Shooters starting rifle projects now have a great, high-quality option — Christensen Arms barreled actions. Available exclusively at Brownells, these Christensen Arms barreled actions are available for popular rifle cartridges such as 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .308 Win, 300 PRC, and .300 Win Mag. All barreled actions are ready to drop into the stock or chassis of the customer’s choice. These Christensen Arms barreled actions are offered in two configurations, Mesa and Ridgeline:
Mesa: Stainless steel barrel and installed muzzle brake
Ridgeline: Carbon fiber-wrapped barrel and threaded muzzle
Rem 700 Footprint Barreled Actions
Because Christensen Arms barreled actions have a Remington 700 footprint, customers can select compatible stocks and parts from a large range of manufacturers, also available at Brownells.
In addition, Customers can easily complete their rifle build with a wide variety of Christensen Arms stocks, bottom metals, muzzle devices, and other parts. To see the full lineup of Christensen Arms parts, visit Brownells.com.
Christensen Arms BARRELED ACTIONS exclusively at Brownells:
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.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors. Prices may vary for Amazon Prime members.
⏺ Good alternative to bulky, heavy electronic muffs
Electronic earmuffs work well but they can be heavy and bulky. And they can interfere with cheek weld. If you want the benefits of electronics but the comfort of ear plugs try the Caldwell E-MAX Shadow electronic ear plugs which boast a 23 decibel NRR (Noise Reduction Rating). Experience high quality stereo sound while confidently protecting your hearing. With six sizes of included foam tips, you’ll find a custom fit for your ear to ensure proper noise cancellation and hearing protection.
2. Midsouth — CCI Bargain Rimfire Ammo in Stock
⏺ Large inventory of CCI Rimfire ammo starting at 9 cents per round
More people than ever are getting rimfire rifles for plinking and/or matches. Rimfires are inexpensive to shoot, and the reduced noise and recoil are big positives. If you need some .22 LR rimfire ammunition check out the CCI .22 LR ammo sale at Midsouth. There’s a wide variety of CCI rimfire ammo on sale, starting at $4.50 per 50ct box. This is a great chance to pick up quality .22 LR ammo at attractive prices.
3. Brownells — $25 Gift Card Bonus with $100 Gift Card Purchase
⏺ Spend $100, get $25 Gift Card back with Brownells promo
Do you like giving gift cards for the holidays? For a limited time you can pick up a FREE $25 gift card with the purchase of $100 in Brownells gift cards. That’s like getting a 25% rebate! This is a great deal and good way to treat someone else AND yourself.
⏺ Very good spotting scope with great long eye relief
Whether shooting at matches or just target shooting having a good spotting scope is a must. A great choice is this Kowa TSN-82SV Combo on sale for $975, a $110 savings. This item includes the highly-rated 82SV spotting body, plus an excellent 25X LER (Long Eye Relief) eyepiece AND a deluxe protective cover. NOTE: With its fixed-power Long Eye Relief eyepiece, this scope works great for prone work, mounted right next to the shooter. However, for long-range spotting duties you may want a unit fitted with a higher-magnification zoom eyepiece.
5. Palmetto SA — Taurus TX 22 .22 LR Pistol Sale, $276.85
⏺ Great price on a very good rimfire pistol
If you’re looking to keep ammo costs down by training with .22 LR rimfire handgun, consider this Taurus TX 22 pistol. Taurus TX 22s have earned very positive reviews from purchasers. The frame has comfortable ergonomics and the Taurus Pittman Trigger System (PTS) offers a very good trigger pull. This is a good choice for a first .22 LR rimfire pistol, at a very good price — starting at $276.85.
6. Amazon — 3″ Splatter Squares On A Roll, $19.99
⏺ Cool product — stick-on grid targets with splatter effect
Splatter targets are popular but the cost of large-size bullseye splatter targets adds up quickly. A cool alternative are these Pistep Splatter Shooting Targets. These are handy “reactive” targets that show a yellow splatter on shot locations. Each roll contain 250 three-inch-square stick-on grids. Each sticker has nine 1″ squares on it so determining group size is easy. For a shooter with an accurate rifle, these 3″ x 3″ splatter squares can work better than a large splatter bullseye target.
Don’t want a gun case that screams “There’s a rifle inside”? If you need to transport small rifles discreetly, check out the Darekuku 30″ Rifle Backpack Bag. The main compartment has padded protection for two rifles. The handy shoulder straps can be covered with a zip-over panel. There is a zipper-access top compartment and a large secondary compartment (with inner mesh pocket and MOLLE straps) to hold ammo, Kestrel, muffs, targets, or other accessories. We like this case to carry a carbine with folding stock. It’s a steal at just $49.99.
It’s getting easier to stock up on ammunition and .223 Rem is the most popular rifle cartridge. If you need a good supply of .223 Rem ammo, consider this PMC 1000-round case of .223 Rem at Locked & Loaded. This is one of the best deals we’ve seen on quality .223 Rem ammo in quite some time.
9. Amazon — NEIKO 6″ Digital Calipers, $25.99
⏺ Good, reliable digital calipers at attractive price
Every handloader needs to measure shoulder bump, cartridge length, and other dimensions. A good set of calipers is essential. If you need calipers, check out the NEIKO Electronic Digital Calipers. The tool’s body/frame is constructed of finely polished stainless steel with a knurled thumb roller and locking screw that ensures smooth sliding and accurate positioning. If you’re getting started in reloading or are looking for a back-up set of calipers, this is a good option.
10. Graf & Sons — Sierra Ammo Sale with Rebate
⏺ Nice rebate on quality Sierra hunting and defense ammo
Did you know that Sierra makes hunting and self-defense ammo? You can grab Outdoor and Sports Master ammo on sale PLUS there’s a rebate that takes $3 off 1 box or $10 off 2 boxes. NOTE: These boxes contain TWENTY (20) rounds only. These are NOT 50-rd boxes.
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NOTE: There are ten (10) shots in the group, but for simplicity we are only displaying five (5) shot circles. Adding more circles won’t change the measurement because the two most distant shots, which determine group size, ARE included.
What kind of 200-yard accuracy can you get in an enclosed, underground test range? Would you believe 0.162 MOA at 200 yards with a .338? Have a look at these test targets from Sierra Bullets. Like most bullet manufacturers, Sierra does live-fire bullet testing to ensure that Sierra projectiles perform as promised, with repeatable accuracy. Sierra tests bullets in its own underground test complex. Sierra’s 300-meter test range is the longest, privately-owned underground bullet test facility in the Western Hemisphere.*
Day in and day out, various bullet types are tested using a big collection of barreled actions. These barreled actions are clamped in stout, return-to-battery test fixtures. These big, heavy test fixtures provide near-perfect repeatability (with no human-induced holding or aiming errors).
Sierra Bullets 10-Shot Groups at 200 yards
Check out these 10-shot test groups shot at the Sierra Test Range at 200 yards. Note that the numbers listed on each sample are actual measurements in inches. To convert to MOA, cut those numbers in half (to be more precise, divide by 2.094, which is 1 MOA at 200 yards). For example, the 0.340″ middle group works out to 0.162 MOA at 200 yards.
Scan-Verified 0.162 MOA Accuracy at 200 Yards
To verify the accuracy of Sierra’s measurements, we measured the middle (.338 caliber) 10-shot group with our On-Target Group Measurement software. We registered a group size reading of 0.339″ — within one-thousandth of the Sierra measurement. The calculated group size in MOA (Minute of Angle) is 0.162.
That’s amazingly good for ten rounds of big .338 caliber bullets. A FIVE-shot 0.162 MOA group at 200 would be considered excellent at any benchrest match. But remember this target has TEN shots. The current, one-target IBS world record for ten shots at 200 yards is 0.245″, set by Ed Watson in 1999.
Bevy of Barreled Actions for Bullet Testing
Sierra Bullets uses dozens of barreled actions for testing bullets in its enclosed, 200-yard test range. Each barrel has its own logbook to track the barrel’s usage.
Click Photo to Zoom
*Even Longer Test Tunnels Exist in Europe: At Stadeln in Germany, RWS (now part of RUAG) owns a 500 meter tunnel (above ground level) which has existed for decades. In Thun, Switzerland, RUAG has a fully-instrumented 500 meter underground tunnel. Near Ulm, Germany, there is a 5-lane 300 meter underground shooting range that is open to the public.
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There will be a big new 300,000-square-foot ammo plant in Georgia, thanks to Beretta. Beretta Holding Group, through its acquisition of Norma Precision, announced it will invest $60 million in a state-of-the-art ammunition manufacturing and distribution facility in Savannah, Georgia.
Norma Precision will construct a 300,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility that will handle ammunition manufacturing, assembly, and distribution. This investment is a major step for the Beretta Holding Group which already employs nearly 1,000 employees in the United States through Beretta USA, Benelli USA, Burris, Steiner eOptics, and Norma Precision. By adding ammunition to its U.S. operations, the new Savannah, GA facility expands the Beretta Holding Group’s already extensive footprint in the USA.
Dott. Pietro Gussalli Beretta (center) signs the memorandum of understanding with Bryan County and Georgia State representatives.
“We are … creating hundreds of new jobs” stated Dott. Pietro Gussalli Beretta, President and CEO of Beretta Holding S.A., who added: “I am delighted to announce our commitment to invest $60 million through our newly acquired U.S. ammunition subsidiary, Norma Precision. Together with my family and Beretta Holding, we are very proud to add ammunition manufacturing to our U.S. presence. [W]e can now provide our loyal and dedicated U.S. customers with a full range of locally manufactured premium products spanning from firearms to ammunition and optics, all united under the same Group.”
Georgia Is Now Among Top 10 States in Firearms and Ammunition Manufacturing
Georgia continues to attract global businesses like RUAG Ammotec. In 2019 Taurus opened a large gun factory in Bainbridge, Georgia. And other gun/ammo makers have found a friendly home in Georgia. According to NSSF data, Georgia has become one of the country’s top 10 states for firearms and shooting sports products manufacturing.
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Readers often ask us: “Is there an inexpensive way I can get started in position shooting?” The answer is “yes” — across the country CMP-affiliated clubs host Rimfire Sporter matches. You can use a wide variety of .22 LR rimfire rifles — manual actions (such as a Winchester model 52) or semi-automatics (such as a Ruger 10/22). There are prone, sitting/kneeling, and standing stages. CMP rules provide separate classifications for scoped rifles, open-sighted rifles, and aperture-sighted rifles. The matches are fun, the ammo is inexpensive, and everyone has a good time while improving their marksmanship.
Rimfire Sporter Match Basics
The CMP Rimfire Sporter Rifle Match is an inexpensive, fun-oriented competition using .22 caliber sporter rifles (plinking and small game rifles) commonly owned by most gun enthusiasts. To compete, all you need is a basic rifle, safety gear, and ammunition. No fancy, high-dollar rifles are required.
The event is shot with standard sporter-type, rimfire rifles weighing no more than 7.5 pounds, with sights and sling. Rifles may be manually-operated or semi-automatic. Rifles may be manually operated or semi-automatic, with three classes.
The three classes of competition are: 1) standard “O Class” for open-sighted rifles; 2) “T-Class” for telescope-sighted and rear aperture-sighted rifles; and 3) “Tactical Rimfire” class, which is a .22 caliber A4 or AR15 style rifle.
Firing for all classes is done at 25 and 50 yards on a target with a 1.78″ ten-ring and an 18″ outer one-ring. Even new shooters can get hits on this target, but it’s still challenging.
Rimfire Sporter Excellence
Above, young Samuel Payne won the inaugural Talladega 600 Rimfire Sporter event. In 2015, Payne became the first-ever Rimfire Sporter competitor to fire a perfect 600 x 600 score (600-50X) in a CMP-sponsored competition. Payne shot the perfect score at the CMP Eastern Games at Camp Butner, NC.
Rimfire Sporter Competition is fun for all ages — including senior shooters.
Rimfire Sporter Course of Fire
In a CMP Rimfire Sporter match, competitors will complete slow fire prone, rapid fire prone, slow fire sitting or kneeling, rapid fire sitting or kneeling, slow fire standing, and rapid fire standing shot sequences.
The CMP has adaptive Rimfire Sporter programs for shooters with physical impairments.
Rimfire Sporter Local Matches with Modified Rules
One great thing about the rimfire shooting discipline is that you can start with a very inexpensive rifle and still be competitive and have fun. The matches involve multiple stages including standing, kneeling/sitting, and prone. There are classes for both scoped rifles and iron-sights rifles.
Our friend Dennis Santiago helps run CMP Rimfire Sporter Matches in Southern California. Dennis observes: “You want something challenging? Well that X-Ring 50 yards away is the diameter of a 50 cent piece, and there are people out there that can womp that thing with iron sights.”
Dennis notes: “There are six (6) stages of fire on a tough little target. Notice the rifles that can be used run the gamut from pump and bolt actions to variations on the semi-auto theme. All still require a good eye and a steady hold to earn one’s bragging rights for the day. A match takes about an hour and a half per relay. The slowest part of the match is initial sighting in. It’ll take longer than the allocated 5 minutes for the typical first timer coming to a club match.”
At Dennis’s Burbank Rifle & Revolver Club (BRRC), procedures are modified a little bit: “What we typically do at BRRC is run two relays. Experienced competitors shoot per the full rulebook. New shooters are afforded a bit more relaxed environment to make the experience more fun and inviting. We do the same thing in our M-1 Garand Clinic/Match series.”
Official CMP Guide to Rimfire Sporter Competition
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has a CMP Guide to Rimfire Sporter Shooting. This FREE, 50-page digital publication covers equipment, positions, course of fire, rules, scoring and much more. You’ll find helpful “how-to” sections on aiming, sight picture, hold control, and trigger control. Reading these instructional sections can benefit any prone or three-position competitive shooter.
Rimfire Sporter competitors should read Gary Anderson’s Rimfire Sporter Guide Part II. This well-illustrated, 8-page, 2014 publication covers shooting positions, sling use, sight picture, trigger technique and more.
Highlights from the 2016 National Rimfire Sporter Match at Camp Perry:
* Shooting Sports USA notes: “Samuel Payne had an unforgettable 2015. At just 16, he dominated the Rimfire Sporter events at the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) Eastern Games, National Matches, Western Games and the Talladega 600, while also setting two new National Records during the year. Sam’s photo also graced the cover of the 10th Edition of the CMP Guide to Rimfire Sporter Shooting — and rightfully so. He proved his undeniable talent at every event he entered, not only winning the matches, but also setting the bar high for competitors in the future.”
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Hunting season continues in many areas of the nation, so many game hunters have questions about terminal performance and particular caliber/cartridge combinations. Bryan Litz of Applied Ballistics says there are really a number of questions that need to be answered:
1) What’s the max range that the shooter/rifle is capable of hitting the intended target?
2) What’s the max range that a bullet can kill the intended game?
3) How do bullets kill?
4) Effects of Muzzle Velocity on Lethality.
(Your MV may be lower in winter with temp-sensitive powders).
5) Long Range Lethality and the Ballistic Coefficient.
You’ll find answers to these and other questions in Bryan’s book, Applied Ballistics for Long-Range Shooting. These topics are covered in Chapter 15: Lethality of Long Range Hunting Bullets. Bryan says: “For responsible hunting, knowing your limits and your rifle’s limits, is important.”
Bryan’s book also includes Bullet Lethality Charts for a variety of calibers and cartridge types. These charts feature categories for 600-lb, 300-lb, and 150-lb Game animals so you can match performance to the size of your prey. Bryan explains: “If I wanted to know how a Medium Capacity Cartridge shooting the 6mm Berger 115 VLD will perform on 300-pound game, I can reference the bullet-specific chart.”
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A modern F-Class or Benchrest competition rifle can cost $4000.00 or more. Add $2500 for a top-tier scope and you can easily have $6500.00 or more invested in your rig. With that kind of money involved, you should transport that valuable rifle in a very high-quality case — one that is strong, durable, and secure. In addition, the case should have quality, customizable internal foam that cushions the barreled action, stock, scope, and key accessories.
These video reviews look at quality, durability, features, price, and other factors.
TSA-Approved Rifle Cases — Performance Tested
This Warrior Poet Society video covers the key features you need with a gun case. The reviewer also explains the important TSA rules you need to consider when flying with firearms. The reviewer, has used all kinds of cases to travel with his firearms on planes, over seas, across continents. In this video he reviews a range of cases — from basic affordable cases to high-end cases that costs many hundreds of dollars.
Five Hard Shell Rifle Cases Showcased
This review looks at five (5) of the best rifle transport cases. The video considers key features including hinges, locks, padding, and wheels. The five cases reviewed are:
This 6.5-minute video covers five affordable hard shell cases ranging in price from $50 to $177. The video provides a good look at the external and internal features of these five cases, using mostly manufacturer-supplied video, including some field tests.
This video covers a unique large, long-gun case that holds multiple rifles in a vertical arrangement. The Case Club 4 Rifle/Shotgun Case holds up to 4 long guns, along with 3 pistols in a tough wheeled, waterproof case with a lifetime warranty. The case fits any rifle or shotgun under 41″ long, with room for for optics, foregrips, under-barrel attachments, pistol grips, and more.
The case itself is crushproof, waterproof, stackable, and TSA-approved. Dual purge valves keep moisture out while allowing the case to be opened in high or low altitude. The foam is long-lasting, oil-proof military grade polyethylene that won’t tear. This case is not cheap — it retails for $632.45.
Plano All-Weather Rifle Case — Great Protection for the Price
Plano cases offer excellent value for the money. Priced at $109.99 on Amazon (for 42″ model), the Plano All-Weather Tactical Gun Case offers a strong shell, tough hinges, and secure weather-proofing. The case has pre-perforated, pluck-to-fit foam for easy customization. This airline-approved case boasts a Dri-Loc seal providing a watertight, dust-proof shield that protects your firearms from water damage. For $30 more Plano offers the new All Weather Rustrictor Case with VCI-infused resin and foam emitter blocks that fight rust and corrosion.
Harbor Freight Apache 9800 Weatherproof Rifle Case
This video features the Harbor Freight APACHE 9800 Weatherproof Rifle Case. The reviewer states this $169.99 case has served him well, proving rugged and durable with the ability to securely transport multiple firearms. The video showcases the Apache 9800 in detail, and explains steps that can provide additional long-term durability. This Apache 9800 case is offered in black, tan, and OD green.
BONUS Videos — How to Cut Foam for your Gun Cases
For the best fit of your firearms and accessories in a foam-interior hard case, you should customize the foam to fit. Some cases have “pluckable” foam. With these you remove small squares one an a time until the stored items fit. With other cases with dense foam interiors, you’ll need to cut the foam to fit. Here are two videos that show the process of tailoring foam to a rifle using an electric cutting tool. Watch these videos carefully — they can really help create the best custom-fit for your firearms.
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Here is an interesting project by one of our Forum members. Martin C. (aka “Killick”) modified an Anschutz 1411 Match 54 rimfire prone stock to become a comfortable, great-tracking F-Class Open Division Stock. No Killick didn’t sacrifice a perfectly good rimfire rifle for this project — he bought the Anschutz stock by itself on eBay, then transformed it…
Killick explains: “This project started about seven years ago. I bought the Anschutz prone stock on eBay and whittled it a bit into a Palma rifle with a Barnard action and block and a Doan Trevor cheek piece and scope rail. Then about two years ago I decided to re-task the stock/action assembly into an F-Open rig. With more whittling, gluing, sanding, body fillering, sanding, filling, sanding, more sanding…and sanding, forming, priming, sanding, painting, waiting, painting, painting…painting and before you know it, Bob’s your uncle.”
Here is the eBay-sourced Anschutz 1411 stock, with new high-gloss blue finish, as initially modified for use in Killick’s centerfire Palma rifle. Looks nice!
Next step was the addition of a 3″-wide wood fore-end for F-Open duties with front rest:
Almost done here… just needs priming and final painting:
Here is Killick’s completed F-Open rifle with its much-modified Anschutz stock now finished in fire-engine red lacquer. This image shows the detail of the grip and customized cheekpiece.
The Where To Shoot Mobile App quickly locates shooting ranges near you, drawing on North America’s most comprehensive directory of shooting ranges. Users can search by current location, state, or zip code. Once you locate a range, you can view activities offered along with a summary of range facilities. You can even get driving directions.
The app is modeled after NSSF’s popular WhereToShoot.org® website and is updated frequently with range information for every U.S. state and Canadian province. Once you’ve located a place to shoot, the App can provide directions to the range. The App also includes video tips for shooters, news, and firearm-safety information.
Where to Shoot iOS App for iPad
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“On that day, let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting and enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.”
– 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Veterans Day proclamation.
104 Years Later…
On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month of 1918, bugle calls signaled the ‘cease fire’ ending the First World War. (The official Armistice was signed earlier that morning.) To those who endured it, WWI was the “Great War”, “the War to End All Wars.” Tragically, an even greater conflict consumed the world just two decades later.
Today, 104 years after the end of WWI, Americans mark the anniversary of the WWI Armistice as “Veterans Day”. In Canada it is known as Remembrance Day. On this solemn occasion we honor all those who have served in the military in times of war and peace.
While more veterans pass away each year, there are still about 19 million veterans in the United States. Take time today to honor those soldiers, sailors, and airmen who have served their nation with pride. Today we remember that… “All gave some, and some gave all.” History of Veterans Day.
Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James Peake asked Americans to recognize the nation’s 19 million living veterans and the generations before them who fought to protect freedom and democracy: “While our foremost thoughts are with those in distant war zones today, Veterans Day is an opportunity for Americans to pay their respects to all who answered the nation’s call to military service.”
On Veterans Day we especially need to remember the seriously wounded combat veterans. These men and women summon great courage every day to overcome the lasting injuries they suffered in battle. Some of these soldiers have lost limbs, yet volunteered to return to combat duty. That is dedication beyond measure — true patriotism.
National Veterans Day Ceremony
The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations. The ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Major regional ceremonies and events are also held throughout the country.
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Top to bottom – Remington firing pin assembly with ISS, Tubb SpeedLock alloy-composite system without ISS (current versions have dual, opposite-wound springs), and Remington short action firing pin assembly without ISS.
The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit regularly publishes technical articles on the USAMU Facebook page. One informative USAMU article covered mechanical issues and related ignition irregularities that can cause vertical fliers even with good ammunition in an otherwise excellent rifle. We highly recommend you read this article, which offers some important tech tips.
Vertical Dispersion: Mechanical/Ignition Issues?
Poor or inconsistent ignition has long been known to be one of the “usual suspects” when one encounters vertical fliers that just shouldn’t be there. By having a sense of some of the basic principles involved, and a few basic areas to check, the shooter may avoid colsiderable frustration, not to mention time, expensive loading components and barrel wear.
Is your well-built rifle of high-quality components plagued with vertical fliers across more than 1-3 handload combinations? Consider the bedding, crown and scope/sight mounts. Are they correct? If so, then you might check for ignition issues before boldly undertaking an extensive, expensive, and quite possibly fruitless quest for the “magic handload”.
SEEING IS BELIEVING: While the author had been aware for many years that poor ignition should be considered and ruled out when dealing with vertical fliers in an otherwise-excellent rifle, actually seeing the problem and its almost instantaneous cure really drove the lesson home.
He was working with a “dot” rifle – a .22 LR match rifle that really stacked bullets into little piles at 50 yards and beyond. With one lot of ELEY Tenex, it produced consistent “bughole” groups at 50, but with another, selected lot of Tenex, similar groups were regularly ruined by single, vertical fliers that did not appear in other rifles. Rather than spending days burning up expensive, select ammunition looking for “magic lots”, he contacted a well-respected rimfire gunsmith and explained the situation.
Without so much as batting an eye, the highly-experienced ‘smith tore into the rifle’s action, and quickly found the cause(s) of the problem. He discovered a demonstrably weak firing pin spring, plus a chip out of the face of the firing pin where it contacted the cartridge rim.
After replacing and tuning the offending parts, the rifle immediately began shooting tiny, bughole groups with the previously “unacceptable” lot of Tenex. Centerfire rifles can also benefit from ensuring positive, consistent ignition. A wise riflesmith is literally worth his weight in gold!
So, what are some issues we as shooters can inspect in our rifles to help determine if ignition woes could be part of our problem? At the club level, ask yourself if that “experienced” Remington, Winchester 70, or even Springfield-based match bolt gun you’re using is still running its’ original 40-80 year-old factory striker spring? If so, a new replacement is cheap insurance against current or future problems. (And BTW, it might be best to stick to the normal, factory-spec spring weight. A super-powerful spring can cause vertical, just as a weak one one can.) Along with that, a routine check for proper firing-pin protrusion is a quick preventive measure that can rule out potential issues.
Other areas to consider are the centering and consistency of the firing pin’s operation in the bolt. Admittedly, with the increasing use of precision-machined custom actions, this is becoming less an issue every day. Below is the firing pin assembly from a custom BAT action:
However, particularly with factory actions, a very quick and easy check is to remove the bolt, let the firing pin go forward, and look at the firing pin tip through the firing pin hole. Is the tip off-center in the hole, and possibly striking it as it moves forward? Is the hole out-of-round or burred from being struck repeatedly? If so, a trip to the riflesmith is likely in order.
Similarly, machining issues in the bolt/firing pin system can lead to rough and erratic firing pin movement, in which the firing pin drags against an internal surface of the bolt. In high-quality rifles these issues are relatively rare, but not unheard-of, and it takes mere minutes to rule them out. It may be worthwhile to remove the cocking piece/firing pin/spring assembly and look for any unusual gouges, dings, peening, burrs or signs of abnormal wear.
This task is especially easy with Winchester 70s, Springfields, and the similar Mauser 98s, involving little more than the push of a button and unscrewing the cocking piece assembly. This is just one of the many reasons these tried-and-true actions have earned such a loyal following in the field, among hunters who must maintain their rifles away from a shop.
Particularly with older rifles, watch for and remove excess grease (or even Cosmoline!) from both the firing pin assembly and inside the bolt. This can help improve firing pin speed and consistency. Other bolt-action designs may need a take-down tool or other measures.
As part of this inspection, AFTER ENSURING THE RIFLE IS UNLOADED, slowly cock the rifle, dry-fire, and repeat several times. Listen carefully near the action for inconsistency in the sounds it generates. Does the striker falling make the same sound each time? Do you hear or feel grinding upon operation? If so, where?
Be sure to check the operation of the cocking piece (bolt shroud), firing pin within the bolt shroud, the cocking piece cam and the rear of the bolt body where the cocking piece cam operates. As with our examination for abnormal wear marks discussed above, look for marks indicating roughness or a possible need for light polishing. Then, clean and lightly grease the bearing surfaces while you’re at it.
Remington 700 bolt shroud and cocking cam
These are relatively easy checks that shooters can undertake to perform a preliminary inspection on their own. Other mechanical issues can also cause ignition issues, chiefly centered around the action of the trigger, sear and sear spring. If these are suspected, a trip to an experienced, qualified riflesmith for diagnosis is recommended. We hope you find this information helpful! Join us again next week, and in the meantime, enjoy the shooting sports safely!
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Forest of Windflags at World Benchrest Championships in France in 2011
There’s a simple, inexpensive “miracle device” that can cut your groups in half. If you’re not using this device, you’re giving away accuracy. The “miracle device” to which we refer is a simple wind indicator aka “windflag”. Using windflags may actually improve your accuracy on target much more than weighing charges to the kernel, or spending your life savings on the “latest and greatest” hardware.
Remarkably, many shooters who spend $3000.00 or more on a precision rifle never bother to set up windflags, or even simple wood stakes with some ribbon to show the wind. Whether you’re a competitive shooter, a varminter, or someone who just likes to punch small groups, you should always take a set of windflags (or some kind of wind indicators) when you head to the range or the prairie dog fields. And yes, if you pay attention to your windflags, you can easily cut your group sizes in half. Here’s proof…
Miss a 5 mph Shift and You Could DOUBLE Your Group Size
The table below records the effect of a 5 mph crosswind at 100, 200, and 300 yards. You may be thinking, “well, I’d never miss a 5 mph let-off.” Consider this — if a gentle 2.5 mph breeze switches from 3 o’clock (R to L) to 9 o’clock (L to R), you’ve just missed a 5 mph net change. What will that do to your group? Look at the table to find out.
Values from Point Blank Ballistics software for 500′ elevation and 70° temperature.
Imagine you have a 6mm rifle that shoots half-MOA consistently in no-wind conditions. What happens if you miss a 5 mph shift (the equivalent of a full reversal of a 2.5 mph crosswind)? Well, if you’re shooting a 68gr flatbase bullet, your shot is going to move about 0.49″ at 100 yards, nearly doubling your group size. With a 105gr VLD, the bullet moves 0.28″ … not as much to be sure, but still enough to ruin a nice small group. What about an AR15, shooting 55-grainers at 3300 fps? Well, if you miss that same 5 mph shift, your low-BC bullet moves 0.68″. That pushes a half-inch group well past an inch. If you had a half-MOA capable AR, now it’s shooting worse than 1 MOA. And, as you might expect, the wind effects at 200 and 300 yards are even more dramatic. If you miss a 5 mph, full-value wind change, your 300-yard group could easily expand by 2.5″ or more.
If you’ve already invested in an accurate rifle with a good barrel, you are “throwing away” accuracy if you shoot without wind flags. You can spend a ton of money on fancy shooting accessories (such as expensive front rests and spotting scopes) but, dollar for dollar, nothing will potentially improve your shooting as much as a good set of windflags, used religiously.
Windflags Sources and Options
Which Windflag to buy? There are many vendors selling windflags of various types, some with daisy wheels others without. You may want to go to a match and see what types works best for you. CLICK HERE for the Benchrest Central Classifieds with multiple windflag types and accessories for sale. Here is a sample:
Scan-Verified 0.162 MOA Accuracy at 200 Yards
You’ll find answers to these and other questions in Bryan’s book, 
Is your well-built rifle of high-quality components plagued with vertical fliers across more than 1-3 handload combinations? Consider the bedding, crown and scope/sight mounts. Are they correct? If so, then you might check for ignition issues before boldly undertaking an extensive, expensive, and quite possibly fruitless quest for the “magic handload”.
There’s a simple, inexpensive “miracle device” that can cut your groups in half. If you’re not using this device, you’re giving away accuracy. The “miracle device” to which we refer is a simple wind indicator aka “windflag”. Using windflags may actually improve your accuracy on target much more than weighing charges to the kernel, or spending your life savings on the “latest and greatest” hardware.
