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October 30th, 2020

Walmart Removes Guns & Ammo Due to Fear of Looting and Riots

Walmart guns ammo looting social unrest BLM riot philadelphia
CLICK HERE for CBS4 Indy report on Walmart policy moving guns and ammunition out of stores.

10/31/2020 UPDATE — Walmart Reverses Decision
Walmart has decided to put guns and ammo back on shelves in most stores nationwide. Walmart concluded that incidents of looting and rioting were “geographically isolated” so it was no longer necessary to move firearms and ammunition to secure areas. Walmart spokesperson Kory Lundberg stated that “as the current incidents have remained geographically isolated, we have made the decision to begin returning these products to the sales floor today (10/30/20).”
——————-
Thanks to rioters and looters and “mostly peaceful” BLM demonstrators, Walmart has decided to remove guns and ammo from thousands of its stores nationwide. Inventories may remain in some stores, but will be removed from the sales floor area. Why is Walmart doing this? “We have seen some isolated civil unrest and as we have done on several occasions over the last few years, we have moved our firearms and ammunition off the sales floor as a precaution for the safety of our associates and customers”, stated Walmart spokesman Kory Lundberg on October 29, 2020. Walmart has not indicated when it will return firearms and ammunition back to retail shelves in stores.

The Wall Street Journal reports: “Walmart Inc. has removed all guns and ammunition from the sales floors of its U.S. stores this week, aiming to head off any potential theft of firearms if stores are broken into amid social unrest. The retail giant, which sells firearms in about half of its 4,700 U.S. stores, said customers can still purchase guns and ammunition upon request even though they are no longer on display.”

Walmart pulled guns and ammo from store shelves, after concern over violent protests, rioting and looting. Walmart still is a major vendor of long-guns and ammunition and will continue to stock these products. However it stopped selling handguns and certain types of ammunition in September 2019.

Walmart Action Likely Inspired by BLM-Agitated Looting and Rioting in Philadelphia
According to the Washington Post, Walmart “did not specify the incidents to which it was referring. But according to local media in Philadelphia, at least one Walmart store was ransacked after rioting broke out after the police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr., a Black man whose family said he was in the midst of a mental health crisis. Walmart took similar measures in June after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked widespread protests around the country.”

Allegedly Peaceful Protests Become Violent
Yahoo News reported: “The move comes in the wake of peaceful protests that gave way to skirmishes and looting in Philadelphia following the fatal police shooting of a Black man, Walter Wallace Junior. Police [reported] that ‘a large crowd of [approximately] 1000 is looting businesses’ in the Port Richmond area of the city. Earlier in the evening, news helicopter footage showed people appearing to break in and take items from a Foot Locker store and another business in that area.”

NOTE: Walmart, which claims to be the world’s largest retailer, stated that, on special request, at some stores, customers would still be able to purchase firearms and/or ammunition.

Permalink Bullets, Brass, Ammo, News 1 Comment »
October 29th, 2020

Report: Wicked Conditions at Mid-Range F-Class Nationals

F-Class Nationals Championship ben avery arizona 600-yard mid-range

Mid-Range Competitors Battle Tough Conditions at Ben Avery
Report by F-Class John (competing at the Nationals)
The Mid-Range Nationals at Ben Avery in Arizona have been completed, and many competitors are breathing a sigh of relief. Winds were howling and conditions were VERY tough. We congratulate all the competitors who battled the high winds. This year all shooting at the Mid-Range Nationals was done at 600 yards (the simplified course of fire was adopted in 2019). I think I can safely say everyone is excited and ready to move on to Long-Range portion of the championships.

The Top 10 in each division are listed below. New F-Open Mid-range Champion Tim Vaught put together a very impressive performance, dropping just 14 points in very challenging conditions.

F-Class Nationals Championship ben avery arizona 600-yard mid-range

The fact that F-Open winner Tim Vaught dropped just 14 points across nine 20-shot relays is INSANE given the incredibly tough conditions. He deserved his title without a doubt. F-TR Mid-Range Champion Andrew Cyr also had an impressive performance, winning by 9 points over a very tough field, including past National F-TR Champions and Nancy Tompkins, past NRA High Power and Long Range Champion.

The F-TR division was won by Andrew Cyr. His gunsmith, Bryan Blake, said this rig has some unusual features, including barrel twist rate. Stay tuned for a full tech report…
F-Class Nationals Championship ben avery arizona 600-yard mid-range

Challenging Conditions at F-Class Mid-Range Nationals
Conditions were pretty incredible and by no means typical for Ben Avery for the Mid-Range portion of the USA F-Class National Championships. We started on Sunday with dead calm conditions on relay one and by the end of shooting, it was challenging but certainly not anything outside the normal for most of the people. We woke up Monday to crazy strong winds that just tore apart those who were ‘lucky enough’ to be on the first relay and it throughout the day it went from horrible to manageable and it was just dumb luck if your relay got hit or spared. The uncharacteristically strong winds met us Tuesday morning again for the final day of Mid-Range.

Video has highlights from three days of Mid-Range competition.

Before the first relay I measured gusts that were almost 24 mph with the constant wind hovering in the high teens. It calmed down from there but still remained very challenging until the end. Overall it was quite the fight for first with Tim Vaught earning the F-Open win with Dan Bramley and Tod Hendricks taking a respective second and third place out of a field of 66 High Masters and 13 Masters. These guys all shot superbly in some of the most challenging conditions ever witnessed at the Ben Avery range in Arizona. Mighty impressive…

Permalink Competition, News, Shooting Skills No Comments »
October 29th, 2020

Kimber Mfg. Moves from New York to Troy, Alabama

Kimber manufacturing pistol new york alabama

New York, the state that brought suit to dissolve the NRA, has lost yet another important gun business. Firearms maker Kimber Manufacturing Inc. (Kimber) is leaving New York and heading south to Alabama. The primary reasons for the move are the anti-gun policies of New York, high state corporate taxes, and high costs of living for New York-based workers. Put together, New York had become a hostile environment for Kimber so it is moving to Alabama. Good riddance, New York.

Kimber is an American company that designs and manufactures firearms for individual, sporting, law enforcement, and military markets. Known primarily today for its handguns, Kimber also makes hunting rifles. In fact Kimber got its start building .22 LR sporting rifles. Kimber was originally founded as “Kimber of Oregon” in 1979 by Jack Warne and son Greg Warne in the small town of Clackamas, Oregon. It went through several ownership changes before relocating to New York and New Jersey.* Now Kimber will get a new start in Alabama.

Kimber manufacturing pistol new york alabama

Kimber issued this press release about its Relocation:

Kimber Mfg. is pleased to name Troy, Alabama, as its official corporate headquarters and to announce it is hiring aggressively in all departments. After a carefully planned shift of leadership, R&D and manufacturing resources, Kimber has made substantial progress in the transition to its new, state-of-the-art headquarters in Troy, Alabama. [The facility is] situated on 80+ acres with more than 225,000 square feet of space and is now home to industry-leading design engineering, product management, and manufacturing capabilities.

After an exhaustive search, Troy was chosen for a multitude of reasons including its proximity to top-tier engineering schools as well as gun- and business-friendly support from the city of Troy and the great state of Alabama. Kimber’s Alabama expansion is well ahead of schedule, having filled hundreds of its planned Troy-based positions.

Kimber Is Hiring Employees in Alabama
Kimber is seeking qualified applicants including CNC technicians, machinists, quality control specialists, design engineers, compliance analysts, customer service representatives, materials planners, maintenance technicians, finishing operators, and assembly technicians. Interested job applicants can CLICK HERE.

“Kimber is a great place to work, especially if you love firearms,” said Pedi Gega, director of assembly and product finishing. “We have two indoor gun ranges, one outdoor range, a state-of-the-art design and prototype fabrication center, and a dynamic team of professionals who pride themselves in producing firearms with unmatched attention to detail, design and performance.”


* An Australian, Jack Warne moved to Oregon in 1968 after Portland-based Omark Industries purchased the Australian firearms manufacturer, Sporting Arms (Sportco), he had founded in South Australia. Following its founding in 1979 by Warne, Kimber of Oregon built a reputation for .22 LR rimfire rifles, and then Kimber expanded to produce excellent centerfire rifles. After some setbacks, Kimber of Oregon filed for bankruptcy. In 1990, several Kimber employees, including Dan Cooper, left to found Cooper Firearms of Montana. But then in the mid-1990s, Greg Warne revived Kimber with the help of Les Edelman. The two founded Kimber of America. Edelman was also involved in New York-based Jerico Precision Manufacturing, which produced tools and mechanical components for the defense industry. Edelman combined Jerico Precision’s existing manufacturing capabilities and Kimber’s network of dealers to sell a line of M1911-style handguns. He eventually moved Kimber’s production line to Jerico’s facilities in New York, ending Kimber’s presence in Oregon. The company now will move from New York to Troy, Alabama.

Permalink Gunsmithing, Handguns, Hunting/Varminting, News 1 Comment »
October 28th, 2020

Advanced New Area 419 ZERO 9-Station Turret Press

Area 419 Zero reloading turret 10 station reloading press ultimatereloader review gavin gear

Area 419 has just introduced the all-new ZERO reloading press, a 9-station turret press with some very unique features. This press was designed to be the most precise turret ever created. As tested by Gavin Gear of UltimateReloader.com, the new ZERO turret press delivered very impressive shoulder-bump consistency and ultra-low seated bullet run-out (about +/- 0.0005″). The numbers were as good as you can get from a quality single-stage press, so Area 419 did some impressive engineering. We would expect that, as this is an expensive product — MSRP is $1200.00. SEE FULL REVIEW on UltimateReloader.com.

The ZERO turret press lets you install up to nine (9) different reloading dies in the large top turret, which revolves around a central axis. But unlike most turret presses, the ZERO doesn’t have flex or wobble when you’re loading. This is because Area 419 includes a clever system for locking the turret in position after you’ve selected the die from your array. Area 419 also uses a unique system for securing shell-holders (see video at 12:00). This, likewise, adds to the precision of the press.

In the video above, you can see how the turret is secured with a “wedge clamp”. By loosening the wedge clamp you can index the press easily to any station. Then, when you have selected your die, you tighten the wedge clamp again. You can see this important procedure at 13:20 – 13:35 timemark in the video.

Area 419 Zero reloading turret 10 station reloading press ultimatereloader review gavin gear

ZERO Turret Press Has Very Smooth Operation
Gavin observed that this ZERO turret is both smooth and very precise, thanks to smart engineering and the use of multiple bearings. Area 419 describes the design features:

— Turret (zero-slop) eliminates variability induced when removing and resetting dies
— The turret head holds nine 7/8×14-threaded dies (1-1/4 thread in future)
— Available ram-stroke here is 4.4″, allowing use of very tall cartridge types.
— Adjustable/interchangeable handle setup for maximizing leverage/feel based on operation
— Internally contained primer-catch system, slide-out drawer

Important Features of ZERO Turret Press

Area 419 Zero reloading turret 10 station reloading press ultimatereloader review gavin gear

1. Press frame: 6061 Aluminum, clear anodized
2. Wedge clamp (locks turret into indexed position)
3. Turret (7075 aluminum and steel construction)
4. Adjustable handle with roller knob (set either left- or right-handed operation)
5. Bearings: Ball bearing plus roller thrust bearings for side plates
6. Ram riding in self-lubricated linear bearing
7. Spent primer catcher drawer

Milled from American billet aluminum and stainless steel, this press employs 14 bearings, including a self-lubricating linear sleeve bearing for the precision-ground 1.25″ ram. The linkage system also glides on bearings providing smooth operation with near-ZERO slop. The oversized ram features a 0.75″-diameter steel arm and ZERO-friction knob. The turret system is located with an oversized ball-detent system and secured using an over-sized, custom-made ZERO-point pull-stud. Locking the turret after indexing require only a half-turn of the supplied T-handle (see photo above). When indexing the turret, repeatability variance of the system should be less than .0005″.

The opening in the press will allow for sizing and seating of cases up to.338 Lapua Magnum, and will accept standard 7/8″ dies and standard shellholders. NOTE: Area 419 will be making and selling shellholders specifically fit to the system later in 2020.

SUMMARY — Impressive Press Delivers Precise Results
Gavin Gear was very impressed with Area 419’s new Zero Press, which he said offers the precision of a quality single-stage with the versatility of a turret: “There will always be people that prefer a traditional single-stage. Where the ZERO will be compelling is to those who want the precision of a single-stage without the need to screw dies in and out. Leaving your dies set can have benefits for precision as well — everything comes back to the ‘same place’ when dies are indexed into position. Screwing dies in and out can impose variation, and variation is the enemy of the ‘white lab coat shooter’. I plan on testing the ZERO press with ultra-high-end dies, and custom dies that I ream to my own specifications. I’m thinking that will show the true potential of this press!”

Area 419 ZERO Press Video with Operation Instructions

Permalink - Videos, Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Gear Review, New Product, Reloading 3 Comments »
October 28th, 2020

CMP Western Games 2021 will Include Rifle AND Pistol Matches

CMP Western Games Phoenix Ben Avery 2021

Even while other major matches (such as the 2021 SWN) have been cancelled, the 2021 CMP Western Games could be bigger than ever. Next year’s Western Games, held March 12-21, 2021 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix, Arizona will include pistol matches for the first time. That should attract more competitors, so register early. Western Games online registration opens on November 1, 2020.

CMP Western Games ENTRY FORM | CMP Western Games INFORMATION

CMP Western Games PROGRAM | CMP Western Games SCHEDULE

CMP Western Games Phoenix Ben Avery 2021

NEW in 2021: The CMP will be holding pistol matches during the 2021 Western CMP Games. There will be a Pistol Marksmanship 101, plus an M9 EIC Match, CMP Match Pistol 2700, EIC Service Pistol Match .22 Rimfire Pistol EIDC Match, Military/Police Service Pistol Match and 1911 As-Issued Pistol Match.

CMP Western Games 2021

RETURNING EVENTS: The Western CMP Games include the Garand, Springfield, Vintage Military, Modern Military, Rimfire Sporter, M1 Carbine, and Vintage Sniper Match. There will also be a Rifle Marksmanship 101 with M16 EIC Match. Other clinics include the GSM New Shooter Clinic and the M1 Maintenance Clinic.

CMP Western Games 2021

CMP Western Games 2021

Additionally, the CMP HP Rifle Matches will include a Team CMP Clinic with live-fire, plus 4-Man Team Match, EIC Rifle Match and three days of 80-shot events.

Competitor in M1 Carbine Match at CMP Western Games
CMP Western Games 2021

Permalink - Articles, Competition, Shooting Skills No Comments »
October 28th, 2020

Cure Primer Cratering — Get Firing Pin Bushed by Greg Tannel

Crater moon primers greg tannel bushing firing pinCraters may look interesting on the moon, but you don’t want to see them on your primers. Certain mechanical issues that cause primer craters can also cause primer piercing — a serious safety problem that needs to be addressed. If you have a gun that is cratering primers (even at moderate pressure levels), there is a solution that works with many rifles — send your bolt to Greg Tannel to have the firing pin hole bushed.

Shooters who convert factory actions to run 6BRs, 6PPCs or other high-pressure cartridges should consider having the firing pin bushed. These modern cartridges like to run at high pressures. When running stout loads, you can get cratering caused by primer flow around the firing pin hole in the bolt face. The reason is a little complicated, but basically the larger the hole, the less hydraulic pressure is required to crater the primer.

A limited amount of cratering is normally not a big issue, but you can reduce the problem significantly by having a smith fit a bushing in the firing pin hole. In addition to reduced cratering, bushing the firing pin often produces more consistent ignition.

CLICK HERE for Gre-Tan Firing Pin Hole Bushing Service INFO »

This is a highly recommended procedure that our editors have had done to their own rifles. Greg Tannel (Gre-Tan Rifles) is an expert at this procedure, and he does excellent work on a wide variety of bolts. Current price for a bushing job, which includes turning the firing pin to .062″, is $92.00, or $100.00 with USPS Priority Mail return shipping.

If you have a factory rifle, a bushed firing pin is the way to go if you are shooting the high-pressure cartridges such as 6PPC, 6BR, 6-6.5×47 and 6.5×47. This is one of the most cost-effective and beneficial upgrades you can do to your factory rifle. For more info on the Firing Pin Bushing process, visit GreTanRifles.com, or email greg [at] gretanrifles.com. After clicking the link for GreTanRifles.com, Click on “Services” > “Shop Services” and you’ll see a listing for “Bush Firing Pin Hole & Turn Pin”. CLICK that Box.

Gre-Tan Rifles firing pin bushingFiring Pin Hole Bushing by Greg Tannel

Work Done: Bush firing pin hole and turn pin
Functions: Fixes your cratering and piercing problems
Price: $92.00 + $8.00 return shipping
Total Price: $100.00

Actions for which Bushing is Offered: Remington, Winchester, Savage multi-piece pin, Sako, Kimber, Nesika, Stiller, BAT Machine, Kelbly, Lawton, Surgeon, Borden, Wichita, Hall, Ruger, Howa, Weatherby, Dakota, Pacific Tool, Phoenix, and Defiant bolt action rifle or pistol.

Actions for which Bushing is NOT Available: Case hardened receivers, ARs, Accuracy International (AI), Barnard, Big Horn, Cooper, Desert Tactical Arms, Kimber, Rosenthal, New Savage single piece pin, Rim fires, Falling block, Break open, Lever, Pump rifles, 1903-A3, CZ, Mauser.

How to send your bolt in to be bushed:
Send your bolt and firing pin assembly via snail mail, priority mail, or UPS. Please do not use FEDEX as it sometimes has delivery delays.Include your name, phone number, and return shipping address, and a note as to what you want done. Pack your bolt carefully and ship to: Gre’-Tan Rifles, 24005 Hwy. 13, Rifle CO 81650.

Due to the high volume of work, turn-around time for bolt bushing jobs can be 12 weeks (though it usually is faster). Customers can pay by check, money order, or credit card. For more information visit GretanRifles.com.

Permalink Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Gunsmithing, Tech Tip 2 Comments »
October 27th, 2020

Train for F-Class with Reduced-Size Target Centers

F-Class Target center NRA training reduced size
Ben Avery Match Photo by Sherri Jo Gallagher.

The 2020 F-Class National Championships are underway right now at the Ben Avery Range in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mid-Range Championship (Oct. 25-28) concludes tomorrow, followed by the Long-Range Championship (Oct. 29 – Nov. 1). Given the challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic, we know many F-Class shooters couldn’t make it to Nationals this year. For them, and other folks who are getting started in the sport, here are some special targets that let you train at your home range, even if it does not have target bays at 600 and 1000 yards. These special 300-yard target centers that let you duplicate the exact MOA size of the official F-Class targets, but at closer range.

2015 F-Class Championship Ben Avery
Here is the sleek, carbon-stocked .308 Win rifle Bryan Litz used to win both the 2015 Mid-Range AND
Long-Range F-TR Championship at the Ben Avery Range in Phoenix, Arizona.

These reduced-size target centers were created by Forum member SleepyGator, an F-Class competitor who needed practice targets he could use at 300 yards. There is an official reduced-distanced standard for 300-yard F-Class matches. This utilizes the NRA No. MR-63FC – F-Class Target Center which is pasted over the MR-63 target. It provides a 1.42″ X-Ring, 2.85″ 10-Ring, and 5.85″ Nine-Ring. (The dimensions of F-Class targets are found in the NRA High Power Rules, Sec. 22, part 4, page 70-71 — see sample below.)

F-Class Reduced Target Centers

CLICK HERE to Download F-Class 300-yard Target Centers (.Zip archive with three targets)

To duplicate the 300-yard target, SleepyGator has prepared a printable version of the MR-63FC Target Center, along with a pair of training targets with two bulls and five bulls. The two-bull and five-bull targets mirror the scoring rings on the MR-63FC, but they display only the innermost three rings and two rings respectively. All three targets are Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files that can be easily printed. You may need to adjust the scale (sizing) on your printer to get the dimensions exactly correct. As noted above, when printed, the 10-Ring on all three targets should measure 2.85″. This should provide some handy practice targets you can use between matches. Thanks to SleepyGator for providing these targets. You can download all three as a .Zip archive. After downloading the .Zip file, just click on the .Zip archive to extract the individual targets.

CLICK HERE to Download NRA High Power Rules with F-Class Target Dimensions

F-Class Target Paste Center

Permalink Competition, Shooting Skills No Comments »
October 27th, 2020

Pioneers of Precision Shooting — Legendary L.E. “Sam” Wilson

lewilson15001
Sam (L.E.) Wilson actively competed in benchrest matches until he passed. He’s shown here with an Unlimited benchrest rifle of his own design.

If you’ve used hand dies with an arbor press, chances are you’ve seen the L.E. Wilson company name. You may not know that the founder of L.E. Wilson Inc. was an avid benchrest competitor who pioneered many of the precision reloading methods we used today. Known as “Sam” to his friends, L.E. Wilson was one of the great accuracy pioneers who collected many trophies for match victories during his long shooting career. His company continues to innovate — bringing out new products such as the Case Gage Depth Micrometer tool we recently reviewed.

lewilson1503

The photo above shows Sam (foreground) with all of his children at a shoot. Behind Sam are Jim, Jack and Mary, shooting in the Unlimited Class. What do they say — “the family that plays together stays together”? Note the long, externally-adjusted scopes being used. Learn more about Sam (L.E.) Wilson and his company on the L.E. Wilson Inc. Facebook Page.

lewilson1504

Unlimited Class was Sam’s favorite discipline, because in the “good old days” top competitors normally would craft both the rifle and the front/rear rests. This rewarded Sam’s ingenuity and machining/fabrication skills. In the “build-it-yourself” era, one couldn’t just order up an unlimited rail gun on the internet. How times have changed…

Permalink - Articles, Reloading 5 Comments »
October 27th, 2020

Don’t Despair — Find Loaded Ammo with AmmoSeek.com

ammoseek ammoseek.com ammunition supplies

2020 has been a crazy year in our nation, with Pandemic panic buying, concerns over the election, and nearly FIVE MILLION new first-time gun owners. For a multitude of reasons, there is a critical shortage of factory ammo right now. Certain types of ammunition are in short supply — particularly 9mm pistol ammo and 12-gauge shotshells . This has lead to price gouging. Some online vendors are charging up to $5 per round for 12ga buckshot shotshells!

Thankfully, if you shop around a bit, you can still find most types of defensive ammunition, though prices are considerably higher than in 2019.

Find All Types of Ammunition Fast with AmmoSeek.com

Here’s a great search service that can help you locate hard-to-find ammunition and reloading components — while saving money in the process. AmmoSeek.com monitors dozens of online vendors — checking current pricing and available inventory, for pistol, rifle, and shotgun ammunition. Looking for .22 LR ammo for your rimfire trainer or .45 acp ammo for your 1911? Just select the cartridge type from AmmoSeek’s “Quick Seek” menu. Likewise you can find .223 Rem and .308 Win Rifle ammo with just one click.

And here are the 10/27/2020 search results for 9mm Luger (9x19mm) ammunition, the #1 most desired pistol ammo right now. These are five of the 323 entries, starting with the least expensive:

ammoseek ammoseek.com ammunition supplies

ammoseek ammoseek.com ammunition supplies

Permalink Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Handguns, Hot Deals 1 Comment »
October 26th, 2020

Bargain Finder 266: AccurateShooter’s Deals of the Week

AccurateShooter Deals of the Week Weekly Bargain Finder Sale Discount Savings

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. Cabela’s & Bass Pro — Remington 700 ADL Varmint, $419.97


Factory seconds bullets

Remington 700 ADL $80 Off — good basis for many projects

Both Cabela’s and Bass Pro are now selling this rifle for $419.97 — a great price on a Rem 700 ADL rifle. Offered in .223 Rem, .22-250, 6.5 Creedmoor, or .308 Win, this 8.5-lb rifle can be a good hunting rig as is, or you can upgrade trigger and/or stock. Buyer reviews have been positive: “I bought this gun in the 6.5 CM with the intention of making it a PRS match gun. I put a Timney trigger in and a KRG Bravo stock and a weaver 20 MOA scope rail. It’s one heck of a great shooter! The trigger was crisp but way heavy on my gun. It’s made a great project gun … worth the money.” Stock is matte black, while factory barrel is 26″.

2. Palmetto SA — Stoeger STR-9 9mm Compact Pistol, $299.99

Factory seconds bullets
Smart CCW pistol choice — good ergonomics, reliable, great value

Compact carry pistols are in short supply right now. Inventories are selling out quickly at gun stores across the USA. If you’re look for a quality 9mm carry gun at a VERY good price, check our this this Stoeger STR-9. We’ve shot this German-made handgun and we like the ergonomics and trigger better than Glock. Weight, without ammo, is 24 ounces. It uses a 13-round doublestack magazine. The $299.99 price is about half what you might pay for a Glock 19. User reviews are very positive.

3. Midway USA — Factory Seconds Bullets Sale

Factory seconds bullets
Great prices on huge variety of major brand bullets

Here’s your chance to score major-brand bullets at very significant discounts. MidwayUSA is running a big Factory Seconds Bullets Sale. Right now a wide selection of bullets are offered with major discounts. For the most part, these “seconds” bullets just have slight cosmetic flaws, so they still meet the needs of 99% of shooters. MidwayUSA doesn’t list brand names, but you’ll probably recognize the bullets by shape, weight, and tip type. Grab what you need now — the most popular calibers will sell out.

4. Natchez — RCBS ChargeMaster Lite, $229.99

Chargemaster Lite Midsouth Sale

Do you need an electronic powder scale and dispenser? For the very popular RCBS ChargeMaster Lite most vendors are charging $290-$300. But now you can get it for just $229.99 at Natchez. You save $70.00, about 24%. The RCBS ChargeMaster Lite is the modern second generation Scale/Dispenser, descended from the original ChargeMaster. The ChargeMaster Lite features an easy-to-use LCD touchscreen. Dispenser precision is plus/minus 0.1 grains. The unit comes with twin check weights and a convenient plastic cover for the powder pan.

5. Midsouth — Wilson Micrometer Case Trimmer with Stand

Frankford brass case tumbler media magnet
High quality, holds case perfectly, micrometer gives precise length control

The L.E. Wilson Micrometer Case Trimmer ($145.99 at Midsouth) is easy-to-use and precise — cases are consistently trimmed square and to the desired length. The trimmer can also perform inside neck and primer pocket reaming with optional attachments. With the micrometer stop you can fine tune trim length in .001″ increments. Creedmoor Sports also offers this same kit for $154.95, including plastic carry case. NOTE these kits do NOT include the cartridge-specific case holder, sold separately.

6. Midsouth — Frankford Rotary Tumbler + Magnet, $179.99

Frankford brass case tumbler media magnet
Great deal on BIG tumbler with magnet.

Wet-tumbling brass with stainless media is fast and effective at cleaning off carbon, dirt, and residues. One of the best tumblers on the market is the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Rotary Tumbler. NOTE — this is the BIG unit that can tumble up to 1,000 cases of .223 Rem brass! Right now this Tumbler is on sale for $179.99, 18% off the regular price. And if you order now you can a FREE big magnet to pick up those stainless steel tumbling pins. You can also get this Big Platinum Series Tumbler by itself (no magnet) for $164.95 on Amazon.

7. MidwayUSA — Walker’s Electronic Muffs, $51.35 (35% Off)

Factory seconds bullets
Save 50% on Good Quality Electronic Muffs 26dB NRR

We like Electronic muffs when you need to hear range commands or get info from a team coach or your spotter. The Walker’s Ultimate Alpha Power Muff Electronic Earmuffs are comfortable with good 26dB NRR. The two hi gain omni directional microphones pick up sound equally from all directions. These Walker’s Alpha Muffs are on sale now at Midway for $51.35 a 35% savings off normal retail. For the price, about half what you’d pay for many electronic muffs, these are a very good value.

8. Midsouth Shooters — Bulldog Rifle Case Sale

bulldog rifle case
Good quality; 54″ case holds PRS and Match Rifles; Bargain Cases too

Midsouth is running a sale now on the Bulldog Rifle Cases. For F-Class and PRS rifles with long barrels, we like the big 54″ Long Range Rifle Case shown above. It’s hard to find a nice, thickly padded case with this much internal length (what you new for F-class rigs). Bulldog also make great tactical cases for modern sporting rifles. And you’ll find affordable green/tan zippered cases for scoped hunting rifles (48″, $13.05) and long-barrel shotguns (52″, $13.25). These $13 Bulldog economy cases are a great bargain.

9. Precision Reloading — Caldwell TAC OPS Holster, $15.68

Factory seconds bullets
Very secure IWB paddle holster at incredible low price

This is a good, secure holster for a killer low price — just $15.68, 38% off normal retail. This has a paddle that slips inside the wast band, the shell for the pistol can be rotated to any angle. There are versions specifically molded for 20 popular pistols including m1911, SIG P226, Beretta 92, Glock models 19/23/26/27/32/33/34/42, Ruger LC9/LCP, S&W models M&P 9mm/Compact/380 bodyguard, S&W J-Frame Revolver, Taurus models PT800/24-7.

10. MidwayUSA — TEKMAT 36″ x 12″ Rifle Cleaning Mat, $9.99

Factory seconds bullets
Ultra-Low price on high quality mat with assembly diagrams

TEKMAT makes great products for cleaning long guns. This large 36″ x 12″ vulcanized rubber mat includes a full parts diagram for AR-platform rifles, available in gray, black, and green. Get either type of 36″ x 12″ mat for just $9.99!. That’s 50% OFF the normal $19.99 price — a GREAT Deal. The oil- and water-resistant surface helps protect your firearm from scratches while the diagrams help with take-down and reassembly. MidwayUSA also has the 17″ x 11″ Tekmat Handgun Gun Cleaning Mat on sale for just $5.99 — a steal. At this price you can buy a pair, or give them as gifts to your shooting buddies.

11. Amazon — Bore-Snake Two-Pack, $9.99 (or $5.99 Single)

Bore-Snake stocking stuffer two kit
Very positive user reviews, good selection of diameters

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) Gogoku Bore-Snakes for just $9.99. The twin-pack is for .223 (5.56) rifles and 12ga shotguns, but you can order other pair for .223 and .308 caliber rifles. There are also single Huntsen Bore-Snakes for $5.99 in a wide variety of calibers and shotgun bore sizes.

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October 26th, 2020

America’s Best-Selling New Bolt-Action and Semi-Auto Rifles

Best selling rifles gunbroker gun genius chart

What are the top-selling new rifles in the USA? You might be surprised — there are no Remingtons among the Top 5 bolt guns. In the bolt-action category, Ruger has the three top spots, followed by a Howa 1500 and a Savage 110. But as you might expect, various AR-15 type guns fill three of the Top 5 semi-auto rifle spots, with the venerable Ruger 10/22 still being the third best-selling self-loading rifle.

Shopping for a rifle? Your buying decision may be simplified by seeing what other consumers have chosen, as revealed by nationwide sales trends. You can now check firearms sales figures using “Gun Genius”, a data-crunching service of Gunbroker.com. On GunGenius.com you can select any type of firearm (handgun, rifle, shotgun)* and see the top sellers for that category. Here are the top-selling NEW bolt-action rifles and semi-auto rifles. On the Gun Genius site you’ll find links for gun specifications. There are separate listings for used rifles.

Here are the FIVE top-selling NEW bolt-action rifles for September 2020:

Best selling rifles gunbroker gun genius chart

Here are the FIVE top-selling NEW semi-auto rifles for September 2020:

Best selling rifles gunbroker gun genius chart

Get Sales Rankings for Other Categories of Firearms
On GunGenius.com, in addition to the categories above, you can chose lever-action rifles, single-shot rifles, semi-auto pistols, revolvers, semi-auto shotguns, pump shotguns, and more. You can also filter for sales trends (upwards and downwards). Drill down to see detailed product specifications and current prices.

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October 26th, 2020

See Bullet Holes at 500+ with White Background Splatter Targets

shoot-n-c sight-in-target white black halo

Do you have trouble seeing your bullet holes (on paper) when shooting past 400 yards? That’s a common issue even with premium ($1600+) high-magnification scopes. Here’s a target that solves that problem. A hit creates a larger black circle that’s much more visible than a plain bullet hole, making this target ideal for use at longer range (500 yards and beyond).

The 12″ square Birchwood Casey white background Sight-In Target displays a black “halo” around each hit (like the yellow circle on a conventional Shoot-N-C). Larger than bullet diameter, the “halos” can be easily seen with a high-magnification scope at long range (see video below). The self-adhesive target features four diamonds with contrasting red box centers. For precise aiming, you can position your cross-hairs to align with the corners of the boxes. Or, you can put a target dot sticker in the middle.

This video shows Black Shot Halos on white background:

White splatter targetWhile we envision using this target with optics at long range, Birchwood Casey says that open sights show up well against the white background, making these targets well-suited for indoor ranges or use in low light conditions.

This white background grid target has five aiming points and a 1-inch grid overlay for quick and easy sight adjustments. It comes with target pasters that allow shooters to cover up bullet holes and continue using the target for added value. The White/Black Shoot-N-C 12″ Sight-In Targets come in 5-packs with 75 target pasters for $8.99 from MidwayUSA or $8.09 on Amazon. If you prefer circle targets, there is a larger 17.5″ Shoot-N-C target with one large bull with red diamond center (photo right).

High-Viz Option — Yellow on Black Grid with Yellow Halos

If you prefer seeing ultra-high-contrast yellow/green “halos” for your hits, Birchwood Casey also makes adhesive grid targets with five yellow-edged diamonds. Red circles provide precise aiming points in the middle of each box. You can quickly estimate group size or dial-in your zero using the hi-viz yellow 1″ grid lines. These yellow-on-black targets are available in three sizes: 8″ square, 12″ square, and 17.5″ square. These yellow-on-black grid targets start at $4.89 for an 8″ six-pack.

shoot-n-c sight-in-target white black halo

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