with little sweat — it just eats hard-to-size brass.”
RCBS Summit Press
“Despite its massive build and long-stroke operating handle, [the Summit] took more sweat than I’d expected, even if it was somewhat less work than with the Co-Ax. Although the Summit is apparently massive, I noticed that the die platform would tilt fractionally under the heaviest strains[.] It is nevertheless a very pleasant press in use and bullet seating was a doddle — the few examples tried proving very concentric on checking them afterwards. The optional short handle would be valuable for this task.”
Forster Co-Ax
“[On the Co-Ax], the operating handle is above the machine, located centrally here [with] twin steel links at the top end of the press dropping down to the moving parts. The Co-Ax incorporates a number of novel features, principally its automatic and multi-case compatible shell-holder assembly with spring-loaded sliding jaws, very neat spent primer arrangements that allow hardly any gritty residues to escape and foul the moving parts and, the snap-in/out die fitment that allows rapid changes and also sees the die ‘float’ in relation to the case giving very concentric results. I own this press and it meets my handloading needs very well.”
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