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August 31st, 2019

Top TEN Labor Day Sales and Discount Programs 2019

Brownells labor day discount sale

Many online vendors are running sales this Labor Day Holiday weekend. You’ll find score of products marked way down, plus discount codes that can save you 20% or more on your purchases. Some sales run through end-of-day on Monday September 2nd, while other Labor Day sales extend through next week. Be sure to check the sale schedules.

1. Brownells Labor Day Sale — Guns, Ammo, Components

Brownells labor day discount sale

Brownells is running a huge Labor Day Sale, with savings up to 40%. You’ll find big discounts on AR uppers and lowers, triggers, bipods, magazines, optics, ammo and more. There are also “brand-wide” discounts on major brands listed below.

Brownells labor day discount sale

2. Bruno Shooters — Shipping Deals and Discounted Products

Bruno Shooters krieger hazmat free shipping

Bruno Shooters Supply has a variety of Labor Day Promotions. First you can get Free Shipping on all orders of $99.95 or more. Plus there is Free Shipping on scopes, stocks, BAT actions, LabRadars, and borescopes. Many items, including Lenzi and Protektor bags, have been discounted, and all Krieger barrels are $10 Off.

3. Creedmoor Sports — 10% Off and Free Ground Shipping

Creedmoor Sports free shipping

To celebrate the long, Labor Day weekend, Creedmoor Sports is offering 10% Off Creedmoor-branded products with Code LBD19. In addition, you can get FREE Ground Shipping on most items. This applies to normal ground shipping rates, but not HazMat charges, so you’ll still have to pay HazMat for primers and powder. NOTE: Some exclusions apply.

4. Natchez — 10% Discount or Free Ship/Hazmat

Labor day code discount Natchez free hazmat

Natchez has many items on sale this weekend, plus three Promo Codes. Use CODE PO190829 to save 10% right off the price. Or, for heavy shipments, try CODE FR190829 — this provides $5.00 flat-rate shipping on orders over $99.99. If you need powder and/or primers, select CODE FH190829. This waives the HazMat fees for powder and primer orders $150.00 or more. Pick the Code that works best for you. Don’t hesitate — this deal expires 9/2/2019 at 11:59 pm CST.

5. Midsouth Shooters Supply — $5 Hazmat or $5 Shipping

Midsouth Shotoers labor day discount sale

Midsouth is running a tempting deal this Labor Day weekend. If you buy at least $49 worth of goods, you can get either $5 Hazmat or $5 Shipping for your entire order. In addition to this promotion, Midsouth has many great sale items this week including a Kestrel 2500 NV for $154.00, Hornady Powder dispenser for $179.95, and lots of discounted ammo offerings.

6. Witt Machine — 25% Off Brakes and Suppressor Gear

Muzzle Brakes, Suppressor Integrated suppressor directional

Witt Machine’s Labor Day Sale is easy to understand — save a full 25% on all items featured on the WittMachine.net home page. This includes clamp-on and screw-on muzzle brakes, suppressors, muzzle rise eliminators, plus integrally suppressed rifles and suppressed AR uppers. CLICK HERE for all sale items in stock. Witt sale tip from EdLongRange.

7. Cabela’s — Hunting Kick-Off Sale, Up to 40% Off

Labor day hunting kickoff sale Cabela's discount

The discounts started August 26th at Cabelas.com. This major sporting goods dealer is running a Hunting Season “Kick-Off Sale” through September 8, 2019. There are big savings on shotguns, hunting boots, ammo, game cameras, GPS units, and more. Some items are 40% off.

8. Palmetto State Armory — Storewide Sale

Labor day code discount Palmetto Armory free hazmat

Complete rifles, pistols, uppers, lowers, optics, ammo — Palmetto State Armory has a wide selection of products, many of which are deeply discounted for the next few days. If you are thinking of an AR project, or are looking for a great price on a carry pistol, check out Palmetto’s deals this week.

9. Primary Arms — Product Specials and Shipping Discounts

Labor day code discount Primary Arms free hazmat

Primary Arms has a wide variety of products on sale including Glock parts, AR parts, tactical packs/cases, and Walker Ear Muffs. In addition Primary Arms has FREE Shipping on the entire order when you buy a riflescope or Red Dot optic.

10. Aero Precision — 20-25% Off Uppers and Lowers

Labor day code discount Aero Precision AR upper lower

Now through 9/3/2019, Aero Precision is offering 25% off Stripped Lowers, Stripped/Assembled Uppers, Scope Mounts, and VG6 Muzzle Devices. Or, get 20% off of Complete Uppers, Lowers, Handguards, and Combo Sets. Finally, pretty much everything else is 15% off. That makes it simple to save big.

Permalink Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Handguns, Hot Deals, News No Comments »
August 30th, 2019

IBS Match Report: 2019 Group Nationals in Holton, Michigan

IBS Group Benchrest Nationals Jeff Stover IBS
4-Gun winner Wayne Campbell is arguably the best group benchrest shooter in the world right now.

IBS 100/200 Yard Group Benchrest National Championships

Story by IBS President Jeff Stover President based on report by Harley Baker

Western Michigan was the site of the 2019 IBS Group Nationals. This major event was held August 12-17, 2019 at the Holton Gun & Bow Club. This club hosts many quality group benchrest matches throughout the season, and this one was no exception. The Holton team, especially match director Nancy Scarbrough, made everything seem easy. The shooters, however, don’t find conditions easy at all.

Jeff Stover IBS International Benchrest Shooters Holton gun bow club MI Michigan 6PPC Vihtavuori N133

Summer Sun, Mirage, and Switchy Winds
In the middle of August, Holton’s sandy soils can generate fierce mirage. It can get so bad that competitors may not be able to see bullet holes clearly and target rings can become indistinguishable. In Warren Page’s classic gun book, “The Accurate Rifle”, he speaks of mirage as “shooting through the swimming pool”. Well Warren Page must have shot Holton. When mirage was not the problem at Holton, switchy winds were the order of the day. CLICK HERE for 2019 IBS Group Nationals Results.

IBS Group Nationals Course of Fire
The IBS Group Nationals can be an endurance test as the event spans six days. The sequence of competition has 100-yard targets shot the first three days, followed by three days at 200 yards. It is done this way to require only one change of wind flags. Nationals competition requires “full rotation”. That means that every time a shooter goes to the line for the next match target, he or she must move a requisite number of benches to the right. At the end of the day a shooter will shoot across the full width of the line. Some ranges offer unique properties that render some parts of the range harder or easier to shoot small groups. Bench rotation is important to even out those factors.

Classes At the IBS Group Nationals
It takes thirty targets of 5-shot groups and ten targets of 10-shot groups to win a “4-Gun Nationals”. That covers FOUR classes: Light Varmint, Heavy Varmint, Sporter, and Heavy Bench. For all practical purposes, the first three are known as “bag guns” while the heavy bench rifles are “rail guns”. In fact, most competitors shooting a bag gun opt for a single rifle, which has been benchrest standard for decades: a 10.5-lb rifle chambered in 6PPC.

Day by Day Report — Group Nationals Highlights
The first day of competition was for the Heavy Bench class — the Rail Guns. That is what Heavy Bench is these days. Jeff Peinhardt had a handle on conditions for his five 10-shot groups. His largest group was only a .202″. The rest were small dark holes where the 10 bullets honed away any paper fuzz. His average for the five groups in this aggregate was .1710″. Really small, but only .0074″ behind was Paul Mitchell. Rounding out third place was Michigander Lee Hachigian with a .1866″.

Jeff Stover IBS International Benchrest Shooters Holton gun bow club MI Michigan 6PPC Vihtavuori N133

The “bag guns” come out on Tuesday for the 100-yard competition for Light Varmint and Sporter rifles. These are the 10.5-lb rifles. The only difference is that in Sporter you must have your rifle chamber with at least a 6mm bore. Since virtually everyone shoots a 6PPC it really doesn’t matter. Wayne Campbell from Virginia nailed a tight .1556” aggregate in Sporter at 100. Tony Alexander (.1758”) and Jack Neary (.1792”) rounded out the top three.

For Light Varmint at 100 yards. Larry Costa led the way with a .2022” when conditions were a little harder to read. Jack Neary and Kevin Donalds Sr. were close behind.

Wednesday morning of Nationals Week is Heavy Varmint at 100. Ken Donalds Sr. still had his rifle tuned to perfection as he won this aggregate with a .1624. Jack Neary and Harley Baker shot well with five-target averages in the .18XX. Wednesday afternoon the shooters take a break and hold a Powder Puff competition for non-shooters, including children and spouses were allowed to shot a group with bench coaching from seasoned competitors.

On Thursday the targets get moved to 200 yards along with a expanding sea of wind flags. Eventual multi-gun winner Wayne Campbell smoked the field Light Varmint 200 with a .1674 MOA Aggregate. His average group size at 200 yards was O.334 inches but in short-range group competition the scores are converted to minute of angle (MOA). The only other shooter Agging under 0.2 MOA was upstate New York restaurateur Pando Vasilovski with a 0.1927.

It was time for Sporter at 200 and Don Rosette from Ohio was the only shooter in the “teens” with a .1997 MOA Agg. Pando still had it working and was second.

IBS Group Benchrest Nationals Jeff Stover IBS
Here are some of the “Top Guns” from the 2019 IBS Group Nationals in Holton, MI.

Former Super Shoot winner Larry Costa won the Heavy Varmint 200 with a .2007 MOA Agg and he had room to spare to beat Kevin Donalds Jr. and Jeff Peinhardt with a .22 and .23 respectively.

The last day, Saturday, the rail guns were hauled out again for the Heavy Bench 200. Mark Buettgen topped the field with a .2572 MOA Agg. No need to check the equipment list to know what barrel brand Buettgen used. Mark works for Bartlein Barrels in Wisconsin. Wayne Campbell was just on Mark’s heels.

Grand Aggregate (100+200)
Winners (all MOA):

Light Varmint: Wayne Campbell, .1939
Sporter: Wayne Campbell, .2133
Heavy Varmint: Larry Costa, .2026
Heavy Bench: Don Powell, .2342

Multi-gun results:
2-Gun (HV+LV 20 targets): Larry Costa, .2197
3-Gun (LV+SP+HV 30 targets): Wayne Campbell, .2205
4-Gun (LV+SP+HV+HB 40 targets): Wayne Campbell, .2279
(in 4-gun Tony Alexander was second with .2404, followed by Larry Costa with .2451)

CLICK HERE for 2019 IBS Group Nationals Complete Match Results

The Rifle for Short-Range Benchrest Competition

Hardware Choices: Actions, Stocks, Barrels, Optics and More
Tech Talk by Jeff Stover

Let’s examine the Top Ten rifles from this year’s IBS Group Nationals in the 10.5-lb Light Varmint Class. We’ll focus on the most popular rifle components — the choices for Actions, Stocks, Barrels, and Scopes.

IBS Group Benchrest Nationals Jeff Stover IBS

For some years now, BAT has been the predominant action. This year BAT actions held nearly 100% of the Top Ten places in all the Bag Gun equipment lists. Bruce Thom’s Idaho-crafted actions, except for a couple stray actions in Heavy Bench, swept the top rankings.

IBS Group Benchrest Nationals Jeff Stover IBS

Next, look at barrels. Bartlein or Krieger seem to rule with upstate New York’s venerable Hart barrels as competitive. Shooters tend to go with winners, so Wayne Campbell and Jeff Peinhardt dominate as gunsmiths for the top benchrest shooters.

In stocks there seems to be variety, but there is some commonality. The Scoville and Scarbrough stocks, both Michigan-made, are laminated wood (balsa and other wood) with carbon fiber and wrapped in carbon fiber. The Scoville stock on my 10.5-lb rifle weighs 18 ounces but is full size with a nice long fore-end. Bob Scarbrough makes a very similar product. Both are winners — it’s a choice of Ferrari or Lamborghini. The Roy Hunter and Terry Leonard stocks among these top rifles take a different route to winner’s circle. Both are wood (cedar or other), but super high-tech as they are laminated with carbon fiber. They are beautiful to boot. High-magnification Leupold, March, and Nightforce scopes rule the roost among benchrest optics.

Bullets and Powder
Bullets are important. Really important. A hot bullet gives you “Teen Aggs” and lots of trophies. An average bullet does not. Most of these are 68 grain 6mm boattails. The Peinhardt (StaMoly Precision) bullet is well represented on this list, but some top shooters make their own as you can see. Bullet jackets are likely StaMoly or J4. For powder, nearly everyone shoots Vihtavouri N133 except a few guys running LT30/32 or surplus 8208.

Vihtavuori N 133 N133 powder reloading

Permalink Competition, Gear Review, News, Shooting Skills 1 Comment »
August 29th, 2019

How to Sight-In Your Hunting Rifle in Four Shots

hunting zero zeroing sight-in easy NSSF boresighting
Photo courtesy Vortex Optics.

Hunting season is right around the corner. We know many readers have acquired a new hunting rifles, or perhaps are using new ammo or a new optic. If you’ve got new gear, you’ll want to zero your hunting rig properly. Here’s how…

Here’s a simple procedure that lets you get a solid zero in just four shots. Of course you probably want to fire a few more rounds to confirm your zero before you head off to your hunting grounds, but this will let you get on-target with a minimum amount of time and ammo expended. (This assumes your scope is securely mounted, and the bases are not drastically out of alignment.)

QUICK-TIP: The Key to this procedure is Dialing to Shot One Point of Impact (POI). Re-aim at center of target after SHOT ONE. Then with the rifle motionless, use the turrets to put the middle of the cross-hair on the first shot location.

1. First, remove the bolt and boresight the rifle. Adjust the position of the rifle so that, looking through the bore, you can see the center of the target with your eyes. Secure the rifle in the rests to maintain its position as boresighted. Then, without moving the rifle, center the reticle. That should get you on paper. With the rifle solidly secured in front and rear rests or sandbags, aim at the center of a target placed at your zeroing distance (50 or 100 yards). Confirm there are no obstructions in the barrel! Then load and fire SHOT ONE. Then, return the gun to the exact position it was when you pulled the trigger, with the cross-hair centered on the target as before.

2. Locate, in the scope, where your first bullet landed on the target. Now, while you grip the rifle firmly so it doesn’t move, have a friend adjust the turrets on your scope. While you look through the scope, have your friend turn the windage and elevation turrets until the cross-hairs, as viewed through the scope, bisect the first bullet hole on the target. Use the turrets to move the center of the reticle to the actual position of shot number one. IMPORTANT: Dial the crosshairs to the hole — don’t move the rifle.

Watch NSSF Zeroing Video showing method of moving reticle to Shot 1 Point of Impact.

3. After you’ve adjusted the turrets, now re-aim the rifle so the cross-hairs are, once again, positioned on the target center. Keep the rifle firmly supported by your rest or sandbag. Take the SECOND SHOT. You should find that the bullet now strikes in the center of the target.

3-Shot Zero

4. Take a THIRD SHOT with the cross-hairs aligned in the center of the target to confirm your zero. Make minor modifications to the windage and elevation as necessary.

5. Finally, shoot the rifle from a field rest (shooting sticks, bipod, or rucksack) as you would use when actually hunting. Confirm, with SHOT FOUR, that your zero is unchanged. You may need to make slight adjustments. Some rifles, particularly those with flexy fore-arms, exhibit a different POI (point of impact) when fired from a bipod or ruck vs. a sandbag rest.

This Video Shows the Process Described Above:

Fouling Shots and Cold Bore Condition
If you recently cleaned your rifle, you may want to fire two or three fouling shots before you start this procedure. But keep in mind that you want to duplicate the typical cold bore conditions that you’ll experience during the hunt. If you set your zero after three fouling shots, then make sure the bore is in a similar condition when you actually go out hunting.

Permalink Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Hunting/Varminting, Tech Tip No Comments »
August 29th, 2019

Great Deal on Vortex Fury HD LRF300 Rangefinding Binoculars

Vortex Fury binoculars LRF Laser Rangefinder rangefinding binocs

Generation One Vortex Fury HD LRF300 10×42 laser rangefinder binoculars are on sale at a HUGE discount. These once sold for $1199.00. Now, with the introduction of the Gen Two Vortex Fury HD 5000 LRF binocs, the Gen One units are just $799.00 at EuroOptic.com. Save a full $400 with a unit that can range to 1600 yards and has excellent optics. If you need even more ranging capability (not likely for a typical hunt), Vortex’s Gen Two Fury HD 5000 model is available for $1199.00 on Amazon. The choice is up to you. We think most hunters will be more than happy with the $799.00 Gen One unit. The $400 you save can buy a quality scope for your hunting rifle.

Vortex Fury binoculars LRF Laser Rangefinder rangefinding binocs

The Vortex Fury has some very cool features. It offers angle compensation as well as line-of-site modes. Scan mode gives readings as you pan or track a moving animal. You can set the distance output to yards or meters. All the controls are on the right side so you can operate the Fury HD easily with one hand.

Here are two video reviews of Gen One Vortex Fury Laser RangeFinder (LRF) Binoculars:

Review Summary: This is more an infomercial than a field test, but the video does a very good job showing the features of the Gen One 10×42 Vortex Fury HD LRF300. In addition, the reviewer explains how hunters can best use the Vortex Fury LRF binoculars in the field.

Review Summary: This unboxing video covers the operation and controls of the Gen One Vortex Fury HD LRF300 rangefinding binoculars.

Why Use Rangefinding Binoculars?
With rangefinding binoculars, you can carry one less piece of gear, and a binocular optic is much more effective in the field than the monocular on a typical dedicated laser rangefinder (LRF). The stereo view gives better definition and depth perception, and the larger, binocular lenses give better low-light performance than the smaller-diameter monocular optic found in a conventional LRF.

Permalink - Videos, Gear Review, Optics No Comments »
August 28th, 2019

What Really Fights Rust the Best? Video Reveals Ugly Truth…

See Results of Anti-Corrosion Product Test in Video

YouTube Link: http://youtu.be/uOB5eCReAQY

What anti-corrosion products really fight rust effectively? You’ll hear many opinions, but what do actual field tests reveal? One rifle shooter, who posts on YouTube as BlueonGoldZ, wanted to separate myth (and marketing claims) from reality, so he completed his own long-term rust test using metal samples. First he used ordinary tap water spray, and then he did a second, longer-duration test with a salt-spray solution. Nine different products were tested: Break Free CLP, Corrosion-X, Frog Lube, M-Pro 7, Outers, Pro-Shot Zero Friction, Rem Oil, Slip 2000, and Tetra Gun Triple Action CLP.

Rust Corrosion test video

BlueonGoldZ initially examined each product for its “beading” properties with a normal tap water spray. But the main test involved many multiple weeks of exposure after a “dense” salt-water spray. (No rust formed after two weeks tap water exposure, so the test was accelerated with salt-water exposure).

Rust Corrosion test video

The clear winners in the test, as shown by the screen shot above, were Corrosion-X (Best), and Frog-Lube (Second Best). The photo shows the test samples two weeks after being sprayed with salt water. The results are pretty dramatic — you can see with your own eyes what happened. We think this is a very useful bit of real-world research.

Results from Similar Long-Term Salt Exposure Test
Unfortunately, BlueonGoldZ’s test did NOT include Eezox, which we have found to be extremely effective (on a par with Corrosion-X). In another long-term test of corrosion preventatives, the two best rust fighters were Eezox and Corrosion-X in that order. Since that test was completed, Corrosion-X, already an excellent product, has been enhanced. CLICK HERE for Long-Term Salt Exposure Test Report.

Permalink - Videos, Gear Review, Tech Tip 2 Comments »
August 28th, 2019

Test Your Ballistics Knowledge with Shooting Quiz

Shoot 101 Quiz
How much of an expert are you when it comes to firearms and ballistics? Test your knowledge with this interactive test. Guns & Ammo magazine created a series of features called Shoot 101. These articles provide “how to” information about shooting, optics, and outdoor gear.

On the Guns & Ammo website, you’ll find the Shoot 101 Ballistics Quiz. The 15 questions are pretty basic, but it’s still fun to see if you get all the answers correct.

You don’t need a lot of technical knowledge. And it’s not all about flight ballistics. Roughly a third of the questions are about projectile types and bullet construction. Note, for some reason the layout doesn’t show all the possible answers at first. So, for each question, be sure to scroll down using the blue scroll bar on the right.

CLICK HERE to Go to Ballistics QUIZ Page »


Sample Ballistics Question

Permalink - Articles, Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Shooting Skills No Comments »
August 28th, 2019

Shooting USA: 2019 New Products Plus Multi-Gun Nationals

USPSA Multi-Gun Championship Nevada boulder city SFC Daniel Horner

This week’s Shooting USA episode has two great features. Part One covers the USPSA Multi-Gun Nationals, a 3-gun match with fast action. A lengthy second sequence covers new guns and gear at the 2019 NRA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. This Shooting USA Episode airs Wednesday August 28, 2019 on the Outdoor Channel, at 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific, 8:00 pm Central.

USPSA Multi-Gun Nationals

If you are a fan of 3-Gun competition, tune in to Shooting USA this week. The latest episode features the 2019 USPSA Multi-Gun Nationals held in Florida. You can see many of the nation’s top 3-Gun shooters attacking some very challenging stages with pistols, rifles, and shotguns.

USPSA Multi-Gun Nationals
Image from Sierry Whiskey Video from 2017 USPSA Multi-Gun Nationals.

Multi-gun competition has evolved considerably since it started 30 years ago. The firearms are more sophisticated, the optics are better, and the stage times are much faster. Still, the challenge remains the same: How fast can you shoot multiple targets, with the score determined by speed and accuracy? For the best in the sport, the answer is very fast indeed…

New Products for 2019 — Guns, Optics, Electronics and More

Shooting USA was in Indianapolis for the 2019 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits. At the big event, Shooting USA’s teams found some interesting new products, such as Hornady’s pricey new A-Tip bullets ($80 to $90 per 100), and new handguns from Colt, Smith & Wesson, and Volquartsen. Hornady also displayed a new Kestrel 5700 Meter with advanced 4DOF Ballistic Solver.

Hornady A-Tip Bullets

Kestrel 5700 with Hornady 4DOF

Canik TP9S-FX Pistol

Colt King Cobra Carry

EoTech Vudoo 5-25x50mm Compact Scope

Les Baer Gunsite Commemorative Pistol

Revolution Targets LR Frame

Smith & Wesson Model 610 10mm Revolver

Springfield Scorpion Precision Rimfire Pistol

Volquartsen St. Victor .308 AR Rifle

Permalink - Videos, Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Competition, Handguns, New Product No Comments »
August 27th, 2019

Watch Randy Wise Set ELR World Record — On Video

Randy Wise ELR match Camp Atterbury .338 Lapua Magnum

What’s it feel like to hit a 2158-yard target (from cold bore), and set a world record in the process? Well watch the video below to find out. Last week we reported that shooter Randy Wise set a new ELR Central world record, going three-for-three (from cold bore) at 2158 yards. The feat took place at the recent NRA ELR Championship at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. And he did that with a factory Savage action and barrel!

We first reported on Randy’s ELR record last week in the Bulletin. Now we have more photos, and most importantly, a video. You can now watch Randy Wise make his three hits in a row, starting with Cold Bore shot, at 2158 yards. The video was captured by Clay Rhoden of TargetVision/Longshot Target Cameras.

Watch Randy Wise Make ELR World-Record Three Straight Hits at 2158 Yards:

Watch the full sequence above (sorry there is no sound). Note that there were previously some hit marks on the 36″ x 36″ steel target. Ignore those. Steve’s first hit is at the bottom right — barely above the edge of the plate. At 0:42 you see the bright light flash indicating a hit. The second shot impacts in the top right — see the light flash at 1:09. The third and final hit impacts about 6″ up from the bottom, at 1:24. When the flashing light confirms Hit #3, Randy shows his emotion, pumping his fists with excitement.

Randy Wise ELR match Camp Atterbury .338 Lapua Magnum

Remarkably, Randy set the new ELR record using a stock Savage action and Savage factory barrel chambered for the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge. The Savage barreled action was mounted in an Accurate Rifles Systems chassis with Rempel bipod. Randy’s rifle had a factory stock 26″ 1:9″-twist barrel chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum. His load featured Lapua .338 LM brass, Berger 300gr Hybrid bullets, Federal 215M primers, and a stout charge of Hodgdon Retumbo powder. Ballistics solution by Applied Ballistics LLC. For optics, Randy used a Vortex 15-60x52mm Golden Eagle.

ELR World Record Standards
One video viewer asked why this was a world record, when longer shots have been made in K02M competition. Here’s the answer from Applied Ballistics: “To be an ELR World Record it has to be done cold bore, and three for three. No sighters, no practice, no walking the shots on, no accuracy by volume. Also neither the shooter or rifle can have been fired in the past 24 hours, to ensure it’s truly cold bore. It’s a test of skill and knowledge of your system.” Skill indeed. 2158 Yards is 1.226 MILES. At that distance, Randy shot a group measuring roughly 1.3 MOA vertical and half-minute horizontal.

Randy Wise ELR match Camp Atterbury .338 Lapua Magnum

For his efforts, Randy received glory, and a nice $1000-dollar check from McMillan Fiberglass stocks. Here Randy poses with his check, flanked by Bryan Litz (left) and Kelly McMillan (right). The match was officiated by Clay Rhoden. Doc Beech of Applied Ballistics was the certifying official.

Permalink - Videos, Competition, Tactical 1 Comment »
August 27th, 2019

Cutting .338 LM Barrel from 30″ to 17″ — Velocity Loss Revealed!

.338 Lapua Magnum LM barrel length vs velocity cut down test chrono rifleshooter.com

With Randy Wise’s recent record-setting ELR performance with a .338 Lapua Magnum Savage rifle, we thought our readers might be interested in a .338 LM velocity test conducted by our friend Bill Marr, Editor of Rifleshooter.com.

READ FULL .338 Lapua Magnum Barrel Cut-down Velocity TEST »

782 custom gunworks ltdA couple seasons back, Bill did a fascinating barrel cut-down test on a .338 Lapua Magnum rifle. Bill, a skilled gunsmith who runs 782 Custom Gunworks, cut down the barrel from 30″ to 17″ in one-inch increments. During the cut-down process, Marr measured velocities at each barrel length, shooting four rounds after each cut. As you’d expect, there was a huge change in velocity from long to short. Speeds were measured at the muzzle with a Magnetospeed barrel-mounted chronograph.

If you’re looking for max velocity with the .338 LM, go long. With 250-grain Sierra MK bullets, the peak velocity Bill measured was 2942 FPS at the full, 30-inch length. This decreased pretty steadily down to 2547 GPS at the shortest 17″ length. That’s an average decrease of 30.4 FPS per inch from 30″ to 17″.

.338 Lapua Magnum LM barrel length vs velocity cut down test chrono rifleshooter.com

Bill also tested 300-grain Sierra MatchKings. This is interesting because Randy Wise ran 300-grain bullets (Berger Hybrids) in a 26″ factory barrel for his ELR record. Peak velocity was 2833 FPS at 30″, 2799 FPS at 26″, and 2492 FPS at the shortest 17″ length. Interestingly, velocity at 29″ was higher than at 30″ for the 300-grainers. Bill notes: “The 300 SMK load showed a slight increase from 30 to 29″. I’ve recorded this in other tests and it seems to be more common with a heavier load. I suspect it is primarily due to the small sample sizes being used along with the relative proximity of muzzle velocities in adjacent lengths.”

At each new (shorter) barrel length, velocity was measured with a MagnetoSpeed chronograph using two different loads, 250gr SMKs with H4831sc and 300gr SMKs with Retumbo. Four shots were fired at each length with each load, a total of 112 rounds.

Load #1: 250gr Sierra MK, Lapua brass, CCI #250 primer, H4831SC, OAL 3.720″.
Load #2: 300gr Sierra MK, Lapua brass, Win WLRM primer, Retumbo, OAL 3.720″.

.338 LM Barrel Cut-Down Test Results Summary

.338 Lapua Magnum LM barrel length vs velocity cut down test chrono rifleshooter.com

.338 Lapua Magnum with 250gr Sierra MatchKings
After shortening the barrel from 30″ to 17″, total velocity reduction for the 250-grainers was 395 FPS, an average loss of 30.4 FPS per 1″ cut. The amount of velocity loss per inch rose as the barrel got shorter, with the biggest speed reduction, a loss of 55 FPS, coming with the cut from 18″ to 17″.

Start Velocity: 2942 FPS | End Velocity: 2547 FPS | Average Loss Per Inch: 30.4 FPS

(more…)

Permalink Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Gunsmithing, Tech Tip 3 Comments »
August 27th, 2019

USA Women Dominate 2019 IPSC Rifle World Shoot in Sweden

IPSC Rifle World Championship Team USA Sweden Karlskoga
Team USA members Ashley Rheuark, Lanny Barnes, Lena Miculek, and Becky Yackley (L to R).

You go girls! Four American lady shooters crushed the competition at the recent 2019 IPSC Rifle World Shooting Championship held in Sweden. This was a major international event, with 669 shooters from 37 countries competing for six days at the Villingsberg Shooting Range in Karlskoga, Sweden.

IPSC Rifle World Championship Team USA Sweden Karlskoga

Shooting Sports USA reports: “The IPSC Rifle World Shoot is … the Super Bowl or World Series for serious action rifle shooters around the world. The International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC), the sanctioning body for the match was established to promote and advance the sport of practical shooting worldwide.” This match involved 30 varied, challenging stages in the Villingsberg range (Villingsbergs skjutfält) a facility of the Swedish Armed Forces.

IPSC Rifle World Championship Team USA Sweden Karlskoga

IPSC Rifle World Championship Team USA Sweden Karlskoga

Four American ladies finished 1-2-3-4 in individual standings, showing complete dominance by USA women competitors. Ashley Rheuark topped the field to take the Gold Medal. Lena Miculek finished second to take Silver, and Lanny Barnes was third with Bronze. And American Dakota Overland finished fourth, just 5 points behind Barnes. In winning the women’s division, Rheuark shot superbly, finishing with a score of 1883.7501, over 30 points ahead of Miculek.

IPSC Rifle World Championship Team USA Sweden Karlskoga

The American ladies also excelled in Team competition. Team USA’s Becky Yackley joined Rhueark, Miculek, and Barnes to capture the Gold Medal in the Women’s Semi-Auto Open Division. In addition, Lena Miculek won the Women’s Division Shoot-Off. Notably, Lena’s Shoot-Off performance was broadcast on Swedish National Television. Lena wasn’t the only winning Miculek — her father Jerry Miculek took top honors in the Super Senior Class.

The Semi-Auto Open division had the largest match participation with 531 registered competitors. Finland’s Jarkko Laukia won the Open division with Finnish team-mate Raine Peltokoski finishing second. Third place was taken by Vadim Mikhailov from Russia. CLICK HERE for full men’s and women’s match results.

Watch Match Highlights on Gunroom.TV

IPSC world rifle shoot championships sweden

You can watch nine videos from the 2019 IPSC World Rifle Championships on the Gunroom.TV website. We suggest you watch the Day 5 Video and Day 6 Video. These interesting video from the last two days of the competition show many of the stages, which are quite different than typical American multi-gun shooting bays. The setting is green and lush.

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August 26th, 2019

BargainFinder 205: 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. CDNN — Weatherby Vanguard 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle, $799.99

Weatherby Vanguard Modular rifle 6.5 Creedmoor

weatherby Vanguard SaleThis is a great deal — you can buy this Weatherby Vanguard Modular Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor for just $799.99 on sale. That’s less than you’d pay for most custom actions by themselves. Yes this Weatherby rifle qualifies for PRS Production class — it’s 100% within the rules.

Put the hundreds of dollars you save into optics, ammo, and a suppressor — the 20″ barrel comes pre-threaded for brake or suppressor. This rifle has a nice 2-stage trigger, and Luth AR adjustable buttstock fitted to a CNC-machined anodized aluminum chassis. Weatherby guarantees SUB-MOA accuracy with premium ammo. As tested by American Rifleman, this Weatherby has shown outstanding accuracy for a factory rifle — close to half-MOA for five shots. Three factory ammo types shot 0.53″, 0.55″, and 0.57″ respectively. That’s impressive.

2. Bruno Shooters Supply — McMillan Stock Sale, 10% Off

mcmillan stock sale

The name McMillan is synonymous with high quality stocks and now you’re chance to grab one on sale. Bruno Shooters Supply is running a McMillan Stock Sale on its entire inventory. That includes hunting and varmint stocks as well as McMillan Kestros and F-Class stocks. If you need a new stock and Bruno’s selection matches your action, this is a good deal.

3. Precision Reloading — Berger Bullet Sale

berger bullet sale

There’s a reason Berger bullets are so popular with competition shooters and hunters. Now you can get popular Berger projectiles at significant savings. Check out the Berger Bullet Sale going on at Precision Reloading right now. While some sizes are out of stock we were pretty impressed with the variety on available bullets and prices. We recommend you check out this sale soon — it ends August 31, 2019.

4. MidwayUSA — Tipton Gun Vise & Wheeler Driver Kit, $85.37

tipton gun vise

If you’re looking for a good deal on a gun vise we found the Tipton Best Gun Vise with a FREE Wheeler 43-piece driver kit for only $85.37. This gun vise is a versatile, highly adaptable unit that has earned praise from owners. Getting the Wheeler driver kit (a $27 value) for free makes this a deal you can’t ignore. If you want something more basic that’s easier to move around, check out the Tipton Cleaning Gun Vise for $37.99 from Midsouth — a crazy low price. Either way you can’t go wrong.

5. Sportsmans Warehouse — Vortex 6.5-20x44mm BDC, $299.99

vortex scope sale

We’ve seen Vortex scopes on crazy low prices before but they’re usually lower power models. Now you can grab a Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44mm with the BDC reticle for the amazingly low price of $299.99. Vortex offers one of the best warranties in the business, and this is an outstanding value. This scope previously sold for $429.99.

6. Fix-It Sticks — Torque Driver Kit Pre-Order, $89.50

fix it sticks torque wrench

Fix-It Sticks have been around for a while but they always required having a preset torque driver for each setting which wasn’t always convenient. That is all changing now as they are releasing an all-in-one torque driver kit. These kits are great for torquing scope bases and other parts on rifles. Pre-Order now from Fix It Sticks with Promo Code MTDP1 and you can get this kit for $89.50. That’s 20% off the normal price. Orders should ship mid-September.

7. Amazon — Long Range Shooting Handbook, $20.04

“Long

Ryan Cleckner’s Long Range Shooting Handbook is the best-selling modern book on practical rifle skills. Ryan Cleckner’s Long Range Shooting Handbook is designed as an intro to important fundamental concepts such as MOA vs. Mils, External Ballistics, and Environmental Effects. Included are personal tips and advice based on Cleckner’s years of experience as a sniper instructor and special operations sniper. You can view Sample Chapters on Amazon.com.

The Long Range Shooting Handbook is divided into three main categories: What It Is/How It Works, Fundamentals, and How to Use It. “What It Is/How It Works” covers equipment, terminology, and basic principles. “Fundamentals” covers the theory of long range shooting. “How to Use It” gives practical advice on implementing what you’ve learned, so you can progress as a skilled, long range shooter.

8. Midsouth Shooters Supply — New Ammo Boxes

ammo boxes

We were excited to see that Midsouth Shooters Supply just launched a whole new selection of ammo boxes in a variety of sizes with clear tops or red tops, 50-round or 100-round capacity. These boxes are made of a high-grade plastic that ensure you’ll be using these for years to come. The quality tool-kit-style hinges allow the lids to stay open. That helps with ammo access both on the bench and at the range.

9. Amazon – Proster Wind Meter, $16.99

Proster Wind Meter

This Proster wind meter is a great bargain. The previous model had a very impressive 4.2 star overall rating (with 300+ reviews), and the latest version has some improvements (including a square base so it can stand). Now on sale for just $16.99, this is a very useful tool for a bargain basement price. To provide reliable wind inputs for ballistics calculations, you really do need a Wind Meter. And unlike a costly Kestrel, with this budget wind meter, you won’t feel too bad if it gets lost or misplaced.

10. Amazon — 12″ x 12″ Splatter Grid Targets, 10 for $9.99

Sight-in 12

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].”

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August 26th, 2019

Gun Digest 2020 Annual — 560-Page Firearms Resource

Gun Digest 2020 74th Annual 560-page Gun book

The Gun Digest 2020 Annual, 74th Edition, will be available very soon. This 560-page resource covers rifles, shotguns, handguns, muzzleloaders, airguns, optics and more. We like the print edition, but there will also be an eBook version releasing later in the year. Both provide hundreds of photos with new product roundups, in-depth product tests, and scores of articles and stories. You can pre-order print versions for $30.69 at Gundigeststore.com. Or you can pre-order Gun Digest 2020 for $35.99 at Amazon.com.

Articles by top writers cover long-range shooting, personal defense, hunting, gun-making, and collecting. Reports from the Field provide details on newest firearms and accessories. There is a cool photo essay showcasing fine custom and engraved guns. Among the many gun feature stories is “Finland’s Finest — Sako and Tikka”. There are also many historical gun articles.

Gun Digest 2020 also includes: Testfire reports, Firearms Catalog by Manufacturer, Optics Buying Guide, and Updated Ballistics Tables.

Other Good Books from Gun Digest Media
Gun Digest Media produces numerous other quality books for rifle, pistol, and shotgun owners. Here are four volumes we recommend. These are offered in both paperback and eBook versions:

Cartridges of World Digest Gun book gunsmith gunsmithing rifles Digest Gun book patrick sweeney
gunsmithing rifles Digest Gun book tactical rifles PRS catalog firearms pistol rifle shotgun prices descriptions gunsmithing rifles Digest Gun book
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