Many of our readers have been interested in learning how modern bullets are made. While a “boutique” bullet-maker, supplied with appropriate cores and jackets, can craft bullets using relatively simple hand dies and manual presses, factory production is different. The major bullet-makers, such as Barnes, employ huge, complex machines to craft their projectiles on an assembly line.
Modern hunting bullets are made with a variety of sophisticated (and expensive) machines, such as Computer Numerical Control (CNC) lathes, giant multi-stage presses, and hydraulic extruding machines that draw lead ingots into lead wire. Barnes offers an “inside look” at the bullet production process in a series of videos filmed at its Mona, UT factory. We’ve embedded four videos from the series here. These videos can also be viewed on the Barnes Bullets YouTube Channel.
Milling Slots in TSX All-Copper Bullet
This video shows how the slots (between the drive bands) in the TSX all-copper bullet are cut. The slots reduce the bearing surface that contacts the rifling. This helps reduce friction and heat, extending the life of barrels used with all-metal, drive-band bullets:
Varminator Bullets Produced in Jumbo Transfer Press
Here is the transfer press used in the production of Varminator and MPG Bullets. The process begins with a giant spool of flat copper material. The copper is stamped into jackets and eventually the formed Varminator bullets are ejected one by one into a bucket.
CNC Lathe Turns Bullets Automatically
In the video below, a Bar-Feed CNC crafts mono-bloc bullets from metal bar stock. Barnes uses a small CNC lathe to turn .50-caliber bullets from brass bar stock. We’re not sure which bullet is being made in this video. The material looks to be sintered metal. In the close-ups you can gold-colored shavings from when the machine was previously used for CNC-turned brass bullets.
Accuracy Testing in 100-yard Tunnel
Barnes regularly tests bullet samples for accuracy. In the video below, a Barnes technician loads sample rounds and tests them for accuracy in a 100-yard tunnel. The rounds are shot through a special fixture — basically a barreled action connected to parallel rods on either side. This allows the testing fixture to slide straight back on recoil (see it move back at 1:07-08 minute mark).
Upside-Down Trigger — Application for Unlimited Benchrest Competition?
Note how the tester actuates the trigger, which points UPWARDS, just the opposite of a normal rifle. The technician lightly taps the upward-pointing trigger shoe with a metal rod. Could this upside-down trigger work in benchrest shooting — perhaps with railguns? It could make for an interesting experiment.
Story suggestion by EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
Redding Reloading offers handy Handloader’s Data Sheets in printable PDF format. This FREE form allows hand-loaders to document their tool settings, bushing size, powder charge, load specs (COAL etc.), and case prep status. In addition, the form allows you to enter your load testing information, complete with chronograph data, group size, zero range, and wind/temp conditions. With this single, handy form you can document all the vital information for your particular cartridges and loads. We suggest you print these out, 3-hole-punch ‘em, and then keep them in a three-ring binder.
We’ve seen various reloading log templates, but this Redding form (shown below) is better than most because it combines both reloading data AND range-test data in one place. You can see all key details of the reloading process (tool settings etc.) plus the end results — how the load actually performed over the chronograph and on paper. This form allows the user to capture a large amount of information for later use, while accurately track load development. CLICK HERE to DOWNLOAD.
FREE Ammunition Box Label Template Redding also provides a FREE printable template for your ammo boxes (see photo at top of article). This lets you put all vital load info on your ammo boxes. There are fields for: Date, Cartridge, Powder, Grains, Bullet, Weight, Primer, Case type. Designed for Avery 5260 (or similar) label sheets, this template allows you to print 30 labels at one time. You can purchase the Avery 5260 peel-off printable label sheets at any office supply store.
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.
⏺️ Complete AR-15 rifle for less than you might pay for assembled upper
You can’t beat this price for a complete AR-15 — $369.99 from CDNN Sports. You could easily pay MORE for an assembled upper alone. The Radical Firearms RPR AR-15 rifle features MIL-STD upper and lower receivers along with 15″ RPR rail system. The 16″ 1:7″-twist barrel is 4140 Chrome Moly Vanadium. The lower is forged 7075 T6 aluminum with Type III anodizing. The buttstock is adjustable and there is a long rail on the top of the forearm for mounting optics and accessories. NOTE: No iron sights come standard, but these can be added to the top rail.
2. Midsouth — RCBS Buy Green Free Bullets Promotion
⏺️ FREE Sierra or Barnes bullets with $100 or more RCBS product purchases
If you’re looking to grab a new reloading tool from RCBS you can now also get FREE bullets with Midsouth’s BUY GREEN, Get Premium Bullets Sale. Spend $100 and choose from a selection of free Sierra and Barnes bullets (quantity of 40 to 100 bullets). If you spend $400 you can choose from variety of 200-ct to 500-ct bullet packs. Those 500 free Sierra bullets could be worth up to $295 (for .308 168gr MatchKings) — so this is a great deal! NOTE: To get the FREE bullets you’ll need to fill out a RCBS Rebate Form. CLICK HERE for full chart of BUY GREEN free bullets.
⏺️ Very good .22 LR Target/Training pistol now under $250
All shooters should have a quality .22 LR rimfire pistol with a good trigger, ergonomic grip, and excellent accuracy. With the Walther P22 Target Model, you can get all those things for just $248.76 at CDNN Sports. The P22 is a very nice rimfire handgun with a 5″ barrel plus a forward ported compensator. The ergonomic grip has an interchangeable backstrap. Compared to most other rimfire pistols in this class, the trigger is very good with a light, crisp pull. We also like the ambidextrous controls. A rare feature for a rimfire, the P22 is covered by the Walther Legendary Lifetime Limited Warranty.
⏺️ Great price on press and complete reloading system
Natchez is offering Hornady’s L-N-L Classic Single Stage Press Reloading Kit for $344.99, a $149.00 discount. This kit includes a nice press, manual powder dispenser, electronic scale, priming tool, powder trickler, chamfer/debur tool, case lube, shell block and more. As a special bonus, Natchez is including the powered Hornady Case Prep Duo Chamfer tool, a $49 value by itself.
5. EuroOptic — Major Leupold Sale, 20-40% Off
⏺️ Save hundreds on spotters and 5X and 6X zoom ratio riflescopes
If you need a spotting scope or rifle optic check out the current EuroOptic Leupold Sale. You’ll find savings of 20% to 40% on a variety of quality spotters and rifle scopes. Among the best deals, we like the 20-60x85mm SX-4 Spotter for $649.99 ($350 off), and the 3-15x44mm VX-5HD scope for $999.00 ($500 off).
6. Locked & Loaded — Federal .22 LR Ammo, $159.99 3250 rds
⏺️ Amazing deal on good Federal .22 LR 40gr Ammo — 5 cents per round
Rimfire shooting is fun, and decent .22 LR ammo is a fraction of the cost of centerfire fodder. And here’s one of the best bulk bargains we’ve found. Right now Locked & Loaded has a 3,250-round pack of good Federal 40gr .22 LR ammunition for just $159.99. This price works out to under FIVE CENTS per round. At that price you can shoot 100 rounds for just five bucks!
7. Midsouth — Lee Breech Lock Press, $49.99
⏺️ Budget-priced Lee press works well as secondary or range press
Need a simple, reliable press that doesn’t take up a lot of bench space? A good choice for a small, secondary press is the Lee Breech Lock Reloader Single-Stage Press. Weighing just 2.1 pounds this compact press is easy to transport to the range. And you can change dies quickly using the Lee quick change bushing system — with a twist of the wrist you can remove a die in a few seconds.
8. Locked & Loaded — CCI Blazer 9mm Ammo, $214.99 1000 rds
⏺️ Quality 9mm brass-cased ammo at a super-low price — $22 cents/round
CCI makes very reliable pistol ammo with reloadable brass cases. Right now you can get 1000 rounds of CCI Blazer 9mm FMJ ammo for just $214.99 at LockedLoaded.com. The price for this 124gr CCI Blazer 9mm ammo works out to just $10.75 per 50-round box — a fantastic price. This very affordable CCI 9x19mm ammo is excellent for practice/training, and it is more reliable than commercial reloads.
9. Amazon — Earmuffs Plus Safety Glasses Combo, $24.99
⏺️ Good deal on Muffs/safety eyewear combo
Here’s a good set of NRR 28-rated earmuffs plus Z87.1-approved, wrap-around shooting glasses. This combo offers great protection for the price. The muffs come in multiple color combos: Yellow/Black (as shown), Gray/Black, Blue/Black, Pink/Black, and Purple/Black. Get the muffs and one set of safety eyewear for just $24.99 on sale (#ad). Or, for $6.00 more you can get a $30.99 kit with TWO sets of safety glasses, one tinted and one clear.
10. CDNN Sports — Camo Pack with Hydration Bladder, $9.99
⏺️ Versatile, handy hiking pack for water and basic supplies
This rugged, comfortable Backpack with 1.5 liter water bladder is a very useful gear item for hikes. The hose allows easy hydration without removing the pack. This hydration pack will hold 1.5 liters (0.4 gallons) of liquid. In the two zippered pouches you can stow other items such as: lunch snacks, a small first aid kit, a hat, extra socks, and a GPS. We have a similar bag that has worked great for many years.
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We are re-publishing this article at the request of Forum members who found the information very valuable. If you haven’t read this Safety Tip before, take a moment to learn how you can inspect your fired brass to determine if there may be a potential for case separation. A case separation can be dangerous, potentially causing serious injury.
On the highly-respected Riflemans’ Journal blog, created by our late, dear friend German Salazar*, there was an excellent article about Cartridge Case-Head Separation. In this important article, Salazar (aka GS Arizona) examined the causes of this serious problem and explained the ways you can inspect your brass to minimize the risk of a case-head separation. As cases get fired multiple times and then resized during reloading, the cases can stretch. Typically, there is a point in the lower section of the case where the case-walls thin out. This is your “danger zone” and you need to watch for tell-tale signs of weakening.
The photo below shows a case sectioned so that you can see where the case wall becomes thinner near the web. You can see a little arrow into the soot inside the case pointing to the thinned area. This case hadn’t split yet, but it most likely would do so after one or two more firings.
Paper Clip Hack for Detecting Problems
The article provided a great, easy tip for detecting potential problems. You can use a bent paper clip to detect potential case wall problems. Slide the paper clip inside your case to check for thin spots. GS Arizona explains: “This simple little tool (bent paper clip) will let you check the inside of cases before you reload them. The thin spot will be immediately apparent as you run the clip up the inside of the case. If you’re seeing a shiny line on the outside and the clip is really hitting a thin spot inside, it’s time to retire the case. If you do this every time you reload, on at least 15% of your cases, you’ll develop a good feel for what the thin spot feels like and how it gets worse as the case is reloaded more times. And if you’re loading the night before a match and feel pressured for time — don’t skip this step!”
* Sadly, German Salazar passed away unexpectedly on June 21, 2022 at age 62. German was a great inspiration to this site who helped guide the creation of the AccurateShooter Forum. A brilliant man, expert attorney, and top-tier marksman, German will be sorely missed in the shooting sports world.
What’s wrong (or right?) with this picture? Does the “F” in F-class refer to “Fauna”? Look carefully at this Bisley Range photo taken by Australian R. Hurley while looking downrange through his March 8-80X scope. The photo was taken in 2015 at the Bisley National Shooting Centre in the UK.
The Story Behind the Photo
British shooter T. Stewart reports: “I was there when this photos was taken. All I can say was that Mr. Hurley was firmly reminded that should said deer accidentally jump in front of his bullet … he would spend five years ‘At Her Majesty’s Pleasure’.”
“That morning we had five deer moving across the targets, literally blocking the V-Bull. Since we were on the 900-yard Firing Point, and elevated for such, obviously the bullet would pass well above them. But they do NOT move or flinch at the noise or passing bullets since they are not hunted on the Bisley Ranges. Earlier this year we saw a herd of 20 or so deer grazing slowly across the Range.”
More Fauna Findings…
Apparently Bisley is not the only place were “the deer and the antelope play”. In Canada, on the Connaught Ranges near Ottawa, Ontario, shooters often encounter a variety of wildlife. William McDonald from Ontario says: “Animals are a common sight on the Range. Along with deer we see geese, turkeys, and coyotes on a daily basis.”
Likewise, E. Goodacre from Queensland, Australia often sees ‘Roos on his home range: “I shoot at Ripley, Australia, and shooting is regularly interrupted by kangaroos. Our last silhouette match was delayed by an hour while 30 ‘Roos dawdled across — silly buggers!”
R. Hurley wasn’t the first fellow to view deer through his F-Class rifle’s scope. After seeing Hurley’s photo from Bisley, B. Weeks posted this image, saying: “Been there, done that!”
This 6 PPC features a Nesika Extended ‘C’ action, Krieger 1:13.5″-twist LV barrel, Kelbly stock, and stunning paint by Mike Lavalle of killerpaint.com. For an eye-catching R-Rated paint surprise, Click HERE.
One of the most popular items in our Shooters’ Forum is the ongoing “Pride and Joy” thread. Since 2009, Forum members have posted photos and descriptions of their most prized firearms. Here are some of the most recent “Pride and Joy” rifles showcased in our Forum. Do you have a gun you’d like to see featured there? Register for the Forum and you can add your favorite gun to the list.
Click image to view large, full-screen photo!
For this week’s Sunday GunDay we’ve selected five fan favorites from the Pride and Joy archives. First up is this custom 30 BR brought to you by ANSHUTER2013 and built by Dave Bruno. We were captivated by the clean lines and handsome looks of the Roy Hunter Curly Maple stock. Nestled in that stock is a BAT B action fronted by a 1:17″-twist James Lederer 24″ HV barrel. A Jewell trigger with fixed 42x44mm Nightforce scope round out this beauty.
This state-of-the-art 6 PPC boasts all top-tier components. And owner Wes R. shoots it with a superb rest/bag/pad set-up that inspires envy. This “Bughole 6 PPC” features a Bat DS action, Bix’N Andy trigger, with Bartlein 1:13.75″-twist barrel. The stock is a super-low-profile Scoville with carbon strengthening. The front rest is a SEB NEO, while in the rear is the new Lenzi sandbag. Folks tell us the Lenzi is super stable, which improves tracking from shot to shot. Note the timer attached to the front rest as well as the nice Edgewood leather bench “blanket” and arm-rest pad.
Forum Member Killick attached PickleForks to his handsome blue Eliseo R1 TubeGun now chambered in .284 Winchester, a top choice for the F-Open discipline. Killick explains: “Behold! An Eliseo R1 F-Classer. This started out as an R1 Long Range sling rifle (6XC) with a Borden TubeGun action. It is now rebarreled in .284 Win with Gary’s PickleFork fore-end adaptor. Props to Gary Eliseo at Competition Machine LLC.”
Sometimes clean and simple is the way to go — particularly with a hunting rifle. WEATHERBYFAN’s 6.5 Creedmoor is built around a Stiller Predator single-shot action in a texturd, green Wildcat Var-Tac stock. The 1:8″-twist Bartlein barrel is finished at 28″. That’s pretty long for a hunting rig, but it delivers added velocity. Finishing off this nice rigle is a Zeiss 6-24x50mm optic. Sometimes less is more and this is a perfect example of that.
Our final offering is from Forum member 300_WHISPER. Completed just months ago by gunsmith CALEB85, this .308 Win rifle features a Bighorn TL3 action with a Bartlein M40 26″ 1:10″-twist barrel, and Manners TA Elite stock. Other components include Trigger Tech Special, Area 419 self-timing muzzle brake, and a Weaver Tactical 3-15x50mm FFP mil/mil optic. When test-fired by Caleb with ammo using Berger 175gr OTM Tactical bullets, this nice .308 Win delivered a 1.6″ 5-shot group at 400 yards. The owner says “It’s my dream rifle. I couldn’t be happier”.
Today’s showcase shows how CCI, Federal, and Remington .22 LR rimfire ammunition types are produced in large American factories. CCI and Federal, until very recently, were part of the Vista Outdoor Kinetic Group. In December 2024 CCI and Federal along with other Vista ammo brands were sold to a Czech company, CSG.* Most CCI rimfire is produced in Idaho, while most Federal rimfire ammo is produced in Anoka, Minnesota. Here we feature videos from CCI, Federal, and Remington ammo plants. Watch and learn how rimfire ammo is made.
The Manufacturing Process for .22 LR Rimfire Ammunition Shooting Sports USA explains: “Rimfire cartridge cases are the oldest self-contained cartridge in existence, having been in continuous production since the mid-1850s. Rimfire cases are drawn from a thin piece of brass and formed with a hollow rim. A priming compound is then forced into the case using centrifugal force, where it is charged with powder and a bullet is seated in the mouth of the case. The case is then crimped around the bullet to ensure sufficient push and pull when the round is fired. When the firing pin strikes the thin brass rim of the case, the hollow rim is crushed and the primer is ignited.” Source: SSUSA.org 9/2/2017.
.22 LR Ammo Production at Federal Ammo Plant in Minnesota
Note to Viewers — After Starting Video, Click Speaker Icon to HEAR audio!
A while back a Field & Stream writer toured the Federal ammunition production facility in Anoka, Minnesota. This large plant produces both rimfire and centerfire ammunition. While touring the plant, the reporter was allowed to capture video showing the creation of .22 LR rounds from start to finish. This is a fascinating video, well worth watching. Click speaker icon for sound.
22Plinkster Tours CCI/Speer Idaho Factory
Trickshot artist and YouTube host 22Plinkster was able to tour the CCI/Speer production facility in Lewiston, Idaho. This large plant produces both rimfire and centerfire ammunition. While touring the plant, 22Plinkster was allowed to capture video showing the creation of .22 LR rounds from start to finish.
This revealing video shows all phases of .22 LR ammo production including cupping, drawing, annealing, washing, drying, head-stamping, priming, powder charging, bullet seating, crimping, waxing, inspection, and final packaging. We really recommend you watch the video from start to finish. Well worth watching, this excellent video has logged 3.2 million views on YouTube.
Remington Factory Produces Millions of Rounds of Rimfire Ammo
Billions of .22 Long Rifle rounds are produced every year, and Remington Ammunition in Lonoke, Arkansas produces a significant share of the rimfire ammunition used worldwide. This “American Rifleman Television” feature shows the full ammo production process. At the start, brass cups are stamped out of large sheets of brass, and the cups then move on to have the headstamps applied and rims formed. Next, the rounds move on to be annealed and rinsed. Then the cases move onto priming. A wet priming pellet is then pressed into each empty .22 case, and the case is spun rapidly, spreading the pellet mix into the inner cartridge rim. The primed cartridges are then sent to a drying house, where they’ll sit for several days to allow the priming mixture to dry. The Remington factory is very efficient, with “some of the fastest rimfire-making equipment on the planet”.
*In December 2024, Vista Outdoor completed the $2.23 billion sale of the company’s “Sporting Products” division — which is known as the Kinetic Group and includes American ammunition brands CCI, Federal Premium, Hevi-Shot, Remington, and Speer — to the Czechoslovak Group (CSG), a Czech conglomerate. READ Full Story of Vista Outdoor Kinetic Group ammo brands sale.
At long range, small bullet holes are much easier to see “in the white” than in the black center of the normal High Power target. When you’re practicing at long range using a scoped rifle, one way to enhance your ability to see your bullet holes is to print a “negative” version of the regulation bullseye target so that your black center is now white.
How do you create a “negative” of a target image? Many image programs, including the FREE Irfanview software, have a “Negative” function in the pull-down menu. If you don’t see a “Negative” menu option in your program, look for a “substitute colors” option. Many printers also have a “reverse colors” function. If you can’t find a solution with your computer or printer, just take a normal bullseye target to a copy shop, and the staff can easily print you a set of targets with white centers in black fields.
Forum member Watercam has a Pentax PF-80ED spotting scope that allows him to see 6mm bullet holes in the white at 600 yards. However, 6mm holes in the black are only visible out to 400 yards or so. Accordingly, Watercam uses a modified “reversed” black-to-white target for 600-yard practice. Watercam explains: “[Using the Pentax] With my 6mm and limited mirage I see defined, 6mm holes in the white out to 600. In the black, however, I can see bullets holes at about 400. I now use reverse-color targets for training without a pit partner at the 600-yard line.”
The Hi-Viz Solution — Day-Glo Pasters
If you’re not concerned with official scoring rings, you can use an all-white target with a bright, fluorescent target dot in the middle. A 2″- or 3″-diameter stick-on target dot is highly visible at 600 yards. Birchwood Casey Target Spots® assortment #33928-TSA offers neon orange target dots in 1″, 2″, and 3″ diameters.
TARGET TIP — Use Chart Paper
For practice backers for the Day-GLo pasters at long distance, use Flip Chart Paper (aka Easel Pads) marked with graph lines at 1″ intervals. Available either regular or self-stick, one sheet can hold 4-8 pasters and the white paper allows for easy spotting of the holes and quick estimation of group size. Get Flip Chart Paper at Amazon.com, Staples, or Office Depot.
Brits Use White-Field Target for F-Class
In the UK, some ranges are now using a “reverse-style” target with a mostly white area. Laurie Holland says this allows shooters to see shots much more easily. Laurie reports: “Here’s a photo of the 500/600 yard F-Class match target we use in PSSA comps at Diggle Ranges with club members Chris Hull (L) and Terry Mann (R). We now use this target form at all ranges up to 1K for F-Class, and, yes you can often see your hits at 600 yards on the target before the markers pull it. Regards from England — Laurie”.
UltimateReloader.com offers some of the most thorough firearms and reloading tool tests on the internet. And the Ultimate Reloader YouTube Channel now has over 1200 videos that showcase reloading tools, accurate firearms, precision optics, gunsmithing methods, and top-tier reloading components. For today’s Saturday at the Movies feature, we showcase eight great videos created by Gavin Gear and his UltimateReloader team. These videos highlight NRL22 Rifles and optics, the remarkable AMP Annealer, a new affordable target cam, Bix’N Andy Triggers, Silencerco Suppressors, and a stunning 6×47 Lapua rifle project. Enjoy this Saturday Video Showcase.
Popular .22 LR Rimfire Tactical Competition — NRL22
NRL22 and PRS Rimfire are some of the fastest-growing shooting disciplines in the USA. The NRL now runs 7-8 times as many rimfire NRL22 matches as centerfire matches. The popularity of rimfire precision shooting is easy to understand — .22 LR ammo is a small fraction of the cost of centerfire ammunition and you can compete at any local range that goes out to 200 yards. In this video Gavin Gear explains the features you want in an NRL22 rifle. The related video (at right) explains what you’ll want in an optic for NRL22 competition.
AMP Annealer — Guide for Getting Started
Gavin Gear with New Zealanders Matt Findlay (center) and Alex Findlay (right) of Annealing Made Perfect.
This detailed 11.5-minute review outlines the features of the impressive AMP electronic annealing machine, the AMP Mark II DB. This uses a computer control to deliver precise annealing times and temperatures with a profile for your specific lot and brand of brass. This video explains how to set the annealing timing for your brass and how to configure multiple profiles. One AMP Mark II DB owner offers high praise for AMP annealers: “If you want to anneal the best way possible this is it. Does a torch work? Sure it does. The AMP does it far better and far more consistently.”
Budget Ranger Target Camera from LongShot Precision
Longshot offers superb, reliable, high-resolution target cameras favored by top shooters around the world. Now LongShot offers its Ranger target cameras starting at just $199.00 for the basic Ranger Target Camera which runs at 100 yards. For those who shoot at longer distances, we recommend the Ranger Plus model which reaches out to 1000 yards. Powered by state-of-the-art 5G WiFi technology, the Ranger Plus connects to your phone or tablet. You can purchase the Ranger Plus for $399.00. The features of these two Ranger systems are compared in the graphic below:
6x47L Rifle Build with BAT Action & Woox Furiosa Ultra Chassis
Gavin Gear has completed many impressive custom rifles. This handsome rifle is one of Gavin’s best efforts. Chambered for the 6-6.5×47 Lapua wildcat cartridge (aka 6x47L), this rifle has show great accuracy. It boast a handsome black BAT Hammerhead action and a wood/metal composite WOOX Furiosa Ultra chassis. This high-tech hybrid stock/chassis combines wood sections over a full-length, aerospace-grade aluminum skeleton chassis, giving it the “feel” of a wood stock with the strength and stability of a metal stock. Gavin likes the way the stock feels on the trigger hand in particular and the smooth wood cheekpiece is also very nice. Made in Italy, the Furiosa is offered in three versions all with wood sections on the forearm, grip area, and cheekpiece. Choose natural Walnut Brown, Micarta Black, or Midnight Grey.
SilencerCo Suppressors Tested
Gavin Gear of UlimateReloader.com got a chance to visit a SilencerCo dealer, The Range LLC in Yakima, WA. During his visit, Gavin was able to test a number of suppressors (aka “moderators” or “silencers”) for both rifle and pistols. Gavin has released a lengthy article covering his experiences. If you are in the market for a suppressor, we highly recommend you read Gavin Gear’s full SilencerCo Products Overview on UltimateReloader.com.
Bix’N Andy Trigger Testing
Bix’N Andy makes some of the best triggers you can buy, with versions suited for benchrest, F-Class, ELR, PRS/NRL, as well as hunting and varminting. In this October 2024 video, Gavin looks at the features and functionality of a variety of Bix’N Andy triggers. You can purchase these quality triggers from BulletCentral.com at attractive prices starting at $199.00.
Ultimate Reloader’s Most Popular Video EVER:
.223 Remington vs. 5.56x45mm — 7.7 Million Views
This video explains essential facts and corrects common misconceptions related to both .223/5.56 ammunition, as well as .223/5.56 rifles. Gavin provides insight on chamber specs, pressure levels, barrel twist rates, military 5.56 crimped brass, and other important topics. If you are new to the AR world, this video is definitely worth watching. And that’s why it now has garnered over 7.7 MILLION YouTube views, making it one of the most popular gun-related videos ever. Full Story:CLICK HERE for full written analysis of .223 Rem vs. 5.56x45mm with graphs and data.
BONUS — Key Legal Insights for Gun Owners
Interview with Attorney William Kirk of Washington Gun Law
Do you often carry a concealed handgun? Then you should definitely read Beretta’s FREE 15-page eBook, Ten Essential Tips for CCW Holders. This eBook, in handy PDF format, helps gun owners select an appropriate handgun (and holster), understand legal obligations and responsibilities, and train effectively with the firearm. This short PDF eBook offers many useful tips to consider, in particular for gun owners who are contemplating the pros and cons of everyday carry for themselves.
As the Beretta CCW booklet says, “Carrying a concealed handgun requires a certain amount of confidence. You need to be confident in your knowledge of laws and regulations. You have to have confidence in your accuracy, and you need to trust that you can carry a gun effectively, securely and comfortably. If a gun is a burden for you to carry, you probably won’t.”
Surprising Facts About Actual Defensive Handgun Use
You may be surprised to learn when and how handguns are actually used for self-defense. Most defensive uses are at very short range and the incident only lasts a matter of seconds. You need to be prepared, and train to be proficient drawing and aiming your weapon. And remember, shooting is a last resort, when a safe retreat is not available.
55% of gunfights take place in 0-5 feet.
20% of gunfights take place in 5-10 feet.
20% of gunfights take place in 10-21 feet.
95% of gunfights take place in 0-21 feet. (Source: FBI)
The average man can cover 21 feet of ground in 1.5 seconds.
The average gunfight is over in 3-5 seconds.
3 to 4 shots are usually fired.
Most gunfights take place in low-light conditions.
On average, one shot in four strikes someone.
Here are two (2) sample pages from Beretta’s CCW eBook.
Many of our readers have been interested in learning how modern bullets are made. While a “boutique” bullet-maker, supplied with appropriate cores and jackets, can craft bullets using relatively simple hand dies and manual presses, factory production is different. The major bullet-makers, such as Barnes, employ huge, complex machines to craft their projectiles on an assembly line.
Redding also provides a FREE 
On the highly-respected Riflemans’ Journal blog, created by our late, dear friend German Salazar*, there was an excellent article about Cartridge Case-Head Separation. In this important article, Salazar (aka GS Arizona) examined the causes of this serious problem and explained the ways you can inspect your brass to minimize the risk of a case-head separation. As cases get fired multiple times and then resized during reloading, the cases can stretch. Typically, there is a point in the lower section of the case where the case-walls thin out. This is your “danger zone” and you need to watch for tell-tale signs of weakening.
Forum member Watercam has a Pentax PF-80ED spotting scope that allows him to see 6mm bullet holes in the white at 600 yards. However, 6mm holes in the black are only visible out to 400 yards or so. Accordingly, Watercam uses a modified “reversed” black-to-white target for 600-yard practice. Watercam explains: “[Using the Pentax] With my 6mm and limited mirage I see defined, 6mm holes in the white out to 600. In the black, however, I can see bullets holes at about 400. I now use reverse-color targets for training without a pit partner at the 600-yard line.”
