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February 24th, 2022

CMP Warns Against High-Pressure Loads in Garands and 1903s

CMP .30-06 ammo ammunition safety warning M1 Garand m1903 1903a3 50000 CUP high pressure

The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has issued an ammunition safety advisory to all users of M1 Garands, M1903s, and M1903A3 rifles. Ammunition that is loaded beyond 50,000 Copper Units of Pressure (CUP) and using bullets weighing more than 172 grains should be limited to modern rifles, and NOT USED in old military rifles aged 70+ years.

CMP .30-06 ammo ammunition safety warning M1 Garand m1903 1903a3 50000 CUP high pressure

After this warning was issued by the CMP, the California Rifle and Pistol Association (CRPA) provided further safety recommendations for owners or older firearms:

CRPA Ammunition and Older Firearms Guidelines
Many of us have either purchased or inherited firearms in excess of 25 years of age. The issue … noted as an example by the Civilian Marksmanship Program in regards to certain ammunition leads as they apply to the M1 Garand is not isolated to that particular firearm. The CRPA… has seen similar issues exposed with other [older] firearms when using modern loads. We strongly advise you to check with the manufacturer for recommended load limitations before purchasing modern ammunition for an older firearm.

CRPA also recommends these safety procedures:

Have a gunsmith check your older firearm for safety prior to using it.

Take a reloading class to help develop a safe load for your older firearm.

Inspect older ammunition for defects such as a green patina or rust build up on the cases or crystallization on the projectiles. If defects are observed, the CRPA suggests disassembling the ammo into components for proper recycling and disposal.

Storage of Ammo for Older Rifles
The CRPA also cautioned that you should be cautious about older ammo that may be decades old, including old milsurp ammunition. The CRPA advises:

1. Store ammunition in a cool, dry, location where little temperature fluctuation occurs.
2. If storing ammunition in an air/watertight ammo can, utilize water absorbent silica packs and place packs in the can with the ammunition.
3. Conduct periodic checks every 12-24 months and replace the silica packs as needed.

CRPA Notification provided by EdLongrange

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Permalink Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Competition, News, Tech Tip 1 Comment »
February 23rd, 2022

J.P. Sauer Releases 270th Anniversary Limited Edition Rifles

270th anniversary j.p. sauer sohn rifle collection

Blaser Group will soon be offering a rare selection of Sauer rifles — the J.P. Sauer and Sohn’s 270th Anniversary Collection of rifles. Only 10 sets of this special limited-edition collection were made and only one set is currently available for sale here in the United States. The set includes four rifles: a Sauer 100, Sauer 101, and Sauer 404 all chambered in .270 caliber, along with a Sauer 303 in .308 caliber. Designed to be beautiful, accurate, and museum-grade in appearance, these rifles feature stunning wood stocks (Grade 5 in the Sauer 100 and Grade 7 in the S101, S303 and S404). These Limited Edition rifles boast the most modern materials and technology available, with Sauer’s 270th anniversary logo in black and gold on the custom grip cap.

“These elegant and accurate Sauer rifles represent 270 years of craftsmanship from Germany’s oldest hunting rifle manufacturer, and they are rare with only 10 sets made for the entire world,” said Jason Evans, CEO of Blaser Group. “We are now offering Set Number Three for sale here in the United States.”

270th anniversary j.p. sauer sohn rifle collection

For more information, visit Sauer.de/en/270-years/anniversary-rifles.

Permalink Gunsmithing, New Product, News No Comments »
February 22nd, 2022

30 BR Brass Perfected by Parosky — Expanded and Neck-Turned

paul parosky 30BR 30 BR Lapua cartridge brass neck-turned expanded 6mmBR processed benchrest score

Here’s good news for 30BR shooters. Paul Parosky, maker of the excellent PRP Custom Bullets, is now offering 30BR neck-turned brass. This can save you considerable time and effort forming 30BR cases from Lapua 6mmBR brass. And the neck-turning is superb, again representing time save (and no tools to buy). You will soon be able to order this 30BR brass from Bruno Shooters Supply. If you communicate with Amy at Bruno’s, Paul may be able to neck-turn to your specific thickness. Paul notes: “Here are necks turned for a 0.330 neck. I’ll try my best to accommodate anyone’s neck dimensions as they wish. Just message Amy Bruno Parosky (at Bruno’s) for details.”

paul parosky 30BR 30 BR Lapua cartridge brass neck-turned expanded 6mmBR processed benchrest score

About this Neck-Turning set-up — Paul Parosky notes: “For neck-turning I’m using an old drill press that has been re-worked. The cutter and spindle are all indicated before neck turning to ensure no runout. The RPM is around 520. The lube I use is a mixture of royal and mystery oil.”

Why the 30 BR Dominates 100/200 Benchrest for Score Competition
The 30BR, along with some wildcat variants, remains the dominant cartridge in short-range (100/200) benchrest-for-score competition. The 30BR’s .308″-diameter bullets are larger than the 6mm bullets used by the 6PPC (which rules group BR competition). The bigger 30-Cal diameter has an advantage in touching scoring rings. In addition, the 30BR is also relatively easy to tune, and barrel life is considerably better than with smaller-caliber benchrest cartridges. For more information, see our AccurateShooter 30BR Cartridge Guide.

30 BR 30BR cartridge benchrest competition

Cases are Expanded, Then Neck-Turned
To produce his 30BR brass, Parosky first uses a series of expander mandrels. Then he neck-turns with power using a converted drill press. Paul tells us: “This is done the old school way, I use three different tapered expander mandrels, then neck-turn it to the proper neck chamber, then run them up through a FL expander mandrel to ensure necks are straight. Then I clean all the cases.”

paul parosky 30BR 30 BR Lapua cartridge brass neck-turned expanded 6mmBR processed benchrest score

Paul Parosky Can Also Neck-Turn 6PPC Brass

Paul Parosky also expands and neck-turns 6PPC cases that are made from parent Lapua .220 Russian cartridge brass. Here, illustrating his 6PPC neck-turning operation, is a Paul Parosky post on the USA Benchrest & Extreme Precision Shooters Facebook page.

paul parosky 30BR 30 BR Lapua cartridge brass neck-turned expanded 6mmBR processed benchrest score

Permalink - Videos, Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Competition, Reloading 2 Comments »
February 21st, 2022

Bargain Finder 335: 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. Midsouth — Multiple Popular Powders in Stock

midsouth reloading powder propellant in stock sale
Good powders — Accurate, Hodgdon, Ramshot, IMR, & Vihtavuori in stock

Good news for handloaders — Midsouth has received significant quantities of popular reloading powders, including LT30, LT32, H322, H390, H50BMG, Ramshot TAC, VV N133, VV N320, and more. CLICK HERE to all propellants in stock. N133 is a top powder for the 6 PPC, LT30 and LT32 are top choices for short-range score cartridges, VV N320 is our favorite powder for .45 ACP, and Ramshot TAC is a great choice for .223 Rem and varmint loads. Head over to Midsouth today to see if there’s something you need.

2. Sportsman’s WHSE — Bergara B-14 HMR Rifle, $799.99

bergara b-14 hmr presidents day sale
Nice versatile rifle for hunting, target shooting, and tactical matches

Sportsman’s Warehouse is running a President’s Day Sale with significant savings on guns, optics, and ammo. Among the best gun deals are Bergara B-14 HMR rifles. Get a Bergara B-14 HMR in 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win, or .300 Win Mag for $799.99. That’s $150.00 off the regular price. Other Bergara Models are on sale as well, including the B-14 HMR Wilderness HMR in .300 PRC (26″ bbl) for $949.99. Act soon, this sale ends at 11:59 pm on 2/21/2022.

3. CDNN Sports — Walther P22 Nickel Ported, $439.99

kreiger barrel sale
Cool ported pistol for rimfire games — accurate with great ergonomics

For .22 LR gun games, such as Rimfire Challenge matches, this Walther P22 is a good choice. The ported P22 combines low recoil/minimal muzzle flip with best-in-class ergonomics. This P22 pistol offers interchangeable backstraps, plus ambidextrous magazine release and slide safety. With its compensated (ported) barrel this gun delivers fast follow-up shots. A rare feature for a rimfire, the P22 is covered by the Walther Lifetime Limited Warranty. The P22 has a 5″ barrel and weighs 16 ounces with empty magazine. NOTE: Supply is limited.

4. Palmetto SA — Vortex 1-8x24mm Scope + Mount, $299.99

vortex scope AR15 AR10 cantilever rail mount rings
Smart cantilever set-up for AR rifles, save $200.00 with Code “STRIKE”

If you are looking for an affordable turn-key scope solution for your AR-platform rifle, check out this Vortex 1-8x24mm Strike Eagle GEN2 Scope + Mount Combo System. This combo includes a riflescope PLUS a Vortex cantilevered scope mount that positions the optic in the right position on a AR15 or AR10 rifle. You can see how the system works on an AR15 above. AR owners have been very happy with this combination. The Strike Eagle offers a true 8X zoom ratio with an illuminated AR-BDC3 Reticle optimized for ARs. Listed retail price is $499.99 but you save $200.00 with CODE “STRIKE”. That lowers your net cost to $299.99 for scope and mount.

5. MidwayUSA — Hoppes Gun Vise and Cleaning Kit, $24.86

Hoppes gun vise free cleaning kit
Good basic gun vise at great price with bonus cleaning kit

The Hoppe’s Gun Vise is a good basic support for working on your firearms. And right now its offered for a crazy-low $25.86 sale price. Clamping brackets in the front and rear hold your rifle or shotgun securely without scratching. The vise is made out of a durable, chemical resistant polymer and has multiple compartments for cleaning chemicals, tools, and accessories. Included with this vise is a 12-piece Cleaning Kit for rifles, pistols, and shotguns. This gun vise has multiple compartments for tools and adjustable feet.

6. Amazon — BOG Deathgrip Aluminum Tripod, $159.00

Bogpod black aluminum deathgrip PRS tripod hunting
Versatile tripod mounts quickly, securely — use for PRS/NRL or hunting.

This is a great tripod for long-range hunters and PRS/NRL competitors. The clamp-type head quickly secures to your rifle’s forearm for a secure shooting solution. The BOG Deathgrip Aluminum Tripod is on sale now on Amazon for $159.00. If weight is critical, there is also a lighter BOG carbon fiber tripod for $223.96 at Grafs.com. For the extra $65 (Graf’s price) you save a pound in total weight (7.5 lbs for carbon vs. 8.5 lbs for aluminum). This aluminum version is the top-rated hunting tripod on Amazon.

7. Natchez — CCI Blazer 9mm Ammo, $16.99/50 or $17.49/50

CCI Blazer 9mm ammunition pistol ammo
Quality 9mm pistol ammo at ultra-attractive prices

Do you carry a 9mm or use one for IDPA matches? Then check out this deal. Right now Natchez has CCI Blazer 9mm Luger (9x19mm) ammo on sale — both brass-cased and aluminum-cased. If you reload, pay a few bucks more for the brass-cased Blazer 9mm ammo ($17.49/50). If you don’t reload for 9mm, then shoot the aluminum-cased Blazer variety at just $14.99 for 50 rounds. Both Blazer types work fine — we’ve shot hundreds of rounds of the stuff in Glocks, SIGS, Rugers, and HKs with no issues whatsoever. Grab this bargain — the same ammo was selling for $28+ a few months ago.

8. Amazon — Frankford DS-750 Reloading Scale, $30.60

frankford arsenal ds-750 digital reloading scale
Reliable, affordable, compact scale for reloaders

Right now this Frankford Arsenal DS-750 digital scale is 36% off at Amazon. This is a handy, precise little scale that is good for loading at the range, or for weight-sorting components. The DS-750 offer +/- 0.1 grain accuracy and weighs up to 750 grains. One nice feature is auto-shutoff after 60 seconds of inactivity. That saves on battery life. This won’t replace a premium scale, but it can serve many duties for reloaders. The scale measures in grains, grams, carats, and ounces and runs on 2 AAA batteries.

9. Harbor Freight — 8-Drawer Wood Tool Chest, $84.99

AccurateShooter Deals of week bargain discount savings Wood Tool Chest Harbor Freight
Handsome wood chest is great for holding small tools

This Wood Tool Chest makes a great addition to your reloading room. The eight (8) drawers can hold the many small tools and accessories used for hand-loading, such as bushings, shims, uniforming tools, mandrels, neck-turners and more. A deeper top compartment (under the lid) holds wrenches and other larger tools. The price is just $84.99 at Harbor Freight. A lockable sliding wood panel fits in place to cover the drawers when not in use. This locking panel also secures the drawers during transport.

10. Amazon — Jialitte Scope Bubble Level, $10.99

Scope Optic bubble level 30mm 1
Great price for handy product every rifle shooter can use

All serious rifle shooters need a scope level. This nicely designed Jialitte Scope Bubble Level features a 30mm milled inside diameter, plus an inner insert ring so it will also fit 1″-diameter main tubes — that dual-diameter versatility is a nice feature. We also like the way the unit is nicely radiused, and has a low profile in the middle. Price is just $10.99 with free shipping. User reviews have been very positive. You could easily pay $35.00 or more for a 30mm scope level.

BONUS — RCBS Reloading Sweepstakes

rcbs reloading sweepstakes contest matchmaster Press midwayusa

Now through February 28, 2022 (2/28/22), you’ll have a chance to RCBS Reloading gear prizes worth $1918.97 (combined total). The various RCBS prizes include: RCBS MatchMaster Digital Powder Scale & Dispenser, RCBS Rebel Master Single Stage Press Kit, RCBS Case Prep Kit, RCBS Rotary Case Tumbler. CLICK HERE for entry info. No purchase necessary to enter contest.

Permalink Gear Review, Handguns, Hot Deals, Optics No Comments »
February 20th, 2022

Sunday GunDay: .22 PPC for 300m Prone Competition

.22 PPC Rifle 300m prone

The 300 Meter .22 PPC — Smaller Caliber for Less Recoil

By GS Arizona
[This article originally appeared in Precision Shooting Magazine many years ago, but we are reprising it because the .22 PPC remains a notable cartridge for many disciplines, from benchrest to silhouette.]

I’ve spent the past few years pursuing the largely solitary pastime of 300 Meter shooting in the US. While it is a hugely popular sport in Europe, with thousands of competitors in each of various countries and overflowing national championships, in the U.S., 300 Meter shooting is simply a forgotten discipline. As an example, consider that the entry at the USA Shooting 300 Meter National Championships held at Fort Benning did not reach 20 competitors in [years past]. For those not familiar with the discipline, the 300 Meter ISSF target has a 100 mm ten ring, 200 mm 9 ring and so forth. That’s a 3.9″ ten ring at 328 yards for those of you who may object to the metric system, electricity and other intrusions upon a well settled universe (which ends at the dragons). [Editor’s Note: GS Arizona was a championship-class prone shooter, in both rimfire and centerfire disciplines, who had a popular online Blog, which has been closed.]

300 Meter Basics
300 Meter matches can be either three-position (prone, standing, kneeling) or all prone. Being of that age at which limbs aren’t limber and the mid-section obscures one’s view of the toes, I shoot prone matches only and leave the 3P to those for whom the term “shooting athlete” doesn’t produce an automatic smirk from the better half.

.22 PPC Rifle 300m prone

Like most 300 Meter shooters, I shoot a 6BR as my main rifle. As used in 300 Meter shooting, the 6BR is loaded with a 105-108gr bullet, with a velocity in the 2850 fps range. There is simply no cartridge out there at this time that delivers the accuracy, low recoil and ease of loading that can be had from the 6BR. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t embark on a quixotic adventure now and then to find something better. This article is about one such search. So, if you don’t mind spending some time learning about an uphill struggle in a forgotten corner of the shooting world, pour a hot cup of coffee, get a plate of chocolate chip cookies and read on.

Getting Started–The Concept Behind the Project
The premise for building a .22 PPC was simple — less is more. Less recoil, that is, while retaining good ballistics and accuracy, should allow for higher scores. The hard part is meeting the ballistic and accuracy standards set by the 6BR. If pressed I might also admit to a desire to do something different. I made a decision early on in the project to stick to 80-grain bullets. I believe the 80 is pushing the envelope for safe and sane pressure in a case the size of the PPC; additionally, there are a number of manufacturers of 80-grain .224″ bullets so selection and testing can be more meaningful. Barrels are another consideration and all of the better barrel makers offer a 1:8″ twist .224 barrel (unlike the limited selection of 1:6.5″ twist required for 90 grain .224″ bullets).

With the basic parameters of a full-length .22 PPC case (reformed Lapua .220 Russian to be exact) and an 80-grain bullet established, a few other details needed attention. The first of these was specifying certain dimensions for the reamer maker. I chose not to change any of the essential dimensions of the .22 PPC such as headspace, shoulder angle or body taper, but there were a couple of areas that I felt needed to be different from the typical Benchrest PPC. These were neck diameter and throat length. With the outstanding quality of the Lapua brass, I elected to go with a 0.255″ neck diameter which would allow the use of unturned brass and still leave 0.002″ clearance around the neck of a loaded cartridge. The throat was specified longer than a standard PPC to allow for the length of the 80-grain bullets and avoid having the bullet go past the neck/shoulder junction.

300 Meter .22 PPC — Equipment List
Hardware
Action: RPA Quadlite, RPADefense.com.
Stock: Master Class Highpower Prone MasterClassStocks.com
Barrel: Broughton .224″ bore, 1:8″ twist, 30″ Palma contour
Rear Sight: Warner #1, Anschutz Iris, Warner-Tool.com
Front Sight: Gehmann Iris from Scott Riles
Trigger: Jewell 4 oz. one-stage
Bolt Knob: Keychain from 7-11 ($2.00)

Gunsmithing
Barrel fitting, sight, scope bases: Warner Tool Company.
Stock inletting, pillar bedding, and hardware: Alex Sitman,
Master Class Stocks.

Detours Along the Way
Like Quixote stumbling his way to his dreams, I’ve made a few mistakes. That 0.255″ neck diameter turned out to be the first. Turning brass isn’t a problem, but I was so captivated by the quality of the .220 Russian brass that I planned to skip turning or just take a light (0.001″) clean-up cut. Well, that’s fine, but as it turns out, PPC die makers assume you have turned necks and using unturned brass causes problems. The Redding Competition Seater, for instance, wanted to crimp the entire length of the neck onto the bullet. Turns out it was 0.250″ in the neck diameter of the sliding sleeve. This required reaming the sleeve which wasn’t too hard as the sleeve is made of relatively soft steel. Hand turning the chambering reamer with lots of care and oil took care of that problem. This opened up the neck to 0.255″ which might be 0.001″ more than ideal but I’ll live with it.

.22 PPC Rifle 300m proneSizing dies were another problem altogether. Forget using a non-bushing die with unturned brass–you’ll just overwork the neck to death. The Redding bushing dies worked well, though. Fired brass ends up at 0.254″ and is sized to 0.250″ in two steps (0.252″ and 0.250″) to maintain better concentricity.

I also got the throat length wrong as the base of the bullet (above the boat tail) is halfway up the neck and I want it just above the shoulder. I don’t know how I missed on that spec, but that’s what happened. As it turns out, the extra throat length hasn’t caused any problems with the Nosler 80, but it might with shorter or pointier bullets. Powder and primer choices became additional areas for demonstrating my inability to make good choices. You might think that adding a heavier bullet to an existing cartridge would be simple but it really turned into a full scale adventure.

Choice of Components and Smiths — Only the Best
Based on my previous favorable experience and that of a few friends, I ordered a Broughton barrel for the PPC, a .224″ bore 1:8″ twist, long enough to finish at 30 inches in what is generally referred to as a medium Palma taper. I haven’t been disappointed by the barrel: like all of those made by Tim North of Broughton Barrels, it is top notch. With the barrel and reamer in hand, they and the RPA Quadlite action were sent to Al Warner for barreling and then on to Alex Sitman for the stock. I can’t say enough good things about Alan’s metal work and Alex’s stock work. They have barreled and stocked many rifles for me over the years, all flawless. Alex’s Highpower Prone stock fits me like a comfortable moccasin. The trigger is a Jewell set at 4 oz., the rear sight is a Warner #1 and the front sight is a Scott Riles with a Centra aperture.

Eventually, the UPS man — purveyor of all things worth having — arrived with a long package and the real work began. Load testing and shooting can be a lot more frustrating than planning and talking to gunsmiths, but hopefully the eventual results make it worthwhile. I had a good supply of Nosler 80-grain bullets and some preconceived notions about powder and primers. Off to the loading bench.

Load Development + Accuracy Testing
Fire-forming the .220 Russian cases to the PPC chamber was a breeze: run an expander into the neck to get them to .224″, bump the shoulder 0.002″, load a caseful of IMR 4895 (about 23 grains) and insert a Nosler 77 (leftover from another project) and fire. I shot these at 100 yards while zeroing the rifle and was very impressed with the accuracy. Fouling was minimal, off to a promising start.

Once formed, I loaded the brass with Varget and the 80-grain bullets. Since Varget has given such good results in the 6BR, it was a natural starting point for this project. However, it quickly became evident that it might be too slow. While accuracy was excellent, powder fouling in the barrel was very heavy even at the highest charge tried (28.5 grains) and there was soot all the way down the shoulders of the cases. Cleaning the bore felt like patching a rusty water pipe after just 20 shots. I knew I’d never make it through a 60-shot match (about 70 shots with sighters) without cleaning[.]

Putting the .22 PPC to the Test in Competition
At this point, I took the PPC to a 300 Meter match with the Varget load. While it might not look perfect, I needed to try it. The first string was a 198 and I was able to clean the rifle immediately after firing. The second string was also a 198 but I had to fire the third string without cleaning. The effects of the fouling were evident in the last score, a 194.

While a 590 total isn’t bad for 300M, it was a bit below my average with the 6BR at this range – my home range that I knew well. More importantly, the score dropped as the group opened up in the third string when I wasn’t able to clean. At the Nationals all 60 shots are fired without a break for cleaning or additional sighters; therefore, Varget, while promising, wouldn’t work in the long run.

The next faster powder on my shelf was IMR 4895. I’d used it in the fire forming loads and if I had a lick of sense I would have tried it right away since the fire forming loads shot so well. However, stubbornly clinging to the preconceived notion that Varget was going to be a great powder for this combo cost me a month or so fooling with it. I then worked up loads with 4895 from 26.8 to 28.6 and saw that while 4895 was better suited to the case than Varget, it was still slow. The powder fouling was still occurring, though to a lesser degree. The shoulders still showed some soot, but less. I settled on 27.8 grains as a useful load and loaded 70 cases.

New Load for a New Home
At this point, I moved from Florida to Arizona causing a delay of several months in testing. The move also had an effect on the load as the hotter and drier climate in Arizona turned out to be much more suitable for 4895. Of course, I still had those 70 rounds loaded with 27.8 so I shot them in practice. Everything seemed OK but one primer (Federal 205M) pierced at the edge. I didn’t pay much attention to that as there were no other pressure signs and it was the first primer failure of any sort so far in this project. Extraction was fine, primer edges were nicely radiused and base growth was under two tenths. There was an opportunity to shoot a 500-yard prone match the following day so I reloaded the cases with the same load. At the match I pierced two more primers, this time right at the edge of the firing pin, causing two craters running into the firing pin hole. As you might imagine, all subsequent shots cratered into that area, although no more pierced.

I was contemplating a switch to Hodgdon Benchmark (slightly faster than H4895) until this point. Now, repairing the bolt face and switching to a tougher primer took priority. I loaded 25 rounds with CCI BR4 primers and 25 with Remington 7.5 primers. Both of these are well known for their tougher cups which I hoped would eliminate the piercing. I like the mild flash from the Federal 205 and believe it contributes to good accuracy, but I needed a primer that holds together more than I need to cut another tenth MOA. Bearing in mind that the powder charge itself might need reworking, I took those 50 rounds to the range to test them with the 27.8 gr. IMR 4895 load as it remains best to only change one thing at a time. Temperatures were in the 100 to 110 degree range during testing as they are for a good portion of the year here in Phoenix. If the load won’t work in hot temperatures, it just won’t work at all for me.

The primer testing at 200 yards showed the CCI BR4 primers to be better suited to this load than the Remington 7.5 primers. While no primer failed out of the 50 fired, the CCI BR4 primers gave distinctly better accuracy. I fired two ten-shot groups prone (scoped) with each, the Remington-primed groups averaged just over 1 MOA and the CCI-primed groups averaged 1/2 MOA. The difference between the two was principally in the amount of elevation in the groups. Given that result, as well as previous good experience with the CCI primers in the 6BR, I settled on the CCI BR4 primers for the PPC.

Final Testing at 500 Yards–It all Comes Together
While the purpose of the 80-grain PPC is 300 Meter shooting, those matches are somewhat hard to find so I’ve done most of my testing at 200 yards on the local public range (Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix) and at 500 yards in some of the local prone matches. With the primer issue potentially resolved, I went back to the 500-yard range to make sure the load held good elevation at that distance.

Final testing at 500 yards was a complete success. I fired one group of 24 shots from the prone position. Elevation for the bulk of the group was right at 3″ (0.6 MOA), the horizontal spread was somewhat larger as the group was fired in gusty, fast-switching conditions. The CCI BR4 primers functioned flawlessly, with no sign of pressure despite ambient temperatures over 100° F. None of this should be taken as a general statement of inadequacy of Federal primers. I have used (and continue to use) the very same lot of Federal 205M primers in my 6BR and have not experienced any problems at all. Simply stated, the 80-grain .22 PPC is an odd duck and has special requirements when fired under the conditions that prevail in my area.

At this point, I’ve determined that the basic premise of a .22 PPC for 300 Meter matches is perfectly viable, even if it is quite a bit more complex an undertaking than the 6BR. Recoil reduction over the 6BR was minimal, bordering on unnoticeable, but accuracy is on a par with the 6BR, perhaps slightly better. As a nice bonus, the PPC has proven to be quite useful for the 500-yard prone matches that are a regular part of the Phoenix shooting scene and it never fails to spark a good conversation with a new friend when I’m practicing or testing at the range. Future plans include testing Berger and Hornady 75 and 80-grain bullets and Hodgdon Benchmark powder. And, after conferring with your moderator, who ran some simulations in QuickLOAD, I’ll be trying Reloder 15 soon (QuickLOAD predicts RL15 allows 100% load density with good velocity). At some point I’ll also have the reamer reground for a shorter throat and tighter neck, but probably not until time comes to rebarrel.

6mmBR Norma versus .22 PPC

For the shooter who wants a superbly accurate, easy to load cartridge for 300 Meters to 600 yards, you simply can’t beat the 6BR. Everything you need, including brass, dies, reamers and knowledge are just a phone call away. The .22 PPC, by contrast, is an uphill struggle. The chambering reamer was custom ground to my specifications to allow unturned brass, as well as a longer freebore for the 75- and 80-grain bullets that are the heart of the project. The no-turn necks also meant that the Redding Competition Seater (an excellent unit) had to be reworked to allow for the thicker neck diameter. Once those hurdles were overcome I struggled to find the best powder for this combination–and I’m still searching. Unlike the 6BR where any of a half dozen or more powders will do the job (Varget, Reloder 15, N140, N540, IMR 4895, Norma 203B, etc.) the .22 PPC with heavy bullets has proven finicky with even the most accurate powders leaving fairly heavy carbon fouling.

Despite the problems, the .22 PPC offers a bit more pure accuracy than the 6BR and also a tiny bit less recoil. Both of these things can contribute to slightly higher scores in prone matches. However, to get the most out of the PPC, one must find the time to clean between 20 shot strings–a not inconsiderable effort sometimes in the mad rush of pit changes, scoring, shooting and just plain being tired.

This rifle was initially a .223 and when that cartridge proved unsatisfactory for my purposes, I had it rebuilt as the .22 PPC you see here. I like it and I enjoy the challenge, but I would not recommend this combination as someone’s primary rifle; it can get a bit frustrating. To put it into another context, the 6BR is like a 350 Chevy, it’ll just keep on doing the job forever, no matter what. The .22 PPC is like a Ferrari, it’ll scream when you do everything right, but it takes more attention to detail and a lot more maintenance. You wouldn’t want a Ferrari as your only car and likewise, you would be better off making the .22 PPC a second rifle.

Parting Shots — The .22 PPC vs. 6mm BR
If you’re looking for a simple, accurate and reliable cartridge for 200 to 600 yards, you probably can’t improve on the 6BR. However, if you’re someone who finds the journey as rewarding as reaching the destination, then you may very well enjoy a .22 PPC for prone shooting. While I received a great deal of help in this project from friends, gunsmiths, suppliers and parts makers far and wide, I really must acknowledge the huge debt we all owe to Ferris Pindell and Dr. Lou Palmisano. Without them there would be no PPC. We truly stand on the shoulders of giants.

Copyright © Precision Shooting Magazine and GS Arizona. Reprinted by permission.
Permalink - Articles, Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Competition, Reloading 2 Comments »
February 18th, 2022

Sportsman’s Warehouse Merger with Bass Pro Cancelled

Bass Pro Sportsman's warehouse merger cancelled

Big news in the Outdoor Sports retail industry — the Merger of Bass Pro with Sportsman’s Warehouse is NOT going to happen — the buy-out effort is halted. Under a planned merger deal, announced in late 2020, the Great American Outdoors Group, which now owns Bass Pro and Cabela’s, was going to purchase Sportsman’s Warehouse for $785 million. In 2017 Great American acquired Cabela’s for more than $4,000,000,000 (four billion). Great American (based in Missouri) was going to pay $18 a share for Sportsman’s Warehouse, a significant premium over the listed stock price. Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings Inc. will now continue to operate independently from its HQ in West Jordan, Utah.

According to the Springfield Missouri News-Leader, the deal collapsed because of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) opposition, among other factors: “Nearly a year after Bass Pro entered into a merger agreement with Utah-based Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings Inc., the deal is off, according to a federal filing dated Dec. 2 by Sportsman’s Warehouse. The filing stated that feedback from the Federal Trade Commission led both companies to believe that the deal would not get FTC approval.”

As listed in a Sportsman’s Warehouse SEC filing, Bass Pro’s parent company Great Outdoors LLC will pay Sportsman’s Warehouse $55 million to terminate the merger.

Bass Pro Sportsman's warehouse merger cancelled

According to Bloomberg, the cancellation of the merger is related to a 2021 Executive Order by President Biden instructing Federal regulators to boost competition in retail industries. Bloomberg also noted Sportsman’s Warehouse stock dropped signficantly after the planned merger was canceled.

Sportsman’s Warehouse Revenues Boosted Dramatically by Hunting and Shooting Sales
Jon Barker, President/CEO of Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings, Inc., was disappointed that the Bass Pro merger did not go forward. However his company’s revenues are booming. According to SGB Online: “Sportsman’s Warehouse’s same-store sales surged 48.3% in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019. The gains were led by its hunting and shooting department, which showed a same-store hike of 70.0%. Hunting and shooting grew to account for 57.6% of Sportsman’s Warehouse’s sales in the year, up from 49.1% the prior year.”

Bass Pro Sportsman's warehouse merger cancelled

Both Bass Pro and Sportsman’s Warehouse Have Billions in Revenue
Had the merger gone through, approximately 110 stores (and $1.45 billion in sales) would have been added to the Great American Outdoors Group retail empire. SGB Online reported: “According to Moody’s, Bass Pro had revenues in the twelve months ended September 26, 2020, of $7.1 billion. Sportsman’s Warehouse’s sales in 2020 were $1.45 billion.”

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February 18th, 2022

Running the “Mad Minute” with Lee-Enfield — Historic Gun Drill

Lee Enfield Mad Minute one-minute rifle drill British Army Gary Eliseo Dennis Santiago
British Lee-Enfield Model SHT’22/IV Rifle, courtesy www.iCollector.com.

Our friend Dennis Santiago was a technical advisor for History Channel’s Top SHOT TV show. One of the notable Top Shot episodes involved the “Mad Minute”, a marksmanship drill practiced by the British Army in the decades preceding World War I. Dennis observed that the Top Shot competitors didn’t fare too well in their “Mad Minute” attempts, not scoring many hits in the alloted one-minute time period. That prompted Dennis to give it a try himself — seeing how many hits he could score in one minute with an authentic Lee-Enfield rifle. So, a while back, Dennis ran the drill at a range in California.

Dennis, an active high power rifle competitor and instructor, enjoyed his “Mad Minute” exercise, though he assures us that this takes practice to perfect. Dennis tells us: “Here is a ‘Mad Minute’ drill, done using a period correct Lee-Enfield (SMLE) No.1 Mk III rifle and Mk VII ammo. I got to the Queen’s Regulations (15 hits in one minute) on the second run and put a good group on the target at 200 yards. This is ‘jolly good fun’ to do every once in a while. This is ‘living history’ — experiencing a skill from a time when the sun never set on the British Empire.”

Dennis Does the Mad Minute

Lee Enfield Mad Minute Mark IV
British Lee-Enfield Model SHT’22/IV Rifle, courtesy www.iCollector.com.

Lee Enfield Mad Minute Mark IVLee-Enfield No. 4 Rifle (1943), courtesy Arundel Militaria.

“Mad Minute” was a pre-World War I term used by British Army riflemen during training at the Hythe School of Musketry to describe scoring a minimum of 15 hits onto a 12″ round target at 300 yards within one minute using a bolt-action rifle (usually a Lee-Enfield or Lee-Metford rifle). It was not uncommon during the First World War for riflemen to greatly exceed this score. The record, set in 1914 by Sergeant Instructor Alfred Snoxall, was 38 hits. (From WikiPedia.)

Want to See More “Mad Minute” Action with a Modern Tubegun?
In 2012, Gary Eliseo ran a “Mad Minute” exercise using a modern, .308 Win Eliseo RTM Tubegun of his own making. Gary ended up with 24 hits on a bull target set at 300 yards. (Gary actually had 25 hits in 25 rounds fired, but the last round hit just after the 60-second time period expired.) Note how Gary pulls the trigger with the middle finger of his right hand. This allows him to work the bolt faster, using his thumb and index finger. CLICK HERE for Eliseo Tubegun Mad Minute story.

Watch Gary Elesio Shoot the ‘Mad Minute’ (Starts at 4:47 on Video)

NOTE: In an interesting coincidence, Dennis Santiago was actually in the pits pulling targets for Gary during Eliseo’s 2012 “Mad Minute” exercise.

History of the MAD MINUTE
Commentary by Laurie Holland, UK Shooter
The original military requirement of the “Mad Minute” saw the soldier ready to fire with a round in the chamber, nine in the magazine, safety on. This course of fire is still followed by the GB Historic Breechloading Arms Association and other bodies in their recreated “Mad Minute” competitions.

The first 10 would go quickly, but reloads were critical, this not done by a magazine change as Gary did with the RTM or in a modern tactical or semi-auto rifle, but through slick use of ‘chargers’. It is this aspect which fouls so many of my colleagues up as it is very easy to cause a jam and a large part of 60 seconds can go in sorting it out!

Charger clips were selected for those that just held the rounds firmly enough to stop then falling out, were sand-papered and polished with a stove / fireplace polish called ‘Zebrite’ so that the rimmed rounds would slip through the clips like corn through a goose.

lee enfield 1916 rifle

If you’re unfamiliar with the cock-on-closing Enfield action, it seems clumsy. With intensive practice it is very smooth and can be operated incredibly quickly. The trick is to whip the bolt back onto its stop and initiate a rebound movement that takes it and the cartridge well into the chamber thereby reducing the effort required to close the bolt and chamber the round.

The MAD MINUTE Training Standards and Target
“Mad Minute” was a pre-World War I term used by British Army riflemen during training at the Hythe School of Musketry to describe scoring a minimum of 15 hits on a target at 300 yards within one minute using a bolt-action rifle (usually a Lee-Enfield or Lee-Metford rifle). It was not uncommon during the First World War for riflemen to greatly exceed this score. The record, set in 1914 by Sergeant Instructor Alfred Snoxall, was 38 hits.

Mad Minute Lee Enfield
Royal Scots Fusiliers soldiers train with SMLE Mk III Lee–Enfield rifle.

Listed as “Practice number 22, Rapid Fire” of The Musketry Regulations, Part I, 1909, this drill required at least 15 shots on the Second Class target at 300 yards. The exercise was just one of several annual tests to classify a soldier as a sharpshooter, first or second class shooter depending on the points achieved.

Made Minute Second Class targetResearch indicates the Second Class target was a 48″ x 48″ square with 24″ inner circle and 36″ outer circle. The sight mark was a central 12″ x 12″ shape representing a soldier. ALL hits scored points (3 for center circle, 2 for outer circle, 1 for outer square). NOTE: Though some sources say the Mad Minute drill used a 12″-diameter round target, this appears to be a mistake from Ian Hogg’s book “The Encyclopedia of Weaponry”. No other source mentions a 12″ circle, which would be a mere 3.82 MOA. In reality the true drill target was a 48″ x 48″ square, roughly 15 times larger. (From No.WikiPedia.)

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February 18th, 2022

Gun Digest Book on .22 Caliber Rimfire Rifles (Plus .17s)

Gun digest book rimfire rifles NRL22 tactical .22 LR .17 HMR

There is a new guide to rimfire rifles — with a special focus on the tactical-style rigs used in NRL22 and similar competitions. Gun Digest’s Rimfire Revolution: A Complete Guide to Modern .22 Rifles, covers rimfire firearms, hardware, optics and ammo. Every major gun manufacturer has brought at least one new rimfire rifle to the market in the last two years, and these models are covered in detail. This 272-page book can help recreational shooters, competition shooters, and varmint hunters alike.

How to PREVIEW the CONTENT: Go to Amazon.com and click on “Look Inside” to see 100+ screen views from the digital Kindle version of the book.

Gun digest book rimfire rifles NRL22 tactical .22 LR .17 HMR

The .22 Long Rifle caliber is the most popular ammunition and firearm chambering in the world. It’s a backyard plinker, small-game hunter, tactical trainer and Olympic medalist. The humble .22 LR is undergoing a massive resurgence in the United States, and around the world. Topics covered in this full-color book include: complete coverage of semi-autos and how they work, bolt-action accuracy advice, match shooting tips, DIY precision gunsmithing, hunting with rimfires, and the future of the rimfire market. There is also a detailed, illustrated history of rimfire cartridges.

Additional Coverage of .17 Caliber Rimfire Options
This book also contains some sections on the popular .17 caliber rimfire cartridges: .17 HM2, .17 HMR, and .17 WSM. Of these three, the .17 HM2 (aka “17 Mach 2″) is the most affordable, the .17 HMR is the most popular, while the .17 WSM has the best ballistics by far.

Precision Rimfire Competition and Recommended .22 LR Rifles

Here are three videos covering NRL22 competition and .22 LR tactical bolt-guns that work well for these kinds of multi-position, tactical-style matches.

About the Rimfire Revolution Book Author
Michael R. Shea is a an editor-at-large at Field & Stream magazine, a contributing writer for Gun Digest the Magazine, and SHOT Business magazine. His work has also appeared in Men’s Journal, Outdoor Life, and Ducks Unlimited magazines and many more. He also directs a monthly National Rifle League .22 (NRL22) match in New York state.

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February 17th, 2022

Get Official High Power and F-Class Targets + Repair Centers

Official Targets Creedmoor sports

Are you a High Power or F-Class marksman looking for official bullseye paper targets? Here are bulk sets of 25, 50 and 100 targets from Creedmoor Sports. All these can can be used for general practice, fun matches, or official sanctioned events. Choose the official 200-yard SR target with all scoring rings (X,10,9,8,7,6,5), priced at $49.95 for 50. For long-range practice, try the NRA Official 600-yard High Power Target ($58.95 for 25ct), or the Official “Full Face” MR-65 500-Yard F-Class Target ($31.95 for 50ct). Creedmoor also offers a variety of Repair Centers, including the 300-Yard SR-3C Target Repair Center ($34.95), or the 600-yard MR-1 Target Repair Center ($32.95). These target centers can be used on top of full targets, or by themselves for practice on smaller target frames.

Official Targets Creedmoor sports
Official Targets Creedmoor sports

Creedmoor Sports also offers match-grade spotter discs. These are used to mark shot locations. They are offered in three diameters: 1.5″, 3.0″, and 5.0″. In addition, you can purchase the spindles used with spotter discs along with orange Golf Tees also employed to mark shots. These are placed in the shot holes by pit workers.

Frankly for practice, we recommend a Longshot LR-3 Target Cam, or ShotMarker system.

Creedmoor Sports Target

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February 17th, 2022

Handy Rack for Your Cleaning Rods — Under $7.00 Now

Tipton Cleaning Rod Rack 100335

Tipton Cleaning Rod Racks on Sale
Looking to better organize your reloading room (aka “man cave”)? Here’s a handy, affordable product that will help you organize gear in your reloading room or “man cave”. Tipton’s Cleaning Rod Rack (Tipton #100335) can accommodate up to six rods with various size handles. The wall-mounted Rod Rack also has horizontal studs on either end for additional accessories. These are useful for hanging the Tico Tool shotgun cleaning wands that stow in a tube with a plastic hook on the top.

Tipton Cleaning Rod Racks come complete with mounting screws (and screw slots are molded-in). You can find Tipton Cleaning Rod racks for under $7.00 right now. They are $6.95 at MidwayUSA. And Amazon currently offers the racks for $6.95 with free shipping for Amazon Prime Members.

Tipton Cleaning Rod Rack 100335

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February 17th, 2022

Build Your Own Compact Loading Center with WorkMate Bench

portable reloading benchA while back, we featured a portable reloading bench built on a Black & Decker Workmate. That proved a VERY popular do-it-yourself project so we’re showing it again, in case you missed it the first time.

Texan Robert Lewis made himself a great portable reloading bench from plywood mounted to a Black & Decker Workmate. The bench, roughly 22″ x 19″ on top, folds up to fit easily in your car’s trunk or behind the seats in a pick-up truck cab. Four recessed bolts hold the wood top section to the collapsible B&D Workmate. The sides and back of the unit are attached to the base with small nails. There is a small shelf (also nailed in place) which can be used to clamp a powder measure or hold a scale. Shown in the photo is a Harrell’s Benchrest measure and Harrell’s single-stage “C” press.

Click for Detail of Top.
portable shooting bench

The whole unit can be built for about $65.00 with pine, or $80.00 with oak (as shown). Robert explained: “The Workmate was $40. If someone bought a 2’x4′ sheet of 3/4″ oak plywood, I think it is around $30. Using pine plywood would be about half that. Fasteners were $3. Spar Urethane would be $5.”

Robert told us: “I used a couple ideas I found on the web. The Larry Willis website gave me the idea to use the Black and Decker Workmate as a base. I found the Workmate on sale for $40 and the top is made from oak plywood I had in my shop. I sealed the wood with three coats of Spar Urethane. The whole thing folds into a nice package for transportation to and from the range.”

NOTE: Since we first ran this story, the price of a Black & Decker Workmate WM225 has increased. However you can still pick a WM225 Workmate for under $75.00. Amazon is currently selling WM225 Workmates for $70.34. The next best price we found was $72.96 at Home Depot, still a good price (Lowe’s is charging $94.98).

Click HERE for FREE WORKBENCH PLANS.

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February 16th, 2022

Celebrate Second Amendment Day — February 22, 2022

Brownells second amendment day 2/22/2022 February 22 2022

Under the current administration in Washington, Second Amendment rights are under attack. President Biden wants to restrict handguns and ban modern semi-automatic rifles such as the AR-15. And the ATF continues to digitize millions of sales records, effectively creating a national Firearms Registry, in direct violation of Federal law.

To help fight these trends, Brownells encourages all gun owners to take collective action to help defend the Second Amendment. For this purpose Brownells has declared the first-ever Second Amendment Day (2A Day) on February 2, 2022 — 2-22-2022.

FREE Range Sessions, FREE Ammo, and FREE Food

On 2A Day you can shoot for free — on Brownells’ nickel — at affiliated gun ranges. On 2-22-2022, Brownells has partnered with a few gun ranges to host 2nd Amendment Day range sessions. The range sessions will include free range time, limited free ammo, and free food for those who attend.

Brownells second amendment day 2/22/2022 February 22 2022

To find a participating range, visit the National 2nd Amendment Day website. Then contact the range to reserve a place.

Post your Second Amendment Day Range Sessions
Brownells encourages Second Amendment supporters unable to attend a participating range to shoot at a nearby, local range and post photos of their 2A Day activities on social media with hashtag #2ADay.

Join a Second Amendment Organization

Brownells recommends that gun owners join a national and/or state-level gun rights organization. Brownells will promote the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), and American Suppressor Association (ASA) on its website. Brownells will also feature a clickable USA map which visitors can use to find a state organization to join.

Brownells states: “The most important thing you can do is join with us to help preserve, protect and expand your 2nd Amendment rights. Join a state level organization promoting gun rights where you live. Join a national organization to help protect freedom for the whole country. In the spirit of joining, Brownells will purchase FPC memberships for its employees, and donate $22,222 each to FPC, SAF, the ASA, and the Iowa Firearms Coalition.”

Advocate for Your Rights — Contact Your Legislators

Brownells encourages all gun owners to advocate for the 2nd Amendment by contacting their state and federal lawmakers and communicating citizen support for gun rights. The National 2nd Amendment Day webpage includes tips on how to how to effectively communicate with politicians.

Brownells second amendment day 2/22/2022 February 22 2022

“The spirit of this event is to designate a day that we, as a nation, recognize, celebrate and do our part to secure one of the most important rights guaranteed by our Constitution – the right to keep and bear arms,” said Pete Brownell, Chairman of the Board. “This event, which we hope continues to grow in size, scale and scope, is aimed at bringing all freedom-loving Americans together on one day – 2/22 – this year and every year going forward to show support for our beloved 2nd Amendment.”

To help promote 2A Day, Brownells has created a free, downloadable target:

Brownells second amendment day 2/22/2022 February 22 2022

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