Report by Craig Arnzen, Area419.com
It’s easy to think about shooting your first precision rifle match and worry about all of the gear and trinkets that you may need to make it through. In reality, the old rules apply — keep it simple.
We wanted to put together for you a no-nonsense list of the Top Five Gear Items you need for your first match. This list focuses on the “must-have” items you’ll need for PRS-Style competitions.
1. A Rifle (That is Reliable and Sub-MOA Accurate)
Your rifle is the most obvious piece of kit, but we can give you a little more information. Most of the guys you’ll find out there are shooting 6.5 Creedmoor. Yeah, there are guys using .308 Wins and 6mm Dashers, but the 6.5 Creedmoor makes up more than half of the rounds shot in PRS competition, when looking at both national and club matches. Your comp rig needs to be mag-fed and shoot better than 1 MOA. It DOESN’T need to be better than 0.5 MOA (half-MOA). With most targets being 2-3 MOA in size, a half-MOA gun will do just fine. More accuracy is better of course, but you don’t need an exotic quarter-MOA rig to win.
[Editor’s NOTE: PRS does offer a Gas Gun division, but most guys start out with a bolt-action rifle, which will be less maintenance-intensive than an AR-platform rig.]
Muzzle brakes, like our Area 419 Hellfire, are also very popular as much of the PRS game is recoil management. If you can’t see your misses, you’re sure to have more of them.
The rifle also needs an optic with repeatable clicks and a reticle with Mil- or MOA-based hashmarks. The clicks can be either Mil system or MOA system (Mil is more common), so long as the click values match the reticle (i.e. you don’t want 1/4-moa clicks with a Mil-marked reticle). How much power do you need? Anything that zooms in the mid-teens will suffice. I could shoot a match with a fixed 12X scope and not feel disadvantaged. We love the Kahles K624i, if you’re looking for a suggestion.
Oh, and you’ll want a bipod — but the choice in bipod deserves a whole separate article by itself. Nothing wrong with starting out with a Harris swivel. Then you might look at different bipods on other competitors’ rifles for comparison.
2. Ammunition — Factory Ammo and Hand-loads
Good ammo is important, but as we discuss above, 0.5 MOA is good enough. Also, speed is great but it matters FAR less than you’d think. Drop can be calculated with precision, and distances are normally known, so a slightly flatter trajectory doesn’t really matter. Wind matters, but the difference you’ll find when eeking out that last 50 fps is very, very small.
Federal, Hornady, and Prime all make quality ammo that is widely used by shooters from local to national matches. Facebook photo by CReece.
Precision Handloads
If you want to run down the rabbit hole of finding that perfect ammo that shoots in the “twos” (0.2 MOA), get yourself an AutoTrickler and some of our billet aluminum accessories — you’ll love the setup.
3. A Versatile Support Bag
There are countless bag options. But there is ONE bag you’ll see everywhere, and for good reason. The Game-Changer from Armageddon Gear is aptly named. Many shooters use it as a barricade bag as well as a rear bag, meaning a guy could get away with using only this bag for an entire match. If you need another bag when you get there, ask someone in your squad, they’ll share. I promise.
4. Ballistics Calculator APP
All PRS/NRL shooters need reliable and accurate ballistic solutions. The software-enabled Kestrel is a very common item on the range, but you’ll also see lots of guys using mobile Apps such as Shooter or Applied Ballistics Mobile, and they have great results.
It’s also handy to have an armband or an item like the Hawk Hill data card holder for stages with various targets at differing ranges. Once the RO says “engage” and your mind stops working, you’ll appreciate having it written down.
5. Hearing Protection
PRS Competitors shoot with brakes and sometimes in enclosed spaces. That’s why you need serious hearing protection. We recommend NRR 33 earplugs, doubled up with Electronic Muffs to hear range commands. I have used the 33 dB NRR Mack’s foamies at matches for most of the last year, and the Howard Leight NRR 33 Max-1s are also very effective. The budget-priced (under $55) Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic muffs work well, but premium electronic muffs may be more comfortable.
Growing in popularity are high-tech, in-ear digital units like the ESP Stealth. I have a set of linked ESP Steaths on the way and hope to evaluate them soon. These are supposed to be very good, but the ESP Stealths cost $2100.00 per pair!
Think we missed something? Have more questions? Let us know.
Contact: Team@Area419.com
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RCBS has released a special, limited-edition red, white and blue version of its popular Summit press to celebrate 10 years of the unique, small-footprint Summit. We have used RCBS Summit presses extensively and they has performed great, both in the shop and at the range. One of our testers even adapted his green Summit press to fit to a trailer hitch (see end of article).
The Summit single-stage reloading press has a cast iron frame surrounding a polished steel ram for smooth operation. The Summit’s unique C-Frame design allows it to be mounted virtually anywhere on your bench while being easily manipulated by both right- and left-handed users. With a 4.5″ opening, you have great full frontal access to your cases as there is no frame to obstruct your hands. Plus the Summit can be placed anywhere on your bench as there is no linkage below the press. And the shell-holder is stationary on the base making visual confirmation of powder charge level easy.
The Summit Press works with standard 7/8″-14 threaded dies, or 1-1/4″-12 with the reducing bushing removed. The ambidextrous design allows easy use by both right and left-handed loaders and the zero fitting ensures you can keep the press lubricated with your favorite lubricant.
Only 1,000 units of the Summit single-stage press will be made in the special red, white and blue Freedom Camo finish, making this 10th-anniversary run of presses instantly identifiable. The 10th Anniversary Summit Press comes with the short handle and features a tri-color Freedom Camo die plate. “The Summit Press has been a staple in our assortment for a decade,” said Justin Smith, RCBS Product Manager. “We wanted to do something special to mark 10 years of the Summit Press, and we thought making a red, white and blue Freedom Camo version … would be a fun way to do it.”
Like its classic green older brother, the 10th Anniversary Summit press readily accepts standard 7/8″-14 threaded dies for a wide range of cartridges, as well as 1-1/4″-12 threaded dies with the reducing bushing removed. CLICK HERE to learn more about the Summit Press, including the special 10th Anniversary edition. Currently you can order direct from RCBS for $379.99, but we expect other vendors to offer this 10th Anniversary Summit for considerably less.
RCBS Summit Mounted on Trailer Hitch For Loading Anywhere — No Bench Required
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You may have heard the phrase “blueprinting an action”, but do you know what that really means? Do you know what operations are done to an action during the blueprinting process? To help you understand, gunsmith Bill Marr of RifleShooter.com has created a helpful article showing a Rem 700 blueprinting job start to finish. This article spotlights how the procedures can be done with manual tools. Bill, who runs 782 Custom Gunworks Ltd., can also perform many of these operations with modern automated machinery. In fact, Bill has written a follow-up article on Truing a Rem 700 receiver with a Lathe.
Bill explains: “Blue-printing, or truing a rifle action, ensures the receiver face, threads, lugs, bolt lugs, and bolt face are square to the center line of the receiver.” In Bill’s informative article, Bill shows how he blueprints a Remington 700 short action receiver with .308 Win bolt face. He covers the following procedures step by step:
Action Disassembly
Ream Minor Diameter of Receiver Threads
Square the Receiver Lugs
Square the Face of the Receiver
Lap the Bolt Lugs
Square the Bolt Face
We use the bushings to guide the receiver tap. This chases the threads and ensures they are square.
2. Truing the Receiver Face
Using the receiver facing tool, the front of the receiver is trued. The tool is placed over the tap and turned by hand. We used Do Drill to lubricate it.
3. Lapping the Lugs
The bolt lapping tool screws into the front of the action and applies rearward pressure on the bolt face. A little bit of lapping compound is placed on the front of the receiver lugs. The bolt handle is then raised and lowered repeatedly. Note — it is critical that we do not get any lapping compound on any other surfaces.
4. Truing the Bolt Face
On this bolt, the central part of the bolt face was low. After the truing operation, this Rem 700 bolt face is now completely square to the action.
IMPORTANT: Rifleshooter.com states: “This article highlights our project and is presented for information purposes only. This provides an overview of the process and should not be attempted without the guidance and supervision of an experienced gunsmith“.
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SHOT Show 2024 commences two weeks from now in Las Vegas, Nevada. On January 23, doors will open at the Venetian EXPO and Caesars Forum. Over 2500 companies will be exhibiting products this year, with booths and displays covering over 800,000 square feet of floor space. The SHOT Show boasts 13.9 miles of aisles — a distance more than half a marathon.
If you will be attending SHOT Show, the SHOT Show Tracker is a great digital resource you should definitely utilize. Everything you need to know about NSSF’s 2024 SHOT Show is detailed in the 2024 SHOT Show Tracker publication. It’s packed with show schedules, networking details, education descriptions, exhibitor lists, and a sneak peek of the products being displayed.
In the table below are the key features in the SHOT Show Tracker. This is available online for free. Click any box to see more details — such as the full Exhibitor List or Floor Plan Maps:
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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. Creedmoor Sports — Sightron Competition Optics Sale
⏺ Save Hundreds on excellent Sightron Scopes
Need a high-magnification scope for your Benchrest, F-Class, or ELR match? Then head over to Creedmoor Sports. Now through 2/29/2024 there are great savings on a wide range of Sightron optics including the amazing SV ED 10-50x60mm, the popular SIII Long Range 8-32×56 SFP, plus 36X and 45X fixed power Comp ED models. Save up to $450 now with this sale.
2. MidwayUSA –Hundreds of Deals under $25.00
⏺ Hundreds of bargain products, all under $25.00
Looking for a bargain? MidwayUSA has a special section for products priced under $25.00. There you’ll find great deals on budget-priced items including ammo, bullets, magazines, knives, scope covers, solvents, and more. CLICK HERE to see everything you can buy for under $25.00. You’ll be tempted by these bargains, such as a handsome pair of Buck Knives for just $21.99 (66% off).
3. Palmetto SA — PSA Dagger compact 9mm, $349.99
⏺ Excellent value in 9mm optics-ready pistol
Who doesn’t love a well-made 9mm pistol that’s fun to shoot and super reliable. If you’re looking for something to fit the bill, grab this Optics-Ready PSA Dagger Compact 9mm for only $349.99. Chambered in 9x19mm, the Palmetto Dagger is fed from a supplied PMAG® 15 GL9 (15-Round) magazine and operated by a smooth single-action striker-fired trigger mechanism like a Glock. The slide is compatible with RMR pattern optics. You can also get an all-black Dagger 9mm pistol for the same $349.99 price as well.
4. Creedmoor Sports — Hornady Match Ammo Sale
⏺ Good ammo option for competitors who do not hand-load
Will you be competing with a .308 Win or 6.5 Creedmoor this spring, but aren’t set up to hand-load? Consider Hornady Match Ammo, on sale now at Creedmoor Sports. This ammunition shoots very well based on buyer reports. Hornady Match Ammo utilizes Hornady ELD Match, A-MAX, or high-performance boat-tail hollow point bullets. This ammo has delivered good accuracy with consistent velocities.
5. EuroOptic — Timney AR Trigger Sale
⏺ Big savings on quality triggers for AR-platform rifles — Save $64
Whether you shoot 3-Gun matches or just for fun, having a good trigger on your AR makes it much better. A great choice is the Timney Impact Trigger. Now just $99.99 on sale, the Impact Trigger for AR-platform rifles provides a provides an excellent, consistent trigger pull at a modest price. The Timney Impact is offered with either curve or straight trigger blade, and will provide a clean, 3-4 pound break in your AR.
6. Amazon — Deyace Extra Large Shooting Mat, $37.99
⏺ Nice, relatively big shooting mat with good padding
When shooting prone, you need a good shooting mat. The Deyace Extra Large padded shooting mat is a great value for just $37.99. Measuring a generous 78″x28.5″, this XL mat has nice padding for elbows and knees, and the mat folds up nicely for transport. This mat is offered in four colors: Green, Tan, Tan Camo, and Black. For transport, we like this mat’s integral straps and carry handle.
⏺ Comfortable, versatile, weather-proof jacket for outdoor adventures
Need a jacket to keep the wind and rain out when you’re in the field or at a match? This ReFire Gear Men’s Tactical Jacket features 100% polyester soft shell fabric, with a thermal fleece liner. The exterior fabric is wind and water repellant. This jacket features 2 large zippered chest pockets; 2 back pockets; 2 small left sleeve pockets, and 1 small pocket on right sleeve. This jacket is offered in five color options: Khaki, Army Green, Navy Blue, Gray, and Black.
⏺ Excellent cleaning kit for pistols, rifles, and shotguns
To maintain your firearms you need good gun-cleaning gear. A great option is the Gloryfire Elite Gun Cleaning Kit. This has a very complete selection of tools for small to large calibers (pistols, rifles, shotguns). This kit includes cleaning rod assembly, bronze jags, bore brushes, bore mops, general cleaning brushes, a lubricant bottle, and even a chamber flag.
⏺ Improve your pistol shooting with special targets
If you can’t hit center when pistol shooting do you know how to fix your mistakes? With these clever Diagnostic pistol targets (#ad) you can quickly figure out your mistakes based on shot impact location. For example if the shot hits low, you may be breaking your wrist down. These targets have nine diagnostic zones. This target is offered in both left- and right-handed versions, with a 10-pack for $9.99 on Amazon.
10. Palmetto State Armory — Banana Magazines
⏺ Funny, yes but functional too — real world banana mags
You may have heard the term “banana mag” referring to high-capacity rifle magazines with a banana-like curvature. Well Palmetto State Armory actually sells banana-style mags for ARs and 9mm AKs which have a cool, banana-style yellow finish. The href=”https://bit.ly/3tG5Cr6″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>PSA Palmetto Banana Magazine combines fun and functionality for semi-auto rifle shooters. Chose the 30-rd 5.56 (.223) AR magazine or the 35-rd AK-V 9mm magazine, each priced at $29.95.
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Every year the NRA Publications group announces Golden Bullseye Award winners for various product categories (rifle, handgun, shotgun, optics, gear etc.). These awards are like the Oscars for the shooting industry. There are many Golden Bullseyes given out each year because there are separate awards given by different NRA Magazines — including American Rifleman, Shooting Illustrated, and American Hunter. Here are the 2024 Rifles of the Year (Golden Bullseye Winners) as chosen by each of those three publications.
American Rifleman 2024 Golden Bullseye — Rifle of the Year
American Rifleman says the Springfield Armory 2020 Rimfire has impressive features: “Springfield 2020 Rimfire rifles come with an accuracy guarantee to shoot a three-shot group under one inch at 50 yards with match-grade ammunition. [The] new 2020 Rimfire bolt action [has] dual cocking cams and a 60-degree bolt throw. Rifles come supplied with an interrupted Picatinny optics rail[.] The trigger is user-adjustable [and is] compatible with 700-pattern aftermarket triggers[.] The rifle is fed with a detachable-box rotary magazine with a 10-round capacity of the 10/22 pattern.”
American Hunter 2024 Golden Bullseye — Rifle of the Year
American Hunter magazine likes the Marlin 336 Classic, with its smooth lever action and traditional appearance: “A gorgeous lever-action … this is a firearm as comfortable over the fireplace as it is in the deer woods. Its American black walnut stock blends beautifully with the satin-blued finish of the receiver and barrel.”
Shooting Illustrated 2024 Golden Bullseye — Rifle of the Year
S&W’s M&P FPC folding carbine is easy to transport and has smart on-board storage for magazines. The FPC’s buttstock has twin slots that hold 17-rd and/or 23-rd magazines compatible with S&W 9mm pistols. When folded, S&W’s FPC Carbine is just 16 3/8″. S&W delivers the new FPC in a cool zippered carry case with four internal pockets. That nice, padded carry case is included in the affordable $659.00 price.
New Award Category for Suppressor
New for 2024 is the Shooting Illustrated Suppressor of the Year Award. This new category reflects the growing usage of suppressors in many shooting sports. The first-ever Suppressor of the Year is the Silencer Central BANISH Speed K:
Just 4″ long, the new Silencer Central BANISH Speed K suppressor offers outstanding noise/recoil reduction in a very small format. The BANISH Speed K features a unique baffle design and a finned blast chamber that minimizes blowback to less than 6% of unsuppressed shooting. The Speed K is built from 100% Inconel, allowing it to be durable and maneuverable.
About the Golden Bullseye Awards
Now in their 22nd year, NRA Publications’ Golden Bullseye Awards acknowledge top firearms and shooting sports products. Winners are selected by a team of editors, graphic designers, and NRA Publications staffers. To qualify for consideration for a Golden Bullseye Award, a product must have been:
— Recently introduced and available to consumers.
— Used/tested by a staff member or magazine contributor.
— Reliable in the field, meeting or exceeding the evaluator’s expectations
— Innovative in design and function.
— Readily perceived as a value to the purchaser.
— Styled in a manner befitting the shooting and hunting industry.
Golden Bullseye Awards are presented by three major NRA Publications: American Rifleman, Shooting Illustrated, and American Hunter. In addition, Golden Bullseyes were awarded by NRAWomen.com, an NRA Publication web property.
The 2024 Golden Bullseye Awards as well as the Pioneer Award and the Freedom Award will be presented in person at an invitation-only event during the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Dallas, Texas.
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.009″ — The Record That Stood for 40 Years.
In 1973 Mac McMillan shot an amazing 100-yard, .009″ five-shot group in a benchrest match. The .009″ group was measured with a 60x microscope for verification. Mac McMillan shot the group using a handbuilt prototype McMillan rifle with an early McMillan stock.
Mac’s .009″ group was the “Holy Grail” of rifle accuracy. This .009″ record was considered by many to be unbreakable, a record that would “stand for all time”. Well, it took 40 years, but someone finally broke Mac’s record with an even smaller group. In 2013, Mike Stinnett shot a .0077″ five-shot group using a 30 Stewart, a .30 caliber wildcat based on the 6.5 Grendel. Stinnett’s .0077″ group now stands as the smallest 100-yard group ever shot in registered benchrest competition.* Read About .0077″ group HERE.
Stinnett’s success doesn’t diminish the significance of Mac McMillan’s .009″ group in the history of benchrest competition. For four decades Mac’s group stood as the ultimate standard of rifle accuracy*. For those of you who have never seen Mac McMillan’s .009″ group, here it is, along with the NBRSA World Record certificate. The target now hangs in the McMillan Family Museum.
*Somebody else might claim a smaller group, but unless moving backers or electronic targets were used, it cannot be verified. Moving target backers are used at registered benchrest matches to ensure that five (5) shots are actually fired in each group. That eliminates any doubt.
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This story features a unique, American-designed rimfire rifle, chambered for the potent .17 HMR round. The current generation Browning T-Bolt has a tang-mounted ambidextrous safety, a choice of barrel contours, lengths, and finishes, and a variety of stock options. What sets the T-Bolt apart from other rimfire rifles is the way the action cycles. There is not a conventional bolt that requires four distinct motions (lift bolt handle up/pull back/move forward/rotate handle down). With the T-Bolt you simply pull the handle straight back to extract a round, then return it forward to chamber a new round from the Double Helix magazine. The cocking effort is divided between back pull and forward movement so the effort is relatively light and easy.
Among current rimfire rifles, the Browning T-Bolt ranks high for fit and finish. The bluing is very nice and the T-Bolt even boasts a gold-plated trigger shoe. Many different stock types have been offered in recent years including some very nice AA Maple stock models as shown below (click to zoom). These T-Bolt rifles exhibit very fine craftmanship. Current models are made in Japan under license to Browning.
Click image for full-screen T-Bolt photo with detail.
Browning T-Bolt Sporter AA Maple Model
RECEIVER – Steel; High polished finish; Drilled and tapped for scope mounts
BARREL – Medium Sporter; Blued finish; Free-floating; Semi-match chamber; Recessed crown
ACTION – Straight pull bolt action; Top-tang safety; Adjustable trigger
STOCK – AA Maple; Gloss finish; Checkered
FEATURES – Sling swivel studs installed
PRODUCTION – Limited quantities
T-Bolt Owner Talks about Function and Accuracy
“I have a Browning T-bolt in .17 HMR, but with the maple stock. It is probably my favorite .17 HMR rifle (also the most expensive). The rifle feels smaller than some of my other .17 HMR rifles. I think the length of pull is a little shorter. I do like the light weight and trim handling of the rifle and the straight-pull bolt can be cycled really quickly. Mine is quite accurate and will shoot one-inch groups at 100 yards with both Hornady ammo and the CCI A17 ammo.” — RexRay, Varminter.com Forum member.
Pros and Cons of the Browning T-Bolt
The T-Bolt has a reputation for good accuracy, provided you have a good lot of .17 HMR ammo (we recommend checking for bullet run-out before you shoot for groups). The straight-pull action works as advertised — it is fast, smooth, and easy-to-operate. The Double Helix magazine (covered below) is excellent. It is very compact yet ultra-reliable. Another plus is that the T-Bolt has been produced in many different versions, with a variety of stocks, and even a stainless action version.
What are the negatives? Some of the stocks have a somewhat short length-of-pull, but this is easily solved with spacers. The main complaint is the factory trigger — some owners say it is too heavy at about 4 pounds, though the break is clean. For varmint work, we could live with the stock trigger and put money saved into optics.
If you prefer a very light trigger, JARD makes a T-Bolt replacement trigger. Featuring an aluminum housing, the JARD T-Bolt trigger can be ordered with 12-, 16-, or 20-ounce pull weights. The JARD trigger offers a crisp, clean break significantly lighter than stock. But at $254.95 the JARD trigger is fairly expensive. Additionally there have been a couple complaints about slam fires at the lowest weights so we recommend the 20-ounce. Here is one owner review, from a Rimfire Central thread: “The new Browning T-Bolt is a great rifle in all aspects except for the trigger. In my case when I received my JARD trigger it was an almost drop-in installation with very little adjusting or fooling around. For me it made a decent little rifle a great little rifle.”
Browning Double Helix 10-Round Magazine
The T-Bolt’s patented 10-round rotary Double Helix™ magazine is a unique design that feeds very reliably and is easy to load. The Double Helix magazine uses a torsion drive spring and interlocking gear design to maintain correct timing and exact cartridge alignment for smooth, reliable feeding. The translucent gray body allows for easy verification of the number of remaining cartridges. We like the fact that the Double Helix provides TEN-round capacity while fitting nearly flush with the bottom of the action.
The Browning Double Helix rotary box magazine system is easy to load, easy to carry, and easy to use. The smooth, rounded exterior contours of the Double Helix, along with twin gripping grooves, tapered shape and a slightly extended baseplate design make insertion positive, while the spring-assisted drop-free magazine ejection feature allows for rapid magazine changes. T-bolt owners confirm that feeding and reliability is excellent — the magazine design puts cartridges in perfect alignment with the chamber.
Other Browning T-Bolt Variants
In recent years, Browning has produced T-Bolt rifles in a variety of models, with many different stock types and various barrel lengths/contours. Most of the photos above showcase the AA Maple Sporter T-Bolt, which is currently out of production, though still available from some dealers (if you search). We like the looks of the AA Maple T-Bolt, but there many other stock options including dark brown, Black, Green, and various camouflage finishes. Use the links below to see other T-Bolt configurations.
Current production T-Bolts are offered in four rimfire chamberings: .17 HMR, .22 LR, .22 Magnum, and .22 WMR. Barrel contours and lengths (from 2″ to 22″) vary from model to model. Shown below is the New-for-2024 T-Bolt Target SR (Suppressor Ready) and two other current models. Then we feature five notable discontinued T-Bolt rifle models. CLICK HERE to see all discontinued T-Bolt variants — many of which are still available if you search gun vendors.
.17 HMR Cartridge — Fast and Deadly on Small Varmints
We are big fans of the .17 HMR round. It’s just about perfect for ground squirrels, and is effective on prairie dogs out to about 200 yards. The three main .17 HMR producers have been CCI, Federal, and Hornady, but you will also see Browning and Remington .17 HMR ammo. Choose from 17gr or 20gr bullets — both work well in the varmint fields. A good source for all types of .17 HMR ammo is TargetSports USA.
Here is a Comparison Test of Multiple Types of .17 HMR Ammo
CCI .17 HMR TNT offers 2650 FPS Velocity
For varmint work we like CCI’s modern .17 HMR VNT ammo. This boasts class-leading 2650 FPS muzzle velocity. Engineered to combine good accuracy with high impact energy, this CCI TNT ammo features a 17gr polymer-tipped bullet designed for rapid expansion. We also like the Hornady .17 HMR Varmint Xpress ammo, rated at 2550 FPS with 17gr V-Max bullets.
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Here is a video every shooter should watch. It reminds us that our sport demands 100% attention. Lose track of individuals down-range and the results could be tragic. This video will give you chills (starting at about the 0:25 mark). We need to remember to follow all the firearms safety rules, and apply them all the time. At the range, all it takes is one brief moment of inattention to create a life-threatening situation. Never assume the downrange area is safe. Use your own eyes and ears.
This video shows a competitor shooting a stage at an action pistol match. He starts when instructed by the Range Safety Officer (RSO). But unbeknownst to both RS0 and competitor, a volunteer is downrange working on targets. Watch carefully. At 0:27 the shooter sweeps left to right, engaging a paper silhouette target to his right. Then, at 0:30, as he begins a mag change, his head turns downrange. A few yards away is a white-shirted range worker! The shooter yells “Hey what’s going on?!”
What’s going on indeed… The RSO should have ensured that nobody was downrange before the shooter even stepped up to the firing line. If other competitors standing to the side had been alert, they might have seen the worker changing targets and called for a halt. And the target-worker himself — even if he was wearing earmuffs, he should have noticed that live fire had commenced just yards away…
We also have to wonder about the stage design. This set-up made it very difficult to see downrange. The white panels (see 0:10-0:20) definitely hid the target worker from view. In hindsight, given the way the stage was laid out, this was truly an “accident waiting to happen”. It’s fortunate that no one got injured in this incident. But this chilling video provides a lesson to all shooters — “Safety First”.
How could this “near-fatality” have been averted? Post your comments below.
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60th Anniversary of the 10/22 Rifle
In celebration of the 60th Anniversary of its 10/22 rimfire carbine, Sturm, Ruger & Co. (Ruger) is offering a the 60th Anniversary 10/22 Carbine. This, the Sixth Edition of the Ruger Collector’s Series, features a nice Magpul stock, and has unique collector’s memorabilia features. The 60th Anniversary 10/22 ships in a Collector’s Series box with a Sixth Edition Ruger Collector’s Series metal street sign and pin.
The 60th Anniversary 10/22 boasts a stainless barrel and silver-finished receiver with a modern, gray Magpul Hunter X-22 stock. The blackened bolt is laser-engraved with a 60th Anniversary marking. The rifle features a red bolt handle and trigger while incorporating popular features including non-glare blade front sight, ghost ring adjustable rear aperture sight, extended magazine release, and Picatinny scope rail. The Anniversary model also retains common 10/22 features like the push-button, cross-bolt manual safety and 1/2″-28 threaded hammer-forged barrel that accommodates popular muzzle accessories.
For more information on the Ruger Collector’s Series 10/22 visit Ruger.com, Facebook.com/Ruger or Instagram.com/Rugersofficial.
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Anschutz .22 LR rifle set up for F-Class competition. Photo courtesy Sportschieben Blog.
Here’s a fun new discipline that will grow in years ahead — Smallbore F-Class with .22 LR rimfire rifles. Rest-supported prone rimfire matches have been held around the world for quite some time, but only a few years ago was the discipline officially codified in the NRA Smallbore Rulebook. And the first-ever Smallbore F-Class National Championship was held in July 2018 in conjunction with the Smallbore Nationals at Camp Wa-Ke’-De in Bristol, Indiana. The Nationals involved multiple days of prone shooting at 50 meters and 100 yards. For more information read Hap Rocketto’s Shooting Sports USA Smallbore F-Class Report.
Smallbore F-Class competitors may shoot F-TR style with a bipod, or use a front rest. In the above photo from the inaugural NRA National Championship you can see a shooter with SEB Coaxial Rest at top, with a competitor using a low-profile bipod at bottom. Note the extended handle used to adjust bipod elevation. This is not a coaxial joystick, but rather a long handle attached to the mariner wheel.
Smallbore F-Class — The Future Looks Bright
With the high cost of centerfire ammunition, and the limited number of 1000-yard (or even 600-yard) ranges, we can envision that Rimfire F-Class will become a popular event at ranges across the country. Clubs don’t even need benches — just a 100-yard target bay and flat ground for the shooters. You can start with an inexpensive rimfire rig and Harris bipod. Then work up from there. Here is a custom rimfire F-TR style rig that belongs to F-Class ace and past centerfire F-TR National Champion James Crofts.
Rimfire F-Class and Fun Prone Matches with Front Rest or Bipods
Rimfire F-Class offers the fun of centerfire shooting at a much lower cost. Shooting is done prone with either a front rest or a bipod. You can shoot a relatively inexpensive rifle such as a CZ 457 MTR, or a custom build that has the same design features, weight, and ergonomics as a full-size F-TR or F-Open rifle. The choice is yours. We like shooting smallbore F-Class, because you can find decent .22 LR ammo for just $0.20 per round. By contrast, you’ll probably spend at least $1.20 per round for F-Class centerfire ammo (counting bullet, powder, primer, and part of the brass cost).
Top-Tier Vudoo V22-S Target Rifle for Rimfire F-Class
Vudoo Gun Works now offers an impressive .22 LR Single Shot Target Rifle that should prove ideal for rimfire F-Class (Open division). It features the new V22-S single-shot action, McMillan stock, and Flavio Fare BR-VS trigger.
Rimfire F-Class in the Canary Islands
This video comes from the Canary Islands, part of Spain. The voice-over is in Spanish but there are English sub-titles. The host explains: “In this video we summarize the main characteristics of this [shooting sport] that is practiced at 50 meters, 100 meters, and 200 meters with your .22 LR. Learn how to prepare your rimfire carbine and learn how to score your own targets by following our simple explanations. In another video we will delve into shooting techniques, shooting accessories and field accessories.”
Here is another rimfire F-Class video from the Canary Islands. This shows how the sport can be done with a variety of rimfire rifle types, even including a .22 LR AR clone. Some shooters are using a wide-base bipod, others are using normal Harris-type bipods, while others are using a large, benchrest-style front rest.
Rimfire F-Class-Style Local Fun Match in Oregon
In this video, F-Class John shoots an F-Class-style local fun match in Oregon. He is using a .22 LR rimfire rifle that has a full-size stock very similar to his custom F-Open centerfire rifles. This allows him to easily switch from centerfire F-Class to rimfire prone shooting with front rest and rear bag. The local fun match rules are a little different than an official F-Class match, but the shooting skills required are the same. Shooting this kind of local rimfire match allows John to keep his F-Class skills at a high level at a fraction of the cost of shooting centerfire F-Open.
Rimfire F-Class in Russia
NOTE: This video was filmed in Russia. The dialog is in Russian (without English subtitles), but it is still interesting to watch. Shooting F-Class with .22 LR ammo has become popular in Russia and other parts of Europe. You can have fun on a relatively short (200m) range with low-cost ammo.
Smallbore F-Class Course of Fire
The Smallbore F-Class Nationals was completed on paper targets at 50 yards and 100 yards. According to Shooting Sports USA: “The tournament ran during the any sight and metric phases of the 2018 NRA National Smallbore Rifle Championships, featuring a daily course of fire which mirrored the sling shooters, 40 shots at 50 meters on the A-50 target, a Metric Dewar, followed by 40 shots at 100 yards on the A-33 target. Although the international targets were shot throughout, the first two days were titled ‘conventional’ and the last two ‘metric’.”
The specifics of the match such as rifle requirements, rests, and sights may be found in the Provisional Smallbore Rifle F-Class Rules (Section 23), found on page 65 of the current NRA Smallbore Rifle rulebook. Any rules not covered in Section 23 will [reference] the normal rules of Sections 1 through 22.
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SUMMARY: Powder can have a very long shelf life. You need to watch for changes in smell and color. A reddish tinge, almost like rust on the powder, is a bad sign, as is a foul odor, not to be confused with a normal chemical smell. Either of these signs indicate it is time to dispose of your powder by means other than shooting.
Ever wondered about the stability of the propellants in your reloading room? There are some important things you should know about powder storage, to ensure consistent powder performance and safety. Western Powders (which has been acquired by Hodgdon) published an informative Q & A series entitled Dear Labby: Questions for our Ballistics Lab . Here are some excerpts that pertain to powder storage and shelf life. Worried that your powder may be too old? Western’s experts explain how to check your propellants for warning signs.
Proper Powder Storage
Q: I live in southern Arizona where it is very hot. I am told powders will become unstable if stored in an area not air-conditioned. My wife says no powder or primers in the house. Can powder be stored in a refrigerator? What about using a fireproof safe? I would appreciate your ideas. — M.C.
Lab Answer: SAAMI guidelines are pretty clear on issues of storage. They recommend storing smokeless powder in containers that will not allow pressure to build if the powder is ignited — ruling out gun safes and refrigerators.
In their original containers, the lifespan of smokeless powders is quite long, even in hot, arid climates. In fact the lifespan is typically longer than the average handloader would need to store them. Stored safely in a garage or outbuilding, your powder should last years. If you see the powder developing a reddish tint, or giving off a foul odor, it is time to discard it.
Clumps in Powder Container
Q: I ordered some of your Accurate 1680 powder back about in December. I just now opened it … and it is full of clumps. My knowledge tells me that means moisture. Am I wrong? I just now broke the seal and it has been stored in a ammo can with desiccant packs around it and a dehumidifier running 14-16 hours a day. I can’t imagine this being my fault, if this does indicate moisture. I don’t know if the pink part on the label is suppose to be red or not, but it is definitely pink, so if it was red I am wondering if I was shipped an old container? I hope that this isn’t bad and I am stuck with it…
Lab Answer: All powder contains a certain amount of moisture. When the powder is stored or during shipping, it can go through temperature cycles. During the cycling, the moisture can be pulled to the surface and cause clumping. Clumping can also be caused by static electricity if too dry or the powder has limited graphite content. You can break up the clumps before metering and they shouldn’t be a problem. This will not affect the powder performance, so your product is fine. Accurate 1680 labels are designed in Pink. As a side note, specification for testing powder is at 70° F and 60% humidity.
Shelf Life and Packaging Dates
Q: Does powder ever get to old to use and what identifying marks does your company put on the canister for when it is made, You have helped me out a while ago when I asked about keeping my cowboy shooting under 950 fps and it works great less stress on the hand and the recoil is very minimum. — R.B.
Lab Answer: On one pound bottles, the number is on the corner in a silver box. If the powder was poured today, it would read 012815 followed by a lot number. The whole number would look something like 012815749. Eight pound bottles have a sticker on the bottom with an obvious date code. The lot number appears above the date.
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Every year the 
.009″ — The Record That Stood for 40 Years.
In recent years, Browning has produced T-Bolt rifles in a variety of models, with many different stock types and various barrel lengths/contours. Most of the photos above showcase the AA Maple Sporter T-Bolt, which is currently out of production, though still available from some dealers (if you search). We like the looks of the AA Maple T-Bolt, but there many other stock options including dark brown, Black, Green, and various camouflage finishes. Use the links below to see other T-Bolt configurations.
