A team of Texas engineers uses the principle of convolution to plot shot impacts. By triangulating data from multiple accelerometers, each shot’s exact point of impact can be plotted with great precision.
Waterloo Labs is a group of engineers from National Instruments and other self-declared “nerds” from Austin, Texas. These folks conducted an interesting demonstration using electronic accelerometers to plot bullet impacts from a suppressed Ruger MKIII .22LR pistol. The accelerometers respond to vibrations caused when the bullets hit a drywall target backer. By triangulating data from multiple accelerometers, each shot’s exact point of impact can be plotted with great precision. These point-of-impact coordinates are then fed into a computer and super-imposed into a Flash version of the Half-Life video game (which is projected on the drywall board). The end result is being able to “play” a video game with a real firearm.
Do-It-Yourself Electronic Target System?
Now, we are NOT particularly interested in shooting Zombies in a video game. However, the technology has interesting potential applications for real shooters. Waterloo Labs has published the computer code, used to triangulate bullet impacts from multiple accelerometers. Potentially, a system like this could be built to provide display and scoring of long-range targets. Sophisticated electronic target systems already exist, but they use proprietary hardware and software, and they are very expensive. The Waterloo Labs experiment shows that shooters with some computer and electronic skills could build their own electronic scoring system, one that can be adapted to a variety of target sizes and materials.
In addition, we imagine this system could be utilized for military and law enforcement training. The walls of structures used for “live-fire” room-clearing exercises could be fitted with accelerometers so the bullet impacts could be plotted and studied. Then, later, the impact plots could be combined with a computer simulation so that trainees could “replay” their live-fire sessions, viewing the actual location of their hits (and misses).
In this Gear Update the 6.5 Guys take a look at the Vudoo Gun Works V-22 rimfire repeater rifle. The action has the same footprint as a Remington 700 so it is compatible with a wide variety of Rem 700 chassis, triggers, and rifle accessories. This allows you to have a rimfire trainer with near-identical ergonomics as your centerfire match rifle. Rimfire training provides valuable trigger time with dramatically lower ammo costs. Additional magazines for this rifle system are available from Vudoo Gun Works for $39.95. Vudoo also sells many other products and accessories through its website: VudooGunworks.com.
Why Train with a .22 LR Rimfire Rig?
Frequent practice, particularly live fire sessions with your match rifle, is the standard prescription for success in the PRS/NRL game. However the cost of shooting thousands of rounds of ammo and the inevitable wear on precision rifle barrels can become cost-prohibitive. Rimfire training allows needed trigger-time while conserving precious centerfire barrel life. Rimfire cost per round might be 12 cents compared to 80 cents (or more) for centerfire.
The Vudoo Gun Works V-22 rimfire repeater action, arguably one of the best tactical rimfire actions available, owes its lineage to the respected Remington 40X action. Many rimfire matches have been won with 40X actions, so we understand why Vudoo chose that design for a starting point. Vudoo then added some important enhancements.
Seen at the WSC: Vudoo Gunworks Tactical .22 LR Rimfire Rifles
The 2017 NRA World Shooting Championship (WSC) included a side-match featuring Vudoo Gunworks .22 LR rimfire tactical rigs. Shooters were impressed with the V-22 rifle, which looks and feels like a centerfire rig, but with a rimfire repeater action running full-size mags.
Vudoo states: “Our V-22 also runs a full-size short action bottom metal (DBM) and our V-2210 magazine has a [full-size] AICS form factor. The V-22 is the only controlled-round-feed .22 LR receiver out there. The bolt has full capture control of the cartridge from the time it leaves the magazine until it ejects the spent round out the ejection port.” That means the round never touches anything during feed travel so the bullets won’t be nicked/dented during rapid cycling.
This very thorough video explains how to clean a .22 LR Vudoo Rifle:
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. Brownells — 500 Rds Am Eagle .223 Rem, $124.99 with Rebate
American Eagle is good, safe, reliable ammo, made in the USA by Federal. We’ve used this FMJ ammo for function testing in many ARs and it worked well. It’s not ideal for varmint hunting but it will do the job. This is also a good choice for guys who want a big supply of .223 Rem for SHTF scenarios. Using all the promos you can get 500 rounds delivered for just $124.99 net cost — that’s just twenty-five cents ($0.25) per round. Here’s how it works. This ammo is currently on sale for $164.99 at Brownells. Use Code NCS to knock that down to $149.99 with free shipping. Then apply for Federal’s five cents per round rebate. That gives you $25 bucks back on 500 rounds. REBATE FORM HERE.
2. Palmetto State Armory — Taurus 9mm Pistol, $179.99
Here’s an amazing deal on a reliable, subcompact 9mm pistol. For the next day or two, you can get this Taurus G2S 9mm (9x19mm Luger) handgun for just $179.99. That’s one-third the price of a Glock 9mm compact! Put the money you save into a holster and ammo. This is a Palmetto Armory “Daily Deal”, so act quick. We have used Taurus pistols and they worked fine. Is this as nice as a $700 SIG Sauer? Frankly no. But it will do the job and could serve well as a back-up defense gun for your vehicle or bedroom.
3. Midsouth — Hornady LNL Auto Charge Dispenser, $168.99
Looking for a good electronic scale/powder dispenser for under $200.00? The Hornady LNL Auto Charge is one of the best bargain scale/dispensers. Enter your charge weight and watch it accurately dispense your load accurate to the tenth of a grain. For those of you who load multiple calibers and charges it can be programmed for easy use. Other competing electronic powder dispensers can cost $250 – $350, so the AutoCharge is a great value.
4. MidwayUSA — Pro Series Competition Shooting Mat, $39.99
The MidwayUSA Pro Series Competition Shooting Mat is now on sale for just $39.99, 33% off the regular $59.99 price. The Pro Series mat measures a full 73.5″ x 35.5″. Zippered pockets on the front flap hold ammo or log books. And there are webbing “pockets” for bipod feet so you can pre-load your bipod with forward pressure. This quality mat boasts 0.35″ thick padding, multiple pockets, 6 grommets for staking, and a nice carry strap. It’s easy to transport, rolling up to about nine inches in diameter. NOTE: This mat is offered in two colors: Olive Drab (see photo), and Coyote Tan. They both look good.
5. Stocky’s — LR Stocks with Aluminum Bedding Block, $199.99
Here’s a good deal on a versatile Stocky’s Long Range Stock with aluminum V-block bedding system. For just $199.99, order this for Rem/Rem Clone long actions or short actions, with either narrow or wide (varmint/tactical) barrel channel. This would be a good choice for a varmint rifle. This is also offered with handsome hydrographic or web-pattern baked-on textured finishes for $219.99.
6. MidwayUSA — Free Hazmat with $150 Powder and/or Primers
MidwayUSA’s FREE Hazmat promo is good through 3/31/2019. Buy at least $150.00 worth of powders and/or primers and MidwayUSA waives the HazMat fee (you still pay for ground shipping). This can save you $30-$35, based on comparable Hazardous Materials surcharges. Remember, you must buy $150.00 or more of powder and/or primers and use Promo Code OFFER18203.
7. Midsouth — Hornady L-N-L Auto Progressive Press, $399.99
Plus Rebate for 500 Free Bullets
If you need large quantities of pistol or rifle ammo, it makes sense to get a progressive press. This auto-indexing, 5-station press will give you one loaded round for every complete cycle of the loading handle. We’ve used this Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Progressive press and can confirm that it works well. We actually prefer the rotary powder measure to the sliding powder system on Dillon progressives. We find it much easier to change load weights with the Hornady system (which uses inserts), and it is more precise with certain types of powder. This press also uses convenient quick-change die bushings. Right now you can save $107.29 with the $399.99 sale. PLUS LNL AP Press purchasers can get 500 free bullets through the Hornady Rebate Program.
8. Amazon – Proster Wind Meter, $16.99
Wish you had a modern impeller-style wind meter but only shoot a couple matches a year and can’t justify spending $150 (or more) on one? This Proster wind meter has a very impressive 4.5 star overall rating (with hundreds of reviews), so buy with confidence. Now on sale for just $16.99, this is a very useful tool for a bargain basement price. Get this affordable Wind Meter to ensure you have reliable wind readings for ballistics calculations. And unlike a costly Kestrel, with this low-priced wind meter, you won’t feel too bad if it gets lost or misplaced some time.
9. Amazon — 12″ x 12″ Splatter Grid Targets, 10 for $9.99
This 12″x12″ Splatterburst Target combines splatter shot marking with a grid background, with five aiming points. The bright neon shot circles make it easy to see your shots. And the handy grid lets you quickly estimate your group size. Get a 10-pack for $9.99, or a 25-pack for $17.99 (better deal). This particular target has earned rave reviews — 87% of verified buyers gave this a FIVE-Star rating. One example: “Excellent quality and durability. The adhesive is really strong. High contrast makes down range targeting easy and the splatter contrast is [great].”
The number of active hunters in the USA has declined in recent years. That’s not good for wildlife management programs, which are supported, in large part, by hunting fees. Perhaps more importantly, the declin in the ranks of hunters weakens the base of support for the Second Amendment. Hunters are key to the future of firearms rights in America. We support efforts to increase the number of hunters, through mentoring and training programs.
The NRA’s American Hunter magazine has compiled a comprehensive list of hunting mentor programs, state by state. This is followed by listing of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide hunter training. If you know individuals looking to get a start in hunting, check out these resources.
This is one amazing .50-caliber rifle. Along with the lever-actuated falling block, it has a massive swing-out breech block like you’d find on a field artillery piece. The action is so wide that the sights and scope are offset. You’ve heard of the “Beauty and the Beast”? Well here the Beast IS a Beauty….
View looking down at the action from above. Note the hinged Breech-Block.
This extraordinary example of gunsmithing art was crafted by the late J.T. (Jack) Smith of Sudbury, Massachusetts. This unique .50-caliber rifle features an aircraft machine gun barrel cut down to 38-1/4″, and turned octagon to round (in the style of Schuetzen rifles). The round portion of the barrel is tapered with a heavy boss at the muzzle. The barrel is inlaid in gold on both left and right side top flats. Custom scope bases are fitted to the receiver and to the top of the barrel. These hold an externally adjusting Unertl 15X target scope in offset scope mounts.
Huge Falling Block Receiver
The massive receiver (8″ long x 2-3/4″ wide x 3″ deep) is remarkable in design and construction. Machined from solid steel, the action incorporates several unique features. Note the hinged Howitzer-style breech block which swings to the right and mortises into the back of the receiver in the loading slot, providing a back-up for the falling block. We’ve never seen anything like that on any rifle. The one-piece floorplate/lever incorporates a Ruger No. 1-style latch which locks into the bottom of the trigger guard. The entire floorplate and lever retract downward. Firing is accomplished by means of a striker mounted in the hinged (swing-out) breech block. This is manually cocked with another lever on top of the breech block. Dropping the falling block activates the extractor which removes the spent case.
Offset Sights
This rifle features a custom-built, windage-adjustable offset front sight plus a custom-built vernier tang sight with aperture offset to the left side. The sights are offset to the left for a right-handed shooter, to correct for the extreme width of the receiver, allowing a more comfortable head position.
Tactacam, builder of compact, waterproof video cameras, now offers a new system, the Tactacam FTS, that allows you to film directly through your rifle scope. The images you see can be recorded to your mobile device or smart phone as well as viewed live. We think this is an important technology for marksmanship training. In addition, this is great for hunters who may want to record a successful hunt sequence.
The Tactacam FTS combines the high definition video from your Tactacam camera with the high-power zoom of a rifle scope. This lets you remotely view and record live footage from your rifle on your smart phone. Simply couple your scope and your camera together with the Tactacam FTS components. Then sync the camera to the Tactacam APP on your smart phone for live viewing.
You continue to watch your target through the normal optical axis of the rifle scope. The camera records via the offset FTS camera mount. The output of the FTS camera system can then be viewed, in real time, via a live feed to a smart phone. After setup, the Tactacam FTS allows the riflescope to operate as normal without additional adjustment or modification.
4K Resolution, Remote Control, Slo-Mo, Wifi Viewing and More
Tactacam’s innovative camera systems allow easy, in-the-field recording of hunts and shooting sessions. The FTS mount can handle all Tactacam Solo, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 cameras. The latest Tactacam 5.0 unit provides 4K resolution with outstanding image quality. Other features include Wifi and APP viewing options, remote control activation, slow motion, and live-streaming capabilities. The camera output can be viewed both in the App and on external WiFi-capable devices.
The Tactacam FTS system can attach to nearly any conventional rifle scope. This system is less expensive and easier-to-mount that most other through-the-scope viewing systems. Importantly, your valuable smart-phone remains separate, i.e. NOT attached to the rifle. Hence it cannot be harmed by recoil or muzzle blast.
Barrett Firearms Manufacturing(Barrett) has been awarded the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) ASR (Advanced Sniper Rifle) contract for with its MRAD (Multi-Role Adaptive Design) rifle system. The SOCOM ASR contract is worth nearly fifty million dollars. The ASR contract was announced by the U.S. Dept. of Defense on March 11, 2019.
Guns.com reports: “The $49.9 million five-year, indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract announcement is slim on details other than that is for the ASR program. The program itself was identified in SOCOM’s FY19 budget justification book as part of an effort to continue ‘development of enhanced capabilities to improve performance’ of ‘individual sniper weapons to engage out to 1500 meters’.” A key requirement was the ability to shooter multiple calibers and cartridge types.
USSOCOM announced in 2016 it needed a modular, multi-caliber bolt action sniper rifle capable of converting between 7.62x51mm, .300 Norma Magnum (NM) and .338 Norma Magnum (NM). The gun needed to be able to change barrels easily in the field with minimal tools. The Barrett MRAD is designed with precision and modularity in mind. As produced for SOCOM, the MRAD will be designated the Mk21. The new MK21 MRADs will be built at Barrett’s Christiana, Tennessee factory, with production to be completed by March 2024.
Interestingly, this is the first time in U.S. history that both a father and son have designed an official military-commissioned rifle system. Father Ronnie Barrett developed the successful .50-Caliber M107 and now son Chris Barrett has succeeded with the Mk21 MRAD.
“This feels like the highest honor I could ever achieve professionally — to have a rifle adopted by the U.S. military, and especially USSOCOM,” said Chris Barrett. Father Ronnie Barrett added: “I remember Chris telling me that ‘this is what all precision rifles will look like one day!’ and he was right. However, aesthetics is not all that makes this rifle. As his development persisted, he was able to achieve more than I ever thought possible. I genuinely believe this is the most accurate [multi-caliber sniper] rifle in the world.”
Ian Klemm, 2017 F-TR USA National Champion, is one of America’s top F-Class shooters, both shooting individually and in team competition. Ian is known for his consistency, smooth gun handling, and an uncanny ability to shoot well even in the toughest wind conditions. In this Vortex Video, Ian and fellow long-range shooter Niles Richardson, reveal some of their competitive secrets, and wind-reading techniques. This video focuses primarily on F-Class competition but Ian and Niles also talk more broadly about the myriad factors that contribute to rifle accuracy. Topics include: match strategies, wind and mirage reading, barrel harmonics, bipods, and optics.
Vortex Nation Podcast Episode 57 Summary
From Vortex: Our original intent was to have just a podcast about the sport of F-Class shooting, but when you get these brainiacs (Ian Klemm and Niles Richardson) talking about their obsession… er… “Hobby” you better believe it’s going to turn into a full on long range shooting information assault to the brain. Fact of the matter is, in F-Class, the only thing that matters is long range accuracy – and when we say “Accuracy”, we’re talking about sub-MOA groups on paper at 1000 yards with .308 Wins. Every single aspect of an F-Class competitor’s game is completely dialed in for long range accuracy.
We talk about the guns, their bipods, wind, mirage, barrel harmonics and the special scopes F-Class competitors need for their rifles. Ian even goes so far as to tell us how much his rifle has moved prior to the bullet leaving his 30-inch barrel. Just a simple equation involving acceleration, terminal velocity, moment of inertia of the rifle and coefficient of friction of the bipod and rifle on the ground.
On Facebook recently we saw an F-TR rig belonging to Team Michigan F-TR Shooter Dale Lucy. This features a Pierce action and a McMillan XIT stock, customized with an eye-catching Candy Apple Red paint finish. Kelly McMillan observed: “I like seeing what a shooter does to make his stock fit his personality. Dale sanded off the texture and then gave his stock a high-gloss Candy Apple Red paint job — beautiful.”
Dale wrote: “I recently purchased a second XIT stock so that I would have an exact copy as my backup rifle, I painted this one candy red over a black and gold marble base coat.” Dale praised McMillan for helping his team: “Thank you for your sponsorship of the Michigan F-TR team, we really appreciate it. I can attest that since I started to use your stock (XIT), my scores have improved significantly. I placed 10th at the Nationals last fall, and was the 8th place Master at the 2019 Berger SWN. In contrast I finished 10th from the bottom at the 2017 BSWN.” — Dale Lucy, SW Michigan
Gear Upgrade for F-TR Bipods
Here’s a smart upgrade that can improve the tracking and stability of your F-TR competition rifle. And better tracking can translate to higher scores. Kreativ Solutions offers a $55.00 Pivoting Feet Kit for the Phoenix Bipod. Kreativ’s pivoting feet are also offered for the SEB Joystick Bipod for $125.00.
If you like accurate rifles and reactive targets, you’ll enjoy this 48-minute video from Shooting USA TV, which features long-range varmint silhouette competition in Texas, the Lone Star State. We have participated in these kind of matches on the West Coast — they are definitely a ton of fun. The sport combines the pure accuracy of benchrest competition with the fun of knocking down critter targets. These are smaller than standard silhouettes, so it’s quite a challenge to hit them at 300 yards and beyond.
In this episode, host John Scoutten competes with his 6.5 Creedmoor PRS rifle. He found that 1-MOA Coyotes offered plenty of challenge at 385 meters! Most shooters use benchrest-grade rifles with premium front rests.
Full 48-Minute Episode of Shooting USA featuring Texas Varmint Silhouette:
5″x4″ Hogs — 500 Meters
Chickens (on Swingers) — 600 Yards
Pigs (on Swingers) — 750 Yards
EDITOR: We strongly recommend you take the time to watch this Shooting USA feature — it shows some top-flight benchrest rifles, and also covers the origins of benchrest varmint silhouette in Pennsylvania. There are even some AccurateShooter Forum members on screen. John Scoutten also does nice job explaining the challenges of shooting this discipline with a PRS rig. We think any benchrest or tactical shooter will really enjoy watching this video.
Travis Frazier of Field & Cave Outfitters says shooters love the reactive targets: “The most exciting thing is seeing your hits — these [targets] really go airborne”. Yep, that’s the best thing about Varmint Silhouette matches — hits deliver instant gratification. Travis designs and produces these steel targets.
This Texas match features multiple target shapes, 10 at each distance: Tiny Prairie Dogs at 200m, 3″x3″ Armadillos at 300m; 3″x5″ Coyotes at 385m; 5″x4″ Hogs at 500m; Chickens (on swingers) at 600 yards; and Pigs (on Swingers) at 750 yards. Competitors are allowed 10 rounds and 10 minutes to hit each set of targets.
Do-It-Yourself Electronic Target System?
