Our friend (and fellow Californian) Dennis Santiago recently drove across the country, all the way to Ohio. His mission? To attend the CMP National Matches at Camp Perry. This has become an annual pilgrimage for Dennis, who writes: “My goal is to spend time with as many of my friends as possible — the friends I’ve known and hang out with throughout the year, the ones I only see once a year at Camp Perry, and the many I’ve only conversed with on social media and will meet in person for the first time. More than anything, Camp Perry is where I come home to my shooting family. My mission is to celebrate my love of this sport with them.”
Here are some photos of Santiago’s successful journey across the USA to Ohio. He’s done the road-work, now it’s time to buckle down and shoot 10s and Xs across the course.
“Get your kicks on Route 66 — in Manuelito, New Mexico.” — Dennis Santiago
“The heartland is an ocean of corn. It is an amazing thing to see how much food we make.” — Dennis
“Arrived and I’m hungry… at Camp Perry National Rifle Competition, Port Clinton, Ohio.” — Dennis
Advice for First-Time Visitors to Camp Perry
Dennis first competed at Camp Perry in 2016, writing about the experience in his Dennis Talks Guns Blog. Here are some of Santiago’s tips for first-time Perry competitors:
1. Walk the Base. Do not drive around. Get used to walking. Walk from your hut to everything. Walk to the administration buildings. Walk to the ranges. Walk to commercial row. Walk to the CMP North Store. Walk to the CMP or Army trailer to have the triggers of your rifles(s) weighed. Walk. This is your primary mode of transportation while on base.
2. Go Shopping. It’s called Commercial Row. It is the best shopping mall for competitive shooters ever. The sale prices here are Black Friday quality. You stock up on supplies. You can buy elusive powders in quantity with the same lot number. Same with bullets and primers. I stocked up. Everything you need to keep making your pet loads — except brass. This is a service rifle tournament. Pretty much everyone is using LC or WCC cases.
3. Learn about the Perils of Perry. It rains at Camp Perry. Sometimes that rain comes with lightning. When that happens range controls issues an evacuation order. Depending on where you are and how much time you have, you either grab your stuff and make for a sheltered structure or leave your stuff under whatever rain cover you have and leave it there until the storm cell passes.
Coming Soon — The President’s 100 Match
In past years, Dennis has competed in the historic National President’s 100 Match, which takes place on Monday, July 29th this year. This is a huge event — in recent years there were over 1100 ranked competitors from throughout the nation, making this one of the biggest High Power events of the year.
Twelve athletes, including six 2016 Paralympians, have been named to the 2019 Parapan American Games USA Shooting Team. These rifle and pistol shooters will compete at the first-ever Parapan American Games, to be held in Lima, Peru, August 23-September 1, 2019.
The rifle roster includes 2016 Paralympic bronze medalist McKenna Dah along with Jazmin Almlie-Ryan and John Joss. Dahl earned her medal in Mixed Air Rifle event at the 2016 Games in Rio becoming the first U.S. woman to medal in shooting at the Paralympic Games. Joss is the lone athlete to have secured a Paralympic quota to date in R6 event (50-meter Prone Rifle) by virtue of a second-place finish at the 2018 World Shooting Para Sport World Cup.
Other top USA rifle shooters are Taylor Farmer, Stetson Bardfield, and Kevin Nguyen. These three athletes have proven themselves in competition since 2016 and will look to kick-start their runs for the 2020 Paralympic Team. Taylor Farmer was 2018 Paralympic Athlete of the Year for USA Shooting.
Highlights of 2018 World Para Sport Shooting Championships in South Korea
Team USA’s pistol squad is strong with 2016 Paralympic Pistol Team members Tricia Downing, Mike Tagliapietra, and Marco De La Rosa. In Paralympic pistol action at Nationals, De La Rosa earned a bronze medal in Air Pistol while Tagliapietra earned two bronze medals in Sport and Free Pistol, respectively.
2019 Parapan American Games
USA RIFLE TEAM
McKenna Dahl
Taylor Farmer
Len Esparza
Jazmin Almlie-Ryan
Stetson Bardfield
John Joss
Kevin Nguyen
Nick Beach
2019 Parapan American Games
USA PISTOL TEAM
Aaron Causey
Tricia Downing
Mike Tagliapietra
Marco De La Rosa
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.
This week we celebrate a special milestone — our 200th Bargain-Finder Deals of the Week! That works out to 3.8 YEARS of bargains, promos, and discounts. To mark our 200th Week of Hot Deals, we are doubling the number of deals listed, for a total of TWENTY deals — all under $200.00.
TWENTY Deals for $200 or Less…
Frankford Arsenal’s new Intellidropper powder scale/dispenser has been a huge hit. It is FAST, and you could program your loads with a smart-phone App. Get it now for $199.99 from Midsouth.
Hodgdon Varget and H4350 remain two of the most popular powders for a wide variety of cartridges. The big 8-lb jugs of Varget and H4350 have been hard to find, but Powder Valley has both in stock, at $194.50 per jug for H4350 and $194.50 for Varget.
We like CCI Blazer Brass ammo and here’s a great deal from Brownells.com. Get 1000 rounds of CCI Blazer Brass 9mm pistol ammo for just $194.99. This brass is reloadable.
This MTM ammo crate has been very popular with our readers. It ships with four (4) rugged, lockable ammo boxes, all of which fit together in a convenient, stackable carry crate. This is on sale now at Amazon for $22.99.
Lyman’s Ideal compact press works great as a second, lighter-duty press. For loading at the range, it can easily be mounted to a bench. This cast-iron press is stronger than other small presses in its class. The Lyman Ideal C-Frame press costs just $79.99 at Midsouth. With good leverage in a compact size, this is a great press for the price.
The new Nikon Prostaff 1000i Laser Rangefinder features ID (incline/decline) technology with both horizontal distance and actual distance display modes. Choose single or continuous measurement (up to 8 seconds). Rated to 1000 yards on reflective objects, the PROSTAFF 1000i is a good, affordable option for hunters.
The Lyman BoreCam is an electro-optical borescope with a digital display. Our Forum members really like the BoreCam (although some wish the digital view-screen was larger). Midsouth now has the Lyman BoreCam for $199.99.
Here’s a quality AR15 lower, with nice FDE-color Magpul stock, at a very attractive price — just $159.99 at Palmetto State Armory (PSA). The adjustable stock is nice and PSA is one of the leading “Black Rifle” operations in the country.
Good mat, great price — $24.99. This NcStar Vism shooting mat has decent padding, and reinforced areas for elbows and knees. Full dimensions are: 69″ Long x 35″ Wide. When you’re done simply roll it up into a compact 19.50″ W x 8.50″ H package.
Varminters take note — here’s a great deal on a 500-round “brick” of Hornady-brand 17 HMR rimfire ammo. This reliable, accurate ammo is ultra-effective on small varmints out to 200 yards. Save now with this Midsouth special, 500 rounds for $89.99. That’s just $0.18/round.
You won’t find a better deal on Nikons anywhere. These are Nikon-certified, factory-refurbished Nikon scopes at deep discounts. Save up to 43% off retail. NOTE: all Nikon refurbs have been refurbished to factory specs by Nikon, Inc. and are covered by a 90-day warranty.
This is a VERY good tool with precise, adjustable depth control. In his product review, Jim See said: “The Frankford Arsenal perfect Hand-Priming Tool is legit — built heavy and strong. The [primer] seating depth adjustment is simple and accurate. Easy to operate.”
If you need an inexpensive front rest for field shooting and varminting, or as a back-up rest when shooting with friends, it’s hard to beat these Caldwell for the price — just $99.99 at Amazon. For under $100 you get a stable, durable rest. For just $9.58 more add a set of rubber foot pads.
Here is an affordable 24000mAh portable charge that has a VERY important feature — an LED read-out that display charge status and flow in/out. Priced at $30.99 on Amazon, this a good choice to charge your mobile devices and LabRadar.
Palmetto State Armory is selling the sub-compact Taurus 9mm with black frame for just $199.99 with FREE Shipping. This little gun has a comfortable grip and solid owner reviews. Despite its small size, the G2c has a 12-round magazine. We like the fact it has a left-side manual safety (unlike the Glock).
Fool would-be thieves with this guitar case gun carrier. This will hold a long gun up to 45″ overall. A carbine will easily fit inside, and a larger rifle will fit with stock separated from barreled action. This discrete carry case has wheels for transport and twin locking points.
Here’s a great combo deal. Graf’s is offering the Frankford Arsenal Case Prep & Trim PLUS the EZ Tumbler for only $179.99. That’s an amazing deal considering you could pay $199.99 or more for the Prep & Trim unit by itself, and the EZ Tumbler is regularly $50 or more.
When you’re at the shooting range — don’t forget the kids! These Amazon Basics ear muffs are sized for young girls and boys, and provide 20 dB NRR. We do recommend doubling up with plugs under muffs but these are a nice option, and very affordable at just $9.99 on Amazon.
This 12″x12″ Splatterburst Target combines splatter shot marking with a grid background. The bright neon shot circles make it easy to see shots. And the handy grid lets you quickly estimate group size. Get a 10-pack for $9.99, or a 25-pack for $17.99. This target has earned 87% FIVE-Star ratings.
Walkie-Talkies are “must-have” items for long-range shooting. The 22-CH Motorola T100 Two-Way Radio is an Amazon Best Seller in Handheld Radios. Priced at just $29.00 with Free Shipping, this set is a bargain.
For the first time ever, a Civilian Team (from North Carolina) won the Pistol NTT at Camp Perry.
“Civilian teams are not supposed to win the Gold Cup”, said Christopher “Neil” Roberts, a member of the North Carolina Rifle & Pistol Association (NCRPA) team that achieved an historic win at Camp Perry. The NCRPA squad was the first civilian team in history to win the National Trophy Team (NTT) Pistol Match.
The Gold Cup is awarded to the top scoring team in the NTT Match held as part of the CMP’s National Trophy Pistol Matches. Every year since 1920, the prestigious NTT Gold Cup has been won by military teams — that is, until this year.
Breaking the near 100-year history of the event, Roberts, along with teammates Cecil Rhodes, Jon Shue, and Tom Willats, claimed the overall spot and the accompanying Gold Cup after out-shooting all other civilian and military teams, with a combined score of 1109-30X.
Civilians and military shooters competed together at the 2019 NTT Pistol Match.
The NC shooters have known each other for many years, especially from the Eastern CMP Travel Games at Camp Butner in North Carolina. At that event, Shue and Willats have won the Pistol Team Match together in the past. All four team members have earned Distinguished Service Pistol Badges.
Jon Shue Tops Field — Winning Individual Trophies
Leading his team to victory was pistol ace Jon Shue, 38. Shue won individual honors along with sharing the Team’s Gold Cup Trophy and the Oglethorpe Trophy. Shue won numerous awards, including the Military Police Corps Trophy as the highest scoring individual in the NTT. Shue also won the CMP EIC Pistol Match, and the National Trophy Individual (NTI) event. Shue took home the Citizen Military Pistol Trophy as the High Civilian in the NTI and the Anheuser Busch Trophy as the High Civilian in the NTI-NTT Aggregate.
Dramatic Opening Day 2019 at Camp Perry
The 2019 First Shot Ceremony at the Camp Perry CMP National Matches featured former U.S. Army Golden Knights skydiver, SFC (R) Dana Bowman. SFC Bowman lost both of his legs an in-air collision. SFC Bowman descended with a giant 60-foot-long American flag.
Do you own a Springfield M1A (or wish you did)? Then you should watch this 5-minute video from the American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI). This video shows the basics of the operation of the popular M1A rifle, the civilian version of the military M14. In this video, gunsmith John Bush field-strips the M1A and shows how the bolt, op rod, and trigger group fits together and operates. This video contains excerpts from the M1A Rifle Armorer’s Course, AGI Course #1584. The full Armorer’s Course is available on DVD from www.AmericanGunsmith.com.
Watch Highlights of AGI M1A Rifle Armorer’s Course:
2019 CMP Springfield M1A Match at Camp Perry
The 13th annual Springfield Armory M1A Match will take place during the 2019 CMP National Rifle Matches. The CMP will host the event on Sunday, August 4, 2019, the day after the John C. Garand Match. Competitors of all experience levels are encouraged to bring their M1A rifles to Camp Perry and compete. Online Registration is still possible. The match is open to all individuals ages 12 and above. For more information contact the CMP at competitions@thecmp.org or call 419-635-2141 ext. 724 or 714.
The Springfield Armory M1A match began with one man’s idea and passion. Springfield Armory’s Mike Doy witnessed the waning of classic M1 Garand and M1A rifles from the competitive High Power firing lines. “I really wanted to get those M1A rifles out of safes and closets and back out onto the field. So 11 years ago, I promoted the idea of running an M1A-specific match at Camp Perry. That first year we had over 600 competitors and spectators.” Now the match offers some of the biggest pay-outs at Camp Perry. In recent years, Springfield Armory has donated over $25,000 worth of cash and prizes, including a $2,000 cash award to the overall winner.
Project by Shiraz Balolia, President of Grizzly Industrial
The lowboy stock you see above started as an experiment. I had an extra Masterclass F-Class stock that had gone through two actions, four beddings, and multiple modifications over the years. I figured that there was nothing to lose if the experiment did not work out.
After deciding on the design, the stock was carefully leveled in every direction and milled to the precise dimensions for attaching the side pieces, which would be glued to the original stock.
Curly Maple and Bubinga wood were laminated to get the exact thickness of the side pieces so that the total width of the fore-end would be just under the total width allowed for F-Open stocks.
Two guide pins made of Bubinga were drilled through each side so that the sides would not move when glued to the milled stock.
Once the sides were glued to the blank, the stock was once again trued on the mill so it was perfectly flat and square with the back (see below).
The stock was then sent to Keith Weill at KW Precision who did an incredible bedding job on the new BAT M action. The stock was then sent out for spraying a clear finish. Normally I spray my own stocks, but I did not have time for this stock, so that part was subbed-out. The finger grooves and “Shiraz” inlay had been done by me a few years prior during the old stock’s heyday.
Modified Stock Has Significantly Lower Center of Gravity
The rifle was then assembled, a March 10-60x56mm High Master scope was installed, and break-in was completed on the new barrel. At the range, the stock performed great. The stock rides one-half-inch lower in the front bag and really feels good.
Bartlein Barrel Is Chambered in .300 WSM
I was pleased to find that the Bartlein barrel I have on this gun cleaned up very well during barrel break-in and this “experiment” may turn into this being one of my best-performing guns. All of my F-Open match guns are .300 WSM (Winchester Short Magnum), and so is this one.
In the ELR game, particularly the King of 2 Miles (KO2M), it’s “go big or go home”. The top shooters run large-capacity cartridges that push large-caliber, ultra-high BC bullets at very high velocities. Bullets launched by cartridges such as the .416 Barrett can sustain supersonic velocities at Extreme Long Ranges — and that’s what it takes to win. The .416 Barrett can launch a 550-grain solid bullet at 3000+ FPS.
Photo from ELR Competitor Corbin Shell.
2018 and 2019 Kings of 2 Miles Loaded on RCBS Presses
So how do you load jumbo cartridges such as the .416 Barrett? It takes a big, heavy, super-strong reloading press. We’ve learned that the last two Kings of 2 Miles, Paul Phillips (2019) and Robert Brantley (2018) both loaded their KO2M ammo on RCBS AmmoMaster .50 BMG presses. Phillips loaded .416 Barrett ammo, while Brantley loaded custom .416 MCS rounds.
In 2018, Robert Brantley topped the field using his custom .416 MCS loads perfected on the AmmoMaster .50 BMG Press. The next year, Brantley took a close second to 2019 KO2M winner Paul Phillips. Both Phillips and Brantley use the AmmoMaster .50 BMG single stage press kit and RCBS .416 Barrett dies to hand-load for extreme long-range. “My ammo has been much more consistent after switching to the RCBS press and dies,” remarked Phillips, who runs the Global Precision Group. Brantley said he uses RCBS products for most of his reloading needs — from the dies and AmmoMaster, to the ChargeMaster and Brass Boss. His custom .416 MCS loads launch a 550-grain bullet more than 3,100 fps.
The KO2M competition is a two-day extreme long-range (ELR) match held at the NRA Whittington Center in New Mexico. Teams consist of one shooter and up to two wind coaches/spotters, who fire on steel targets ranging from about 1,500 to 3,500 yards. The photo below show 2019 Winner Phillips with the King’s crown at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, NM.
Loading with RCBS AmmoMaster .50 BMG Press
This video shows reloading with the RCBS AmmoMaster .50 BMG press. While this video shows .50 BMG cases being loaded, the principles are the same for loading the .416 Barrett used by both Brantley and Phillips. Big cases need big presses!
RCBS is a leading manufacturer of ammunition reloading equipment for rifles and pistols, offering reloading equipment throughout the world. For more information, visit www.RCBS.com
Many thousands of hand-loaders, including this Editor, acquired the original RCBS ChargeMaster 1500 powder scale/dispenser. Mine has worked well for many years. Yes I do have to watch for scale drift, and I use a high-end Force-Restoration scale when loading for major matches, but the original ChargeMaster has served me well, throwing thousands of charges over the years.
RCBS ChargeMaster Lite Reviews
A couple years ago, RCBS introduced a new version of the ChargeMaster, the RCBS Chargemaster Lite. This newer unit has some features we really like. The new touch screen is easy to use and the powder tray cover slips off easily — no more hinges to fight. Most importantly the CM Lite has a redesigned, fluted dispensing tube which delivers powder kernels in a smooth flow with no clumps. The RCBS Rep told us “No more McDonald’s straw required”. We tested the unit and it does seem like the newly-designed dispensing tube is better. In fact, this new design will be adapted to the next generation of larger ChargeMasters. The ChargeMaster Lite ships complete with calibration check weights and cleaning brush. MSRP is $299.95 with “street price” around $238.00 at Amazon.
If you’re interested in the RCBS ChargeMaster Lite, here are three recent video product reviews. By watching these videos you can see all the features of the ChargeMaster Lite demonstrated. In the third video, the host also “compares and contrasts” the ChargeMaster Lite with the original ChargeMaster 1500, explaining the differences between the two units. Have at it:
Panhandle Precision ChargeMaster Lite Bench Test and Demo (Good Detailed Review):
Here is the RCBS Press Release: “The new RCBS ChargeMaster Lite packs unparalleled powder-measuring accuracy in a compact package. The one-piece unit features an LCD touchscreen display that ensures accurate data input. The hopper holds nearly a pound of smokeless powder, and can dispense anywhere between 2 to 300 grains with a +/-0.1-grain accuracy.”
UltimateReloader ChargeMaster Lite Unboxing:
Original ChargeMaster 1500 vs. ChargeMaster Lite:
Worth Considering Also — the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Intellidropper
Frankford Arsenal has a new electronic powder scale/dispenser, the Intellidropper. This unit dispenses quickly, loads can be controlled with a Mobile App. We recently did an in-depth Intellidropper Review. If you are in the market for a powder scale/dispenser, you should definitely consider the Intellidropper as well as the RCBS Chargemaster Lite. Watch this video to see how it works:
The Intellidropper is the latest automated powder scale/dispenser to hit the market. This new-for-2019 machine offers a unique powder calibration mode and the first-ever, mobile APP-controlled powder dispensing system. With a retail price under $200, the new Intellidropper is $30-$40 less than the ChargeMaster Lite.
Today, July 20, 2019, a Guardian Long Range Competition will be held in Lake City, Michigan. This one-day shooting event is part of a national Guadian series that raises money for foster children and orphans. One hundred percent of the proceeds generated from Guardian events help support orphan and foster care programs. Since 2014, the Guardian events have raised over $750,000 for child placement and family assistance. For more information, visit GuardianLongRange.com.
The Lake City match will follow the general format of Guardian full-day precision shooting events held around the country. Competitors will engage targets at known distances from 100 to 1000 yards. Calibers are restricted to .300 Win Mag and smaller to preserve the steel targets. Guardian matches follow a modest tempo with minimal breaks between stages. Shooters often have 90 seconds to engage a target. Most stages will include “stressors”– either time and/or short movements to the shooting stage area.
The Guardian course of fire combines aspects of law enforcement, military, and practical marksman disciplines. The competition format varies based on the host facility, but usually require anywhere from 80 to 120 rounds to complete several stages. Target size will vary in difficulty based on the shooter’s position, distance, and stage time allotted.
How the Guardian Program Supports Needy Kids
Guardian Match proceeds go toward helping foster children, orphans, and the families who care for those kids in need. Since 2014, the Guardian has raised over $750,000 in this effort. To date all of the proceeds raised by this competition will help reduce the orphan crisis by helping offset the financial cost for parents considering adoption or foster care.
McMillan Fiberglass Stocks will be a leading sponsor of the Lake City Guardian match. McMillan manufactures custom rifle stocks and accessories. Product areas include Tactical, Competition, Benchrest, Hunting & Sport, and Ultralight.
New environmental regulations in the state of Washington could soon impact shooters. Restrictions on the use of lead compounds could lead to expensive range remediation programs, or even range closures…
The Washington Department of Labor and Industries Division of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH) has released an updated draft of the lead rules they originally released last year following stakeholder meetings. These proposed regulations will impose complicated and expensive burdens on shooting ranges and retailers, potentially making it difficult for some to continue operations. DOSH will be holding additional stakeholder meetings to discuss these proposed regulations. Shooting ranges are vital to the safe practice and exercise of our constitutionally protected Second Amendment right to self-defense, and maintaining access to shooting ranges is a top priority for NRA.
Existing federal and state law already provides extensive regulation of lead in the workplace. In addition to the federal requirements under the Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Washington also has regulations in place regarding workplace lead exposure and has enforced these regulations through inspections and citations. This Washington State draft regulation proposes new and much more demanding requirements that significantly exceed compliance under existing law without providing any clarification on their need. Furthermore, there have been no economic impact studies on the effect these regulations will have on small businesses.
The NRA will continue to actively participate as a stakeholder in the development of these new rules in meetings with the Department of Labor and Industries. We will provide ongoing input on the impact the proposal will have on gun ranges, retailers, and our shooting community. Check out www.NRAILA.org for further updates on the status of the proposal.
1. Walk the Base. Do not drive around. Get used to walking. Walk from your hut to everything. Walk to the administration buildings. Walk to the ranges. Walk to commercial row. Walk to the CMP North Store. Walk to the CMP or Army trailer to have the triggers of your rifles(s) weighed. Walk. This is your primary mode of transportation while on base.
New environmental regulations in the state of Washington could soon impact shooters. Restrictions on the use of lead compounds could lead to expensive range remediation programs, or even range closures…
