Eurooptic vortex burris nightforce sale




teslong borescope digital camera barrel monitor


As an Amazon Associate, this site earns a commission from Amazon sales.









October 4th, 2023

Inside Look at Nosler Factory Plus Nosler Load Data Resources

Nosler bullets nosler.com website ecommerce

Ever wanted to see how Nosler bullets and cartridges are made? Here’s your opportunity. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) has produced a video (“Quality First”) that offers a behind-the-scenes look inside Nosler’s Oregon factory that produces bullets, brass, and ammunition.

Video Showcases Nosler Production Facility and Ballistics Lab

RMEF representatives were provided with unprecedented access into Nosler’s famously-guarded manufacturing plant to show the technology used by Nosler to produce bullets and ammunition. The “Quality First” video showcases Nosler’s complex production processes that include technologically advanced machinery, and stringent quality control measures.

Nosler bullets nosler.com website ecommerce

After the intro, this video illustrates Nosler’s bullet construction techniques with a cool animation sequence. The video then showcases the Nosler ballistics lab, inspection room, and packaging line.

The “Quality First” video starts with the history of the company, tracking Nosler’s development from the 1940s. Then the video shows the bullet construction techniques followed by a ‘walk-though’ in the factory, showing the sophisticated machinery used to make bullets, brass, and ammunition. “‘Quality First’ isn’t just a saying that’s printed on our factory walls, it’s the guiding principle that affects every decision we make” says Mason Payer, Senior Marketing Manager at Nosler.

Information Resources — Load Data and Nosler Blog
The enhanced Nosler website also features comprehensive LOAD DATA, plus informative content in the Nosler Blog. The Load Data page works well on smartphones. Go to the Load Data Index Page, then simply scroll down to a caliber. Then select your cartridge type and bullet weight(s). The rifle listings are quite comprehensive, covering .17 caliber up to .458 caliber. Here are examples of Nosler load data for the 6mm Creedmoor with popular 105-107gr bullets, along with the .284 Winchester with 175gr bullets.

Nosler load data 6mm 6.5 creedmoor

Nosler load data 7mm .284 Winchester

About Nosler and Support for Rocky Mtn. Elk Foundation
Founded in 1948, Nosler, Inc. is a family-owned company located in Bend, Oregon. Nosler is most known for hunting bullets such as the Partition®, Ballistic Tip®, AccuBond®, E-Tip® and most recently the AccuBond® LR and RDF. Nosler manufactures premium component bullets, reloading brass, ammunition and semi-custom rifles for domestic and international customers.

A long-time proponent of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Nosler donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale of five Partition bullets to benefit RMEF’s mission and recently added proceeds from Trophy Grade® and Expansion Tip™ ammunition to increase support.

Video find by ELR Researcher. We welcome reader submissions.
Permalink - Articles, - Videos, Bullets, Brass, Ammo No Comments »
October 4th, 2023

Look Inside Ammo — Cutaway Cartridge Views

sliced cutaway ammo ammunition FOG diagram

Here’s something you don’t see every day — the inside of loaded cartridges, sliced halfway through. This lets you see how bullet core, jacket, cartridge case, powder, and primer all fit together. Give credit to the folks at FOG Ammunition for creating this interesting series of cut-through ammo images. We show four cartridges here: the .308 Winchester, 9mm Luger, 300 BLK, and .50 BMG. You’ll find two more (the .223 Remington and .45 ACP) at www.FogAmmo.com.

sliced cutaway ammo ammunition FOG diagram

This .308 Winchester model took on a different approach by only cutting the brass case and displaying the full bullet, primer and powder load. A spec amount of powder was used to create the model powder form. An estimated 10% volume was added during the forming process, along with an undetermined amount of air pockets.

sliced cutaway ammo ammunition FOG diagram

This bisection is a 9mm Luger Jacketed Hollow Point round with flake powder held together with super glue. After this self-defense round was cut by a trained professional the round was polished by hand. This might look like stick powder, but those are in fact flakes stacked up in cross-section. Designed in 1901 by Georg Luger, this popular cartridge is used by civilians, military, and law enforcement.

sliced cutaway ammo ammunition FOG diagram

For this model of the .300 AAC Blackout (aka 300 BLK), a Dremel tool was used to create a pie cut within the bullet and brass case. A measured amount of power, roughly 65% of spec charge, was placed inside the case with super glue. This cartridge was originally optimized for subsonic use with a suppressor, so the amount of powder used is small relative to the nominal case capacity. That leaves more room for the relatively large .30-caliber bullet.

sliced cutaway ammo ammunition FOG diagram

Last but definitely not least is the .50 Caliber BMG round (aka .50 Browning Machine Gun). Famed for its wartime use in the M2 Machine gun, the .50 BMG round is also used in civilian Long Range competitions. A typical .50 BMG cartridge holds over 225 grains of powder. That’s almost ten times the amount in a 5.56×45 NATO Round! To demonstrate the size of the .50 BMG, check out that .223 Rem for comparison.

Permalink Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Tech Tip No Comments »
October 3rd, 2023

Five Factors That Determine Value for Collectible Firearms

Lady Diana Prince Charles shotgun
This stunning Westley Richards & Co. shotgun was made for the 1981 nuptials of Lady Diana Spencer and HRH Prince Charles. It is rare, has a unique history of ownership, and is also elaborately decorated.

Jim Supica, Director of the NRA Firearms Museum, has written a trio of articles about gun collecting. If you are thinking of starting your own collection of firearms, you should read Supica’s informative articles. The first talks about the basics of gun collecting, the second explains the five key factors that govern gun values, and the third article explains where to find rare and valuable arms. Today we want to highlight the five factors that contribute most to a gun’s value, according to Supica:

Make and Model, Condition, Rarity, History, Art — These are the five factors that … appeal to collectors and help determine the value of collectible guns.

Read Full Gun Collecting Article on NRABlog.com »

1. Make and Model

Make and model tends to be the starting point for evaluating collectible guns for most collectors and will be a basic threshold requirement for those with specialized collections.

Factors here include the quality of a particular manufacturer’s products, the historical usage of the guns in question, and the brand’s aura of romance. As an example of that last (and most intangible) factor, consider that Colt Single Action Army revolvers were for several decades the most prevalent focus for collectors interested in full-size revolvers from the post-Civil War to turn of the 20th Century-era, and there is no question that Colts were widely used during that time. In recent years, there has been a refreshing trend in gun collecting to look at a broader range of guns than the traditional blue chip Colts, Winchesters, and Lugers.

Colt Single Action Army revolver engraved
Colt Single Action Army Revolvers remain among the most prized (and collectible) firearm.

2. Condition (and Originality)

Obviously, condition plays a major role in the value of a collectible firearm. The classic advice to new collectors in this regard has always been to hold out for guns in the best condition and pay the extra premium they demand. This condition-emphasis seems to have developed in the 1970s and 1980s. In the early post-WWII years of gun collecting there was more interest in rare variations and history, and fewer collectors to whom a few percentage point difference in remaining original finish was of much concern.

Although the highest-condition guns continue to bring record prices, it seems that the pendulum is beginning to swing back the other way, a trend met with my hearty approval. The appeal of “mint” guns has been largely lost on me, and seems to be more appropriate to coin or stamp collecting than a field in which the possible historic usage of the artifact holds so much interest and significance. There is a definite segment of the collector market that is not overly concerned with perfect condition, so long as the gun is original and has not been messed with in a more recent (and, in my opinion, usually misguided) attempt to enhance its desirability.

3. Rarity

In terms of rarity, the well-worn saying that “just because a gun is rare doesn’t mean it’s valuable” remains true to a certain extent. There may only be five known examples of a particular gun, but if only three people care about it, the market is saturated. However, there does seem to be more interest in cornering the rare variations within established collecting fields. There is a bit of a resurgence of the collecting philosophy of completing a punchlist of models and variations within a specialization, and this lead to vigorous competition for the rarest examples in these fields. In emerging collecting fields, when new research is published revealing the rarity of certain variations there can develop a brisk interest in those guns.

4. History

Individual guns with a known history of ownership by a specific individual or usage in a specific historical event have always captured the fascination of collectors, as well as historians and the general public. This seems to reflect a basic human interest and shows no sign of abatement. A positive trend here seems to be an increase in general understanding of the type of documentation which must accompany a historically attributed firearm to give it the credibility to justify a premium price, and the importance of creating and preserving such documentation.

Chuck Yeager Pistol
This Beretta has extra value because it was owned by pilot Chuck Yeager. Photo NRA Museum.

5. Art (Decorative Embellishment)

Fine engraved guns are collected more for their artistic value than for their worth as firearms. Here the market for classic works by the great engravers of the 19th and early 20th Centuries remains strong, as well as for factory-engraved pieces from more recent years. Interest in recent non-factory engraving seems to have diminished, as has… the trend of adding modern engraving to older firearms.

engraved pistols Ben Shostle Luger Mauser Colt
Here is a matching set of three three beautifully engraved pistols by the late Indiana engraving wizard Ben Shostle — a Luger, a Mauser, and a Colt. Photo courtesy Amoskeag Auction Company.

Factory-custom engraving should not be confused with mass-produced, factory-made commemorative firearms, which flooded the market in the 1960s and 1970s. A couple of major manufacturers worked this genre to death, and prices on commemoratives have been stagnant for many years now, although the market for these shows some signs of renewal.

CAUTIONARY WORDS about RESTORATION
With prices for high-condition original finish guns running away from the budgets of many collectors, period-of-use refinished guns and older factory-refinished guns are finding more enthusiastic buyers than they did a few years ago.

The availability of excellent-quality restoration services is another factor that I anticipate may impact collector preferences in the future. The top restoration artists are reworking guns to “as new” condition with such skill that it has become increasingly difficult for even knowledgeable collectors to distinguish mint original finish guns from the best restorations.

When such restoration is disclosed to a prospective buyer (as it ethically should be), the prices the gun will bring are significantly below a similar gun with original finish, and may be less than the original cost of the pre-restoration gun plus the cost of the rework. This creates a mighty incentive for deception by a motivated seller, either by active misrepresentation (a.k.a. “fraud”) or passively by simple failure to mention the modification.

Permalink - Articles, Hot Deals, Tech Tip No Comments »
October 3rd, 2023

Great Loading Gear Transporter Made from Horse Grooming Box

Range carry loading reloader box case transport horse equine grooming case box

Do you often load at the range? Or maybe you need to transport loading gear when you travel in your RV. Well here is a smart transport option — a metal box that holds tools, dies, arbor press, case-trimmer, even a ChargeMaster.

Some guys have built their own loading tool-boxes from wood. Other may stuff gear in a couple of plastic range boxes. But clever Chris Covell came up with an even better solution. Chris sourced a handsome, sturdy metal Horse Grooming Box from eBay. Chris reports the multi-feature metal box “works perfectly for reloading. My ChargeMaster is now out of the wind.”

Range carry loading reloader box case transport horse equine grooming case boxBullets, Trickler, and Priming Tool on Top
On top, below the hinged metal lid, is a large compartment that holds Covell’s funnels, scales, priming tool, trickler and other vital gear (photo on right). This top compartment is deep enough to handle wide-mouth funnels with no problem.

Slide-Out Drawer with Dividers
Below the top level is a handy sliding drawer with multiple dividers. This is perfect for holding Covell’s inline seating dies, case-neck deburring and chamfering tools, among many other smaller bits and pieces.

Range carry loading reloader box case transport horse equine grooming case box

In the bottom of the Horse Grooming box is a large compartment that holds bigger gear. In the bottom section, Covell places his RCBS Chargemaster Lite, along with a case-trimming tool, an arbor press, and various other bulky tools. Check it out:

Range carry loading reloader box case transport horse equine grooming case box

Folks who load at the range need to bring a lot of gear — reloading presses, powder dispensers, scales, funnels, sizing/seating dies, brass prep tools and more. And there may be other important items to transport — such as ammo caddies, LabRadar mounts, over-size rest feet, and even barrel fans. With this metal box you can easily organize (and protect) al that gear. This box was sourced affordably via eBay.

Chris Covell’s Range Box was featured on the Benchrest Shooting and Gunsmithing Private Group Facebook Page. You may want to sign up for this Group — with membership you can access a wealth of information for accuracy-oriented shooters.

Range carry loading reloader box case transport horse equine grooming case box

Permalink Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Gear Review, Reloading No Comments »
October 3rd, 2023

Get Significant Savings with Brownells Discount Codes

Brownells discount code savings bargain

If you’ve been thinking about a big purchase at Brownells, here are some money-saving codes. Brownells is currently offering $30 Off a $200 purchase, $20 Off a $175 purchase, $15 Off a $150 purchase, and $10 Off a $100 purchase. In addition, you can get 10% off all purchases of $150 or more. It’s simple to get these discounts — there are no buyers’ clubs to join, no forms to fill out. Just use the appropriate Discount Code during online check-out.

Listed below are the Codes to use. Simply use the appropriate Code for your purchase at Brownells.com. These codes have no listed expiration date, so Brownells could terminate them at any time. Accordingly, we recommend you do your shopping soon. Also if the highest value code no longer works, try a lesser value CODE.

Brownells discount code savings bargain

Coupon Code: CART30 — $30 Off $200+
Expiration date: Unknown expiration

Coupon Code: CART20 — $20 Off $175+
Expiration date: Unknown expiration

Coupon Code: POSSUM 10 — 10% Off $150+
Expiration date: Unknown expiration

Coupon Code: TTB10 — 10% Off $150+
Expiration date: Unknown expiration

Coupon Code: TRIGGERED — 10% Off $150+
Expiration date: Unknown expiration

Coupon Code: BACK15 — $15 OFF $150
Expiration date: Unknown expiration

Coupon Code: HOME10 — $10 OFF $100+
Expiration date: Unknown expiration

Coupon Code: GIFT10 — $10 OFF $100+
Expiration date: Unknown expiration

NOTE: None of the above codes include FREE or Discounted Shipping. But Code CARTSHIP offers Free Shipping/Handling for orders over $149.00 (with no other discounts). Depending on the weight/size of the item, this might be a better deal than saving $10-$20.

Code: CARTSHIP — Free Shipping/Handling over $149
Expiration date: Unknown expiration

Brownells discount code savings bargain

Permalink Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Hot Deals, Optics No Comments »
October 2nd, 2023

Bargain Finder 419: 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.

NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.

1. Powder Valley — Factory Seconds Bullet Sale, Save 30-52%

sierra hornady factory seconds bullet sale powder valley tipped fmj
Save up to 52% on major brand factory-second bullets

Powder Valley is running a big sale on major-brand factory seconds bullets. For .22, 6mm, 6.5mm, and .308 calibers you’ll find a good selection of tipped and HPBT bullets on sale at up to 52% off the normal price. There are also some .284, .338, .375, and .416 caliber bullets at big savings. This is a great way to get good quantities of high-quality bullets for rifle training and/or varmint hunting. We’ve generally found “seconds” to shoot very well and be consistent in weight. They may just have a small visual flaw in jacket appearance. In addition, Powder Valley has pistol bullets on sale in 9mm, 10mm, and .45 calibers.

2. Sportsman’s Warehouse — Hunting Gear Sale

sportsman's warehouse hunting hunter packs optics fall season
Save up to 40% on hunting gear, packs, and camo attire

Right now Sportsman’s Warehouse is running a Great Hunt Sale with savings up to 40%. Along with discounted rifles and discounted optics, a large variety of hunting gear is on sale including: Camo Clothing, Hauler Frame Packs, Tree Stand Seats, Trailcams, Game Pack Bags, Scent Eliminators and more. CLICK HERE for Hunting Gear and HERE for Camo Clothing.

3. Midsouth — Nosler Premium Brass Sale

Nosler Premium brass sale midsouth
Good prices on brass for hunting, match, and ELR cartridges

If you need good brass for your hunting rifle, check out the Nosler brass sale at Midsouth. Along with the popular .270 Win and .308 Win hunting cartridge offerings, you’ll find a variety of other hunting cartridges at attractive prices. Cartridge types on sale include: .17 Rem Fireball, .204 Ruger, .223 Rem, 22 Nosler, .22 Rem Mag, 24 Nosler, 6mm Creedmoor, .243 Win, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 Creedmoor, .260 Rem, 6.5×55, 6.5-284, .270 Win, .280 Rem, 30-30 Win, .308 Win, 30 Nosler, .30-378 Whby, 325 WSM, 33 Nosler, 8×57, 8mm Rem Mag, 9.3×62 Mauser and more!

4. KYGUNCO — Taurus Judge Home Defender Revolver, $579.99

taurus .45 LC long colt .410 gauge shotgun defense revolver gun
Shoot big cartridges or shotshells in 13″ defense weapon

Taurus recently released a compact, new firearm which has significant advantages as a home defense weapon. Officially a 13″ barreled revolver, the new Taurus Judge Home Defender can shoot .45 LC cartridges AND shoot .410 gauge shotshells. That means it can work like as a pistol-grip shotgun. This Judge Home Defender is easy to store yet powerful and effective when used against a criminal intruder. You can order this new defense gun for $579.99 at KYGUNCO.

6. KYGUNCO — Savage 64 Precision Rimfire Rifle, $249.99

savage 64 precision fde flat dark earth .22 LR rimfire rifle NRL22
Great deal on good starter rifle for NRL22

Here’s a bargain-priced .22 LR rifle in a nice, modern chassis. The modern Savage 64 Precision houses a semi-automatic action in a chassis with M-LOK slots and an ergonomic pistol grip. The heavy barrel has a threaded muzzle for easy attachment of brake, tuner, or suppressor. This is a good starting rifle for NRL22 — the semi-auto action allows fast follow-up shots. Get this rifle on sale now for $249.99.

7. Palmetto SA — Leupold Binoculars and Harness Kit, $99.99

leupold binocular sale
Save 50% now on Leupold Binoculars and Harness

Hunters and varminters need binoculars. A great option is the Leupold BX-1 Timberline 10×42 Binoculars with Go Afield Harness. Right now this combo is just $99.99, a 50% savings off the regular $199.99 price. But act soon — we expect this deal to expire soon. These Leupold binoculars offer solid reliability and quality glass in a lightweight package. This combo includes the excellent, adjustable GO Afield binocular harness, that will hold your binocs and other items securely all day long.

8. Graf & Sons — LEE Classic Turret Press, $129.99

lee reloading press sale
Amazingly low price for a 4-station turret, with many great features

Right now the LEE Classic Turret Press is just $129.99 at Graf’s — an awesome deal. This 4-station Turret Press has earned excellent user reviews: “This cast iron frame model with all-steel linkage is built like a tank”; “Great press — solid as a rock. I originally bought it for reloading pistol ammo but like it so well I use it for almost everything”; “the turret auto-indexes perfectly and locks solid with no effort. I really like how easy it is to still use it as a single-stage when working up a load but not have to change dies, just simply rotate the turret by hand.” With four stations you can keep dies for multiple cartridge types. The long stroke allows rifle cases over 3″ long to be loaded. Spent primers run directly through the ram to an attached clear PVC tube that reliably catches every primer.

8. MidwayUSA — Browning Sleeping Bag, Tent, Blanket SALE

lee reloading press sale
Great deals on Browning branded camping gear

Many readers will be out in the field this fall on hunting trips. Here are three Browning-brand items that are hugely discounted at MidwayUSA. The Browning Endeavor Sleeping Bag is an amazing bargain at $59.99, 72% off the original price. The Browning Big Horn 5+ SR Tent is spacious, and a great value at $229.99, $270 (54%) off the regular price. We’ve used the 70″x50″ polyester-covered Endeavor Blanket for car camping and boat trips and it worked great. NOTE: This is not thin like typical blankets — it should be considered a polyester quilt.

9. Amazon — GuardTech Plus Gun Cleaning Kit, $48.95

guardtech rifle pistol shotgun cleaning kit jags brushes calibers
Excellent full-featured cleaning kit for all types of guns

This big GuardTech Plus Cleaning Kit will work for rifles, pistols, and even shotguns. You get a big selection of brushes, jags, and mops that fit calibers .17 to .50. In addition, there are picks and tooth-brush-style brushes for cleaning your action, plus a pull-through cleaning rope. You get all this, in a nice fitted hard case, for just $48.95 on Amazon. Choose green case (as shown), or black case.

10. Amazon — Ear Muffs (assorted colors) 26dB SNR, $15.99

ear muff sale
Good compact muffs for the price with a good 26dB SNR

We say it all the time but don’t ever shoot without quality hearing protection. Consider these Vanderfield folding ear muffs. Priced at just $15.99, these come in a variety of colors (black, brown, green, gray, red, purple, pink) so you can easily tell yours apart from others. The 26dB SNR sound protection rating is above average for compact muffs. For maximum protection use plugs under the muffs. (FYI, “SNR” or Single Number Rating, is the EURO equivalent of the NRR noise rating in the USA.)

Permalink Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Hot Deals, Hunting/Varminting, Optics No Comments »
October 2nd, 2023

Learn about Air Rifles with Buyer’s and Shooter’s Guide Book

Air Rifle book olympic
pyramyd air airgun field target pnematic

We like air rifles both for fun shooting and for competition. However, so many options are now available that is easy to get overwhelmed with the choices. Thankfully, there is a good book that helps air rifle shooters make informed decisions about air guns and accessories. Steve Markwith’s comprehensive resource, Air Rifles: A Buyer’s and Shooter’s Guide offers a wealth of useful information. This 154-page book is now available for $14.48 (paperback) or $9.95 (Kindle)..

Steve Markwith Air Rifle Pneumatic airgun book Amazon.com Free download
This is a very informative book explaining the ins and outs of air rifles, their capabilities and limitations. I highly recommend this book to anyone considering purchasing an air rifle for marksmanship practice or small game hunting.” – L. Stanek, Verified Amazon Reviewer

Read Free Sample Chapters Online
If you go to Amazon.com and look right below the book cover photo, you’ll see a “READ SAMPLE” button. Click that to view a FREE preview with extensive samples from many chapters. The book covers all the most important types of air rifle systems, both pre-charged pneumatics and other self-charging guns. Markwith reviews the wide variety of pellets available, offering suggestions for particular applications. You’ll also find a useful discussion of Airgun Power, Range, and Accuracy. This will help you pick the right air rifle.

Markwith explains the many attractions of airguns. They are not considered firearms (in most jurisdictions) so they can be purchased at local shops or mail-order outlets without FFL fees or background checks. You’ll find a huge online selection of airguns at PyramydAir.com that can ship direct to you — no FFL required. Air rifles are also quiet and very inexpensive to shoot. While .177 and .22 caliber air rifles are most common, there are also larger-caliber airguns offered for hunting or special applications.

Pyramyd Air has dozens of helpful videos about air rifles and air pistols.

Permalink Shooting Skills, Tech Tip No Comments »
October 2nd, 2023

Get Vital Hunting INFO with WhereToHunt.org

Hunting license information Form Permit map NSSF
Click Map to launch interactive webpage with info for all 50 states.

Going hunting soon? Need to find out about hunting licenses, deer tags, local regulations, and the best hunting areas? Then visit WheretoHunt.org. This website has an interactive map of the country. Simply click on a state to find the info you need.

For all 50 states, the NSSF provides information about hunting licenses and permits, where to hunt, hunter education classes, laws and regulations and more. For each state you’ll also find a link for required applications and license forms. Have a safe and productive hunt this year.

Hunting license information Form Permit map NSSF
Photo courtesy National Hunting and Fishing Day.

Click Map to Get State-by-State Hunting INFO
Hunting license information Form Permit map NSSF
On the WheretoHunt.org website, click a particular state on MAP, and resource links will load at right.

Hunting license information Form Permit map NSSF

Permalink - Articles, Hunting/Varminting No Comments »
October 1st, 2023

Sunday Gunday: Bergara B14-R Rimfire Ultimate Reloader Test

Bergara Test Gavin Gear ultimate reloader B14-R rimfire

The Bergara B14-R is a high-quality, accurate .22 LR rimfire bolt-action rifle. The rifle’s accuracy and functionality make it a good choice for NRL22 competition. And with stock geometry and ergonomics that duplicate a full-size centerfire rifle, the Bergara B14-R is also an excellent choice for cross-training. By training with a rimfire rifle, you can get essential “trigger time” while saving money. Good centerfire ammo can cost $1.50 per round or more. Decent rimfire ammo can be found for $6.00 per 50rd box. That’s just 12 cents per round.

Bergara Test Gavin Gear ultimate reloader B14-R rimfire
Click above photo to load full-screen high-rez image.

To find out how well the Bergara B14-R can perform, Gavin Gear of UltimateReloader.com recently tested a B14-R (carbon-covered barrel version) at his private range. Using a variety of Lapua and SK Ammo, this rig delivered impressive results. Watch this video to see the B14-R in action.

“The B14-R is a great shooter, and for me it felt very familiar. Just like shooting one of my centerfire match guns, but without all of the recoil!” — Gavin Gear

Gavin reports: “At the 2020 SHOT Show, Bergara announced the B14-R trainer. The concept? Take the B14 HMR series centerfire rifle formula, and adapt it for rimfire. The result is a .22 LR rifle you can shoot all day long without wearing out your arm or your wallet! It looks/feels like a centerfire long-range precision rifle. And that’s what makes this rifle a GREAT training platform for serious long-range shooters.”

The B14-R comes with a 18″-long 1:16″-twist threaded barrel. The single-stack .22 LR magazine is the same size as a short action AICS mag. The Bergara B14-R shares Rem 700 specs, so it is compatible with Rem 700 stocks and aftermarket triggers. Weight with standard barrel is 9.2 pounds without optics, or 8.1 pounds for the carbon version seen here. MSRP for basic version is $1150.00 and street price is $950.00.

Bergara Test Gavin Gear ultimate reloader B14-R rimfire

Gavin told us: “I couldn’t wait to get the B14-R out to my new 50-yard ridgeline range to see how it would perform with premium .22 LR ammunition. Once I shot this rifle suppressed, I didn’t want to take off the can. The 18″ barrel really works well with the SilcencerCo suppressor to help keep the overall length reasonable, and balance is spot-on.” NOTE: This rifle has the optional carbon-covered barrel.

As tested, the rifle was equipped with these components:

Athlon Midas TAC 6-14x50mm FFP Scope with MK Machine lever, Lone Star bubble level
SilencerCo Omega 300 Suppressor with 1/2×28 direct thread mount
Harris S-BRM 6″-9″ Bipod with aftermarket swivel tension lever

Bergara Test Gavin Gear ultimate reloader B14-R rimfire

Outstanding Accuracy with Lapua and SK .22 LR Ammo

Remarkable accuracy for a factory rifle earned this Bergara its Sunday GunDay selection. Shooting with bipod and rear sandbag, Gavin was able to achieve multiple, sub-half-inch groups at 50 yards. The best group shot with SK Match ammo was a remarkable 0.22″ as measured by Ballistic-X software (see below). That’s an impressive 0.42 MOA at 50 yards. If you watch the video above, starting at 14:40 time-mark, you can watch Gavin shoot that 0.22″ group.

Bergara Test Gavin Gear ultimate reloader B14-R rimfire

Here are two more groups, both under 0.5″ at 50 yards. Lapua Center-X on left, SK Match on right. Gavin says that “with good conditions, 0.35″ 5-shot groups at 50 yards are easily attainable.”

Bergara Test Gavin Gear ultimate reloader B14-R rimfire

B14-R Trigger Tested with TriggerScan TS-11

Gavin tested the Bergara’s trigger with the TriggerScan TS-11 from DVORAK Instruments, a very sophisticated, high-tech device. Gavin states: “This trigger works well, and mine was adjustable down to just over 2-lb peak force for pull weight. I ran a 3-scan pass on the B14-R trigger with the pull weight set to minimum [barely over 2 pounds].”

Bergara Test Gavin Gear ultimate reloader B14-R rimfire

Gavin notes: “You can see how consistent this trigger is by how well the scan graph plots overlap! This trigger is great for an out-of-the-box rifle like this, and it’s great to know that I can always swap out triggers and use the same exact Remington 700-compatible trigger that I’m running in my match guns.”

Bergara Test Gavin Gear ultimate reloader B14-R rimfire

Bergara Test Gavin Gear ultimate reloader B14-R rimfire

Gavin Gear’s Closing Thoughts — More to Come
The Bergara B14-R rimfire trainer has been a great rifle to shoot and has exceeded my expectations. The B14-R feels like a full-size PRS rifle, has the same basic features, but is chambered in .22 LR. I have been amazed by the accuracy I’ve achieved with this rifle with Lapua and SK match ammunition — it’s very confidence inspiring.

This rifle feels right and shoots great. I can’t wait to get more steel targets setup, and to go deeper into calculating dope for the ammunition I will shoot with this rifle. Perhaps I’ll think about competing in an NRL22 match at some point. If you are looking for a rimfire trainer, look at the Bergara B14-R for sure. It checks all of my boxes for this type of rifle!

Permalink - Articles, - Videos, Gear Review 1 Comment »
October 1st, 2023

Tactical Range Box for AR Owners — Very Handy Product

MTM AR15 Range Box

MTM tactical AR 15 range boxWe’ve always liked the capacious, durable range boxes from MTM Case-Gard. And MTM offers a special “Tactical” version for AR shooters. This detachable-lid Tactical Range Box features a magwell-filling “action block insert” to support your AR securely during cleaning. Magwell posts like this have been used for years by AR gunsmiths. It’s a fast and convenient way to secure your AR.

The Tactical Range Box also comes with two adjustable cradles that will support most conventional bolt-action rifles and lever guns. These plastic cradles are gentle on fancy stocks, and they can be removed and stowed in the bottom of the box during transport.

The Tactical Range Box uses a two-piece design. The removable top storage compartment holds oils, solvents, brushes, patches, and small accessories. Unlatch the top box to reveal a large, deep storage area that will hold tools, earmuffs, ammo boxes and other larger items. MTM Range Boxes are big enough to hold pretty much everything you need at the range, except your front rest and rear sandbag. Midsouth Shooters Supply offers the MTM Tactical Range Box (item 008-TRB40) for just $52.72. Like MTM’s standard Shooting Range Box, the Tactical Range Box is well-built and much less flexy than generic plastic tool-boxes. Check out the features of this range box in the video below.

MTM AR15 Range Box

Practical USER TIP — Keep some heavy items in the box for more stability. Forum member Tom Alvez explains: “I have one of those range boxes… It’s a great product, really. But, unless there is some pretty heavy stuff in the box when the rifle cleaning starts it may get pretty skittery. Maybe [add] a block or two of lead — that could come in handy later.”

For more info, contact MTM® Molded Products at (937) 890-7461 or visit MTMCase-gard.com.

Permalink - Videos, Gear Review, Tactical No Comments »