As an Amazon Associate, this site earns a commission from Amazon sales.











February 28th, 2019

Amazing Slow-Motion Video Shows Bullet Impacts

werner mehl kurzzeit.com high speed slow motion bullet video

Want to see a bullet hit a target in ultra-ultra-slow motion? Watch this video to witness some amazing things — such as a bullet jacket peeling back like a banana-skin (at time-mark 7:30). A while back, Werner Mehl of Kurzzeit.com produced a 10-minute video for the SHOT Show. This video has has been watched over 10.6 million times, making it one of the most popular shooting-related videos in history. Employing cameras recording at up to 1,000,000 (one million) frames per second, Mehl’s bullet flight video has been called “astounding” and “mesmerizing”. If you haven’t seen it yet, sit back and enjoy!

Watch This Video! It’s Really Something Special…

LINK: Kurzzeit.com Video System and PVM-21 Chronograph
Click the link above to learn more about Werner Mehl and his super-sophisticated camera systems that can record at 1,000,000 frames per second. On the same linked page you can learn about the advanced PVM-21 chronograph (now sold as the BMC-19) designed by Werner. Operating “all-infrared, all the time”, the PVM-21/BMC-19 is the best optical chronograph we have tested for very low light conditions, or very tricky light conditions.

Permalink - Videos, Bullets, Brass, Ammo 3 Comments »
February 28th, 2019

Save $100 on Ruger Precision Rimfire — $349.99 Delivered

Ruger Precision Rimfire Palmetto Armory discount Sale
CLICK HERE for Full Review of Ruger Precision Rimfire by True Pearce of GunsAmerica.com. This particular rifle shot dime-sized groups at 50 yards with CCI Mini Mags and Federal AutoMatch.

Affordable, Versatile, Chassis-Style Rimfire Rifle
There has been a lot of interest in the Ruger Precision Rimfire Rifle, particularly among PRS shooters looking for an affordable, chassis-style cross-training rig. Ruger Precision Rifle owners also favor the .22 LR rimfire “baby brother” because it shares similar ergonomics with the bigger, centerfire RPRs.

Ruger Precision Rimfire Palmetto Armory discount Sale

GET $349.99 Ruger Precision Rimfire HERE »

Right now you can get a .22 LR Ruger Precision Rifle for just $349.99 from Palmetto State Armory, shipping included. That’s a great deal — This same rifle sells elsewhere for $450.00 or more.

Ruger Precision Rimfire Specifications

– Caliber: .22 LR
– Barrel: 18″ Hammer Forged, 1:16″-Twist, 6 groove, threaded muzzle
– Handguard: Magpul M-LOK
– Stock: Quick Fit Precision Rimfire Adjustable, Modular
– Grip: AR Pattern
– Weight: 6.8 lbs

Permalink Gear Review, Hot Deals, Tactical No Comments »
February 27th, 2019

Krieger Barrels Now Offers Pre-Fit Savage Barrels

John Krieger Barrels cut-rifled Savage Prefit Pre-fit chambered rifle barrels pre-chambered

Krieger Barrels has some great news for Savage rifle owners. This fine cut-rifled barrel-maker, a long-term sponsor of AccurateShooter.com, now offers Pre-Fit (pre-chambered) rifle barrels for Savage actions. With a Krieger pre-chambered barrel, you save time and money — you don’t have to pay a gunsmith hundreds to cut the chamber, and wait weeks (or sometimes months). With the proper GO/NO-GO gauges and barrel nut wrench, most rifle-owners can install their own pre-fit barrel.

SAVAGE PRE-FITS NOW AVAILABLE
Choose from multiple calibers/chamberings and custom contours for large- and small-shank Savage actions. Call Krieger Barrels at (262) 628-8558 to start your order.

On February 26, Krieger announced: “We are happy to announce that we are now taking orders for Pre-Fit Savage barrels for their centerfire bolt action receivers! Many standard cartridges available for both large shank (1-1/8″) and small shank (1-1/6″) actions. You can order our standard contours or come up with a custom contour to fit your needs. Every detail is addressed to make these Pre-Fit Savage barrels the best they can be for your application.”

Pre-Fit Savage barrels start at $515.00 + S&H. Call today to discuss your needs and get a barrel order going! For more information visit KriegerBarrels.com or call Krieger at (262) 628-8558.

John Krieger Barrels cut-rifled Savage Prefit Pre-fit chambered rifle barrels pre-chambered
Company founder John Krieger hard at work at the Krieger Barrels production facility.

Permalink Gunsmithing, New Product, News 2 Comments »
February 27th, 2019

Shooting USA TV — GAP Grind PRS and Zombies in the Heartland

GAP Grind G.A. Precision Precision PRS CMP Western Games

Shooting USA will broadcast a great episode today, February 27, 2019. There are three segments worth watching. First the TV show spotlights the popular GAP Grind, a Pro-Am PRS event at the K&M Precision complex in Tennessee. Then this episode covers Hornady’s Zombies in the Heartland multi-gun match. This popular event, hosted in Nebraska every year, is one of the biggest three-gun shoots in the nation. Finally there is a historical feature on the 7-barrel Nock Volley gun from the late 1700s.

SHOW TIMES: This Shooting USA Episode airs February 27, 2019 (Wednesday) at 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific; 8:00 PM Central.

PART ONE: GAP Grind Feature on Shooting USA

Lots of Action, with 20+ Stages
The GAP Grind is a notoriously challenging, “high tempo” match with minimal down-time between stages. Over the course of 20+ stages, competitors will fire 200+ shots at a variety of steel, paper, moving, and reactive targets out to 1,200 yards. Targets vary in size/difficulty based on the shooter’s position, distance, and time allotted. Most stages include “stressors” — i.e. time limits or required movement(s).

The GAP Grind is held at the impressive K&M Shooting Complex:

Lots of Action, with 20+ Stages
The GAP Grind is a notoriously challenging, “high tempo” match with minimal down-time between stages. Over the course of 20+ stages, competitors will fire 200+ shots at a variety of steel, paper, moving, and reactive targets out to 1,200 yards. Targets vary in size/difficulty based on the shooter’s position, distance, and time allotted. Most stages include “stressors” — i.e. time limits or required movement(s).

Shooting USA TV gap grind
Josh Temnnen Facebook photo.

GAP Grind Hardware
You’ll find the latest and greatest PRS hardware at the GAP grind. Notable this year was the fact that many top competitors “stepped down” from the 6.5/6mm Creedmoor to the smaller, more efficient 6mm Dasher (and other 6BR Improved) cartridges. The Dasher offers excellent accuracy with less recoil than the 6.5 Creedmoor. Also, many top shooters are now running Kahles optics. Photo by Shelley Giddings.

Giddings GAP Grind

PART TWO: Zombies in the Heartland

Pandemic 3-Gun Match Zombies in the Heartland Nebraska Hornady

Pandemic 3-Gun Match Zombies in the Heartland Nebraska HornadyPandemic: Zombies in the Heartland
Every year Hornady hosts the very popular Zombies in the Heartland event. This “Pandemic” 3-Gun fun match, one of the biggest three-gun shoots in the nation, was hosted by Hornady this past summer, June 1-3, 2018 at the Heartland Public Shooting Park in Grand Island, Nebraska. The Pandemic featured a rich prize table worth over $150,000. Prizes include pistols, rifles, shotguns, scopes, AR uppers, gun parts, and gear of all kinds.

The Pandemic is a veritable theme park for shootists, with many fun stages and innovative targets. Many unique, reactive zombie targets have been developed specifically for this match. The use of paper targets has been minimized — so it’s mostly “bang and clang”.

There were ten multi-gun stages this past year. Rifles, pistols and shotguns are used on most stages. There were also fun side-matches. We highly recommend you watch the video below to see highlights from a past Pandemic.

2017 Zombies in the Heartland Highlights Video. Guys, this well-made video is WORTH WATCHING! This video offers Shooter’s POV views of many stages including full auto:

Zombie Hornady Heartland Pandemic

Permalink - Videos, Competition, Tactical 1 Comment »
February 26th, 2019

The Threat of Gun Confiscation — Tom Gresham Says “Wake UP”

Tom Gresham Shooting Wire Guntalk.com

In this essay from The Shooting Wire, Tom Gresham states that the anti-gun left seeks nothing less than the eventual confiscation and destruction of all privately-held firearms. The anti-gunners have revealed their goals, says Gresham, through radical legislation recently introduced in Congress, and suggestions that an Executive Order by a future by a Democratic Party President could halt ALL gun sales. Gresham says gun owners must wake up, and take action NOW. Otherwise our rights will be lost. We think every gun owner should read this.

They Just Showed Their Hand

by Tom Gresham, GunTalk.com

Sometimes understanding what’s going on requires us to connect the dots on things that don’t immediately appear to be connected. Looking at recent events, it’s now possible to see the plans of the gun banners.

It’s much worse than almost anyone imagined.

Tom Gresham Shooting Wire Guntalk.comFirst, what happened?

H.R. 8, a bill in the House, would end the private sales of guns, would end being able to give a gun to someone, and would criminalize even loaning a gun to someone — unless you got the permission of the FBI each time you want to buy, sell, loan, or borrow a gun. In other words, there could be no legal transfer of a gun in the U.S. unless the government approves each transaction.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi threatened that a Democrat President could declare a national emergency on gun violence.

A separate bill — H.R. 1112 — would (according to the NRA-ILA) “…eliminate the 3-day safety-valve provision under the federal firearms background check system that prevents the government from enacting an indefinite delay of firearm purchases for law-abiding Americans.”

Currently, if a firearms retailer submits the background check to the FBI, and it is delayed, after three days the dealer is free to legally transfer the firearm. This provision in the current law is the safety valve. It guards against the government shutting down background checks (through incompetence, technical snafu, or even political activism) and stopping gun sales from dealers. (Private sales currently would be untouched.)

Pelosi’s threat didn’t just pop into her head. This idea has been in the works.

Consider those three actions.

The expanded background check provision requires that all gun sales, and gifts, and loans — any transfers — must go through the FBI NICS system.

H.R. 1112 would kill the protection of allowing retailers to sell guns when they don’t get a “denial” from the FBI in three days.

If those two provisions were in place I fully expect a Democrat president to act after a highly-publicized shooting to declare a national emergency and shut down the NICS checks for 90 to 120 days. Maybe even a year.

That would be so that we could have a “national conversation” about gun violence. America’s gun owners would suffer a “mere inconvenience” the banners will say. Except that most privately-owned gun stores could not survive three or four months with no gun sales.

This is not happenstance.

It’s not an accident.

It’s not coincidence.

The gun ban lobby is not dumb.

This has been the plan all along.

1. Kill off all private sales, forcing all legal gun sales to go though dealers.

2. Kill the provision in current law which protect gun owners from a government shutdown of the background check system.

3. Declare a National Emergency and close background checks, which stops all legal gun sales.

Make no mistake. This is part of the larger plan to confiscate (“mandatory buy-back”) your guns.

Tom Gresham Shooting Wire Guntalk.com

Naturally, there would be legal challenges. The current makeup of the Supreme Court favors — ever so slightly — the hope that the high court would stop such a thing. If it took months to work its way through the courts, however, massive damage would be done. Thousands of businesses would close and tens or hundreds of thousands of people would be thrown out of work.

Naturally, to the “if it saves one life” crowd, that’s a price they are willing to pay. Well, they wouldn’t pay it. We will. And that doesn’t even touch on the subject that no one wants to talk about … [resistance].

How do we stop this?

We stop it the old fashioned way. We beat it at the polls. We beat it by speaking up in our churches. We beat it with peaceful activism in the streets. We join every single gun rights group — even those which less “pure” by whatever standard is in vogue on any given day.

We spend money. A lot of money. We stop complaining about requests for donations. We donate annually an amount equal to the price of a new gun. How about a dollar a day? We actually do call the offices of our Congressional representatives monthly and talk politely with the staff there about our concerns on Second Amendment matters. We volunteer on campaigns. We go to school board, city council, and state legislature meetings and hearings. We show up.

Two things must happen.

First, you have to look in the mirror and admit you haven’t done enough/much/anything. No one else can do this. Each of us must have the conversation with ourselves and take an honest look at what we have and have not done. And what we can do.

This is a total lifestyle change. It’s a change in where you spend your money and your time.

Second, each of us has to bring along a friend into this activism. I’m not talking about taking someone to the range, though that’s always worthwhile. I’m talking about convincing or more friends that each of you really must donate a buck a day. A lot of dough? Less than many of us spend on coffee. Times a million gun owners.

We win or we lose right here. Right now.

The solution is as close as your mirror.

— Tom Gresham

Tom Gresham Shooting Wire Guntalk.com

Permalink News, Shooting Skills 10 Comments »
February 26th, 2019

Big Bullets — Applied Ballistics Tests 379gr .375 Cal Berger Solids

Berger 379 grain 379gr solid bullet .375 caliber enabler

Berger Bullets has created some impressive solid bullets for Extreme Long Range (ELR) shooting. These ultra-long, lathe-turned solids were unveiled at SHOT Show 2019, and they should reach Berger dealers by Mid-April this year. To test their consistency and develop refined BC numbers, the Applied Ballistics test team has braved cold winter weather to test Berger’s new 379 grain solids. The results have been impressive.

Berger 379 grain 379gr solid bullet .375 caliber enabler
Bryan Litz, Applied Ballistics founder, tests 379gr Bergers in .375 EnABLER rounds.

The Applied Ballistics testers have loaded the new Berger solids in an innovative .375-Caliber cartridge called the .375 EnABELR. This is slightly shorter than a .375 CheyTac so it allows the round to mag-feed. The brass is made by Peterson. The testers report: “We’ve been loading and shooting a pile of .375 EnABELR this month. The Berger 379gr Solids are proving to be incredibly consistent. Here’s a 10-shot string for one of our guns, shots number 931-940.”

Berger 379 grain 379gr solid bullet .375 caliber enabler

The .375 EnABELR is achieving impressive velocities — 2990 FPS — with the 379-grainers from a 30″ barrel. The test team states: “We’ve been shooting [a 30″-long] 1:7″ twist which works good, but are going to try some 1:8″ and 1:9″ also”.

Berger 379 grain 379gr solid bullet .375 caliber enabler

The .375 EnABELR Cartridge — Big and Fast
The .375 EnABELR cartridge was designed to offer .375 CheyTac performance in a slightly shorter package: “The problem with the .375 CheyTac is that, when loaded with the highest performance .375 caliber bullets (379-407 gr Berger Solids, and the 400-425 grain Cutting Edge Lazers) the round is not magazine feed-able in any action that’s sized for CheyTac cartridges.

Berger 379 grain 379gr solid bullet .375 caliber enabler

“Knowing the .375 CheyTac produced substantial performance, and that it was just too long for magazine feeding, made it easy to converge on a design for the .375 EnABELR. We just had to make the case short enough to achieve magazine length with the desired bullets, while adding a little more diameter to keep the case capacity similar to the .375 CheyTac. The resulting basic shape is quite similar in proportions to the successful .338 Norma Magnum Cartridge which, interestingly, was selected as the cartridge for General Dynamics Lightweight Medium Machine Gun (LWMMG).”

Brass Source — Purchase the Peterson-made .338 EnABELR and .375 EnABELR brass through the Applied Ballistics WebStore. Price for both .338 EnABELR and .375 EnABELR is $125.00 for 50 cases.

Berger 379 grain 379gr solid bullet .375 caliber enabler

Permalink Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Gear Review, New Product, Tactical 2 Comments »
February 25th, 2019

Bargain Finder 179: AccurateShooter’s Deals of the Week

Accurateshooter Bargain Finder Deals of Week

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, optics, 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. Midsouth or Cabela’s — Frankford Arsenal M-Press, $249.99

Frankford Aresenal M-Press

Frankford Arsenal unveiled a slew of new items at SHOT SHOW this year and one of the most anticipated items was the new Co-Axial M-Press. With features like a unique die-block design, integrated LED light, and considerable lower cost than rival co-axial presses, the M-Press will likely be in high demand.

Frankford Aresenal M-Press

While most vendors are still waiting for M-Presses to arrive, Midsouth has them available for pre-order and Cabelas has a limited supply IN STOCK NOW.

2. Bruno Shooters Supply — Berger Bullet Sale

Berger Bullet Sale

The supply of Berger bullets has gotten better but it’s still rare to find them both in stock and on sale. That’s what makes this deal from Bruno Shooters Supply so good. Bruno’s has a great selection of Berger bullets on sale and in stock including the hard-to-find 6mm 140gr and 7mm 180gr Hybrids. This is a great opportunity to stock up for all those matches coming soon.

3. CDNN — Walther PPQ Pistols with Money Back Guarantee

Walther PPQ M2 9mm Match Target money back Guarantee sale promotion

We’ve heard of money-back guarantees on household products, and even pizzas. But never firearms. This is quite a unique offer. Walther is so confident that you will fall in love with the Walther PPQ that they are offering a 30-Day Money Back Guarantee. Shoot it, if you like it, keep it. But if you don’t, you can send it back to Walther for a full refund. Walther even pays shipping! This Offer expires June 30, 2019. For more info visit www.WaltherArms.com.

This offer applies to multiple Walther PPQ Models including: PPQ Q5 9mm Match, PPQ M2 9mm Target, PPQ M2 9mm, PPQ M2 9mm 5 Inch, PPQ M2 9mm Navy Threaded BBL, and PPQ M2 .45 ACP.

4. EuroOptic — Vortex Riflescope Blowout Sale

Vortex Scope Clearance EuroOptic

Vortex makes fine scopes that offer excellent value for the money. Vortex also offers one of the absolute best warranties on the market. Now is your chance to grab a quality Vortex optic for a killer price — hundreds off normal retail. EuroOptic is running a Vortex Blow-Out Sale on many of the top models with discounts ranging from 25% to 45%. If you’ve been looking to grab a Vortex, whether for hunting or competition, this is one sale you don’t want to miss.

5. Grafs.com — 15% OFF ALL Rimfire Ammo

15% off rimfire ammo

Finally rimfire ammo is available again in ample quantities. That means wider selection and discounted prices — a win-win for rimfire fans. Whether you shoot .22 LR, or .22 WMR, or 17 HMR, you can now save big at Grafs.com. EVERY brand and type of rimfire ammo is on sale now. Head over to Grafs.com to SAVE 15% on ALL rimfire ammo in stock.

15% off rimfire ammo

NOTE: It is very rare to see a vendor putting its entire rimfire ammo inventory on sale, so this is an exceptional opportunity. You can buy exactly what you want, not just the “loss leaders”. This sale continues through 3/6/2019 at 11:59 PM CT.

6. Amazon — Electronic Powder Scale, $18.97

Digital Powder Scale

Powder scales come in just about every shape and size these days and it’s not unusual for people to use more than one to verify their charges with. Here’s a very low-cost option with good reviews that can work for loading at the range or as a secondary scale. This ZiLink Digital Scale from Amazon has an amazingly low price and great reviews. Scale buyers cite repeatability, low cost and accuracy as their reasons for buying this compact scale, which has a max capacity of 771 grains, plenty even for sorting brass or bullets.

7. Amazon — 30mm-Diameter Bubble Level, $3.02

30mm Scope Level

Having a level rifle is critical to accuracy. If you don’t have a way to ensure every shot is on the same plane, you can’t be sure your round will land in the same place every time. You can solve this problem with the 30mm scope level available from Amazon for the amazingly low price of $3.02. We can’t guarantee how long this price will last so grab some. Heck grab a half-dozen for all your rifles. NOTE: This is only for scopes with 30mm main tubes.

8. Midsouth — 350 Rds 9mm FMJ in Container, $74.99

350rds 9mm FMY ammo

Nearly all gun guys (and gals) own one or more 9mm pistols. Here is some very cost-effective Aguila 9x19mm ammo that lets you train more often. Right now Midsouth is offering 350 rounds of 9mm FMJ plus a nice ammo can for the low price of $74.99, a great deal. At that price you can may want to buy 1000 rounds or more. We’ve shot this ammo. It is reliable and the brass is reloadable.

9. Amazon — Case for Muffs and Eye Protection, $13.99

ear muffs eye protection travel case zippered carrier

If you’re like us, you’ve crushed your fair share of glasses or forgotten where your ear muffs are. Now you can keep them together and protected with this very affordable travel case from Amazon. It has a nicely padded compartment for folding ear muffs and another one for glasses. The exterior shell is fabric-covered EVA polymer with a handy full zipper. The lid has a handy zippered mesh pocket to carry smaller items. You should really get a case like this to ensure you’re never without protection at the range.

This Week’s Bargains Sourced by F-Class John.

Permalink Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Hot Deals, New Product, Optics, Reloading No Comments »
February 25th, 2019

New Guns for 2019 — GunsAmerica Reports

GunsAmerica Shot Shot 2019 video digest reports new rifles AR Seekins Ruger light weight

GunsAmerica brought a team of reporters to SHOT Show 2019, lead by Managing Editor True Pearce. These hard-working reporters have produced over 60 videos covering Range Day and SHOT Show. The GunsAmerica squad tested many rifles during Range Day and then visited many rifle-makers in the Expo Center. Here are five GunsAmerica videos about new rifles and chassis systems. Check out dozens of other SHOT Show 2019 videos on the GunsAmerica YouTube Channel.

Battle Arms 3.8-Lb Titanium AR — World’s Lightest AR

2019 shot show Battle Arms development 0.I.D. Gen 2 AR chassis system rifles

If you are a fan of light-weight rifles, watch this video! It features the
Battle Arms GEN 2 O.I.P. AR that weighs just 3.8 pounds. To save weight, this carbine features a carbon fiber handguard and various titanium parts including a Titanium muzzle brake. Look carefully at how even small controls have been modified to save ounces. GunsAmerica reports: “Battle Arms has done a lot of work to find all the ounces that can be spared to make this gun as light as possible.” Even at just 3.8 pounds, the gun is very controllable during rapid fire. Despite a steep $3299.00 MSRP, the first run of Battle Arms’ sub-4-lb GEN 2 O.I.P. is sold out. That proves that “light is right”, as least in the AR carbine market. Read Titanium AR Review HERE.

Seekins Precision — Complete Rifles and Actions

2019 shot show 6.5 Guys chassis system rifles

Seekins Precision showcased some impressive custom actions plus complete rifles for both tactical competitors and long range hunters. We were impressed with the build quality of the Seekins precision rifles. We liked the new Seekins Havak Bravo, and the Seekins action has some interesting features, such as four locking lugs with 90° bolt throw. Full Seekins Havak Bravo Review.

CZ 457 Precision Rimfire Rifle

2019 shot show 6.5 Guys chassis system rifles

Many top PRS and NRL shooters train with .22 LR rimfire rigs between matches. Rimfire cross-training lets you hone your skills at much lower cost — ten cents per round vs. seventy cents. Shooting rimfire also helps improve your wind-reading skills, as even a small wind change will move a .22 LR bullet noticeably at 100 yards. This video features the new CZ 457, which replaces CZ’s popular 455 series. Along with the Manners-stocked Varmint Precision Trainer variant featured in the video, the CZ 457 is offered in a variety of configurations in .22 LR, .17 HMR, and .22 WMR. MSRP starts at $365 and goes up from there. For more information visit CZUSA.com.

Ruger Precision Rimfire Goes Magnum — With Doug Koenig

Ruger Precision Rimfire 17 HMR .22 LR WMR

The versatile Ruger Precision Rimfire has been a big success as a .22 LR. And now for 2019, it is also offered in a magnum version for .17 HMR and .22 WMR. Varminters should be happy about that. For Ruger Precision Rifle owners, this rimfire version offers ergonomics just like their centerfire rig. The chassis-style rimfire rifle has some very interesting features, including adjustable bolt throw that lets shooters change from a rimfire 1.5″ bolt throw to a short-action centerfire 3″ bolt throw, reducing the chance of short-stroking your bolt in competition. The Ruger Marksman trigger adjusts from 2.25 to 5.0 pounds.

Browning X-Bolt Max Long Range

Browning X-Bolt Max Long Range Rifle Shot Show

Browning showcased a very nice bolt-action rifle during Industry Day at the Range. The New X-Bolt Max Long Range features a handsome composite stock, with adjustable cheek-piece and straight toe in the rear for riding bags. The fluted 26″ barrel is threaded for suppressors or brakes. GunsAmerica’s tester reports: “The Max Long Range was a joy to shoot, the trigger was light and crisp, and it cycled easily due to the extended bolt handle. At 8 pounds, 3 ounces without scope or ammo, it isn’t too heavy. The stainless steel barrel matched with the black and grey splatter on the stock gives it a sharp-looking appearance as well.” MSRP is $1269 – $1329 with 11 chambering options from 6mm Creedmoor up to .300 Win Magnum.

Browning X-Bolt Max Long Range Rifle Shot Show

Permalink News No Comments »
February 25th, 2019

Register NOW for 2019 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits

NRA Annual Meetings Exhibits indianapolis indiana april 2019

The 2019 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana, April 25-28, 2019. At this event, the NRA’s 148th annual convention, you’ll find 15 acres of guns and gear. There will be plenty to see and do — you can talk to hunting outfitters, attend seminars, dine at banquets, listen to top national political leaders, and enjoy country music concerts. If you’ve never been to an NRA Convention before, it’s worth going — just to see all the rifles, pistols, optics, and shooting accessories. Everything else is a bonus. The venue is the Indianapolis Convention Center at 100 South Capitol Ave., Indianapolis, IN 45225.

1. Registration Is Open Now for NRA Annual Meetings

CLICK HERE to Pre-Register for the Annual Meetings »

Register now to get your badges and credentials mailed to you for free. Avoid waiting in lines. Trust us — it’s smart to register in advance. Admission is FREE for NRA members, their spouses and up to 5 children (under 19). The credentials give you full access to the exhibit hall for all three show days.

NRA Annual Meetings Exhibits indianapolis indiana april 2019

2. Get Special Event Tickets in Advance

CLICK HERE to Pre-Order Tickets for Major Events »

1. NRA Foundation Auction and BBQ
2. National Firearms Law Seminar
3. Women’s Leadership Forum and Auction
4. NRA-ILA Leadership Forum
5. Country Musics Show (Alan Jackson)
6. National Prayer Breakfast

(more…)

Permalink News 1 Comment »
February 23rd, 2019

New Canadian Action with 3-Lug Floating Bolt Head

Ultimatum Precision Rifle action Deadline Canada Canadian Target Shooter UK Magazine
Image Courtesy TargetShooter.co.uk.

Our friends at Target Shooter UK Magazine recently reviewed an innovative new rifle action engineered and crafted in Canada. This features a Rem 700 footprint, with some clever features, including a 3-lug bolt with floating bolt head, dual ejection plungers, and integral recoil lug. The action is very smooth-running and seems well-suited to a variety of disciplines. It can take any Rem 700-compatible trigger. The reviewer tested this new action in a GS Precision rifle fitted with 26″ Benchmark barrel, KRG Whiskey 3 stock, and 10-oz. Trigger Tech Diamond trigger.

READ FULL ACTION REVIEW on TargetShooter.co.uk »

Ultimatum Precision Rifle action Deadline Canada Canadian Target Shooter UK Magazine

The Target Shooter Magazine reviewer was impressed by the Ultimatum Action and its features:

“I’m holding one of the first Ultimatum Precision actions to arrive in the UK and they are even more gorgeous than I remembered. The action is called the ‘DEADLINE’ – which is neatly incised into the multi-flat action body. The fluted bolt-body is a beefy 21mm diameter (most custom actions are 18mm) and the bolt-shroud and rear tang have been tastefully re-designed.”

“The Ultimatum Precision Deadline action is a joy to use with its slick, short-throw [60-degree] bolt-lift.”

Ultimatum Precision Rifle action Deadline Canada Canadian Target Shooter UK Magazine

“The action is machined from 4340 HTSR steel with a LHN (Liquid Hard Nitride) coating, which gives the action an attractive black sheen and is wear-resistant and corrosion resistant. The fluted bolt incorporates a floating bolt-head design – similar idea to the Savage – which means that caliber changes are a cinch, especially with the option of a Savage-type, barrel-nut fixing. The Ultimatum Precision bolt is however a three-lug bolt, which usefully keeps bolt-lift to 60 degrees. Other useful features are the integral recoil-lug, dual ejection plungers in the bolt-face, and a pinned +20 MOA Picatinny scope rail.”

For more information on the Ultimatum Precision Actions, KRG stocks, and Benchmark barrels, contact GS Precision via this email: info [at] gsprecision.org.uk.

Permalink Gear Review, New Product 5 Comments »
February 23rd, 2019

PRS Gear Focus — Survey of Stocks and Chassis Systems

MPA Chassis PRS NRL modular BA aluminum

The MasterPiece Arms BA Chassis is a leading product choice according to a recent Precision Rifle Blog (PRB) survey of Precision Rifle Series (PRS) and National Rifle League (NRL) competitors. Second were Manners Stocks, and third were Foundation-brand systems. PRB Editor Cal Zant surveyed 150 PRS and NRL precision rifle shooters to determine what gear they run in long range rifle competitions. The MPA BA Competition Chassis ranked #1 with 27% of the PRS and NRL shooters surveyed running this particular modular chassis system. READ Full PRB Stocks and Chassis Survey.

MPA Chassis PRS NRL modular BA aluminum
Image courtesy of Precision Rifle Blog.

Here Are Links to Other PRB Equipment Surveys:

Barrels — What the Pros Use
Custom Actions — What The Pros Use
LR Scopes — What the Pros Use
Bipods & Tripods — What the Pros Use
Brakes & Suppressors — What the Pros Use
Custom Triggers — What the Pros Use

MPA BA Competition Chassis
MPA has several configurations of its highly successful BA Chassis System, with the MPA BA Competition Chassis named the Official Chassis of the 2019 PRS. This competition version includes all the standard features of the original, but includes special enhancements for long range tactical rifle competitions, such as the PRS and related events. There are additional hole locations on the fore-end for locating the rotating barricade stop, which locks the rifle in place when shooting on a variety of barricade designed stages. The spigot mount attaches to the front of the fore-end, giving the shooter additional space to mount their bipod. A bag rider attachment provides better rear bag recoil management (an Enhanced Bag Rider is available for an additional fee).

Masterpiece arms chassis systems PRS tactical

MPA president Phil Cashin is an active PRS shooter who finished in the top 100 in 2017 and qualified for the finale last year. Cashin, shown in the video below, regularly tests out new ideas and upgrades in actual competition and seeks out feedback from top tactical competitors. “It’s a great honor [for MPA] to be named the most popular brand of chassis/stock systems amongst the top PRS and NRL competitors[.] We look forward to developing even more products with the long-range precision shooter in mind,” said Cashin.

MPA masterpiece arms side folder

MPA Production Class Rifle
MPA also offers a PRS Production Class Rifle (PCR) using the MPA Chassis system mated to a Savage Model 12 action. Production Class rifles may cost no more than $2000.00 before optics. Designed specifically for the new PRS Production Class, MPA’s PCR Competition Rifle offers many premium features yet stays under the $2,000 Class limit. The Savage action is upgraded with a Rifle Basix 2-lb trigger, and the adjustable, modular chassis offers a bag rider, barricade stop, and built-in bubble level.

Permalink Competition, Gear Review No Comments »
February 23rd, 2019

Six Great Guidebooks for Pistol Shooters

Pistol Marksmanship training book
Jessie Harrison — one of the greatest female pistol shooters on the planet. In the video below, Jessie offers good tips on safe handgun mag changes.

One of our Forum members asked: “Are there any good books on pistol marksmanship? I’m looking for a book that covers techniques and concepts….” Here are six recommended titles that can make you a better pistol shooter. These books run the gamut from basic handgun training to Olympic-level bullseye shooting.

Pistol Marksmanship training book 1911 race gunGood Guidebooks for Pistol Shooters
There are actually many good books which can help both novice and experienced pistol shooters improve their skills and accuracy. For new pistol shooters, we recommend the NRA Guide to the Basics of Pistol Shooting. This full-color publication is the designated student “textbook” for the NRA Basic Pistol Shooting Course.

Serious competitive pistol shooters should definitely read Pistol Shooters Treasury a compilation of articles from World and National Champions published by Gil Hebard. You could work your way through the ranks with that book alone even though it is very small. It is an excellent resource.

If you’re interested in bullseye shooting, you should get the USAMU’s The Advanced Pistol Marksmanship Manual. This USAMU pistol marksmanship guide has been a trusted resource since the 1960s. Action Shooters should read Practical Shooting: Beyond Fundamentals by Brian Enos, and Practical Pistol by Ben Stoeger. Brian Enos is a well-known pistol competitor with many titles. Ben Stoeger is a two-time U.S. Practical Pistol shooting champion. Last but not least, Julie Golob’s Shooting book covers pistol marksmanship, along with 3-Gun competition. Julie holds multiple national pistol shooting titles.

Permalink Handguns, Shooting Skills 3 Comments »
February 22nd, 2019

Train with Champions at CMP Small Arms Firing Schools

SFC Brandon Green SAFS small arms school CMP marksmanship program

How would you like to get marksmanship training from the reigning High Power National Champion? Get yourself to Oregon this June and you can. SFC Brandon Green of the USAMU will be one of the instructors for the CMP Small Arms Firing School in Eagle Creek, Oregon in June. A three-time National High Power Champion, Brandon is one of the greatest marksmen on the planet. Yesterday he posted: “Three of us will be at the SAFS/junior clinic in Oregon. Come check it out!” If you can make it to Oregon June 8-9, we definitely recommend this class. It will be the only SAFS in the Western USA this year.

SFC Brandon Green SAFS small arms school CMP marksmanship program

Along with the June SAFS in Oregon, there will be eight other rifle SAFS programs this year at locations nationwide. Some of these will be held in connection with major matches, such as the Eastern CMP Games in April at Camp Butner.

CMP Rifle SAFS Locations and Dates:

1. Eastern Cup & Games Matches, April 30 | Camp Butner, NC
2. Douglas Ridge Rifle Club, June 8-9 | Eagle Creek, OR (Range Officer Class is Jun 7)
3. Fairfax Rod & Gun Club, June 22-23 | Manassas, VA
4. National Matches, July 27-28 | Camp Perry, Port Clinton, OH
5. Oak Ridge Shooting Assoc., August 24-25 | Oak Ridge, TN
6. Camp Ethan Allen, September 19 | Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, VT
7. Fort Hill Rifle & Pistol, September 28-29 | Keyser, WV
8. Oklahoma Cup & Games Matches, October 10 | Oklahoma City Gun Club, OK
9. Talladega 600 Matches, November TBD | CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park, AL

Led by certified military and/or civilian instructors, SAFS programs offers high level training in a safe, supportive setting, with rifles and ammo provided. The school is structured toward teaching new shooters, so no past firearm experience is required, though intermediate and advanced marksmen are also welcome to participate. During the course, students will learn basic instruction and firing practices, competition skills and live range firing, as well as compete in a real M16 EIC Match.

CMP Provides Rifles and Ammo at Small Arms Firing Schools
At each SAFS, equipment, including rifles and ammunition, will be provided. Personal equipment, such as a shooting jacket or glove, will be permitted during the course as well. Participants are required to bring hearing protection and eye protection is strongly encouraged.

SFC Brandon Green SAFS small arms school CMP marksmanship program

For more information or ask additional questions, please contact Amy Cantu at acantu@thecmp.org or (419) 635-2141 ext 602. The Small Arms Firing School (SAFS) has been an instrumental source for individuals to delve into firearm safety and competition technique. The SAFS course has been a staple event in the National Matches at Camp Perry since 1918 and has expanded its outreach to other areas of the country through CMP’s Travel Games matches in recent years.

SFC Brandon Green SAFS small arms school CMP marksmanship program

Permalink Competition, Shooting Skills No Comments »
February 22nd, 2019

Most Popular Hunting & Shooting Products — Survey Results

hunter rifle shooting survey Southwick Associates 2018
Hunting image courtesy NSSF Where to Hunt.

Sportsmen spend millions of dollars on hunting and recreational shooting equipment, but which brands are they buying? In 2018, Southwick Associates surveyed more than 20,000 hunters and recreational shooters to find the top brands in the market. The product preferences of hunters and recreational shooters were determined via HunterSurvey.com and ShooterSurvey.com online polls.

The top handgun maker was Smith & Wesson and the top handgun ammo brand was Federal. Those choices make sense. But some of the other choices were a bit surprising…

IMPORTANT COMMENT: Keep in mind these are just survey results. In many cases, the top choices are simply the cheapest options that sell the most. For example the top choice in reloading dies was Lee Precision. Lee makes some decent products (we like Lee decapping dies), but you won’t find many National Champions using Lee seating or sizing dies.

So assess the survey results with a “grain of salt”, understanding that these aren’t necessarily the best products when gauged by quality or performance. They are just the most popular among those surveyed. A Big Mac isn’t better than a filet mignon, but more Big Macs are purchased. You get the idea…

hunter rifle shooting survey Southwick Associates 2018

SURVEY Results — Most Purchased Hunting & Shooting Brands:


Top rimfire rifle brand: Ruger/Sturm Ruger

Top handgun brand: Smith & Wesson

Top handgun ammunition brand: Federal (including Fusion)

Top holster/ammo belt brand: Uncle Mikes

Top reflex/red dot sight brand: Vortex

Top laser rangefinder brand: Nikon

Top laser sight brand: Crimson Trace

Top scope mount brand: Leupold

Top reloading powder brand: Hodgdon

Top reloading bullets brand: Hornady

Top propellant/powder brand: Triple Seven

Top reloading dies brand: Lee Precision

Top gun cleaning brand: Hoppes

Top hunting knife brand: Gerber

Top game call brand: Primos

Top crossbow brand: Barnett

Top arrow brand: Easton

More than one hundred products are examined in the 2018 Hunting & Shooting Participation and Equipment Purchases Report (CLICK HERE). This in-depth resource covers buying preferences, including the percentage of sales occurring across different retail channels, brand purchased, price paid, and demographics for hunters and shooters buying specific products. Additional information tracked includes total days spent per activity, type of hunting / shooting activity, preferred species and where they hunt. In addition to the topline reports covering hunting and target shooting, annual reports are also offered for special segments including archery consumers, deer hunters, turkey hunters, and waterfowl hunters. To purchase a report or discuss custom research, email Nancy [at] SouthwickAssociates.com.

Permalink Hunting/Varminting, News No Comments »
February 22nd, 2019

MV on the Box? Why You Still Need to Chron Factory Ammo

muzzle velocity applied Ballistics MV chronograph

Why You CANNOT Rely on the MV Printed on the Ammo Box!
When figuring out your come-ups with a ballistics solver or drop chart it’s “mission critical” to have an accurate muzzle velocity (MV). When shooting factory ammo, it’s tempting to use the manufacturer-provided MV which may be printed on the package. That’s not such a great idea says Bryan Litz of Applied Ballistics. Don’t rely on the MV on the box, Bryan advises — you should take out your chrono and run your own velocity tests. There are a number of reasons why the MV values on ammo packaging may be inaccurate. Below is a discussion of factory ammo MV from the Applied Ballistics Facebook Page.

Five Reasons You Cannot Trust the Velocity on a Box of Ammo:

1. You have no idea about the rifle used for the MV test.

2. You have no idea what atmospheric conditions were during testing, and yes it matters a lot.

3. You have no idea of the SD for the factory ammo, and how the manufacturer derived the MV from that SD. (Marketing plays a role here).

4. You have no idea of the precision and quality of chronograph(s) used for velocity testing.

5. You have no idea if the manufacturer used the raw velocity, or back-calculated the MV. The BC used to back track that data is also unknown.

1. The factory test rifle and your rifle are not the same. Aside from having a different chamber, and possibly barrel length some other things are important too like the barrel twist rate, and how much wear was in the barrel. Was it just recently cleaned, has it ever been cleaned? You simply don’t know anything about the rifle used in testing.

2. Temperature and Humidity conditions may be quite different (than during testing). Temperature has a physical effect on powder, which changes how it burns. Couple this with the fact that different powders can vary in temp-stability quite a bit. You just don’t know what the conditions at the time of testing were. Also a lot of factory ammunition is loaded with powder that is meter friendly. Meter friendly can often times be ball powder, which is less temperature stable than stick powder often times.

3. The ammo’s Standard Deviation (SD) is unknown. You will often notice that while MV is often listed on ammo packages, Standard Deviation (normally) is not. It is not uncommon for factory ammunition to have an SD of 18 or higher. Sometimes as high as 40+. As such is the nature of metering powder. With marketing in mind, did they pick the high, low, or average end of the SD? We really don’t know. You won’t either until you test it for yourself. For hand-loaded ammo, to be considered around 10 fps or less. Having a high SD is often the nature of metered powder and factory loads. The image below is from Modern Advancements in Long Range Shooting: Volume II.

muzzle velocity applied Ballistics MV chronograph

4. You don’t know how MV was measured. What chronograph system did the manufacturer use, and how did they back track to a muzzle velocity? A chronograph does not measure true velocity at the muzzle; it simply measures velocity at the location it is sitting. So you need to back-calculate the distance from the chrono to the end of the barrel. This calculation requires a semi-accurate BC. So whose BC was used to back track to the muzzle or did the manufacturer even do that? Did they simply print the numbers displayed by the chronograph? What kind of chronograph setup did they use? We know from our Lab Testing that not all chronographs are created equal. Without knowing what chronograph was used, you have no idea the quality of the measurement. See: Applied Ballistics Chronograph Chapter Excerpt.

5. The MV data may not be current. Does the manufacturer update that data for every lot? Or is it the same data from years ago? Some manufacturers rarely if ever re-test and update information. Some update it every lot (ABM Ammo is actually tested every single lot for 1% consistency). Without knowing this information, you could be using data for years ago.

CONCLUSION: Never use the printed MV off a box of ammo as anything more than a starting point, there are too many factors to account for. You must always either test for the MV with a chronograph, or use carefully obtained, live fire data. When you are using a Ballistic Solver such as the AB Apps or Devices integrated with AB, you need to know the MV to an accuracy down to 5 fps. The more reliable the MV number, the better your ballistics solutions.

Permalink Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Shooting Skills, Tech Tip 1 Comment »