AccurateShooter’s Target Page provides over 50 FREE downloadable targets. You’ll find all types of targets — sight-in targets, varmint targets, rimfire targets, bullseye targets, tactical targets, load development targets and more. CLICK HERE for all our free targets, including our popular LOAD DEV target.
On this load development target, all your load data fits neatly in the boxes under each target. The diamonds have 1/2″ sides and you can align your cross-hairs on the horizontal and vertical lines. When we test, we crank in a little elevation, setting the point-of-impact higher. That way our shots fall in the gray circles, leaving the red diamonds intact for precise aiming.
Storm Tactical Targets — Hundreds of FREE, Printable Targets
If you want an even greater selection of targets, specialized for PRS and NRL shooters, Storm Tactical offers a vast collection of tactical targets, available in three different versions: MOA, MIL Yards, and MIL Meters. These target sets were created with input from Sniper’s Hide. Storm Tactical also created a great rimfire target set. This includes side-by-side target blocks for fun, one-on-one competition. If you shoot NRL22 or just enjoy shooting with a buddy, we highly recommend the rimfire target set.
Overall there are 299 Storm Tactical Targets in four sets.
CLICK links to launch each Storm Tactical target collection. Then you can click the download icon to save to your hard drive. OR, you can scroll up and down to select the target(s) you like which you can tell your printer to print. We do recommend downloading the complete archives. File sizes are listed.
Here’s a Tikka T3 in Third Eye Tactical cerakoted chassis.
Rimfire Twin Target, for One-on-One Shooter Challenges
You’ll find this fun target on the third page of the Rimfire Target Pack. Just download the PDF file and instruct your printer to deliver page three. Or print out all six (6) rimfire targets if you like.
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If you have been considering getting an AMP annealer — the most sophisticated microprocessor-controlled annealing machine on the planet — then you may want to take advantage of a special promotion. Right now Creedmoor Sports is offering FREE SHIPPING on AMP Mark II Annealing Machines. This can save you quite a few dollars. And the machines are IN STOCK now and ready to ship — no waiting! This FREE Shipping offer is good through Monday, May 15, at noon Central Time. CLICK HERE for Product INFO.
The AMP Mark II uses computer-controlled electric Induction Annealing for precise, repeatable results.
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We congratulate pro shooter KC Eusebio for winning his 10th World Speed Shooting Championship. Eusebio is the only shooter in history to have earned ten overall world speed shooting titles. KC captured his 10th title at this year’s competition, held April 26-30 at the CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park in Talladega, Alabama. The match featured the eight stages found in Steel Challenge competition.
Remarkably, KC started shooting at the age of 8. He went on to becoming the youngest USPSA Master at the age of 10 and the youngest USPSA Grand Master at the age of 12. At the age of 15 he won his first World Speed Shooting Championship.
Coming off his first national championship of the season at the U.S. Steel Nationals (see below), Eusebio once again took first place in the Open Division and First Overall at the World Championships. Eusebio opted to use the newly-released Bushnell RXM-300 Reflex Sight, which has become his favorite red dot.
The video above shows KC’s win at the U.S. Steel Nationals in March, 2023. KC posted: “First match of the year was a success. I was able to take First Place Overall at the Steel National Championships. It’s always a nerve-racking match due to the speed and accuracy you have to maintain through out the day, but so rewarding when you post some good runs. As always, big thank you to all my sponsors that support me in my marksmanship endeavors.”
Learn How to Shoot Like a Champion — Tips from KC Eusebio
These two Volquartsen videos offer handgun shooting tips from 10-Time Speed Shooting Champ KC Eusebio. The first video covers important things to remember when participating in competition shooting. The second video covers pistol trigger technique.
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Brian, a gunsmith at GA Precision, built this rimfire rig with GAP colleague Anthony Soukup.
On his Facebook page, Tactical competitor Bryan Sikes posted a photo of a rimfire rig we really liked. Brian works at GA Precision. He and fellow GAP gunsmith Anthony Soukup built this rifle. With a modified Rem 40X action, Manners stock, Bartlein barrel, and Mack Brothers suppressor, this rig has top-quality components stem to stern. And Bryan tells us this rifle performs as good as it looks: “This is the baddest little .22 LR trainer ever. I’m stoked about it. With the barrel length and can, it’s the exact length of my regular comp rigs.” With length, balance, and ergonomics near identical to Bryan’s centerfire competition rifles, this 40X is a superb training tool.
Many readers wanted to know about the bottom metal and the detachable box magazine. Bryan Sike reveals: “The magazine setup is designed specifically to replicate my actual competition rifles. The bottom metal is for use with AI magazines and uses a standard M5 type inlet just like any centerfire completion rifle. In this case with the .22LR, Mike Bush designed a high reliability rimfire magazine using the same outside dimensions as an AI magazine. This rifle was built no different from any other. The action was modified and trued, barreled, fully bedded, etc. using ALL components common to centerfire match rifles.” The Rem 40X action was modified by Modacam Custom Rifles to work as a repeater with box mags.
Bryan adds that a new rimfire action is in the works: “My preference is modified Remington 40X actions and the [Vudoo Gunworks V-22 Action]. Both of which are TRUE repeaters and don’t feed from a Savage magazine. This rifle feels nothing like a .22 LR and that was the whole point.”
Why You Need a .22 LR Tactical Cross-Trainer
Many guys who shoot long-range tactical matches practice with .22 LR rifles of similar configuration. Rimfire ammo is way more affordable than centerfire, you do not need a big range facility, and shooting rimfire saves wear and tear on your centerfire rifle. Further, for learning how to read the wind, there really is no better training tool than a .22 LR, even as close as 50 yards.
Our Friend “DesertFrog”, who shoots tactical matches in Southern California, explains: “I used to shoot an average of 200 rounds of .308 Match ammo a month for training (50 per weekend). These days I shoot maybe an average of 50 rounds of .308 Win per month and probably around 600 rounds of .22 LR. Using mainly the .22 LR for practice did NOT hurt my standings in actual competitions. I shot my .308 just as well in matches, but saved the cost of hundreds of rounds of .308. If I didn’t reload and was still buying boxes of Federal Gold Medal Match .308 Win [at $1.75/round], this would be a savings of [$262.50 per month on the centerfire ammo (150 rounds).]” Money saved is money earned.
Targets for Rimfire Cross-Training
SPECIAL BONUS–Rimfire Tactical Precision Targets
These FREE targets by DesertFrog are offered in Adobe Acrobat format for easy printing. CLICK HERE to download all six targets as a .ZIP archive.
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Do you own a Springfield M1A (or wish you did)? Then you should watch this 5-minute video from the American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI). This video shows the basics of the operation of the popular M1A rifle, the civilian version of the military M14. In this video, gunsmith John Bush field-strips the M1A and shows how the bolt, op rod, and trigger group fits together and operates. This video contains excerpts from the M1A Rifle Armorer’s Course, AGI Course #1584. The full Armorer’s Course is available on DVD from www.AmericanGunsmith.com.
Watch Highlights of AGI M1A Rifle Armorer’s Course:
2023 CMP Springfield M1A Match at Camp Perry
The 16th annual Springfield Armory M1A Match will take place during the 2023 CMP National Rifle Games Matches. The CMP will host the event on Sunday, July 30, 2023, the same weekend as the Garand/Springfield/Vintage Military matches. Competitors of all experience levels are encouraged to bring their M1A rifles to Camp Perry and compete. CLICK HERE for Online REGISTRATION. The match is open to all individuals ages 12 and above. For more information contact the CMP at competitions@thecmp.org or call 419-635-2141 ext. 724 or 714.
The Springfield Armory M1A match began with one man’s idea and passion. Springfield Armory’s Mike Doy witnessed the waning of classic M1 Garand and M1A rifles from the competitive High Power firing lines. “I really wanted to get those M1A rifles out of safes and closets and back out onto the field. So 11 years ago, I promoted the idea of running an M1A-specific match at Camp Perry. That first year we had over 600 competitors and spectators.” Now the match offers some of the biggest pay-outs at Camp Perry. In recent years, Springfield Armory has donated over $25,000 worth of cash and prizes, including a $2,000 cash award to the overall winner.
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With the price of premium scopes approaching $3500.00 (and beyond), it’s more important than ever to provide extra protection for your expensive optics. ScopeCoat produces covers that shield scopes with a layer of neoprene rubber (wetsuit material) sandwiched between nylon. In addition to its basic covers, sold in a variety of sizes and colors, ScopeCoat has a line of heavy-duty 6mm-thick XP-6 covers that provide added security. CLICK HERE to review the full line of ScopeCoats on Amazon.
Triple-Thickness XP-6 Model for Added Protection
The XP-6 Flak Jacket™ is specifically designed for extra protection and durability. The 6mm-thick layer of neoprene is three times thicker than the standard ScopeCoat. XP-6 Flak Jackets are designed for tall turrets, with sizes that accommodate either two or three adjustment knobs (for both side-focus and front-focus parallax models). To shield an expensive NightForce, March, or Schmidt & Bender scope, this a good choice. XP-6 covers come in black color only, and are available for both rifle-scopes and spotting scopes.
The heavily padded XP-6 Flak Jacket is also offered in a Zippered version, shown at right. This is designed for removable optics that need protection when in storage. The full-length, zippered closure goes on quick-and-easy and provides more complete protection against dust, shock, and moisture. These quality XP-6 scope covers are available on Amazon for $22-$37.
Special Covers for Binos and Red-Dots
ScopeCoat offers many specialized products, including oversize covers for spotting scopes, protective “Bino-Bibs” for binoculars, rangefinder covers, even sleeves for small pistol scopes and red-dot optics. There are also custom-designed covers for the popular Eotech and Trijicon tactical optics.
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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.
1. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Intellidropper, $179.49
⏺ Precise powder scale/dispenser with advanced features
Do you need a faster and more accurate way to drop powder charges? If so consider the Frankford Arsenal Intellidropper. It features a self-optimizing powder calibration, +/- 0.1 grain accuracy, along with auto-trickle and manual trickle capability. This advanced machine operates with a handy touch-screen. Alternatively, you can operate remotely using Frankford’s Intellidropper App on your mobile device. User reviews of this scale/dispenser have been quite positive.
2. Creedmoor Sports — Sightron Optics Sale
⏺ Save hundreds on excellent high-magnification optics
Building a new match rifle and need a high-magnification scope? If you need a high-power optic at a great price, head over to EuroOptic for the Sightron May Scope Sale. Save a full $300 on the impressive, new SV 10-50x60mm ED optic, or save $130 on a 36X or 45X Sightron SIII scope.
3. Amazon — Rock Chucker Supreme Kit, $399.99
⏺ Quality, full-featured kit — great way to get started
RCBS offers the full line-up of reloading products — presses, tools, scales, and more. New handloaders should consider the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit. This Kit includes about everything you need to get started — Rock Chucker Reloading Press, Universal Case Loading Block, .17-.60 Debur Tool, M500 Mechanical Scale, Uniflow III Powder Measure, Hand Priming Tool, Hex Key Set, Case Lube Kit, Powder Funnel, and Speer Reloading Manual. Now $399.99 on SALE, this is an excellent deal — the very same kit sells for $459.99 at other vendors.
4. EuroOptic — SIG Laser Rangefinder Binoculars, $799.99
⏺ Great for hunting and tactical matches — 10X power with rangefinder
Rangefinding binoculars are great for hunters and tactical competitors — you simplify your load-out by having a single tool that ranges AND magnifies. Right now you can save $300 on SIG Sauer’s impressive SIG Sauer KILO3000BDX 10x42mm rangefinding binoculars. These offer sharp 10X glass with a very fast LightWave DSP™ Technology rangefinder. The rangefinder includes Angle Correction, rapid updates, and RangeLock. These SIG LRF binoculars have an additional “smart” feature. When paired with a SIG Sauer BDX-equipped riflescope, the onboard Applied Ballistics software sends ballistic drop data via Bluetooth to the scope’s reticle, providing an illuminated holdover dot and wind hold.
5. Graf & Sons — Competition Electronics Chronographs
⏺ Get a good, functional chronograph for under $130.00
Not everyone needs a $625.00 LabRadar. Some shooters just need a simple but effective chronograph to confirm a load velocity for hunting or target shooting. A good, affordable option is a Competition Electronics ProChrono chronograph. Competition Electronics offers good, reliable, made-in-the-USA chronographs at VERY affordable prices!
6. Bruno’s — PT&G Chambering Reamers In Stock, Many Types
⏺ Get precision reamers now — good prices, reamers IN STOCK
You can’t chamber a barrel without a reamer but unfortunately you might have to wait many months to get a new custom reamer. But don’t be discouraged — Bruno’s now has a wide selection of PT&G chamber reamers in stock and ready to ship. These are available for the .223 Rem, 6mm PPC, 6mmBR, 6mmGT, 6XC, .284 Winchester, .300 WSM and many other popular chamberings. If you have a project in the works, it’s great to be able to order a reamer that can be shipped to you immediately.
⏺ Nice, compact 9mm complete with integrated laser — great carry gun
Here is a great value in a 9mm carry/defense pistol. The Smith & Wesson SD9VE 9mm features a comfortable grip and a built-in laser. The Crimson Trace LG-457 Laserguard is a powerful red laser that can be set to activate instantly when the pistol is gripped, via a button on the grip front. This two-tone pistol has a black polymer frame and stainless slide. Priced at just $369.99 on sale, this S&W handgun is $200 less than a similar-sized Glock 19 without a laser. NOTE: For $389.99 ($20 more) you can get this pistol with a 16rd mag and a 10rd mag and Hi-Viz sights. Both versions come with FREE night sights.
8. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Funnel Kit, $33.54
⏺ This static-free funnel kit works great — perfect fit to necks
Handloaders need a good funnel to transfer powder into their brass. Ideally the funnel should closely fit the cartridge necks to minimize spillage. A great choice is the Frankford Arsenal Powder Funnel Kit. This quality funnel kit offers EIGHT (8) funnel nozzles with diameters that precisely fit nearly all popular cartridge types. Manufactured from static-free aluminum with a black chrome finish, this powder funnel easily slides onto case necks without hang-ups or static.
9. Palmetto State Armory — 9mm Blazer 1000 Rounds, $279.99
⏺ Great price on very reliable 9mm pistol ammo
The 9mm Luger (aka 9x19mm) is the most popular centerfire pistol round. If you need good 9mm ammo for training and plinking, grab this CCI Blazer 115gr FMJ ammo for the crazy low price of $279.99 for 1000 rounds. That’s just $14 for 50 rounds, a great deal on quality, American-made, brass-cased ammo.
10. Palmetto SA — Walker’s Muffs + Safety Glasses, $15.99
⏺ Killer deal on hearing and eye protection combo
Is it time to replace your hearing and eye protection? Or perhaps you could use an extra set for friends? Check out this Walker’s Ultra Slim Muff & Glasses Combo. You get good quality 27dB NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) muffs AND a set of quality shooting glasses — all for just $15.99. That’s a great price for essential safety items. Shooters should always have both eye and ear protection whenever at the range.
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CMP Western Games Set for October 2023
Those who missed the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) Western CMP Games at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in March 2023 will now have another chance to attend the event this year! The latest CMP Western Games, CMP Highpower (HP), and CMP Pistol Matches will be held October 10-15, 2023.
The annual Western CMP Games, Highpower, and Pistol Matches includes popular events such as the Garand, Springfield, Vintage Military, Modern Military, Rimfire Sporter, and Carbine rifle competitions as well as multiple pistol matches. The CMP Highpower Matches include 80-Shot competitions, a team match, Service Rifle EIC matches, and a Mid-Range 3×600 Rifle event for Match Rifle, Service, F-Open, F-TR, or AR Tactical rifles. There will also be marksmanship training in the classroom and on the range.
The CMP decided to move the annual Western CMP Games back to its original October timeslot of the past. Although the CMP’s Western Games were recently held in March, the new Western Games is slated for October 10-15, 2023. Registration for the October event opens in June.
The decision to move Western Games was reached after the CMP conducted a survey of competitors. Though the results (155 submissions) indicated spring was favorable (65%) versus fall (34%), the final decision was based on cost to host the event. Spring training for baseball causes inflated expenses for hotels, rental cars, and flights in the earlier months of the year. An October event should mean more affordable travel/accommodations for Western Games participants. That should allow more competitors to enjoy the events at Ben Avery.
The 2023 October Western Games will have a condensed schedule of events, including:
Garand, Springfield, Vintage & Modern Military Matches
Carbine Match
Rimfire Sporter Match
Mid-Range 3X600
80 Shot Rifle
2-Man Rifle Team
EIC Service Rifle
CMP Match Pistol 2700
EIC Service Pistol
.22 Rimfire Pistol
EIC Service Revolver
Military & Police Service Pistol and 1911 As-Issued Pistol Match
More and more folks are using Burris Signature Rings these days. These unique rings feature polymer inserts. That allows you to pre-load some elevation in your scope set-up, or you can center-up the windage. Additionally, the polymer inserts hold your scope securely without leaving marks on the tube. Lastly, some folks believe that Signature rings may offer advantages for benchrest competition. Rodney Wagner shot a world-record 600-yard group using Burris Signature Zee Rings (“Zee” denotes the Weaver-rail model). James O’Hara set multiple IBS 1000-yard records using Burris Signature Zee Rings. James will tell you he thinks “all his guns seem to shoot best with these rings”.
IBS World Record Set with Signature Zee Rings
Are Signature Zees good enough for competition? Absolutely. Some folks scoff at these Burris rings, given their low price. A set of 1″-diameter Sig Zees cost $40.89 at Midsouth. But consider this, in 2013 Rodney Wagner shot the then-smallest 600-yard group in history, a 0.336″ 5-shot stunner, using Signature Zee Rings on his IBS Light Gun. It took five years for a smaller 600-yard group to be shot, a 0.311″ by bullet-maker Bart Sauter, using his IBS Heavy Gun. (See IBS 600-yard Records.) Here’s Rodney with his record-setting rifle, fitted with affordable Signature Zee 30mm rings.
Vendors Have Burris Signature Rings in Stock Now
Various models of Burris Signature Rings are available from many online vendors. NOTE: You may have to check with more than one seller to get the exact size, height, and model you prefer. But right now these vendors have pretty good selections of Signature Zees, including the hard-to-find 30mm High and Extra High models. If you check all three sellers, you’ll probably find what you need.
Three-Position Air Rifle (3PAR) shooting is the most popular and fastest-growing form of shooting sports competition for junior shooters (High School age and younger). The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) conducts two primary Three-Position Air Rifle events. First, Precision Air Rifle is modeled after Olympic-style shooting and allows the use of specialized target rifles and equipment. Second, Sporter Air Rifle is designed for new competitors or those who desire to compete with a minimum of equipment and expense.
In both types of shooting, competitors fire at targets at a distance of 10 meters in three different positions, prone, standing and kneeling. Three-Position Air Rifle provides young competitors with competitive shooting sports opportunities that can be offered on a wide variety of easily accessible or easily constructed ranges, with equipment that is commonly available at affordable costs.
The CMP actively promotes Three-Position Air Rifle shooting as a premier youth marksmanship competition by providing low-cost equipment and pellets as well as training materials and competition activities. In addition, other air gun events for juniors and adults are hosted by CMP throughout the year. CMP facilities have Open Public Shooting evenings, and matches for air rifle and air pistol take place at the CMP Marksmanship Centers. CMP ranges are equipped with OpticScore Targets featuring technology by Kongsberg Target Systems.
The Challenger PCP (pre-charged pneumatic) Air Rifle is the preferred .177 sporter class air rifle for competitive marksmanship programs throughout the country, including the Marine Corps JROTC, Army JROTC, Air Force JROTC, Navy JROTC, American Legion, and 4-H. The Challenger is a three-position competition rifle that features a fully adjustable stock, a two-stage, adjustable match grade trigger, a hooded front aperture sight, a micro click, adjustable diopter rear sight, a patented ambidextrous pull bolt, and a floating Lothar Walther™ barrel.
Young American Wins Gold Medal in Air Rifle at 2021 Olympics
William Shaner won a Gold Medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. The University of Kentucky marksman, then age 20, captured Gold in the 10-meter (10m) Air Rifle, setting an Olympic record in the process. Shaner scored 251.6 points in the 10m final to set a new Olympic Record just 1.2 points shy of the world record. Will scored 10.5 or above on 13 of his 24 shots in the final. At the Tokyo Games, William was shooting a Walther air rifle.
Watch Will Shaner capture Gold with a stellar shooting performance, broadcast by NBC Sports:
William hails from Colorado Springs, Colorado. He started his shooting career at age nine in a 4H program in the appropriately named town of Rifle, Colorado.
CMP Records 580+ Entries During 2022 National Air Gun Events at Camp Perry
Air rifle shooting is a very popular activity throughout the nation. Air rifle matches can draw a huge number of competitors. Last summer, the 2022 National Air Gun events, held as part of the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s National Matches, welcomed over 580 air rifle and air pistol entries. The events were held at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center at Camp Perry, Ohio.
Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center at Camp Perry.
Special CMP Air Rifles from Anschutz
Back in 2009, the CMP ordered a special run of Anschutz Air rifles. These had laminated wood stocks and the CMP logos on the buttstock.
The CMP currently offers Precision Air Rifles and Sporter Air Rifles for sale via the CMP Website.
CMP Precision Air Rifles from Walther
The new Walther LG400 Bluetec was specifically designed for 3-position air rifle shooting. The barreled action and trigger are the same as the top-of-the-line LG400 models. It comes without an absorber but it can be retrofitted with one. The barreled action will fit into any of the higher end stocks if you wish to upgrade it. The accuracy is the same as the higher-priced LG400s. With a top-tier marksman, this rifle can put 10 shots through the same hole at 10 meters.
The LG400 Bluetec is sold by the CMP with the Walther Basic rear sight, Walther 22mm front sight and a 200/300 bar steel cylinder. The aluminum stock comes with an ambidextrous grip, trigger guard, and an adjustable cheekpiece and buttplate. This rifle is sold by the CMP but shipped via Walther Arms.
Video from the U.S. Army Junior Air Rifle Nat’l Championships at Fort Benning, Georgia. This invitation-only event features top 30 precision and sporter individuals, and top 30 teams in both disciplines.
Sporter Air Rifles
The largest and fastest-growing segment of junior shooting today, Three-Position Air Rifle Shooting, uses a class of target air rifles called Sporter Air Rifles. These Sporters now constitute a special class of junior shooting competition, and are used extensively in JROTC programs.
Sporter air rifles are characterized by their light weight (5-7 lbs.), low cost (from $180 to $600), basic target features (adjustable sights, adjustable length stocks, adjustable sling attachments) and good accuracy (rifles sold through this program must be capable of consistently shooting tens on the standard competition targets).
Shown above is the new Daisy Model 599 10-Meter Competition Air Rifle, a .177-caliber gun that allows competitors to shoot the entire match without having to recharge.
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Article by Paul Ivnitskiy and David Lewis of AmmunitionToGo.com
As you know, if your magazine spring loses its elasticity or breaks, it can render your firearm almost worthless. AmmunitionToGo.com conducted a test to determine how long mag springs can last. The test also examined whether leaving a mag loaded for an extended period of time causes problems, or if loading a mag can damage its spring. The test findings are eye-opening and show that, under controlled conditions, the springs themselves will last more than a human lifetime for most shooters.
The test crew subjected 13 different mags (from multiple manufacturers) to a test protocol over a year. The protocol included loading and unloading to full and half capacity, storing in climate-controlled and fluctuating temperatures, and storing in a non-climate controlled shed.
Field Testing — Magazines Performed Flawlessly
The crew took the mags to the range for field testing throughout the test study. The results revealed that regardless of the frequency of loading or unloading, or storage conditions, not a single magazine failed. The use of a digital force gauge showed no significant variability in the springs’ resistance from mag to mag but all the tested springs put up 20-25% less resistance than when they were fresh out of their factory packaging. That said, all of the mags performed flawlessly during field testing.
Laboratory Magazine Testing — Tens of Thousands of Cycles
To determine precisely how much punishment a mag can tolerate before its spring starts wearing out, the team recruited help from lab technicians at Applied Technical Services. The results showed that a factory Glock 17 mag spring endured 14,842 cycles (the equivalent of 252,314 rounds) before it snapped, while the Magpul Gen 3 PMAG endured 69,881 cycles (2,096,430 rounds) before it finally gave up.
While this testing was not perfectly emulated under real-world conditions, it is safe to conclude that mag springs are remarkably durable. Many believe that by downloading a mag, that is, loading the mag shy of full capacity, they can protect their mag springs. However, the real world trials don’t offer up any evidence to support this kind of behavior by shooters.
Conclusion — Get Good Mags and Don’t Worry About Them
Common wear and tear from everyday use is more likely to degrade the overall quality of a firearm magazine than the spring failing on its own from being loaded to full capacity and stored for long periods of time. So, unless you’re part of the group of individuals that actually shoots thousands of rounds down range on a weekly basis for training or completion reasons, the whole issue of worrying about the lifespan of your magazine springs is somewhat trivial.
Other Important Factors to Consider
There are many other factors to consider before worrying about magazine spring failure. First, address the overall quality and cleanliness of your firearm, magazine housing, guide rod, buffer tube spring, ammunition choice, the list goes on. Magazine springs are relatively cheap items that can ultimately fail, just like any other man-made item before it. Luckily, magazine springs are very easy to replace once identified as the cause of a malfunction.
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Cleaning Rod Rack Costs Just $7.99
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’ll find Tipton Cleaning Rod racks for under $10.00 at most vendors. They are $7.99 at MidwayUSA, while Amazon.com offers the racks for $14.74 with free shipping for Amazon Prime Members.
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If you want an even greater selection of targets, specialized for PRS and NRL shooters, Storm Tactical offers a vast collection of tactical targets, available in three different versions: MOA, MIL Yards, and MIL Meters. These target sets were created with input from Sniper’s Hide. Storm Tactical also created a great rimfire target set. This includes side-by-side target blocks for fun, one-on-one competition. If you shoot NRL22 or just enjoy shooting with a buddy, we highly recommend the rimfire target set.
With the price of premium scopes approaching $3500.00 (and beyond), it’s more important than ever to provide extra protection for your expensive optics. 
The heavily padded XP-6 Flak Jacket is also offered in a Zippered version, shown at right. This is designed for removable optics that need protection when in storage. The full-length, zippered closure goes on quick-and-easy and provides more complete protection against dust, shock, and moisture. These quality XP-6 scope covers are available on 
More and more folks are using Burris Signature Rings these days. These unique rings feature polymer inserts. That allows you to pre-load some elevation in your scope set-up, or you can center-up the windage. Additionally, the polymer inserts hold your scope securely without leaving marks on the tube. Lastly, some folks believe that Signature rings may offer advantages for benchrest competition. Rodney Wagner shot a world-record 600-yard group using Burris Signature Zee Rings (“Zee” denotes the Weaver-rail model). James O’Hara set multiple IBS 1000-yard records using Burris Signature Zee Rings. James will tell you he thinks “all his guns seem to shoot best with these rings”.
