Gunsite Academy, the oldest and largest civilian firearms training academy in the world, has teamed with Panteao Productions to offer 52 firearms instructional videos. These Gunsite Academy NOW! videos cover the full spectrum of the Gunsite Academy curriculum. Instruction is provided by respected Gunsite instructors with commentary by gun writer Richard Mann.
Click above to watch the Gunsite Academy NOW! Season One trailer.
The web-hosted videos can be viewed on GunSite.com, on GunDigest.com, and on Panteo.com. Additionally, all 52 videos are available through Panteao Productions’ handy Mobile Apps for Apple and Android devices. Or, if you prefer the big screen, you can watch the GunSite videos on television via the Panteao Make Ready channel on Roku, Amazon Fire, and Apple TV.
A 43-Year Heritage of Excellence
Gunsite alumni Richard Mann, host of Gunsite Academy NOW! reports: “It was an absolute honor to host Season One of Gunsite Academy NOW … These videos highlight the best firearms instruction you can get.”
Founded in 1976 by Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper (WW II and Korean War combat veteran, author, and professor), Gunsite has been providing elite firearm instruction for more than 40 years. It enjoys a reputation for serious, no-nonsense training. Cooper built the facility just west of Paulden, Arizona. Originally it was called the American Pistol Institute (API).
Here is Tye Sim’s .270 Win Mountain Rifle: “This is off a trued and blue-printed Rem 700 action. I love it.”
For today’s Sunday GunDay feature, we thought we’d present a selection of rifles featuring both cool gear and scenic venues. We’ve got quite a mix — hunting rifles and competition rigs, full customs as well as factory rifles. And there are some interesting calibers including 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Win, .308 Win, plus a couple WSM variants. Enjoy our Sunday lineup!
To begin, here is the beautiful Blair Atholl range in Scotland. Owner Gary Costello posted: “Great day today, weather was interesting but not as bad as we thought!” Gary, a top F-Class shooter in the UK who often runs a .300 WSM, has been featured in a previous Sunday GunDay spotlight story HERE
Andrew Stone is an F-Class shooter from the Southern USA. Here his F-Open rig is set up for load testing from the bench at his beautiful, tree-lined home range. Targets are at 600 yards. Andrew is using a SEB front coaxial rest and LabRadar chronograph mounted on an aftermarket tripod.
In the photo above is Brian Harder’s handsome .308 Win F-TR rifle. This features a Kelbly action, McMillan stock, and Vortex scope with level. Up front is a SEB Joystick Bipod (Joy-Pod) with accessory ski-type feet. Note that Brian runs a front scope extension tube (sunshade), and a mirage shield on the barrel. These items do make a difference, particularly on hot summer days!
Here’s another British Beauty. This is the 7mm-270 WSM F-Classer belonging to Forum member Ian B. (aka “Elwood”). It features a Stolle Panda F-Class action, 32″ straight-contour Bartlein barrel, and a custom Joe West stock, modified by Ian and then hydro-dipped in brilliant blue by Hydro Graphics in the UK.
Factory rifles can be interesting too. That’s pretty impressive accuracy shown by Steven Castleman’s Bergara B14 HMR chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. On this day Steve was shooting Hornady factory ammo loaded with 147-grain ELD Match bullets.
Here’s a stunning silhouette of a Savage 6.5 Creedmoor. Ed Whipple posted: “Borrowing a Savage 10 BA Stealth from my buddy Ron. He wanted a 100-yard head shot on a hog. I’m not listening to Ron any more. Federal Fusion bullet ain’t messing around.”
Is a ZERO extreme spread possible? Yes. Lou Murdica proved that, with AMP-annealed cases, and advanced reloading methods, you can achieve the exact same muzzle velocity — 2924 FPS for two shots in a row. Oh, and the accuracy wasn’t too bad either. Shooting in a tunnel with an F-Open rig on the bench, Lou put two rounds within 0.1 inch. Note, the rounds were fired with the wood-stocked F-Open/Benchrest rifle on the left, not the Rail Gun on the right. The full annealing and reloading process is shown in the video below:
See Complete Testing and Reloading Process in 3-minute Video!
We highly recommend you watch this video ALL the way through, and then watch it again. You will see one of the best shooters in the world loading precision ammo. Lou is a world-class short-range benchrest, long-range benchrest, and F-Class shooter. In this video you can see Lou load a cartridge start to finish, beginning with annealing using a computer-controlled AMP induction annealing machine.
After firing, the 6.5 Creedmoor case was annealed with the AMP induction annealer.
Here is Lou Murdica’s Reloading Procedure Used in this Test:
1. Anneal 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge in AMP Mk II Annealer.
2. Lubricate case with Imperial Case Wax.
3. Full-length size case with Redding FL bushing die in single-stage RCBS Big Max Press.
4. Apply Moly dry lube to inside of case-neck with brush.
After FL Sizing, and before bullet seating, Murdica applies dry Moly lube inside the case-neck.
5. Seat Primer with Bald Eagle Precision Primer Press.
6. Throw charge to within 1 kernel with Auto-Trickler System and Force Restoration Lab Scale.
7. Drop charge in case with precision funnel.
8. Seat bullet with hand die and Sinclair Arbor Press.
Two Rounds, Same Case, Both with Exact Same Velocity — 2924 FPS
If you watch the video, you can see that, for the second 6.5 Creedmoor round, the velocity is 2924 FPS. That is exactly the same velocity as shot number 1. So the two-shot Extreme Spread (ES) is Zero. The second shot was 0.1″ from shot number one — pretty close to one hole. Lou was using Vihtavuori powder and Berger AR bullets. On the screen, Oehler Ballistic Instrumentation software displays bullet velocities and impact locations using inputs from chronograph and acoustic target sensors.
Credit Boyd Allen for identifying Oehler System and RCBS Big Max Press.
I absolutely love using this press stand. I use it with my Forster Co-Ax as well as my Dillon 550. The stand mounts those presses at the right height to minimize fatigue and maximize torque. Some products I merely review and return but this one is a keeper and won’t be leaving my bench anytime soon. — F-Class John
Lyman Universal Press Stand REVIEW
Product Review by F-Class John
Positioning your press at the optimal height is one of the oldest problems in reloading. Most presses sit low off the edge leading to uncomfortable arm strain or inconsistent pressure being applied while using. Lyman has set out to fix that problem with a reasonably-priced ($53.99 at Midsouth) press riser that works with the vast majority of reloading presses. This unit will raise just about any press up off your bench securely, allowing you to working more comfortably from a standing position. This also frees up vital bench space UNDER the press.
I have used a variety of presses over the years. At times I’ve run into issues mounting a press at a level that doesn’t promote arm or hand strain during normal operations. In the past I’ve used blocks of wood or even tried other brands’ proprietary stands. But I had very limited success with those options. Accordingly, I was very excited to give the Lyman Universal Press Stand a chance.
Lyman’s Universal Press Stand comes complete with side plates, two different top plates, and a large collection of mounting hardware. The two top plates are pre-drilled for numerous popular Single Stage or Progressive presses. Helpful diagrams and instructions show which side of the top plate you need to use. The pre-drilled holes accommodate a variety of presses from RCBS, Dillon, Lyman, Redding, and Hornady. But surprisingly, the plates are not pre-configured for the Forster Co-Ax Press.
CLICK to WATCH VIDEO Showing Lyman Universal Press Stand
Setting up the stand was very simple. The two sides bolt to the lower shelf unit at which point you attach the top plate. All the supplied bolts made this a breeze and once everything was snugged down, I was able to place it on my bench where I wanted it and mark the drill holes to mount it. After securing the stand to my bench it was time to mount my press.
Lyman Universal Press Stand with Dillon 550 Press
Adapting Lyman Universal Press Stand for Forster Co-Ax
At the time of testing I was primarily using a Forster Co-Ax press. With no pre-drilled Co-Ax configuration for either Lyman top plate, I decided to customize the blank side of one of the top plates. I opted to position the mounting holes so that the press could sit 100% on top of the mounting plate and not just off one edge. I found this process simple to execute. Mark your drill holes, then drill the plate. This can easily be done with regular drill bits although using a step-bit worked faster and cleaner to help enlarge the holes just a little when I needed some extra clearance.
Lyman Universal Press Stand Is Stable and Strong
Once set-up, I found the stand to be incredibly stable. The design allows for full force to be applied to the press no matter what the operation. Having used this Lyman Press stand regularly over the past few months with both my Co-Ax and a Dillon 550c, I still find myself loving it. The height is perfect and allows me to load as much as I like without straining my arm or getting fatigued. With an attractive price point (under $55.00 street price) and a simple design, I feel this is a great system for those looking for a secure and raised platform for their reloading presses.
The Universal Press Stand comes with two plates. If you have different presses that fit each plate you could easily swap presses just by changing plates while leaving the presses attached. It’s less functional if you have two presses that share one plate and would require removing one press before installing the next one.
Lyman Press Stand Unboxing and Set-Up (KFW Video Review):
The Modern Smallbore Silhouette Rifle
Smallbore rifle silhouette is a shooting discipline that can really test a shooter’s ability and fundamentals. The saying in silhouette is “the bench proves the rifle, standing proves the shooter”. To be able to stand and shoot a rifle at targets ranging from 40 meters to 100 meters is no small feat, especially when the 100 meter ram target is just a little bigger than a large potato.
Of course, you need a good rifle. The CZ 455 has been at the top of the starter rifle list for a long time, however, a few newcomers such as the Tikka T1x are definitely challenging that spot. The gold standard in the silhouette discipline seems to be the venerable Anschutz 1712. With a fantastic two-stage trigger, smooth operation, great balance, and consistent accuracy it’s one of the most popular rifles, just look through the equipment survey from the U.S. Nationals and you will see what I mean. Even though the Anschutz is a great rifle, there are those competitors who want more. Enter Erich Mietenkorte, a Master silhouette shooter from Ellensburg, Washington and his P-51 Mustang-inspired .22 LR silhouette rifle.
The P-51 Mustang artwork was masterfully painted by Perry Mallet of Spokane, WA from a basic theme sketched out by Erich. This is one of the coolest gunstock paint jobs we’ve ever seen. Bravo Mr. Mallet!
Erich’s Smallbore ‘Silhouette Slammer’
Report by Erich Mietenkorte
At the heart of my .22 LR “Silhouette Slammer” is a Sako P94s Finnfire action. I chose this action due to its incredibly fast lock time. Mated to that is a tight-bore Lilja 4-groove barrel finished at 24 inches. This has a Winchester 52D chamber. The barrel and chamber combination were suggested by Loren Peter of Vancouver, WA, a long time silhouette shooter and gunsmith, and it definitely works! The rifle easily and consistently shoots under one inch at 100 meters with good ammo.
Finnfire Fitted with Modified Anschutz 2-Stage Trigger
The Finnfire was originally equipped with a single-stage trigger but I decided that a two-stage works better for me. There weren’t any available options at the time so I took an Anschutz 5109 trigger from a model 1712 and machined a new sear and mated it up to the action.
CLICK to Zoom Photo Click Image for large, full-size photo showing details of paint-work.
The rifle wears a Leupold FX-3 25-power optic, a scope favored by many silhouette shooters for its clarity, magnification, and relatively light weight. To make weight in Hunter Class, the rifle may weigh no more than 8.5 pounds total with optic! The last component that makes up this winning rifle is the amazing work of art that is the stock. All of these components rest in a custom fiberglass stock made specifically to push the limits of the NRA stock jig that all competition silhouette rifles must fit. The stock was constructed by Steve Wooster, a long-time silhouette shooter from Chehalis, WA. The P-51 Mustang artwork was masterfully painted by Perry Mallet of Spokane, WA from a sketch I did. Perry took an idea and used his artistic abilities to create a masterpiece that looks as good as it shoots.
Getting Started in the Silhouette Game
Erich’s advice for anyone wanting to get started in the fun and challenging discipline of silhouette is to take any .22 LR scoped rifle you have and simply show up at a silhouette match. On many occasions Erich has helped newcomers and has even loaned out his own rifle for novices to try. “One of the best things about silhouette is the generosity and friendliness of the competitors. Silhouette is a shooting sport that you don’t have to be intimidated, all shooting abilities are welcome and everyone has an opportunity to be successful.” To learn more about silhouette shooting, or locate a silhouette match near you, visit Steelchickens.com, a popular silhouette-centric web forum.
In this Video Erich Mietenkorte Shoots Rams at 100M with his .22 LR Silhouette Rifle:
Note the bullet impact locations on those 10 turkeys — that would be about a 1″ group. Great shooter with a great rifle. In Canada two weeks ago, Erich set a new Ram “long run” record, hitting 30 in a row.
The Three Amigos — Along with his P-51 paint job smallbore rifle, here are two of Erich’s centerfire silhouette rigs. Erich notes: “The green rifle is my High Power silhouette standard rifle (class weight limit 10 lbs. 2.0 oz.). This features a Defiance Machine Rebel action with a Lilja #6 Contour barrel finished at 26″. This rig is chambered in .260 Bobcat (aka 6.5×250, i.e. 250 Savage necked up to 6.5mm). This cartridge has the same energy as a .260 Remington but much less felt recoil. It is very efficient and makes a big difference when shooting a lot of rounds in a match.” Stock by Steve Wooster.
The brown rifle (upper right) is a blueprinted Remington 700 action with a Lilja #5 Contour barrel finished at 26″, also chambered in .260 Bobcat. Erich tells us: “I won Second Place at the U.S. National Championships last year with this rifle. Stock made by Wooster. This rifle is for the hunting rifle category (9-lb weight limit). For Hunter rifles in smallbore and High Power the trigger must have a safety and a pull weight at least two pounds. (By contrast, a Standard rifle may have any weight trigger with/without a safety.) Because you can shoot a Hunter rifle in the Standard rifle class, I started my High Power silhouette journey with this rifle and then added the Standard rifle later. I’ll be replacing this rifle this upcoming season with a Defiance Rebel action and barrel chambered in 6mm BR.”
The 6mm Creedmoor has become one of the most popular cartridges for PRS/NRL competition, and it also works great in the varmint fields. There are many 6mm Creedmoor factory rifle options now, such as the Savage Model 10 in GRS stock and the Ruger Precision Rifle (6mm Creedmoor).
Do-It-Yourself 6mm Creedmoor Rifle Project — UltimateReloader.com
Another cost-effective option for 6mm Creedmoor fans is to build your own rifle, starting with a Howa barreled action. The Howa 1500 is a mag-fed, flat-bottomed bolt action that ships with the excellent HACT 2-stage trigger. Howa barreled actions are available with a variety of barrel lengths and contours, starting at about $430.00 at Brownells. There are quite a few good stocks/chassis systems now offered for Howa 1500 actions, including the excellent KRG Bravo Chassis, which features an ergonomic composite outer shell over a precision-machined inner chassis.
Gavin Gear fitted a KRG enclosed fore-end and Mystic Precision MPOD to his 6mm Creedmoor rifle.
Our friend Gavin Gear of UltimateReloader.com has built a nice 6mm Creedmoor rifle using a Howa 1500 heavy-barreled action and KRG Bravo Chassis. This project has proven very successful. The rifle has shown impressive accuracy and outstanding reliability. Gavin hopes to use this rifle in practical/tactical competitions later this year.
In this video, Gavin fits KRG’s enclosed fore-end to the KRG Bravo chassis. This accessory fore-end features a top Picatinny rail and various attachment options on the sides and lower section. Here you can see the enclosed fore-end (upper right) next to the factory forend included with the KRG Bravo (lower left):
Gavin then fits a Mystic Precision MPod from EGW. This stable, wide-base bipod uses a T-Slot rail for rifle attachment, and has legs that adjust independently for height. The video shows the rifle coming together step-by-step. This is something the average guy can do with simple tools — no gunsmithing is required, because the Howa barreled action is pre-chambered for the 6mm Creedmoor cartridge.
In the video above Gavin unboxes his Howa 1500 barreled action from Brownells. He then mounts the barreled action to the KRG Bravo stock, checking the torque levels. Next Gavin borescopes the hammer-forged barrel (5:55) noting: “What I saw I liked — there are practically no tooling marks. The finish on the lands and grooves looks really good”. Lastly, Gavin tested the trigger with his TriggerScan TS-11 (6:24), confirming a two-stage pull weight of about 2.25 pounds out of the box.
The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) has produced an excellent series of videos, which collectively cover the Basic Rifleman’s Course. If you are getting started in High Power shooting, or want to improve your position shooting skills, this series is well worth watching. And these videos are not just for service rifle shooters — even bench shooters can benefit from these videos, particularly Part 5, which explains how to estimate wind speed and direction. The lead instructor for these videos is SFC Brandon Green, the reigning National High Power Champion, and Service Rifle Champion at the 2017 CMP Trophy Matches. When SFC Green talks, you should listen.
SFC Brandon Green is a shooting superstar. Green won his third NRA National High Power Rifle Championship in 2018 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. He dominated the HP Championship cycle, finishing eight points and ten Xs ahead of his nearest competitor. Brandon also won High Power National Championships in 2015 and 2013. And in 2017 he set new records at the CMP’s National Trophy Matches at Camp Perry. One of the greatest marksmen in the nation’s history, SFC Green has no weaknesses, excelling at all positions, both rapid-fire and slow-fire.
Part 5 — Wind and Weather Estimation (Very Useful for All Shooters)
Note: This video includes a hit location “target analysis” in the first 6 minutes.
Part 4 — Minute of Angle Explained
Part 3 — Ballistics and Zeroing
Part 2 — Positions, Sight Alignment, and Natural Point of Aim (Very Useful)
Part 1 — Aiming and Sight Picture
Three-time National High Power Champion SFC Brandon Green (left above) set four new National Records at Camp Perry in 2017.
Need a good scope for PRS, hunting, or varminting? Burris just announced a massive discount campaign that can save you hundreds of dollars on a new scope purchase. Incentives range from $500 in savings with the purchase of a Burris Eliminator III laser range-finding riflescope to $180 with the purchase of a Burris Fullfield II and $210 with the purchase of a Fullfield E1.
Burris Eliminator III SALE
The Burris Eliminator III 4-16x50mm smart riflescope is now available for $999, a $500 savings off MAP (Minimum Advertised Price).
The Burris Eliminator III is an advanced electro-optical device that combines magnified optics with a built-in laser rangefinder and micro-processor. With the push of a button, the Eliminator III ranges your target. Then the micro-processor “brain” instantly calculates the required holdover for that distance, and displays a red dot on the reticle. Simply put the red dot on the center of your target and pull the trigger. The Eliminator includes an inclinometer, integrated smart dope card, and rangefinder rated to 1200 yards on reflective objects.
Who Should Use the Eliminator III?
For folks doing high-volume prairie dog and varmint shooting, we like the Burris Eliminator III. Just push a button, and the scope determines the distance to the target, calculates the hold-over, and then displays a red aiming point in the reticle. We have used the Eliminator and it worked well on critter-sized targets out to 600 yards, and deer-sized targets further out. Burt remember, you still have to make the right wind call!
Burris Fullfield Series Optics Discounts
Burris is also offering big discounts on Fullfield II and Fullfield E1 series scopes. You can now save as much as $210.00 or 45% of the original price. The Fullfield II are good hunting optics with 3X zoom range. Fullfield E1 scopes feature ballistic drop compensating reticles. The Burris website states: Savings are available immediately at retail — no rebate paperwork required!” Here are the deals available through December 31, 2019:
Burris Fullfield II
3-9x40mm was $209, now $159, SAVE $50 item #200162
4.5-14x42mm was $299, now $189, SAVE $110 item #200183
6.5-20x50mm was $399, now $219, SAVE $180 item #200193
Fullfield E1
3-9x40mm was $279, now $189, SAVE $90 item #200320
4.5-14x42mm was $379, now $219, SAVE $160 item #200338
6.5-20x50mm was $499, now $289, SAVE $210 item #20034
The mainstream media hates guns. So you won’t find pro-firearm content on NBC, CBS, CNN, or ABC. Thankfully we have independent cable networks such as the Outdoor Channel. And Wednesday nights are a visual feast for shooting sports enthusiasts.
On Wednesday nights, from 7:30 to 11:30 pm, the Outdoor Channel delivers an entire evening of great gun programming. You can watch FIVE different shows: American Rifleman, Guns & Ammo, GunnyTime, Shooting USA, and Shootout Lane. Here are some popular samples from these shows:
Shooting USA — Understanding Parallax in Scopes This Shooting USA Pro Tip defines parallax and explains how to adjust your scope.
Guns & Ammo TV — Hornady Bullets, Nikon Black Force Scopes, Suppressors 101 This episode reviews multiple products — bullets, optics, and suppressors.
American Rifleman — The Guns of The Vietnam War, Part 3 Major John L. Plaster discusses Marine snipers in Vietnam and their rifles.
Tune in to the TV tonight (7/31/19) — there’s some impressive multi-gun action on the Outdoor Channel. Shooting USA features the NRA’s World Shooting Championship (WSC), held at the Peacemaker National Training Center in West Virginia. This unique, multi-discipline Pro-Am Competition draws 300 shooters, with all firearms provided by manufacturers. Designed to find the “best at everything that goes bang”, the WSC combines scores from a dozen disciplines to select the best all-around shooting champion. What’s at stake? Glory plus over $250,000 in cash and prizes!
Shooting USA airs Wednesday, 7/31/19 at: 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific; 8:00 PM Central
WSC Highlight Video with Competitor Interviews:
To succeed at the WSC, competitors must be skilled with all types of firearms, bolt-action rifles, semi-auto rifles, shotguns, semi-auto pistols, and even single action six-guns. For every stage, the firearms are provided by match sponsors, so no competitor gains an advantage by using his or her own guns.
The challenges range from sporting clays, to PRS-style rifle stages, to Bianchi plate racks shot with handguns, and even a simulated Olympic Biathlon competition. That requires that competitors be fit and have a diverse skill set — you need to be outstanding with every type of firearm.
This episode also feature a history segment, a gun-building segment, and a Pro Tip from Maggie Reese. Shooting USA showcases the Crockett rifles from Tennessee that armed Andrew Jackson’s Militia on his way to stop the British in New Orleans. Then, John Scoutten finishes a JP Enterprises AR accuracy build. Lastly Maggie Reese shows how to start a pistol stage from a table with an empty gun.
Maggie Reese now shoots for Team Ruger along with Doug Koenig.
Maggie notes: “We spend a lot of time in competition working a draw from a holster position, but sometimes when you go to competition you will have to do an unloaded or loaded table start. So I want to take you through some techniques on how to maximize that first shot and get an efficient time.”
A 43-Year Heritage of Excellence
