In the archives of The First Shot (the CMP’s Online Magazine), SGT Walter E. Craig of the USAMU discusses physical conditioning for competitive shooters, particularly High Power competitors. Fitness training is an important subject that, curiously, is rarely featured in the shooting sports media. We seem to focus on hardware, or esoteric details of cartridge reloading. Yet physical fitness also matters, particularly for High Power shooters. In his article, Craig advocates: 1) weight training to strengthen the Skeletal Muscle System; 2) exercises to build endurance and stamina; and 3) cardiovascular conditioning programs to allow the shooter to remain relaxed with a controlled heart beat.
SGT Craig explains: “An individual would not enter a long distance race without first spending many hours conditioning his/her body. One should apply the same conditioning philosophy to [shooting]. Physical conditioning to improve shooting skills will result in better shooting performance[.] The objective of an individual physical training program is to condition the muscles, heart, and lungs thereby increasing the shooter’s capability of controlling the body and rifle for sustained periods.”
In addition to weight training and cardio workouts (which can be done in a gym), SGT Craig advocates “some kind of holding drill… to develop the muscles necessary for holding a rifle for extended periods.”
For those with range access, Craig recommends a blind standing exercise: “This exercise consists of dry-firing one round, then live-firing one round, at a 200-yard standard SR target. For those who have access only to a 100-yard range, reduced targets will work as well. Begin the exercise with a timer set for 50 minutes. Dry-fire one round, then fire one live round and without looking at the actual impact, plot a call in a data book. Continue the dry fire/live fire sequence for 20 rounds, plotting after each round. After firing is complete, compare the data book to the target. If your zero and position are solid, the plots should resemble the target. As the training days add up and your zero is refined, the groups will shrink and move to the center.”
Fitness training and holding drills help position shooters reach their full potential. Here is 6-Time U.S. National Long Range Champion John Whidden.
Training for Older Shooters
Tom Alves has written an excellent article A Suggested Training Approach for Older Shooters. This article discusses appropriate low-impact training methods for older shooters. Tom explains: “Many of the articles you will read in books about position shooting and the one mentioned above are directed more toward the younger generation of shooters in their 20s. If you look down the line at a typical high power match these days you are likely to see quite a few folks who are in their middle 30s and up. Many people in that age range have had broken bones and wear and tear on their joints so a training program needs to take that into account. For instance, while jogging for an extended period for heart and lung conditioning may be the recommended approach for younger folks, it may be totally inappropriate for older people.”
The 2026 SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade show) is just 3 days away. Thousands of new products will be on display at the SHOT Show, hosted at the Venetian Expo/Convention Center and Caesars Forum in Las Vegas January 20-23, 2026. Gunmakers from around the world will be introducing hundreds of new (and updated) rifles, pistols, and shotguns. Along with the new guns, SHOT Show will feature many noteworthy new optics, electronics, reloading equipment, and accessories.
Here are six interesting videos that preview new (and updated) firearms expected to be on display at SHOT Show in Las Vegas next week. There are hunting rifles, tactical rifles, rimfire rifles, plus a wide range of new pistols and some interesting shotguns.
Here’s a good initial video that covers a huge selection of new firearms. This 13.7-minute video covers a whopping 29 guns that will be showcased at SHOT Show 2026. Selections range from next-gen handguns and precision rifles to innovative tactical platforms and cutting-edge upgrades from top manufacturers. Whether you’re into concealed carry, competition shooting, duty weapons, hunting rifles, or tactical gear, this lineup has something you’ll want to see.
In this long 52-minute video, Pistol9x19 reviews 17 new firearms to be displayed at SHOT Show 2026. The video highlights innovative features, and performance for new pistols, rifles and shotguns. The 17 featured guns (with time-markers) are:
01:10 – Ruger SFAR 6.5 Creedmoor
04:07 – Henry Carbon Fiber Lever Action
07:03 – Savage Revel 22 LR Takedown
09:50 – Shadow System
12:58 – H&R Retro M16 Clones
16:05 – Mossberg 590 Professional Series
19:02 – Stoeger Combat SX 9MM
21:54 – Springfield Integrally Compensated Pistol
24:54 – H&R T48 FAL Clone
27:47 – Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Metal
30:50 – Korean K2 Civilian Rifle
33:33 – H&K P7 M13 Pro Slim
36:18 – Beretta 1301 Mod
39:19 – FN True Velocity 338 Norma Magnum LMG
42:16 – COLT KING COBRA
44:50 – RUGER SP 101
47:20 – Marlin 1895 Dark Series
This video features seven new rifles that will be unveiled at SHOT Show 2026. There’s a wide selection — lightweight hunting rifles, modern lever guns, piston-driven tactical rifles, and even a big .50 BMG (the “King” shown in video cover shot). New guns include:
Glenfield Model A — affordable bolt-action rifle
Ruger American Rifle Gen 2 with new stock, trigger, and recoil system
Marlin Trapper 1894 in 10mm blending classic lever-gun heritage with modern power
SIG Sauer 516 Mohawk — piston-driven AR-type rifle built for reliability and hard use
Christensen Arms Evoke bolt action hunting rig in 6.5 PRC
S&W 1854 Stealth Hunter — lever-action rifle with modern features
Thompson TA 50 — modern powerhouse in 50 BMG
This 25-minute long video has good indoor/outdoor footage of 10 new firearms. Rifle shooters should check out the new Savage 110 Magpul (3:07) and the new CZ 600 Plus bolt-action rifle (7:46) which has a 100-yard sub-MOA accuracy guaranteee. Here are the time-mark slots for all ten guns:
00:54 – Smith and Wesson 1854 Stealth Hunter
03:07 – Savage 110 Magpul
05:29 – Savage RXR 22
07:46 – CZ 600 Plus American Rifle
10:01 – Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0C COMP
12:31 – Smith and Wesson M&P Shield X
14:54 – Staccato Compact HD C3.6
17:20 – Retay RXP 22
19:30 – Taurus GX4 Strike Bravo
22:06 – Taurus 66 Combat
Featured as the “Cover Shot” rifle is the Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Stealth Rifle (12:15 time), a lever gun upgraded with modern features including a long optics rail, tactical forearm panel, and threaded muzzle. Another interesting new rifle is the Savage Arms RXR22 (9:15 time) a very affordable semi-auto .22 LR rimfire rifle that accepts aftermarket Ruger 10/22 magazines, triggers, and barrels. Most of the other features guns in this 20.5 minute summary video are handguns.
This 23.5-minute video covers important handgun releases of SHOT Show 2026. The host says this video features the most notable new-for-2026 handguns — from ultra-concealable carry pistols to competition-ready, high-capacity race guns. Featured pistols are:
• Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus
• Taurus GX4 XL
• SIG Sauer P365 Fuse
• Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro Comp
• CZ P-10 M
• Canik MC9 LS
• Walther PDP F-Series
• Shadow Systems CR920P Elite
• Staccato CS 2
• Springfield Armory Ronin (Modular)
BONUS: SHOT Show Floor Tour — Locations of Gun Companies
Will you be heading to SHOT Show this year? CLICK HERE for the handy official Interactive Floor Map. For each building and floor level this shows the location of exhibitors. This can help you efficiently organize visits to your favorite gun and optics manufacturers.
For many riflemen, reading the wind is the toughest challenge in long-range shooting. Wind speeds and directions can change rapidly, mirage can be misleading, and terrain features can cause hard-to-predict effects. To become a competent wind reader, you need range-time and expert mentoring. In the latter department, Frank Galli, founder of Sniper’s Hide, offers a detailed digital resource: Wind Reading Basics for the Tactical Shooter.
Wind Reading Basics is much more than a 47-page eBook — it has charts, instructions for ballistic calculators, and even embedded videos. Galli explains: “We break down the formulas, walk you through using a ballistic computer, and give you all the information in one place. From videos, to useful charts, we make it simple to get started. It’s all about having a plan, and we give you that plan.”
Galli’s Wind Reading Basics, priced at $7.99, can be downloaded from iTunes for iPads, iPhones and iOS compatible devices. Here are sample sections from the eBook (which includes videos):
Are you looking to shave POUNDS from your hunting rig or varmint rifle? There are now multiple options for folks looking for a weight-saving, carbon fiber-wrapped barrel. You’ve probably heard about Proof Research. Yes that’s a good company that crafts good products. But now Proof Research has some noteworthy competition — Helix 6 Precision in Washington State.
Helix 6 Precision crafts button-rifled and cut-rifled carbon-wrapped barrels in both conventional and “pre-fit” configurations. The conventional (not pre-fit) carbon-wrapped Helix 6 barrel blanks cost $979.99 for most listed chamberings. Pre-fits are offered for Savage rifles, Ruger Precision Rifle (RPR) series, Tikka T3, Aero SOLUS, Defiance Ruckus, Sig CROSS, and Zermatt rifles. These pre-fit barrels are not cheap. A 6mm Creedmoor RPR pre-fit costs $1099.99, while the Savage pre-fits are also $1099.99 for most chamberings.
While Helix 6 barrels do offer significant weight savings, the founders of Helix 6 say low mass wasn’t the number one design goal: “Accuracy was paramount and weight reduction was secondary. We’ve taken the industry’s most advanced carbon fiber engineering and pushed the technology further with our proprietary … carbon fiber process.”
The founders of Helix 6 Precision say they build some of the best carbon/steel hybrid barrels on the market: “Our unique carbon fiber-layup design dampens barrel harmonics for better accuracy. Each barrel is cut from a 416R stainless steel core, and carbon fiber-wrapped using the Helix 6 Precision’s advanced process. This creates match-grade accuracy barrels with high heat dispersion that are 30% lighter than a steel barrel of the same contour. The bores are … hand-lapped for precision accuracy.” Helix 6 claims its barrels are “lighter, stronger, and faster cooling than anything else available on the market.”
Myth vs. Reality — What Carbon Can and Cannot Do
Carbon fiber is formed using thin strands of carbon bonded together with a plastic polymer resin. The resulting material is very strong and light weight. There’s a reason Formula 1 cars are crafted with carbon-fiber composites. But is a carbon-wrapped barrel the right option for you? Here are some factors to consider:
Weight Savings — There’s no doubt that a carbon-wrapped barrel will weigh less than an unfluted stainless steel barrel with identical length and contour (outside diameters). Helix 6 claims a 30% weight reduction compared to a conventional stainless steel barrel. That’s significant.
Accuracy — Carbon-wrapped barrels are NOT commonly being used for F-Class or Benchrest competition. However, Proof Research carbon-wrapped barrels have performed well in PRS competitions in the hands of top shooters. So, we can conclude that carbon accuracy is good enough for the PRS/NRL tactical game, at least at the local club level.
Heat Dispersion — Carbon-wrapped barrel-makers claim their hybrid design disperses heat better than an all-steel barrel. Some independent testers disagree, saying: “hold on now — the carbon actually acts as an insulator, so more heat is retained in the barrel”. The jury is still out. One thing that is true is that the carbon barrels seem to generate less mirage from barrel heat. Ask yourself, “if less heat is coming OFF the barrel, where is that heat retained?” But the reduced mirage could be a function of the black woven surface which may release heat differently than polished steel.
Pre-Fit, AR, and Custom Barrel Options
Helix 6 precision barrels are available as pre-fits for a wide variety of rifle types in many popular long-range cartridges. Helix 6 can also thread and chamber a barrel for most precision rifles. And pre-fit AR barrels are available in a wide variety of chamberings and lengths. Helix 6 Precision also supplies carbon-wrapped barrel blanks which can be chambered and fitted by a professional gunsmith. Helix 6 barrel blanks, buttoned-rifled or cut-rifled, are sold in many calibers. Offered calibers are: .224, .243 (6mm), .264 (6.5mm), .257 (pending) .277 (pending), .284 (7mm), .308, .338, and .375. In addition, .22 LR rimfire carbon barrel blanks are offered.
Need a top-notch Ballistics App for your iPhone or iPad? Start with Ballistic: Advanced Edition (AE), the number 1 (i.e. most installed) App for iOS systems (iPhones and iPads). Ballistics AE (Advanced Edition) is the most popular iOS ballistics program for many good reasons. It offers a full feature set with Ballistic Solver, Ballistic Comparison (with up to 8 projectiles), Target Log (records group sizes), Advanced WindKit, and more. The Ballistic: Advanced Edition software is easy to use, with nice controls. Underneath it all is the proven JBM Ballistics calculator. And here’s the kicker — this excellent mobile App software is now FREE to download and install on iPhones and iPads!
This Video Explains How to Set Up and Use Ballistic: Advanced Edition
Full-featured and easy to use, Ballistics AE has been refined over many years, and it supplies rock-solid solutions derived from JBM Ballistics solver (created by James B. Millard). Unlike some other Apps, Ballistics AE is STABLE on iPhones (with various OS levels). What’s cool is that Ballistics AE is now available for FREE for both iPhones and iPads. This software is now provided by Federal Premium Ammunition, with in-App purchase functionality.
We’ve used the Ballistic: Advanced Edition program on an iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, and iPad, and it performed well. Here are some of the features we liked:
1. Mirrors output from online version of JBM Ballistics we often use for initial calculations.
2. Controls are simple to use and (mostly) intuitive.
3. Handy comparison feature lets you compare ballistics for different projectiles side by side.
4. Advanced Wind Kit allows you to account for complex wind situations.
5. Projectile and BC Databases are very comprehensive.
6. Software is regularly updated to match Apple OS changes.
This article is Copyright 2025 AccurateShooter.com. No republication is authorized. Any appearance of this story on another site obliges that site to pay liquidated damages and/or licensing fees.
Forum member Jacob spotted this simple, but effective set of scope ring inserts on the Brownells Website. With these inserts, you can use a scope with 1″-diameter main tube in 30mm rings. Non-marring, matte black Delrin sleeves surround the scope tube so it can fit larger-diameter rings. Each sleeve comes in two parts for easy installation around your scope tube. This way you can use the same 30mm rings for all your scopes.
Ring Reducers are sold as front/rear kits. Cost is $16.99 for the Delrin 30mm to 1″ converters, item 084-000-091WB. There are also sets that reduce 30mm rings to 26mm, and 1″ rings to 3/4″ or 7/8″.
Note: These Brownells units simply function as plastic bushings. Unlike Burris Signature Ring inserts, they do not allow you to “pre-load” windage or elevation. If your rings are misaligned, the Brownells Ring Reducers won’t correct that problem.
Every wondered how modern rifle actions are designed and crafted? Want to know the fine details of firing pin function and bolt lock-up? Then you should definitely watch this highly informative YouTube video. Top F-Class shooter Erik Cortina of Cortina Precision interviews Jim Borden, an engineer whose Borden Accuracy company produces some of the best rifle actions ever made. This is one of the better Erik Cortina video interviews. You’ll learn quite a bit from watching the video. The full video runs over two hours, so you may want to watch in segments over a couple of days.
Viewers have praised this interview, saying it has a wealth of information:
Gunsmith Alex Wheeler observed: “I consider Jim a friend even though we have never met. Definitely one of the guys that really gets actions. There’s not as many of them as you would think. He was the first timed action out there that had good ignition, at least in my opinion. It was a great interview. I do hope he has him on again.”
“Agreed. Jim is full of information and really does a good job on his actions. This [Cortina] interview with Jim Borden was excellent.” — Jud96
“I really like Jim’s explanations on why ductility is so important in an action. Especially in the critical areas that basically form 90 degree surfaces, such as where bolt lugs meet the bolt body. There is a lot of great info in this interview.” — Jackie Schmidt
“I have enjoyed all of Erik’s interview videos, which are very informative. But I agree [that] this interview with Jim Borden is the best. I learned a lot. Thank you Erik and Jim!” — Alexander-M
About Jim Borden and Borden Accuracy
Jim began shooting high power silhouette and benchrest matches in the mid 1970s while working for a Fortune 500 company as an engineer. In the early 1980s he began building rifles for himself and then for others. Jim has a background as a gunsmith, machinist, registered mechanical engineer, engineering instructor, project manager, hunter, and benchrest competitor.
In benchrest competition Jim has set ten world records and won 11 National Championships thereby earning induction into the Benchrest Hall of Fame. Jim also served six terms as President of the International Benchrest Shooters (IBS).
Jim operates Borden Rifles/Borden Accuracy with his wife Joan, sons Jim Junior and John, daughter Andrea Mecca and son-in-law John (Mike) Mecca. Jim is also an outstanding photographer. Below is a stunning eagle image photographed by Jim Borden.
Borden Accuracy — A Success Story
Borden Accuracy/Borden Rifles has been a source for precision benchrest and hunting rifles for many years. Jim started doing his own gunsmithing while competing in benchrest and High Power silhouette matches. Jim launched his business in 1987, working nights and weekends while still employed at P&G. The business became full-time in 1995 with Jim and his wife Joan doing the work. The business was expanded in 1999 with the construction of the new Springville, PA facility and the addition of sons Jim Jr. and John to the staff. Daughter Andrea Mecca joined the staff in May 2016 as machinist and machine operator and Son-in-law John Mecca came onboard in January 2000.
Jim and company began making Rimrock benchrest and Rimrock hunting actions in 2001. They added Borden Alpine and Timberline actions in 2006. These actions are made in an advanced manufacturing facility which has three CNC vertical machining centers, 1 CNC lathe and 2 CNC turning centers, three manual lathes, a manual knee mill, a surface grinder, a cylindrical grinder and wire EDM machine. To learn more, visit BordenRifles.com, call 570-965-2505, or send email to info [at] bordenrifles.com.
This article is part of Sinclair Int’l Step-By-Step Reloading Series. Most of the products mentioned in this article are sold through Brownells.com.
by Roy Hill, Brownells/Sinclair Copywriter
Making your own precision handloads is a meticulous journey with many steps, many important matters to consider, and many sets of measurements to calculate. For those who pursue the perfect group, the highest score, the really long accurate shot, the rewards more than outweigh the effort. Choosing the right cases, deburring the flash holes, making the primer pockets uniform, trimming the cases, and lubricating them are all familiar – and critical – steps along the journey. And now that your brass preparation is complete, you are at last ready to start running the cases through your press and fill them with primers, powder, and bullets. The very first die the brass encounters is the sizing die. You insert the case, work the press’s lever to return the case to its correct pre-fired dimensions – and the journey continues.
There are three types of sizing dies to think about: neck, full-length, and small base. All three have specific benefits and potential drawbacks, and you should choose the type of die you use by thinking very carefully about what kind of shooting you plan to do with your handloads. No matter which type you select, most sizing dies will also punch out the old spent primer with some sort of decapper assembly that uses a hardened steel rod. Many types of sizing dies use an expander ball inside the die to make sure the neck of the case will accommodate a bullet after being sized. With some size dies, the expanders are easily removable and interchangeable, letting you get exactly the neck tension you want. When sizing cases (neck of full-length), rifle cases always need lube.
Neck-Sizing Dies Neck-sizing dies resize only the neck of the case. The benefit of sizing only the neck is that the brass is “worked” very little, reducing the amount of changes to the brss. [We recommend full-length sizing for all applications after the first couple of firings, and semi-auto brass should be full-length sized every time!] Sinclair recommends that neck-sized-only cartridges should not be used any in other rifle besides the one they were originally fired from [unless they are also FL-sized], or in any action other than a bolt-action.
Full-Length Sizing Dies
Full-length sizing dies resize the full length of the case, not just the neck. Full-length sizing helps create handloads that will function in any rifle, not just the one from which the cases were originally fired. The potential downside of full-length sizing is that it may shorten case life because it works the brass more than neck sizing. But it’s possible to “tune” today’s full-length sizing dies so they barely work the brass at all, as this article by Sinclair Reloading Tech Ron Dague shows.
Illustration Shows How a Full-Length Sizing Die Works
Another way to reap the benefits of full-length sizing is to use Redding’s full-length bushing dies, which size the full length of the case but use a system of interchangeable bushings that enable you give the case neck the bare minimum of resizing needed. To see how finely adjustable bushing dies are, and how they resize the case while fully supported, CLICK HERE for Video. The neck bushing helps you precisely control the neck tension to help increase the consistency and accuracy of your handloads.
Small Base Dies
A Small Base Die is another type of full-length sizing die, but one that is typically used when reloading for semi-automatic rifles, like the AR-15, M14, or AR-style .308 rifles. (It may also work well for bolt guns that need extra sizing on the lower section of the case.) A small base die works exactly like a full-length sizing die, only it compresses the brass just a bit more, usually about .001″ more, and may even push the case shoulder back just a hair. Small base dies give that extra bit of compression to the brass to help make sure the case will properly extract from a semi-automatic firearm. The upside is that you get handloads that should work flawlessly in your semi-automatic. The downside is case life may be shortened as compared to brass used only in one bolt-action rifle, because the brass is worked more.
Shoulder Bump Gauges
A handy tool for setting up your full-length sizing dies as close as possible to your rifle’s chamber is a shoulder bump gauge. The bump gauge lets you resize the case as little as possible, to extend case life and help your handloads fit your rifle almost like a neck-sized only die. You use deprimed cases fired in your rifle and bump gauge inserts to help you set up the die so it resizes the case only about .001″ to .004″, depending on what type of rifle you’re shooting.
Video shows how to use a shoulder bump gauge to set up your full-length dies
Article Find by EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions
Sherri Jo Gallagher, the second woman in history to win the NRA High Power National Championship, sports Eye Protection at Camp Perry. The first lady High Power Champion was Sherri’s mother, Nancy Tompkins.
In response to a Bulletin article about Protective Eyewear, one of our Canadian readers posted a personal story. His account demonstrates the importance of wearing eye protection whenever you shoot — no matter what type of firearm you are using — even air rifles. We hope all our readers take this to heart. All too often at rifle matches we see shooters, even some top competitors, risking their vision by failing to wear eye protection.
Eye and Hearing Protection are now MANDATORY for Highpower Rifle competitors and Pistol shooters in all CMP-affiliated matches. The 2020 CMP Highpower Rifle, Pistol, and CMP Games Rulebooks all contain the following rule: “All competitors and competition officials are required to wear appropriate eye and hearing protection when on shooting range firing lines during highpower rifle or pistol firing. All competitors must comply with this requirement before they can participate in a CMP sponsored or sanctioned competition. Competitors are responsible for selecting their eyewear and hearing protection.”
Eye Protection — Lesson Learned by Nicholas from Canada
As a boy on a mixed farm on the plains the first shooting stick I owned was a Red Ryder BB gun. My Dad bought it for me as I showed a keen interest in the shooting and hunting sports. I was about 9 years old at the time.
We had literally thousands of sparrows in our large farm yard and they liked to roost on the steel railings in the barn loft. I took to slowly thinning out their ranks by flashlight at night as these little winged pests settled in the farm buildings.
One evening as I slayed sparrow after sparrow in the barn loft — with about a dozen farm cats following me to consume these easy meals, I fired at another bird centered in my flashlight beam.
However, my aim was a bit low — and the copper pellet hit the steel beam square on. Instantly I felt a sharp pain as the BB bounced back and hit me squarely between the eyes on the bridge of my nose – drawing blood from the partial penetration into the skin. A half inch either way and I’d have lost an eye!
Never, never, never shoot at any target with a steel background with any firearm, even a BB gun – is the hard lesson I learned, and wear the best shooting glasses that money can buy!
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT!!
Editor’s Comment: Among competitive pistol shooters, the use of safety eyewear is universal. You’ll never see Rob Leatham, Julie Golob, or Jerry Miculek competing without eye protection — for good reason. The handgun sports’ governing bodies effectively enforce mandatory eye protection policies. We wish the same could be said for competitive rifle shooting. We often see benchrest, High Power, and F-Class competitors shooting without eye protection. We’ve heard all the excuses, yet none of them trump the safety considerations involved.
We recommend that all shooters and hunters employ eye protection whenever they use firearms or are at a location where live fire is taking place. You only have two eyes. A tiny bullet fragment or ricochet is all it takes to cause permanent blindness in one or both eyes. As rifle shooters, we place our eyes a couple inches away from a combustion chamber operating at pressures up to 70,000 psi. I know quite a few guys who will religiously put on safety glasses when running a lathe or a drill press, yet the same guys won’t use eye protection when shooting their rifles — simply because it is “inconvenient”. That’s nuts. It doesn’t matter is you are a cub scout or a multi-time National Champion — you should wear eye protection.
I will give you a personal example. A year ago I was shooting a 9mm pistol. One of the cartridges had a primer burst outward blowing small particles, some brass, and a piece of the pistol’s extractor right back into my eyes. Thankfully I was wearing good wrap-around safety glasses. No injuries at all. But without those safety glasses, this could have been very serious. I always wear safety glasses with ALL firearms. Shown below is the same kind of primer blow-out I experienced, but with a .270 Win rifle cartridge.
Be wise — protect your eyes. To learn more about eyewear safety standards, and to learn about the latest options in ANSI Z87-certified protective eyewear, read our article on Eye Protection for Shooters.
Do you enjoy shooting pistols for sport, or perhaps you carry a handgun for self-defense? If you’re like most of us, you might benefit from a “refresher course” on the fundamentals of handgun shooting. The NRA has created a useful Infographic that covers important basics of handgun marksmanship — key things such as Sight Alignment, Trigger Control, and Handgun Hold.
Here are the first two (2) lessons. Click the link below to see all SIX (6) training topics: Sight Alignment, Sight Focus, Trigger Control, Breath Control, Hold Control, and Follow-Through.
Video Shows Sight Alignment, Grip, Stance, Trigger Control and More
In this USAMU video, SGT Shane Coley talks about the basics of sight alignment and trigger control. But then SGT Coley talks about other important control factors such as grip, arm position, and body stance. For rapid-fire shooting, you need to have a good arm and body positioning to control recoil and get back on target quickly. This video is a valuable complement to the NRA Infographic because it demonstrates all the important pistol fundamentals during live fire, at the range.
In the archives of The First Shot (the CMP’s Online Magazine), SGT Walter E. Craig of the USAMU discusses physical conditioning for competitive shooters, particularly High Power competitors. Fitness training is an important subject that, curiously, is rarely featured in the shooting sports media. We seem to focus on hardware, or esoteric details of cartridge reloading. Yet physical fitness also matters, particularly for High Power shooters. In his article, Craig advocates: 1) weight training to strengthen the Skeletal Muscle System; 2) exercises to build endurance and stamina; and 3) cardiovascular conditioning programs to allow the shooter to remain relaxed with a controlled heart beat.
About Jim Borden and Borden Accuracy
Borden Accuracy — A Success Story
Neck-sizing dies resize only the neck of the case. The benefit of sizing only the neck is that the brass is “worked” very little, reducing the amount of changes to the brss. [We recommend full-length sizing for all applications after the first couple of firings, and semi-auto brass should be full-length sized every time!] Sinclair recommends that neck-sized-only cartridges should not be used any in other rifle besides the one they were originally fired from [unless they are also FL-sized], or in any action other than a bolt-action.
In response to a Bulletin article about 
Eye Protection — Lesson Learned
Editor’s Comment: Among competitive pistol shooters, the use of safety eyewear is universal. You’ll never see Rob Leatham, Julie Golob, or Jerry Miculek competing without eye protection — for good reason. The handgun sports’ governing bodies effectively enforce mandatory eye protection policies. We wish the same could be said for competitive rifle shooting. We often see benchrest, High Power, and F-Class competitors shooting without eye protection. We’ve heard all the excuses, yet none of them trump the safety considerations involved.
