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December 25th, 2019

Happy Holidays to Our Readers — Thanks for Your Support

Christmas AccurateShooter.com tree snow

Christmas AccurateShooter.com Elk CanadaHoliday Greetings to Our Readers
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all our readers and especially our 48,000+ Forum Members. This marks our 15th Christmas “in business”, and the site is stronger than ever thanks to our contributing Forum members and industry sponsors. AccurateShooter.com is now accessed by over 500,000 visitors every month, who enjoy our Feature Articles, Daily Bulletin, Shooters’ Forum, and our Facebook Page. Part of the reason for that success is the hard work of our dedicated staff and volunteer helpers.

Unsung Heroes Deserve Recognition
I want to acknowledge those guys who have really helped out the site. Number one is our Systems Admin, Jay Christopherson. Along with being a darn fine shooter, Jay is a computer guru who keeps the servers running smoothly and maintains our Forum. Jay has set up distributed computing and secure firewalls, making the site both speedier and more stable. We must acknowledge Boyd Allen and EdLongRange who tirelessly supply story leads for the Daily Bulletin. And our Deals Editor, F-Class John, finds great weekly bargains for the Bulletin and tests new products. Thanks also to Jeff Williams, who handles site donations by mail. We have a great place to test rifles thanks to our valued friend Joe Friedrich. Other important contributors include: Gavin Gear of UltimateReloader.com; Bill Marr of Rifleshooter.com; Ed Mobley and Steve Lawrence of 65Guys.com; and Craig Arnzen of Area 419. These folks have produced important product tests and contributed stories and videos. I also want to recognize Hunting Editor Colton Reid and regular contributors James Mock, Vince Bottomley, Jason Baney, and Erik Cortina. All these men (and many others) have contributed much time and effort.

Christmas AccurateShooter.com tree snow

We also want to thank our major sponsors, without whose support the site could not provide the full AccurateShooter.com experience, with an active Forum, an archive of in-depth articles, and fresh content 365 days a year in our Daily Bulletin. We’re grateful to all our sponsors and advertisers. In particular, we want to acknowledge the major companies which have been strong supporters of this site for many years: Capstone Precision Group (Berger, Lapua, SK, Vihtavuori), Bruno Shooters Supply, Bullet Central, Graf & Sons, Grizzly Industrial, EuroOptic, Krieger Barrels, Midsouth Shooters Supply, Powder Valley Inc., Precision Reloading, and Zeiss Sports Optics. Their continuing support helps us keep up the flow of information and serve our readers and Forum members.

Christmas accurateshooter.com tree holiday greetings

High Country Cabin image from Gavin Gear of UltimateReloader.com.

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December 25th, 2019

Holiday Sale Specials — Christmas 2019

Many online vendors are offering special promotions for the 2019 Holiday season, with sales extended through Christmas Day (and often beyond). Here are five Christmas promotions we found. These offer reduced product prices — as much as 30% Off. Some vendors are also offering free shipping or low flat-rate shipping with certain dollar-level minimum orders.

Brownells — Discounts and FREE Shipping Codes

Brownells has a number of attractive offers available with Promo Codes used during checkout. You can save up to $25.00, and get FREE Shipping with a variety of these Checkout Codes:

$25 Off $200 Order — Code HAD (Expires 12/31/2019)
$20 Off $200 Order plus FREE Shipping — CODE M8Y
$15 Off $150 Order — CODE NAX
$10 Off $99 Order plus FREE Shipping — CODE MDX
FREE Shipping with $49 Order — CODES VB5 or TAF

Bruno’s Free Shipping with Minimum Order Offers

Bruno Shooters Supply is offering two FREE Shipping deals. For USPS transport, get FREE USPS shipping with a $100.00 minimum order. For United Parcel Service delivery, get FREE UPS shipping with a $200.00 minimum order. These are for Online orders only.

Creedmoor Sports Christmas Free Shipping and $10 Off $150

Creedmoor Sports has a number of items on sale, plus they have the hard-to-find Forster Co-Ax Press in stock. And through the end of today, 12/25/2019, you can get FREE Shipping, with no minimum. Plus with Discount Code TREE you can get $10.00 Off all orders over $150.00.

Natchez Shooters Supplies — Free Shipping over $49.99

Free Shipping  Natchez

Natchez is offering $5.00 Ground Shipping on all orders over $49.99. This applies to pretty much everything in stock other than Motor Freight and Drop Ship Items. Use Promo Code FS171221 during checkout. But act soon — this offer expires 12/24/17 at 11:59 pm EST.

MidwayUSA — Free Shipping on Select Optics and Clothing

Free Shipping Christmas Bruno Shooters Supply MidwayUSA Midsouth Creedmoor Sports

MidwayUSA is offering FREE shipping (no minimum) on many popular brands including leading optics makers. Along with free shipping on scopes you can get free shipping on Sitka, Danner, Under Armor, and Carhartt outerwear and clothing.

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December 24th, 2019

AMP Annealing — R&D, Innovation, and Cutting-Edge Technology

AMP Annealing Made Perfect science under microscope technology

When Annealing Made Perfect (AMP), a New Zealand-based company, first unveiled its original induction annealing machine at SHOT Show 2015, it was big news in the reloading world. This was a real breakthrough — an induction annealer running on electricity that was fully programmable. No more flames to fuss with. The advent of the AMP annealer was a true “game-changer” for the shooting enthusiasts who reloaded their ammo.

The AMP system is based on smart science and modern technology. Right from the start, AMP invested in advanced lab equipment (such as gear for Micro-Vickers hardness testing). AMP also worked with independent outside metallurgical laboratories. And AMP invited shooters from around the world to send in sample cartridge cases. AMP accumulated a huge archive of cartridges from .17 Hornet to an array of .50 BMG wildcats and everything in-between. AMP’s archive includes multiple brands and even different lot numbers of the same cartridge. AMP now offers the most highly developed and precise consumer annealing system on the planet. That is because of the amazing amount of R&D behind the product, plus the use of advanced technologies.

Annealing Under the Microscope — Informative Articles

Alex and Matt Findlay have produced a series of articles called “Annealing Under the Microscope”. The first of these was released in July 2017. Part 1 was a general explanation of annealing, and busted a number of myths. It examined the repeatability of annealing over multiple reloads, and conducted a series of tensile bullet pull tests.

FULL ARTICLE LINK: Annealing Under the Microscope, Part One

Annealing Different Brands of Brass
Part 2 of Annealing Under the Microscope covered an important topic — annealing for different brands of brass. This article examines the reasons why different brands of the same cartridge can require different annealing settings. The article also reveals that lot to lot variations of the same brand of brass can make a big difference.

AMP Annealing Made Perfect science under microscope technology

FULL ARTICLE LINK: Annealing Different Brands of Brass for Same Cartridge Type

AZTEC Annealing System — AMP Annealers become Smart Machines
In late 2017, Alex and Matt started the development of their revolutionary AZTEC system, which in effect transformed AMP annealers into SMART annealers. It meant that individual customers could analyse their own cases with laboratory grade accuracy without the need to send samples to the AMP lab for calibration.

Part 3 of Annealing Under the Microscope was released in July 2018 after nearly 12 months of R&D on AZTEC. It focused on how to best utilize this new self-calibration capability. It also highlighted the difference between several “premium” brands of brass compared to cheaper alternatives.

AMP Annealing Made Perfect science under microscope technology
AMP Annealing Made Perfect science under microscope technology

FULL ARTICLE LINK: AZTEC Control — “Smart” Self-Calibration Annealing Technology

Benefits of Precision Annealing — Accuracy and Repeatability
Part 4 of the series was released in September 2019. It focused on the true benefits of accurate annealing, and the arguments for annealing every reload. The study identified sizing accuracy and repeatability as the key factor. This article also revealed the first prototype of AMP’s new auto bullet seater with seating pressure data capture.

AMP Annealing Made Perfect science under microscope technology

FULL ARTICLE LINK: Benefits of Precision Annealing — Accuracy and Repeatability

Proof on the Target — Down-Range Benefits of Annealing
In Part 5 of the series, AMP’s experts focus on the real world, down-range benefits of annealing, turned out to be a much more complex process than AMP initially planned. Accordingly, Part 5 was conducted in three stages, with three detailed write-ups.

AMP Annealing Made Perfect science under microscope technology

The Part 5, Stage 1 paper examined sizing accuracy of annealed vs un-annealed cases, taking two sets of three identical Peterson Cartridge .308 Winchester cases through twenty (20) reloading cycles. For every cycle, cases were measured both fire-formed and as re-sized. With each cycle the cases were measured for case length, shoulder bump, neck OD, and head OD.

FULL ARTICLE LINK: Annealed vs. Un-Annealed: 20 Load Cycles with .308 Win

Field Testing in Tennessee — Proof on Target
The Part 5, Stage 2 article covered detailed ballistic testing using multiple rifles, cartridges, and shooters at the Strategic Edge range in Tennessee.

AMP Annealing Made Perfect science under microscope technology

The Tennessee testing sessions accumulated a wealth of data on velocity spreads and group sizes right out to 1,000 yards. The evidence showed a clear advantage for annealed brass, both for average group size and average Extreme Spread for the groups shot with AMP-annealed cases.

FULL ARTICLE LINK: AMP Annealing Tennessee Long Range Field Testing

Underground Testing with Lou Murdica
Lastly, AMP’s Part 5, Stage 3 paper featured testing by Lou Murdica at an underground range in California. We have previously shown a video of Lou shooting one case, then reloading it and shooting the same case into the same hole at 100 yards.

AMP Annealing Made Perfect science under microscope technology

This time he repeated the feat, shooting one un-annealed case twenty times into the one hole. Then Lou produced another even smaller 20-shot group, shot with a case which he annealed before every shot.

FULL ARTICLE LINK: AMP Annealing Underground Testing

Enjoy These Technical Articles from AMP Annealing
Collectively AMP’s “Annealing Under the Microscope” series represents a remarkable body of outstanding work. Whether you anneal your cartridge brass now, or just want to learn more about the benefits of annealing, we recommend you take a look at this series of informative articles.

Permalink - Articles, - Videos, Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Reloading 1 Comment »
December 24th, 2019

Tips for Selling Firearms Online Through Auctions and Classifieds

Gunbroker shooters forum gun classified ads

online sales auctionsThese days, online gun Auctions and Classifieds attract more attention than ever. With so many folks accessing the internet daily, many gun owners find it easier to sell their firearms online rather than in the local gun store. Online selling opens up a much larger audience. With nearly 50,000 members in the AccurateShooter Forum, we have a very active gun Classifieds area. And then of course, there are the big dogs — Gunbroker and GunsAmerica. You’ll find tens of thousands of guns for sale on those big sites.

Before selling your stuff online, you should survey the major online sales and auction sites, comparing their fees and features. The costs are NOT all the same. For example, though you can list an item on Gunbroker for free, if the gun sells you may end up paying a LOT of money. Confirm this with the Gunbroker FEE Calculator. Using Gunbroker’s Fee Calculator we determined that, for a $2500.00 gun, the seller will pay $93.75 in fees! Yes, that’s for a single sale. That’s why many sellers prefer to list their rifles on Benchrest.com, or right here on AccurateShooter.com for FREE. Currently, basic members get five (5) free adverts in a 12-month period, while Gold and Silver members get unlimited classifieds for 12 months.

SEVEN TIPS for Selling Your Gear Online

1. Include Good, Sharp Photos: A custom rifle or expensive optic will sell two to three times as quickly, at a higher price, if you include good sharp photos. We can’t over-emphasize the importance of good photos. For all products, show multiple angles, and include the original boxes if you still have them. For a rifle, include detail shots as well as a photo of the complete gun.

2. Resize Your Photos Before Posting: Remember that many readers have monitors that only display 800-1000 pixels in screen width. We recommend you size your photos down to 600×480 pixels, or 800×600 at the most.

3. Be Fair and Complete in Your Description: Buyers appreciate honesty and thoroughness in product descriptions. Potential buyers want details. For a rifle, list the gunsmith, barrel-maker, round count, and provide the specifications. If the rifle has a winning competition history, say so. Always highlight the positives in your description, but you should disclose significant flaws. A buyer will be more willing to purchase if he thinks the seller is 100% honest.

4. Don’t Forget Contact Info: We’re amazed by how many adverts omit key contact info. In a forum classified ad, include a first name, e.g. “Ask for Dan.” We also suggest you list your residence city and state. Some buyers will prefer to buy from a seller in their home state. When communicating with a buyer, provide your phone number and email address. We recommend that all buyers and sellers actually talk live on the phone before concluding high-value deals.

5. Make the Price Attractive: Buyers, everywhere, are looking for good deals. If you want your item to move quickly, set the price accordingly and don’t expect top dollar. Check comparable listings and then discount by 10-15% if you want the item to move fast.

6. Include a Call to Action: Advertisements can be twice as effective if they include a “Call to Action”, i.e. a statement that directly inspires the potential buyer to respond. Sample calls to action are: “Free Shipping — today only.” Or, you can use a time limit: “Special Sale Price good ’til the end of the month”.

7. Always Follow ALL Applicable Laws: Even in states where private face-to-face gun sales are allowed, we recommend ALWAYS using an FFL for firearms transfers. This will protect YOU the seller. In addition, do your homework. Don’t sell to a buyer in a city or state (such as California) state or city where the particular firearm (such as an AR15) may be restricted

Classified Advert vs. Auctions
For benchrest, F-Class, Silhouette, Tactical or High Power rifles, you may get the best results posting a For Sale ad on a Forum that caters to the right discipline. You want your ad to reach the right audience. On the other hand, a GunBroker.com auction will have tens of thousands of potential buyers. Realistically, however, if you price your rig attractively, it should sell quickly in a Forum Classified Advert. Plus with conventional Classifieds, you can sell immediately — you don’t have to wait for the auction to end. For scopes and reloading equipment (but not firearms, actions, barrels etc.), also consider eBay, which still allows many gun-related items.

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December 24th, 2019

Gun Books on Sale — Build Your Shooting Sports Library

Krause book reloading shooting midsouth resource

It’s the holiday season — there’s no better time to get a good gun book. Amazon has hundreds of great gun titles, while Midsouth Shooters carries a good selection line of shooting and reloading books, many of which are ON SALE this week. Looking for reliable reference works on reloading, or a gift for a shooting buddy? Check out the recommended titles below. Match directors take note — books make great match prizes. Paperback books cost no more than wood plaques but they will provide valuable information for years instead of just gathering dust in a closet. If your club offers training programs, Amazon and Midsouth offer many titles that will help new shooters improve their skills.

Midsouth carries Glen Zediker’s excellent books, including Handloading For Competition, the recent Top-Grade Ammo and other titles.

Glen Zediker Handloading for Competition Glen Zediker Top Grade Ammo

Here Are Some Good Reloading Manuals and Practical Titles:

Berger Bullets Reloading Load Manual Berger Bullets Reloading Load Manual
Lyman 50th Reloading Load Manual Competitive AR zediker
abcs of rifle shooting long range handbook cleckner
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December 23rd, 2019

Bargain Finder 222: 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 Sunday afternoon or 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 Shooters — Christmas Gift Guide with 128 Deals

midsouth shooters hornady berger lyman .22 LR ammo reloading christmas holiday sale

Midsouth Shooters is running a big Holiday Sale right now. Save up to 30% on a wide variety of products — Optics, Reloading Presses, Ammo, Bullets, Powder Measures, Tools, Triggers — you name it. In total, you’ll find 128 great deals on Midsouth’s Christmas Gift Guide webpage. We’ve featured six of our favorites above, including 10% Off all Berger products in stock. NOTE: PrecisionReloading.com is also offering 10% Off Berger products through 12/29/2019.

2. Palmetto State Armory — SIG Scope AND RangeFinder $229.99

Sig Sauer Whiskey 3 III 3-9x40mm Kilo1000 1000 laser rangefinder

Great deal for hunters — get a SIG Sauer Whiskey III 3-9x40mm riflescope PLUS a SIG Kilo Laser RangeFinder for just $229.99. That’s right, get BOTH products for $229.99 — less than you might expect to pay for the scope by itself. The 3-9X scope features a QuadPlex reticle, while the Kilo Rangefinder has a 5X monocular, Angle Correction, and 4x per second Hyperscan ranging. Put the money you save into other gear to enhance your hunt (such as a Satellite GPS).

3. Stocky’s — Rem 700 Composite Stock with Accublock, $99.99

Accurateshooter Bargain Finder Deals of Week

These stocks were the first run of Stocky’s Long Range Composite Sporters. There is nothing wrong with these “factory seconds” except the barrel channels are narrower than current versions, so you may have to open up the barrel channels a bit (simple task). On Sale for $99.99, these are an Amazing Bargain. Designed for Rem 700 and Rem clone actions, these LRC Sporter Stocks are constructed from a high-fiber composite with precision aluminum Accublock® chassis molded into the stock.

4. Sportsman’s Warehouse — RCBS & Hornady Sale, 25% Off

rcbs hornady sale

We’ve seen reloading sales before but never two major brands with 25% OFF for all items in stock. Head over to Sportsman’s Warehouse and take advantage of the big RCBS and Hornady 25% Off SALE. Think of the savings — on a Progressive Press, you can save $120 or more. On a Reloading Kit you can save $80+, and on a Powder Scale/Dispenser you can save $70 or more. Hundreds of items are on sale now. But act quickly — this sale will end soon.

5. Amazon — Teslong WiFi Borescope (iOS Apple and Android)

teslong digital borescope

The impressive Teslong digital borescope has been a huge success. Our Forum members have raved about this unit. This compact, electro-optical, cable-type borescope outputs sharp, high-resolution images and VIDEO to desktop computers, laptops, as well as Android tablets and smartphones. And now there is a NEW WiFi Version that works with Apple iPhones and iPads, as well as Android WiFi devices and tablets, and Amazon Fire tablets (with software upgrade). Get the Wifi Teslong for $74.99.

6. EuroOptic — End of 2019 Sales, Many Brands

eurooptic sale

EuroOptic.com is one of the very best source for quality scopes and rifles. And now EuroOptic is running a huge 2019 Year End Sale with truly outstanding bargains. There are rifles, handguns, and premium optics at deep discounts. Even premium Kahles, Leica, Swarovski, and Zeiss optics are deeply discounted. If you want top-of-the-line equipment at the lowest possible price, check out EuroOptic’s YEAR END SALE today.

7. Sportsman’s Warehouse — Ruger 9mm SR9 Pistol, $249.95

ruger sr9 9mm compact pistol handgun

We’ve shot the Ruger SR9 9mm pistol and we like the ergonomics MUCH better than a Glock. The SR9 is comfortable with a slim, ergonomic grip, reversible backstrap, and narrow stainless slide. The Ruger SR9 also includes ambidextrous manual safety and magazine release, built-in Picatinny rail, and adjustable high-viz 3-dot sight system. If you are looking for a standard 9x19mm pistol (4.14″ barrel), this is a great value — $249.95 at Sportsman’s Warehouse

8. Graf’s — 2019 Holiday Sale on Lyman Products

Lyman products sale Graf Sons grafs.com discount

Through the end of 2019, Grafs.com is running a Holiday Sale, with great prices on Lyman products including Reloading Presses, Powder Dispensers, Case Prep Centers, Tumblers, BoreCams and more. The prices are very attractive. For example, the Lyman Case Prep Express is marked down from $149.99 to $119.99, a 20% Savings.

9. Graf’s — Platinum Case Prep & Trim + EZ Tumbler, $179.99

case prep and trim sale

If you want to step up your brass preparation game, here’s a great 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. This Grafs.com combo deal represents a savings of nearly $70.00.

10. Amazon — Bore-Snake Two-Pack, $7.99

Bore-Snake stocking stuffer two kit

While bore cleaning should be done with a good cleaning rod and fitted bore guide, there are times when Bore-Snakes can be handy, such as when cleaning pistols and 10/22s. Now on Amazon you can get two (2) convenient GogoKu Bore-Snakes for just $7.99. Get two of the same diameter (.22 up to 12ga), or choose a Kit with both .223 and .308 sizes. Great stocking stuffer for a shooter.

11. 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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December 23rd, 2019

ShotBlock — In-Chamber Safety Plug Device NEW!

chamber flag plug orange Shot block safety device barrel brush

Here’s a new safety device that should prove useful for firearms, particularly pistols. The patented ShotBlock is a hi-viz orange foam chamber plug mated to an orange brush extension that goes in the barrel. This serves the same purpose as a Chamber Flag or Empty Chamber Indicator (ECI), but is more compact (and multi-purpose). With the Shot Block in place a round cannot be chambered. That should, with most firearms, render the gun safe, and unable to fire.*

Currently, the bright orange ShotBlock safety plugs are available for .380 ACP, 9mm Luger, .40 SW, and .223 Remington. Soon versions will be offered for .45 ACP and .308 Winchester as well. Watch the Video to see how this works:

The ShotBlock works by blocking the ability to chamber a round. The ShotBlock is attached to an “extended protection indicator” (i.e. an orange nylon brush). The plug and brush are placed into the barrel with the wide end of the plug on the breech lip. The extended protection indicator (orange brush) can be trimmed to fit the barrel length. Having the tip of brush visible at the end of the gun barrel confirms the Shot Block is in the chamber. As an added benefit, you can spray an anti-corrosion product on the brush for long-term storage.

chamber flag plug orange Shot block safety device barrel brush

The inventors state: “Once the ShotBlock is in the barrel of the gun you can easily manipulate the weapon safely, and any attempt to load the firearm will cause the bullet to be wedged inside the Shot Block, and prevent the [cartridge] from going inside the breach.”

Shot Block is Patented
The inventor of the ShotBlock, Bill Masters, has been awarded two U.S. Patents for this product: Nos. 9,448,024 and 9,310,149, both for “Firearm Safety and Chamber Block Indicator”. Bill explains why he invented the ShotBlock: “I had the idea for the ShotBlock after visiting a shooting range with my wife. The owner brought it out of the case and held it facing my wife without clearing it. He finally handed it to me and I cleared it. I left there telling myself there should be an easy way to let the customer know it was safe … to prevent someone quickly loading the weapon and doing bad things with it.”

Bill Masters is an engineer, inventor, designer, entrepreneur, and business advisor. He holds the first 3D printing patent, along with patents for other 3D printing technologies and CAD. He founded Perception Kayaks, which revolutionized the industry through by using molded plastics instead of fiberglass.

For more information on the ShotBlock visit: www.TheShotBlock.com.

Alternative Product Available Soon from Chamber-View
Chamber-View will soon offer a chamber plug for pistols. Like the ShotBlock, Chamber-View’s Universal Empty Chamber Indicator (ECI) prevents a round from chambering. Unlike the ShotBlock, there is no barrel brush, but a large bright orange extension wing serves as an Empty Chamber Indicator:

chamber flag plug orange Shot block eci safety device barrel brush


* We are concerned however, that with some type of floating firing pins in semi-auto systems, it still might be possible to get a primer strike. This might happen if a round is stripped from the magazine and the firing pin moves forward from inertia as the pistol slide or bolt carrier moves forward rapidly and then stops. It’s unlikely a light strike could cause a round to fire, but check your firearm with dummy rounds before assuming it is 100% safe.

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December 23rd, 2019

1911s in a Nutshell — Field Stripping and Loading Info

Do you shoot a .45 ACP? We love this short, fat cartridge because it is inherently accurate, it makes big, easy-to-see holes in paper, and because it it works so well in the classic 1911 series of pistols. It is hard to beat a good, tuned model 1911 when it comes to trigger pull/reset and natural pointing ability.

Once you get the hang of it, 1911-type pistols are also easy to field strip for cleaning. Here is a video showing how to disassemble and reassemble your model 1911:

Model 1911 Field Stripping and Reassembly

.45 ACP Ammunition Loading Guide

If you “roll your own” .45 ACP cartridges, there are many good powder choices. Our favorites are Vihtavuori N320, AA No. 5, and Hodgdon TiteGroup, but there are many other good choices. You’ll find these three recommended powders (plus seven others) in this .45 ACP Reloading Guide from Nosler. We like the 180-190gr class of .45-cal bullets because they offer excellent accuracy with moderate recoil. However Nosler also offers a 230gr bullet load table if you prefer the heavy bullets in your .45 ACP handgun.

Nosler .45 ACP 45 reloading guide 185 grain bullet

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December 22nd, 2019

Sunday GunDay: Speedy’s Stunning 6 PPC Benchrest Rifle

Speedy thomas gonzalez 6mm PPC 6PPC 6 PPC christmas red rifle stiller viper engraved
“Ultimate PPC” by Speedy with engraved Stiller Viper action. Titanium Rest by John Loh (R.I.P.).

Speedy thomas gonzalez 6mm PPC 6PPC 6 PPC christmas red rifle stiller viper engravedJust in time for Christmas, today we feature a beautiful red rifle built by West Texas gunsmith Thomas “Speedy” Gonzalez many seasons back. With an eye-catching, one-of-a-kind engraved Stiller Viper action, and gorgeous red/black gelcoat finish, we think this rifle is one of the prettiest benchrest rigs ever made — and the color scheme fits the holiday season.

When Speedy set out to build the “ultimate PPC” for his own use, he wanted it to be as handsome as it was accurate. This stunning 6 PPC combines some very trick components with old-world detailing. When was the last time you saw an engraved receiver on a “race gun”? This rig combines modern high-tech components with classic good looks — the best of both worlds.

Speedy thomas gonzalez 6mm PPC 6PPC 6 PPC christmas red rifle stiller viper engraved

This competition benchrest rig features an engraved Stiller Viper action, with integral scope rail, SAKO Extractor and non-fluted bolt. The action sits in a new Millenium BR-X carbon-fiber stock built by Robertson Composites (now closed). The bold red-on-black marbled finish is how the gelcoat came from Ian Robertson’s factory — the stock has not been painted. The slick front rest is a titanium Ultra-Rest machined by the late, great John Loh with design input by Speedy. John built only two of these in titanium, one for himself and one for Speedy. We’re sad to say John recently passed. R.I.P. John. The Leupold Competition scope sits in quad-screw bedded rings from S.G.& Y. Precision Rifles.

Speedy picked a very special barrel for this project–a 1:14 twist, 20.5″, 6-groove barrel, the last original Pat McMillan-crafted barrel in Speedy’s inventory. Speedy runs a .263″ neck. Bushing size depends on the load and the condition of his brass. Speedy’s match load is about 29.2 grains of the IMR 8208 “ThunderBird” powder (he stockpiled this great propellant years ago). Speedy feels that T-Bird may be the most user-friendly BR powder ever made: “Once you have a good load worked up with T-Bird, you can shoot it at most any location in the country, and in almost any conditions. It’s not fussy about temperatures or humidity.”

A Very Unique Viper Action, Two Years in the Making
This is no ordinary Viper action. The full engraving attracts your attention, but there are some slick “performance mods” Jerry Stiller added at Speedy’s request.

Speedy thomas gonzalez 6mm PPC 6PPC 6 PPC christmas red rifle stiller viper engravedFirst, the action features a plain-Jane unfluted bolt, with a slight taper in the middle, a bit of a wasp-waist. Speedy prefers an unfluted design because it has superior wear characteristics. He’s found, when working with an aluminum action such as the Viper, the sharp flutes on the bolt will wear the inside of the action faster. In the interest of reduced wear, Speedy also requested a smaller-sized loading/ejection port. This provides for a larger front and rear receiver ring, which enhances bolt bearing surface. More bearing surface reduces point loading for less internal wear.

We were surprised that Speedy did not order a drop port for his Viper. He explained: “I’m a bag squeezer, so I keep my forearm right where the cases would exit the drop port. I’ve used the drop ports, but given my shooting style, I prefer a conventional port.” Speedy did decide to fit the bolt with a SAKO-style extractor. He believes this is easier to tune and can contribute to accuracy. Speedy told us: “With a conventional sliding plate extractor, like you find on the Stolle actions, there can be a bit of a side push as you chamber the round. I think this can affect the way the bullet enters the chamber. With the SAKO extractor there is no side-push so I can reduce the possibility of bullet misalignment.”

BR-X Stock — American Design, Canadian Craftsmanship
The BR-X carbon fiber stock represents a third-generation design. The original Millenium, built by Lee Six, was a hollow shell. This modern BR-X is carbon fiber over a foam core. In Light Varmint trim, it weighs just 1.5 pounds. Speedy tells us: “this BR-X has a low center of gravity, slight pistol grip, and the angles are really straight and true. It tracks well in the bags, and won’t lift out of the rear bag during recoil. That’s one of the purposes of the wedge-shaped rear section.”

Speedy thomas gonzalez 6mm PPC 6PPC 6 PPC christmas red rifle stiller viper engraved

Speedy looked at the various benchrest stocks, and, with input from Tony Boyer, he worked out a design that mirrored many of the better features of existing designs with some significant enhancements. The first thing you’ll notice is that the geometry is very uniform. The flats on the side of the fore-arm are perfectly parallel. The underside of the fore-arm is seamless and completely flat. Speedy explained “one problem we’ve seen with stocks that have a mold seam in the middle is that sometimes the two halves of the mold don’t mate perfectly. Sometimes the mold is mismatched so one side is on a different plane. That creates all kinds of handling issues. If the bottom of the stock is convex, even a little bit, you lose a lot of stability.”

Speedy thomas gonzalez 6mm PPC 6PPC 6 PPC christmas red rifle stiller viper engravedMuch thought went into the rear section of the stock. Speedy and Tony found that many stocks would start off tracking well, but by the end of the string they were pulling themselves out of alignment. Speedy noted that with some more conventional designs, they tended to ride up out of the rear bag after two or three shots. The BR-X works differently. It uses a wedge design, rather than a radius, so it tends to drive itself down into the bag on recoil. The BR-X is not the only stock to use a wedge in the rear, but it is different than other wedge designs. According to Speedy: “On most other wedge stocks, the wedge tapers towards the pistol grip, making the ‘V’ wider towards the end of the buttstock. This will change point of aim as the stock moves. The BR-X has a wedge that is a constant ‘V’, with no taper from the end to the pistol grip. This does make the gun track better and stay on target better.”

Competition Benchrest Terminology

Bughole: Very small group.
Mothball: The 10-ring on the standard Benchrest Target.
Tomato Stake: A worn out or otherwise inaccurate rifle barrel.
Screamer: A group measuring less than 0.100″ at 100 yards or less than 0.250” at 200 yards.
Weather Report: A Group “scattered” as a result of poor wind doping.
Wailing Wall: Place where targets that have been scored can be viewed by competitors.
Dope the Wind: Ccompensate for the effects of wind by shifting aiming points on the target.

Barrels–The Hunt for a ‘Hummer’
Top 6 PPC competitors often run through a number of barrels in the quest for a “hummer” that performs optimally. In addition to the Pat McMillen tube on this gun, Speedy uses barrels from Hart, Krieger, and Shilen. He’s tried a few from some other boutique barrel makers and they shot well, but he wasn’t satisfied with the barrel life. Some of them lost their competitive edge after just 500-600 rounds. He won’t name names in print, but you can call and ask. When choosing a barrel, Speedy recommends that you invest the time and call a few well-known smiths who regularly compete in high-level BR matches. Find out what’s working real well currently.

Speedy thomas gonzalez 6mm PPC 6PPC 6 PPC christmas red rifle stiller viper engravedSpeedy says, “you can read the equipment lists from the big shoots, but the printed results can be deceiving. That winning barrel might have been produced a couple of years ago. Barrel-makers do have good runs and not-so-good runs. Do your homework and find out what’s working best right now.” Speedy prefers 6-groove barrels: “I’ve shot em all one time or another. It seems that the 6-groove barrels are easier to get to shoot. It seems at 200 yards bullets from a 4-groove barrel move more than from a 6-groove barrel. Both windage and elevation. I think Tony Boyer feels the same way.” [Editor’s Note: Speedy’s groove observations were made many seasons ago. Today, many top shooters are using 4-groove and 5-groove barrels, and 3-grooves have been successful in score competition.]

We asked about Speedy’s signature “SpiderWeb finish”. While the web design has esthetic appeal, there is a functional side as well: “Tests have shown that a bead-blasted barrel will shed heat faster than a highly polished barrel. With the SpiderWeb, we leave most of the bead-blast finish on the barrel, but the web effect gives the tube some visual appeal.”

Speedy Speaks — How to Succeed in Benchrest Competition

Let me begin by saying that benchrest competition is the most difficult sport I’ve ever tried. For the newcomer, it can be daunting. From the very word “go” you are thrown to the wolves. Most new competitors have about a two and a half or three-year window. After that, if they are not meeting their expectations, they get fed up and leave the sport. Considering the time, effort, and money they may have expended in that time, that’s an unfortunate outcome.

Speedy thomas gonzalez 6mm PPC 6PPC 6 PPC christmas red rifle stiller viper engravedSo, how does one improve as a shooter and get to the point where you are meeting your goals? First you need to break down the shooting process into its parts–gun handling, loading technique, wind awareness, time management, bag set-up, and what I call ‘bench management’. Then you need a mentor. Benchrest is like golf–you can have the best equipment (best action, best stock, best rest) but you won’t get far without a knowledgeable veteran to monitor your progress and observe your technique. Without a mentor, benchrest is a rough game to play and you can reach a frustration point after a couple of years.

If you don’t have somebody who can sit and evaluate your loading style, bolt-working, follow-through, and wind-reading etc., you can develop bad habits that are hard to break. If there’s no one to monitor your shooting and see what you’re doing wrong, you’ll keep making the same mistakes. So how does one find a mentor? Well it’s not a bad idea to attend one of the shooting schools. But one-on-one training is best. Look for someone with a strong record in competition, but a person who is also patient. And when you find that person, show some loyalty. With most people who have been involved in the sport a while, if you show them allegiance, they will return that allegiance.

6mm PPC Basics — About the Cartridge

Speedy thomas gonzalez 6mm PPC 6PPC 6 PPC christmas red rifle stiller viper engravedDeveloped by Louis Palmisano and Ferris Pindell (left and right in photo), the 6 PPC is the “King of the Hill” in short-range benchrest competition, the most accurate cartridge ever invented. It still completely dominates 100- and 200-yard Group BR Shooting. If you want to win in that game, you pretty much have to shoot a 6 PPC, or some close variant of the 6 PPC cartridge design.

Easily made from Lapua 220 Russian brass, the 6mm PPC has a small primer and small flash hole. The small flash hole/primer accounts for much of the 6 PPC’s superior accuracy, though nobody really knows precisely how or why. The “short, fat” shape and nearly straight body contribute to efficient, consistent combustion and good “chamber behavior”.

While SAKO has created an official SAAMI 6mm PPC round, called the 6PPC USA, most American 6 PPC shooters run tight match chambers cut with custom reamers. There will be variations from one reamer to another, enough so that custom dies are generally recommended for match guns. Here is a PT&G reamer spec’d by Speedy a while back. He prefers a .263″ neck because that works better than .262″ when he needs to use his tightest bushings to get more neck tension.

Speedy thomas gonzalez 6mm PPC 6PPC 6 PPC christmas red rifle stiller viper engraved

The 6 PPC’s case capacity, case size to bore ratio, and combustion properties seem to be just about ideal for the short 6mm match bullets. A 6BR can come close, but when the goal is shooting “zero” groups at 100 and 200 yards, the 6 PPC is the clear winner. Currently most 6 PPC shooters form their cases from Lapua 220 Russian brass. Norma also makes factory-formed 6 PPC cases, but Norma brass is not commonly used as most shooters believe it is less “tough” than Lapua brass and accordingly won’t last as long with very stout match loads.

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December 21st, 2019

U.S. Optics Introduces New Foundation Series Scopes for 2020

U.S. Optics Foundation Series Scopes 34mm milrad MIL FFP SFP

If you’re looking for a state-of-the-art scope with a 34mm main tube, consider the new Foundation Series™ riflescopes from U.S. Optics. There are four new models, three zooms (1.8-10x42mm, 3.2-17x50mm, 5-25x52mm) plus a 10X fixed power. These look impressive. Check out the features of the FDN 25X 5-25x52mm ($3449) below. There are so many options! Chose among 11 different reticle types, and three illumination colors (Red, Blue, Green). Get a black Anodized finish or order any one of 8 Cerakote colors. For Elevation adjustment, choose a 1/10 MIL knob or 6.5 Creedmoor, or .308 Win BDC knobs. The Rapid Focus Eyepiece is even available with optional internal level.

This all represents serious optics technology. But you’ll pay for it. MSRP on the FDN 25X starts at $3449.00.

U.S. Optics Foundation Series Scopes 34mm milrad MIL FFP SFP

The Foundation Series is machined from aircraft-grade 6061-T6 aluminum and features a low profile ER3K elevation knob with a Zero Stop, capped US#1 windage knob, adjustable integrated parallax and illumination knob, rapid adjustable 180° magnification throw, and customizable options.

Foundation Series Models:

FDN FX10 10x42mm ($1999) | FDN 10X 1.8-10x42mm ($2499)
FDN 17X 3.2-17x50mm ($2899) | FDN 25X 5-25x52mm ($3449)

U.S. Optics Foundation Series Scopes 34mm milrad MIL FFP SFP

(more…)

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December 21st, 2019

Vortex Fury HD 5000 Rangefinder Binoculars Field Test

Vortex optics Fury HD 5000 LRF Rangefinder Binocs Binoculars Field Test Review

Vortex Fury HD 5000 LRF Binoculars Review

Field Test by Colton Reid, AccurateShooter Hunting Editor
As a solo backcountry hunter, I try to carry as little weight as possible. Each step is a reminder to bring only the most essential/effective equipment. Each item in my pack must earn its precious backpack real estate. That’s why I favor gear that serves multiple purposes — and binoculars are no exception. In a previous optics review, I field-tested Zeiss Victory RF 10×42 ranging binoculars and the results were beyond expectation — they are outstanding. However, such superior, upper-eschelon ranging optics from Zeiss cost over $3000.00. And Leica Geovid HD-B 3000 ranging binoculars cost around $2500.00.

For those looking for a more affordable option, there are several mid-range binoculars with integrated ranging capability. One popular choice is the Vortex Fury HD 5000 10×42 LRF Binoculars. Priced at around $1200 on Amazon, the Fury HD 5000 is half the price of some European LRF Binoculars. Yet the Fury HD 5000 LRF Binos still combine two optical systems (magnification and laser ranging) into one that is more valuable than the sum of the parts.

Vortex optics Fury HD 5000 LRF Rangefinder Binocs Binoculars Field Test Review

Vortex Fury HD 5000 Look and Feel
The Fury binoculars are compact and relatively light — a modest 2 pounds. They are covered by a rubber armor exterior that feels sturdy enough to survive some hard falls, but is also comfortable to hold. The compact size did offer a challenge in determining how best to place my thumbs (see top photo). The rangefinder controls (Measure, Menu) are easy to access and are distinguishable by the braille-like bumps that cover them. Considering that these buttons are going to be located and pressed without looking at the top of the binoculars each time, it was perhaps a poor design choice to place the raised Vortex logo adjacent to the controls. But after a little practice I was able to quickly locate the measure button when ranging in the field.

The eye cups are comfortable and offer four discrete eye relief positions. The focus and diopter knobs are large and easy to turn but also provide resistance to rotation. Resistance is useful for maintaining the previous positional setting.

Vortex optics Fury HD 5000 LRF Rangefinder Binocs Binoculars Field Test Review

Vortex Fury 5000 — Rangefinding Performance
The Vortex Fury’s rangefinder function, along with its menu, is simple and intuitive. In my humble opinion, simple is better. The display is a red LED projection in the right optic. As noted in another review, the red display can be difficult to distinguish against a tan/brown image, so I used max brightness at all times to ensure display visibility. The display menu covers the core items: distance (line of sight or angle compensated), measurement units (yards/meters), brightness, and the ability to display either the strongest “Best” signal or the “Last Result” to help range objects behind trees or brush. The rangefinder also enables scan mode (continuous ranging) that updates displayed distance every three-quarters of a second as you sweep over the terrain.

In the field, rangefinder performance was good. I could consistently range objects at distances out to around 1500 yards. Beyond that, the rangefinder struggled with hills, trees, and brush. Ranging Longer distances required a rock or something more reflective. I will likely never shoot targets at or beyond 1500 yards, but the ability to range objects at those distances is extremely useful when scouting in the field. I routinely use my rangefinder to measure the distance to my next vantage point or staging area for a stalk, which can be over a mile away.

Optics — How Good is the Glass?
I should first note that it is difficult to quantitatively compare optical systems without objective data from sophisticated scientific measurement systems used in optics labs. Consequently, I must rely on a qualitative comparison with a known reference. In this case I compared the Fury HD against my tried and true Swarovski Habicht porro-prism binoculars.

With that disclaimer, I would rate the Vortex Fury optics as good to very good. In ample daylight, the Fury and Habicht binoculars were comparable. The main difference being that the Fury required a more precise adjustment of the focus knob in order to capture a crisp image. In low light, the Habichts had the advantage. The Fury images appeared slightly darker than the Habichts and the image sharpness in the Fury seemed to degrade more quickly with the fading light.

That may be partially linked to lower light transmission but also to the more sensitive focus knob of the Fury. With that sensitivity it could be difficult to tell which knob position yielded the best image. That being said, I was still able to spot deer with the Furys in low light (see image). What is more, I didn’t have to switch between my binoculars and a rangefinder to determine distance or suffer the reorientation of a different magnification and field of view. That is a huge benefit!

The Verdict
Overall, I was happy with the Vortex Fury’s performance. Both the optics and rangefinder were what I would consider mid-range in terms of performance. But for a street price of about $1200.00, that is a good value. Yes you can do better, but you’ll have to pay more than twice as much. Considering my recommendation is always to buy the best optics you can afford, the Vortex Fury HD 5000 would be a good choice for serious hunters on a budget. These are solidly made. Vortex states the aluminum alloy body is nitrogen-purged, and O-ring sealed to provide a waterproof, fogproof and shockproof product.

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December 21st, 2019

NOTICE — Replace Batteries in Your Gun Safe Keypad Every Year

If the battery on your safe’s electronic lock is
more than a year old, or if it is not giving you the
right voltage, replace it today!

safe battery gunsafe sargent greenleaf

Gunsafe safe keypad control battery batteriesThis time of year, many of our readers are putting their guns away in a safe for the winter. It’s easy to just tuck the guns away and forget about them. But there’s something you should do before you shut the safe door. If you have a safe with an electronic keypad, you should replace the battery every year as a precautionary measure. Trust us, you don’t want to come back in a few months and find that the keypad memory is kaput, and you’re locked out. That can lead to frustration and an expensive locksmith visit.

Here’s a true story. I have one safe with a Sargent & Greenleaf (S&G) keypad. A couple years back, in early December, I went to get into the safe. I punched in the correct combination, but all I got was a rapid “beep, beep, beep, beep” after I finished the last combination entry. I tried again to ensure I entered the combination correctly (I did). But again, the locking system responded with multiple rapid beeps indicating something was wrong. And the safe would not open. Now I was worried….

I popped out the battery holder (which slides in from the bottom of the keypad housing on the door). I removed the battery and tested it with a volt-meter. The 12-month-old Duracell 9-volt battery only registered 6.1 volts.

Low voltage was the problem. I went down to the store and got a couple new 9V batteries. I tested the new batteries and both measured 9.4 volts output. I slipped one of the new 9V batteries into the keypad housing, punched in the combination and everything worked OK again. Eureka.

Most electronic locks for safes WILL “remember” the combination for a period of time even when the battery is low (and the keypad’s “brain” should retain the combination when you remove the battery for replacement). However, a dead battery, or extended periods of low voltage can give you problems. Don’t rely on wishful thinking…

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