Want to see new-born Pandas? No, not the furry kind — rather Stolle Panda actions produced with state-of-the-art CNC machinery. If you’ve ever wondered how precision benchrest, long-range, and tactical rifles are built, check out video from Kelbly’s. You’ll see actions finished, barrels chambered and crowned, pillars installed in stocks, barreled actions bedded, plus a host of other services performed by Kelbly’s gunsmiths and machinists.
If you’re a fan of fine machine-work, this video should be both informative and entertaining. You can see how precision gun work is done with 21st-Century technology. Tip of the hat to Ian Kelbly and crew for producing this excellent video visit to the Kelbly’s production center.
Click Volume Control to Activate Sound for Kelbly’s Video:
After the hugely successful release of the compact Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph, two competitors are now playing “catch-up” with all-new compact radar chronographs. LabRadar has an impressive new unit, the LX Compact, while Caldwell introduced its midsized VelociRadar which employs innovative Chirp Radar technology. For today’s Saturday Video Showcase, we feature recent video reviews of these three notable Compact Radar Chronographs.
Caldwell VelociRadar
Caldwell showcased its all-new VelociRadar chronograph at SHOT Show 2024. This is quite a bit bigger than the Garmin Xero C1 Pro or the new LabRadar LX compact. But it is still relatively small compared to the original orange LabRadar unit.
Notably, the Caldwell VelociRadar uses a different mode of radar (Chirp Radar vs. Doppler) than other chronos, which offers some advantages. Caldwell states: “The Caldwell VelociRadar Chronograph is precision redefined with cutting-edge Chirp radar technology. This is no standard chronograph, while most chronographs stop at only providing muzzle velocity the VelociRadar tracks bullets downrange offering the full picture of ballistic performance. Using these downrange velocity measurements, the VelociRadar calculates true muzzle velocity, the bullet’s ballistic coefficient, and downrange energy.” Note that point about BCs — Caldwell says this new machine will let you calculate the true Ballistic Coefficients of your bullets as fired from your rifle.
LabRadar LX Compact
LabRadar announced its new LabRadar LX compact Doppler radar chronograph at the 2024 SHOT Show. This is a truly compact unit, measuring just 2.5″ X 2.75″ X 2.75″. The LabRadar LX comes with a tough metal case, lifetime battery, and ships with a tripod. The unit has a velocity range of 65 to 5000 FPS and it can display Average, ES, SD, Min, and Max Velocity.
Observers at SHOT Show noted the LabRadar LX has a very bright, high-contrast LCD Screen for outdoor viewing. Overall, the exterior design and specs are impressive. Definitely watch both videos to understand the difference in features between the Garmin and this ultra-compact new LabRadar LX. If you’re shopping for a compact chrono it’s worth looking at all the options. The Garmin Xero C1 Pro is currently $599.99, while the new Labradar LX is $599.95.
Garmin Xero C1 Pro Chronograph
The Garmin Xero® C1 Pro chronograph has already been a big success. After great initial test reports, this compact $599.99 chronograph has been selling out at vendors nationwide. With the performance and quality of the Xero C1 Pro, many LabRadar owners are putting their older orange radar chronos up for sale. Check out the features of this new compact radar chrono in this official product launch video from Garmin:
Introduced in late 2023, the Xero C1 Pro radar chronograph has been an instant hit. Measuring just 3.03″ x 2.38″ x 1.36″, the Xero C1 Pro is compact and easy to transport. Using Doppler radar, the Xero C1 Pro accurately records projectile velocities from 100 fps to 5,000 fps, so it works with all kinds of projectiles. Setup is simple and intuitive, thanks to the button-operated design. SEE FULL RecoilWeb Review.
Garmin offers a modern ShotView™ smartphone app and lets you compare velocities for all shots fired, track ES/SD, and record total sessions. The rugged Xero C1 Pro chrono has a IPX7 water-resistant rating and boasts up to 6 hours of battery life. The unit ships with a compact tripod mount, and the screen is described as “sunlight-visible, transflective, monochrome” so it is easy to view in all conditions.
Above is a recent video review from our friends at Area 419. This review confirms that the Garmin is very reliable, extremely easy to set-up, and the provided Smartphone App works great. User reports have been very positive, and our testers note that the Garmin works better on air rifles than the original LabRadar.
It’s February already and 2024’s first notable gun rebates have arrived. Leading gun-makers are offering big REBATES on products. These promotions can save you $50-$75 on a S&W revolver purchase, $50-$100 off a Beretta pistol, and up to $200 store credit on a SIG optics ready pistol. In addition, you can get a FREE compact gun safe with a qualifying Walther pistol. Find other current rebates on the Gun.deals Rebate Page.
Smith & Wesson $50-$75 Revolver Rebate
Wheelgun Wonderland Rebate — Get up to a $75 rebate when you purchase a qualifying new S&W revolver. Get $50 Rebate on a J-Frame revolver or get a $75 Rebate on K-Frame, L-Frame, N-Frame or Govenor revolvers. CLICK HERE for Rebate Explanation Video. Rebate EXPIRES 4/30/2024.
Beretta APX A1 Pistol Rebate $50 or $100
Beretta APX A1 Rebates — Get $50 back when you buy any APX A1 Carry pistol or get $100 back when you buy an APX A1 full size, compact, or compact tactical pistol. Rebates EXPIRE 3/31/2024.
Credit in SIG Sauer Webstore with Pistol Purchase
SIG Sauer RX Webstore Credit Promo — Buy any qualifying SIG Sauer optics-mounted pistol and get up to $200 in SIG webstore credit. $50 credit with sales to $649.99. $100 credit with sales $650.00 – $1249.99. $200 Credit with sales $1250.00 and up. Rebate EXPIRES 3/31/2024.
Free Compact Gun Safe with Walther Pistol Purchase
Buy any Walther P22, CCP, WMP, or PD380 pistol and receive a Hornady Treklite Lock Box XXL. Buy any PDP, PDP Steel Frame, PPK, PPK/S, or Q-Series Steel Frame and receive a Hornady One-Gun Keypad Vault. This promotion does NOT include LE models, VIP & IOP Discounts. Rebate EXPIRES 4/30/2024.
Do you own an older RCBS electronic powder dispenser? If you do, take the time to watch this ChargeMaster Tuning video from 8541 Tactical. This nine-minute video demonstrates how to re-program your older ChargeMaster to “tune” the dispensing process. The video shows the exact programming procedures to follow, step-by-step. Some folks want a faster powder flow — others tune their machines for a more reliable drop (with fewer over-runs). One cheap and popular modification is to insert a 1″-long section of a McDonald’s plastic straw in the ChargeMaster’s silver dispensing tube. This works surprisingly well to smooth kernel drop and prevent “clumping” that can cause an over-charge. The McDonald’s straw MOD is demonstrated in this video, starting at the 6:22 mark.
Large-Diameter Dispensing Tube Mod
Many folks have had success with the McDonald’s straw modification demonstrated in the above video. However, some folks would like to get even better flow performance (with virtually no clumping). Forum Member Frank B. has come up with a new option using a brass hose fitting with a large outside diameter. The hose fitting (with tape wrapped around the barbed nose section) is placed inside the RCBS dispensing tube (have some kind of wrap — you don’t want metal-on-metal). Here’s how the unit looks installed:
Frank tells us: “I have found a cure for the over-throw problem. It is a simple 1/4″ barbed hose nipple. I wrapped a couple layers of tape around the barbed end for a snug fit. With this in place, I have thrown 100+ charges of Varget without a single overthrow. The ID of the barbed end needs to be approximately 3/16″ to feed a steady flow. This works because of the larger ID at the drop.”
Frank adds: “You can see in the photo that the powder is not stacking up. You can watch it drop one grain at a time. Hope this will take the aggravation out of your case charging.” For best performance with this brass fitting MOD, we recommend de-burring and smoothing out the front edge of the brass fitting over which the kernels drop.
Brass fitting mod suggested by Boyd Allen. We welcome reader submissions.
There are many products used successfully for case lubrication for case sizing. And for neck-turning a variety of lubricants are favored. The video above explains the basics of case lubrication with die wax, and spray lubricants. Below we mention three products that have proven very effective. For cases that have a close fit to your chamber via custom FL dies, Ballistol works well and is easy to apply and remove. For neck-turning, some of our Forum members have had great success with some automotive lubricants.
Three Good Lubricants You May Not Have Tried Before If you’re using a body die or a full-length sizing die, try using Ballistol (in the aerosol can) as a lube. It works GREAT without the tacky or gooey residue left by most case lubes. It will also clean off carbon residues on the neck as you lube the case. Just spray a little on a cotton patch (or your fingertips) and wipe each case before you run it up into the die. If you are using a steel neck bushing, be sure to wipe the neck as well. You can usually do a half-dozen BR-sized cases before you need to re-apply Ballistol on the patch. Ballistol is non-toxic, bio-degradeable, and will not harm your skin. It is very slippery, but can easily be removed with a rag or paper towel. Try it–you may retire your One-Shot. Ballistol can also be used to protect wood stocks.
Note, for heavy case-forming or necking up case necks, we still recommend a thicker lubricant, such as Imperial Die Wax. But for normal case sizing, after your neck has been expanded, Ballistol will do the job, and you won’t need to tumble the brass afterwards. All you need is a very thin layer of Ballistol, and this easily wipes off with a paper towel.
For Neck-Turning, Try STP Blend or Assembly Lube
For lubing the neck-turning tool mandrel while turning case necks, many folks use a blend of STP® Oil Treatment and Mobil 1 lube. Chuckw2 reports: “Try STP and Mobile 1 Synthetic oil in a 50/50 mixture. Very slick, you will need to tumble your cases after turning.” STP is a very thick lubricant, that flows and clings almost like honey. Jason reports the STP blend comes off easily in an ultra-sound bath, using a bit of detergent. At many retailers, STP is also available in a convenient 7-ounce tube, so you don’t have to buy a large bottle.
Another even cheaper option is assembly lubricant. For turning his case necks, RStreich uses assembly lube from an auto parts store. He notes: “The brand I have is reddish in color and kind of sticky like honey. It’s far better than the Imperial die wax I was using before.” There are a variety of types, both with and without moly additive, and you can select the viscosity you prefer if you sample a few brands. Be sure to clean out any lube residue from the inside of your necks when you have completed your neck-turning.
Have you recently purchased a new scope? Then you should verify the actual click value of the turrets before you use the optic in competition (or on a long-range hunt). While a scope may have listed click values of 1/4-MOA, 1/8-MOA or 0.1 Mils, the reality may be slightly different. Many scopes have actual click values that are slightly higher or lower than the value claimed by the manufacturer. The small variance adds up when you click through a wide range of elevation.
In this video, Bryan Litz of Applied Ballistics shows how to verify your true click values using a “Tall Target Test”. The idea is to start at the bottom end of a vertical line, and then click up 30 MOA or so. Multiply the number of clicked MOA by 1.047 to get the claimed value in inches. For example, at 100 yards, 30 MOA is exactly 31.41 inches. Then measure the difference in your actual point of impact. If, for example, your point of impact is 33 inches, then you are getting more than the stated MOA with each click (assuming the target is positioned at exactly 100 yards).
How to Perform the Tall Target Test
The tall target test determines if your scope is giving you the proper amount of adjustment. For example, when you dial 30 MOA, are you really getting 30 MOA, or are you getting 28.5 or 31.2 MOA? The only way to be sure is to verify, don’t take it for granted! Knowing your scopes true click values insures that you can accurately apply a ballistic solution. In fact, many perceived inaccuracies of long range ballistics solutions are actually caused by the scopes not applying the intended adjustment. In order to verify your scope’s true movement and calculate a correction factor, follow the steps in the Tall Target Worksheet. This worksheet takes you thru the ‘calibration process’ including measuring true range to target and actual POI shift for a given scope adjustment.
NOTE: When doing this test, don’t go for the maximum possible elevation. Do NOT max out the elevation knob, running it to the top stop. Bryan Litz explains: “It’s good to avoid the extremes of adjustment when doing the tall target test. I don’t know how much different the clicks would be at the edges, but they are not the same.”
Tall Target Test For Milrad Scopes with B2B Target
This Precision Rifle Network video shows how to do a scope-tracking test using the pre-printed Sniper’s Hide Tall Target from Box to Bench Precision (B2B). With the primary line divisions in MILs, this printed target is perfect for Milliradian scopes. From bottom of the vertical line to the top there are 10 mils (36 inches) of travel. The markings are high contrast to make the testing easier.
In this video, there are some very helpful tips on setting up the target frame correctly and making sure the Tall Target is perfectly vertical. A plumb line can help. In this video the vertical tracking of a Burris XTR III 5.5-30x56mm scope is tested. Actual testing begins at 7:20 time-mark. The Precision Rifle Network has many other informative videos, with a new video released every week.
Should You Perform a WIDE Target Test Too?
What about testing your windage clicks the same way, with a WIDE target test? Bryan Litz says that’s not really necessary: “The wide target test isn’t as important for a couple reasons. First, you typically don’t dial nearly as much wind as you do elevation. Second, your dialed windage is a guess to begin with; a moving average that’s different for every shot. Whereas you stand to gain a lot by nailing vertical down to the click, the same is not true of windage. If there’s a 5% error in your scope’s windage tracking, you’d never know it.”
Verifying Scope Level With Tall Target Test
Bryan says: “While setting up your Tall Target Test, you should also verify that your scope level is mounted and aligned properly. This is critical to insuring that you’ll have a long range horizontal zero when you dial on a bunch of elevation for long range shots. This is a requirement for all kinds of long range shooting. Without a properly-mounted scope level (verified on a Tall Target), you really can’t guarantee your horizontal zero at long range.”
NOTE: For ‘known-distance’ competition, this is the only mandatory part of the tall target test, since slight variations in elevation click-values are not that important once you’re centered “on target” at a known distance.
When we first ran this story a few seasons back, it proved immensely popular with our readers. In case you missed it the first time around, check out what can be done with a factory Savage 110 BA at extreme long range — 1760 yards (one mile). Shooter Mark Dalzell did a great job with the video, which features multiple camera views so you can see the shooter and the target at the same time. Enjoy!
This video by Mark Dalzell demonstrates the long-range capabilities of the Savage 110 BA chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum. Mark took his “BadAss” rig out to the southwest Nevada desert just north of Jean Dry Lakes. He placed a 2’x3′ target way, way out there — a full mile (1760 yards) away. At that range, flight time to target was 3.75 seconds! Sighting with a Nightforce 5-22x50mm NXS scope, Mark needed a few shots to get on target, but eventually made multiple hits, using 67 MOA of elevation and 2.25 MOA left windage. You can view the hits starting at 1:56 time-mark on the video. (Mark had a second camera set up closer to the target — this displays frame in frame in the video, and if you watch carefully you can see the strikes.) The ammo was HSM 250gr HPBT match with a 3.600″ COAL. The shooting was done at 8:13 in the morning, with clear conditions, very light winds. Temp was 57°, humidity 24.5, Density Altitude 3666. Video soundtrack is La Grange by ZZ Top.
PLAY BUTTON
LISTEN TO MARK TALK about One Mile Shooting:
CLICK Play Button to hear Mark Dalzell TALK about his .338 LM Savage 110 BA and how he scored hits at 1760 yards.
Good Shooting Mark. That’s darn good for a factory rifle. You also had the elevation dialed in real close before the firing started! That shows a good knowledge of your ammo’s long-range ballistics. We also noticed how effective that muzzle brake was. Recoil looked about the same as an un-braked .308 Win.
.338 Lapua Magnum Cartridge Diagram
If you thought Mark’s 1760-yard shooting was impressive, Mark has produced another video that shows a session at even greater distances — out to 2300 yards. Watch Mark Dalzell Shoot at 2300 Yards.
SHOT Show 2024 has just concluded. Thousands of new products were unveiled at SHOT Show, including hundreds of new rifles. Today’s Saturday Movie showcase features a number of new (or nearly-new) rifles displayed at SHOT Show 2024 in Las Vegas. This showcase gives our readers a chance to check out some of the newest hunting, precision, and tactical rifles recently featured at SHOT Show 2024.
New Carbon-Fiber Stocked Savage Hunting Rifle
The HuntStand staff had a chance to field test the new KLYM rifle series from Savage. Based on a new carbon-fiber platform, the straight-pull Savage KLYM weighs just 6.7 pounds without optics.
Top AR-Platform Rifles for 2024
AR-platform “Modern Sporting Rifles” continue to be top sellers because of their affordability and versatility. An AR rifle can be used for Service Rifle competition, 3-Gun games, varmint hunting, and of course, home defense. This video features 10 modern-generation AR-platform rifles. Many of these rifles were on display at SHOT Show in Las Vegas this past week.
MDT Chassis and Howa Rifles for 2024 — SHOT Show Report
This video, recorded this past week at SHOT Show 2024, shows some interesting new products — both complete rifles and new components. Many notable products are featured in this 24-minute video. At 16:16 the video shows the new Howa Super Deluxe Walnut rifle. This comes with a handsome figured Walnut stock and either stainless or blued barrels. Starting at 15:04 other new Howa models are shown including a new Mini-action with carbon-wrapped barrel and hinged floor plate.
At 11:05 the video covers MDT’s Zero Stage electronic trigger. First announced in 2023, this is a unique new technology for field rifles. This operates by pressure on the trigger blade, rather than backward mechanical movement. The Zero Stage trigger adjusts from 4 to 64 ounces (0.25 to 4 pounds) without tools. Last but not least, at 00:30 the MDT ACC Premier Gen 2 Chassis is shown (photo below). This has many new features, including a shorter fore-end and new components to help with rimfire magazines.
SHOT Show 2024 “Shorts” — New CZ Rifles, New AirGun
Ten Good Bolt-Action Hunting Rifles — All Under $600
This 9-minute video provides quick looks at ten affordable bolt-action rifles, all under $600.00. If you are looking for a basic hunting rifle, perhaps for a young family member, here are some options with good “bang for the buck”. Using mostly factory footage, this video covers these 10 bolt-guns:
1:04 TC Arms Venture
1:56 Mossberg Patriot
2:28 Ruger Ranch Rifle
3:10 Howa Mini Action Rifle
3:47 Howa Hogue Rifle
4:35 Thompson Center Compass
5:15 Ruger American Rifle
6:03 Winchester XPR Compact
6:52 Remington 783
7:44 Savage Axis II XP
BONUS — Get a Howa Barreled Action for Your Next Rifle Project
Howa M1500 barreled actions are great for hunting and varmint rifle projects. These Japanese-made Howa actions are smooth running and the two-stage HACT trigger is way better than most factory triggers. CLICK HERE to learn more about Howa M1500 barreled actions.
Right now at Brownells you can get a complete Howa barreled action (with trigger!) starting around $400.00. Chamberings in stock now include: 22-250, 6mm ARC, .243 Win, 6.5 Grendel (Mini), 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .308 Win, and .300 WinMag. A wide variety of barrel lengths are offered, and some chamberings have carbon-wrapped barrels.
The NSSF has compiled a webpage showing new handguns introduced in 2024 or late last year. The article, which also appears in SHOT Daily Magazine, covers 10 different manufacturers, small boutique makers as well as large manufacturers. In alphabetical order, the brands covered are: Dickinson Arms, European American Armory, FN, Lone Wolf Arms, Rossi, Smith & Wesson, Stoeger, Taurus, Uberti and Walther.
Beretta 92 GTS
The handsome new Beretta 92 GTS is the latest in Beretta’s historic 92 series. The new Limited Edition features an aluminum finish and handsome wood grips. Internally the 92 GTS features a new twin sear trigger system, offering a different double action experience.
FN 510 and 545 Big Bore Pistol Options
FN has released what it calls “big bore” choices of the original 509 design. The 510 MRD is chambered in 10mm and has 10- and 15-round mags. The 545 MRD is chambered in .45 ACP, also with 10- and 15-round mags. Like the 509, these are polymer-lower, striker-fired designs with 4.1-inch barrels. Both the 510 and 545 are available in black and Flat Dark Earth colors.
Stoeger STR 9mm Combat-X
Stoeger has released an updated version of the STR 9 with some new features such as removal of the finger grooves on the frame, redesigned cocking serrations, and a more robust locking block. This is a nice pistol at an affordable price compared to other comparable 9mm options on the market.
Multiple New Models from Ten Pistol Makers
This video covers ten pistols using mostly factory footage. In this video, Survival Gear spotlights 10 popular pistols displayed at SHOT Show. Some are new, while others have been out for a while. The ten featured handguns are:
Cabot 1911 Insurrection
Springfield Armory TRP
Live Free Armory Pistol
Glock 49
CANIK TP9 Elite Compact
Diamondback .357 Mag SDR Revolver
Walther PDP Match
Sig Sauer M17X
Smith & Wesson M&P9 Spec
Taurus Judge Toro
SIG Sauer P322 Comp Rimfire
In this video SIG Sauer Shooting Team Captain Max Michel puts the SIG P322-COMP through its paces at the range. The P322-COMP is a competition-ready .22 LR rimfire pistol with class-leading 25+1-round and 20+1-round capacity. It has a threaded barrel equipped with a 2-port compensator and comes with a factory-installed ROMEO Zero Elite Red Dot Optic. There are handy slide rackers, and the polymer grip features an adjustable trigger shoe, and integrated magwell.
Wednesday, 1/24/2024 was a big day at SHOT Show 2024. There were major political forums with state Governors and state Attorney Generals. New products were showcased including some impressive new electronic components, as well as innovative new rifles, pistols, and shotguns. In today’s summary we include two video “shorts” by F-Class John, who found a new laser chronograph from Caldwell, plus the impressive new AMP Annealing machine, the AMP Mark II DB. Scroll down to see those previews.
SHOT Show Day 2 RECAP
Our friend F-Class John found a new Radar Chronograph, the $499 Caldwell VelociRadar. This compact chrono will compete directly with the popular new Garmin Xero X1 Pro and the new compact Labradar LX.
F-Class John also checked out the new, advanced AMP Mark II DB Annealing system. With a digital display, this stores cartridge settings, has an auto-run feature, and a case counter. John will have a full video on the new machine very soon.
Governors Forum at SHOT Show
The major policy event of SHOT Show Day 2 was the third annual Governor’s Forum. Seven Governors, mostly from “red states”, attended the event. They discussed the importance of the Second Amendment and how states can work to promote the shooting sports industries. Laurence Keane, NSSF Sr. V.P. and General Counsel, acted as moderator.
Later in the afternoon there was the first-ever Forum with state Attorney Generals. Topics included how law enforcement officials handle Second Amendment issues.
SHOT Show New Product Center
Hundreds of new products were on display at the New Product Center on Level 1 of the Venetian EXPO. Among the most-scanned products were the new Ranger and Ranger+ systems from LongShot Target Cameras. We hope to test the impressive $399.00 Ranger+ this spring. It ha a guaranteed 1,000-yard capability and connects directly to your phone or tablet via WiFi.
New Suppressors from SilencerCo
SilencerCo is one of the nation’s leading suppressor vendors. SilenceCo has also streamlined the process of buying a suppressor and complying with Federal requirements. In this 2.5-minute interview, SilencerCo’s Mike Allen talks about the benefits of suppressors and notes some new developments in compact Spectre 9mm and Velos suppressor models. These feature new mounting systems.
If you’re using a body die or a full-length sizing die, try using Ballistol (in the aerosol can) as a lube. It works GREAT without the tacky or gooey residue left by most case lubes. It will also clean off carbon residues on the neck as you lube the case. Just spray a little on a cotton patch (or your fingertips) and wipe each case before you run it up into the die. If you are using a steel neck bushing, be sure to wipe the neck as well. You can usually do a half-dozen BR-sized cases before you need to re-apply Ballistol on the patch. Ballistol is non-toxic, bio-degradeable, and will not harm your skin. It is very slippery, but can easily be removed with a rag or paper towel. Try it–you may retire your One-Shot. Ballistol can also be used to protect wood stocks.
For Neck-Turning, Try STP Blend or Assembly Lube
Another even cheaper option is assembly lubricant. For turning his case necks, RStreich uses assembly lube from an auto parts store. He notes: “The brand I have is reddish in color and kind of sticky like honey. It’s far better than the Imperial die wax I was using before.” There are a variety of types, both with and without moly additive, and you can select the viscosity you prefer if you sample a few brands. Be sure to clean out any lube residue from the inside of your necks when you have completed your neck-turning.
Verifying Scope Level With Tall Target Test
