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.
Need tools to get started reloading? Then jump on this deal. For $299.99 you get a nice RCBS Rebel Press, Uniflow-III powder measure, priming tool, digital scale, case prep tools, funnel, hex keys, loading block, and even a reloading manual. By itself that would be a great bargain. But here’s the kicker — if you buy this RCBS Rebel Master Combo Kit, MidwayUSA will include 1000 Remington small rifle primers as a FREE Bonus. So you get all these tools AND 1000 primers for just $299.99. Killer Deal. NOTE: Act soon — MidwayUSA may pull this offer within a day or two.
2. Sportsman’s Warehouse — Vortex Sale + FREE GIFT CARDS
⏺ Great savings on Vortex optics with valuable Bonus Gift Cards
Vortex Optics makes a wide range of products — riflescopes, laser rangefinders, and spotting scopes. You’ll find all types of Vortex optics on sale at the Sportsman’s Warehouse July Vortex Optics Sale. You can save hundreds on high-quality Vortex optics. What’s more, Vortex purchases can entitle buyers to Sportsman’s Warehouse gift cards valued up to $200.
3. Creedmoor — Redding Boss ProPak Reloading Combo, $379.95
⏺ Redding Boss press, balance beam scale, and tool combo set
If you’re getting started in reloading, here’s a very good deal on the Redding Boss ProPak. The kit includes full-size Redding Boss single-stage press, Model 2 balance beam powder scale, powder trickler, case lube kit, deburring tool, case prep kit, powder funnel and Hodgdon Reloading Manual. The Model 2 beam scale is very precise and repeatable. This kit is good for both novice reloaders and more advanced reloaders looking to upgrade their equipment.
4. EuroOptic — Trijicon Riflescope Clearance
⏺ Trijicon makes excellent optics, now with HUGE discounts
Trijicon scopes are some of the best value riflescopes on the market. The have good glass, are sharp, and very reliable. And now, EuroOptic is offering Trijicon riflescopes at crazy low clearance prices. With discounts exceeding 50% off, this is likely the best deal you’ll ever see on scopes of this quality.
5. Amazon — Lyman Cyclone Rotary Tumbler, $190.16
⏺ Good, reliable Tumbler for rifle and pistol brass
If you’ve wanted to start wet-tumbling your brass, consider the Lyman Cyclone Rotary Tumbler Kit. With a large capacity — up to 1000 pieces of .223 Rem brass– this Lyman Tumbler Kit includes a media sifter plus five pounds of stainless steel tumbling media. This is a complete kit that will get you up and running.
6. Amazon — AOFAR HX-700N Hunting Range Finder, $64.99
⏺ Crazy low price on decent Laser Rangefinder good to 700 yards
Need a simple but effective rangefinder for your next hunt? For targets inside 700 yards, consider the AOFAR HX-700N Hunting Range Finder. This unit offers two modes: Range and Speed. You can easily identify targets with a continuous scan. Waterproof and dust resistant, the HX-700N is a low-cost yet functional unit that can do the job for game hunters. The HX-700N boasts a convenient mode memory function and can switch between meters and yards.
7. Natchez — Remington Ammunition Sale
⏺ Wide selection of pistol, rifle, and shotgun ammo on sale
8. Amazon — Real Avid Handgun Cleaning Kit, $19.99
⏺ Good, handy pistol cleaning kit in zipped carry case
To keep your pistols clean and safe, it’s wise to have a compact but well-equipped cleaning kit. We recommend the Real Avid Handgun Cleaning Kit. This kit includes a 2-part gun cleaning rod with T-handle, bore brush set, bore patch jag set, two small & large slotted bore patch tips and gun cleaning patches. All tools are stored in a handy, zip-closure carry case.
9. Amazon — Tactical 2-Pistol Range Bag
⏺ Good bag, with plenty of pockets, many color options
If you need a new range bag look at the Tactical 2-Pistol Bag with lockable zipper. This can easily store two full-size handguns, along with eye/ear protection, ammo, and other essential gear. Along with the main compartment, there are four mesh accessory pockets. The front and side pockets are elastic to keep your magazines and small shooting supplies. With a handgrip and padded shoulder strap, this Range Bag is comfortable to carry.
10. Lock & Loaded — .223 Rem 55gr FMJ 1000rd Ammo, $442.99
⏺ Get 1000 rounds of .223 Rem at $0.45/round
If you need ammunition for your AR15s or other .223 Remington (5.56×45) rifles, consider purchasing 1000 rounds of PMC .223 Rem 55gr FMJ for only $442.99. At less than $0.45 per round this is one of the very best deals we’ve seen on major-brand .223 Rem ammo this year.
Creedmoor Sports has released a series of helpful “how-to” videos in its new InfoZone web page. In the latest InfoZone video Bill Gravatt shows how to seat bullets using L.E. Wilson Hand Dies and an Arbor Press. The basic process is simple, particularly with a micrometer-top seating die. That makes it easy to adjust and set seating depth. Before you start seating bullets, you want to adjust the height of the arbor so the stroke is appropriate to the height of your die.
Bill Gravatt Shows How to Use Hand Seating Dies — Creedmoor INFOZONE
ARBOR PRESS TECHNIQUE: When using an arbor press, smooth is good. You don’t want to slam the handle down quickly. Try to repeat the same motion each time. You can also experiment by seating the bullet part way, then rotate the cartridge (in the die) and do the final seating with a second stroke. If your arbor press has a force gauge, note both the max value of the gauge needle and how it moves as you seat the bullet. If the needle spikes too rapidly, or bounces back and forth irregularly, set that cartridge aside and/or mark it. You could have neck tension issue with that case or some other fault. You might even have a bad bullet. That’s rare, but can happen. The key to success is moving the press arm in a smooth motion every time, maintaining the same down-pressure with each cartridge.
Here Bill Gravatt Offers a Simple Tip for Adjusting Wilson Seating Dies
One of our Forum readers asked “How can I get a custom in-line seater for my new rifle?”. First, we would say that, if you are not shooting an unusual Wildcat, check first to see if L.E. Wilson makes a stainless Micrometer Seater Die for your rifle. These dies are a joy to use, and we’ve found the fit to be exceptionally good with many calibers. Typically priced from $90-$100, Wilson stainless micrometer-top seaters are available for dozens of cartridge types: .204 Ruger, 20 BR, .222 Rem, .223 Rem, 22 PPC, 22 BR, .22-250, .223 WSSM, 6 PPC, 6mmBR, 6XC, 243 Win, .243 WSSM, 25 WSSM, 6.5×47 Lapua, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5-284, 26 Nosler, .270 WSM, 7mm-08, .284 Win, 28 Nosler, 7mm RUM, 30 BR, 30 IHMSA, .308 Win, .300 WinMag, .338 Edge (and MORE).
If you do want a custom seater die, the process is relatively simple. Purchase a die blank from Wilson and have your gunsmith run the chambering reamer in. Forum member Gunamonth explains: “I start with a Wilson seating die blank. They’re available from Sinclair and other vendors. Just run the reamer in. For some of my rifles, where I wanted the stainless die with the micrometer adjustment, I bought a smaller die and had the smith ream it with the chamber reamer. That’s how I had my 6 Dasher and 6mm AI seaters made. With the Dasher I stared with a 6mmBR Micrometer die.”
SEATER STEM TIP: If, on your seated bullets, you are seeing a sharp line around the jacket near the ogive, you may want to smooth out the leading edge of the Wilson seater stem (see above left). Do this by putting a little lapping compound on one bullet and manually spin this around in the stem. Without much effort you’ll have a smooth bullet/stem interface.
Micrometer Top Add-on
We really like micrometer tops on a seating die. But what if Wilson doesn’t make a micrometer top seater for your chambering? Don’t despair, Brownells sells a $39.99 Sinclair Micrometer Top that can be added to Wilson standard seaters or to a custom seater die made from a Wilson die blank.
This week we focus on five classic metal-framed 9mm pistols. These five world-class handguns all shoot the 9mm Luger (9x19mm) cartridge. Most have been used by military and police forces as well as used by civilians for sport-shooting and defense. This Editor has shot all five pistol types and owned three. I can recommend all of them. Metal-framed pistols typically have a lower center of gravity and weigh more than Glocks and other polymer-framed handguns. Consequently, they tend to have less muzzle flip, and less perceived recoil than polymer-framed handguns.
SIG Sauer P226
The SIG Sauer P226 is a high-quality, ultra reliable single-action/double action handgun with a proud Swiss/German heritage. It has a very ergonomic grip that fits most hands very well. Standard P226s do NOT have a manual safety, but the P226 has a decocking lever drops the hammer safely. This Editor has trained new shooters with a Sig P226 and Glock 17. For 80% of my trainees the Sig P226 pointed better due to the superior grip design. This meant that the sight picture was better, and the trainees achieved better results with the P226 vs. the Glock 17. The P226 is also a very reliable firearm. I have over 6000 rounds through my P226 with not one single jam. That’s impressive. The first video, reviewing the SIG P226, has over 1.4 million YouTube views, indicating it is very popular with pistoleros.
HK P7 Series (PSP, P7m8, P7m13)
This Editor has shot a P7m8 extensively. It is superbly accurate. With a very low bore axis, it has much less muzzle flip than most 9mm pistols. And with a fixed barrel, the slide moves straight back during cycling. The HK P7 blowback-operated semi-automatic pistol was designed and manufactured by German gun-maker Heckler & Koch (H&K) from 1978 to 2008. It is thin, superbly accurate, with a precise trigger that shames the Glock. The P7m8 features a unique gas-delayed blowback system, which uses gas from the cartridge to retard the rearward motion of the slide. This works via a barrel port and a piston inside a cylinder under the barrel. The signature feature of the P7 series is the “squeeze cocker” on the front of the grip. Squeezing the cocking lever cocks the firing pin. When the front of the grip is released, the weapon is fully de-cocked, making it safe with a round in the chamber.
Browning Hi-Power
The Browning Hi-Power is a single-action, semi-automatic handgun with a legendary heritage. This handsome all-metal pistol was based on a design by American John Moses Browning, and completed by Dieudonné Saive at Fabrique Nationale (FN) of Herstal, Belgium. J.M. Browning died in 1926, several years before the design was finalized. FN Herstal initially named the design the “High Power”, which alludes to the 13-round magazine capacity, almost twice that of other designs such as the Luger or Colt M1911. The name was later shorted to “Hi-Power”. The Browning Hi-Power has served military forces and police in many countries throughout the world. It is a very well-balanced pistol, with a nice, crisp trigger. After 82 years of continuous production, FN Herstal announced that the Hi-Power would be discontinued in 2018. However, in 2022 FN resumed Hi-Power production, so this classic lives on.
CZ 75
The CZ 75 is the flagship pistol of CZ-USA and has been a staple among 9x19mm fans for over 45 years. Originally introduced in 1975, hence the name, the CZ 75 remains viable as a defensive pistol. CZ claims the CZ 75 is “used by more governments, militaries, police, and security agencies than any other pistol in the world”. The CZ 75 is very reliable and works well for both defense and IDPA competitions. The ergonomics are good, controls are intuitive, and the trigger is very nice. Over the years, CZ has made numerous variations of the CZ 75 pistol, but the original is still an excellent handgun.
Beretta 92FS and Military M9
For Americans, the Beretta 92 series of pistols is best known as the official sidearm of the American military for 30+ years. The United States military replaced the .45 ACP M1911A1 pistol in 1985 with the Beretta 92FS, designated as the “M9″. The M9 and the civilian models 92/92FS have a distinctive, recognizable feature — the cut-away slide which exposes most of the 9mm barrel. The metal frame also has an attractive grip design. The 92FS pistols we’ve shot were accurate and reliability was good. There have been various modifications and upgrades over the years. However the M9 was replaced in 2017 by the new polymer-framed SIG Sauer P320, adopted as the military’s M17/M18 modular pistols.
This Hickok 45 video review of the Beretta 92FS has over 2.5 million views:
Brownells received a large shipment of Alliant reloading powder this week. If you need Reloder 10X, 15, 15.5 TS, 16, 17, 19, Power Pistol or other popular powders, you may want to head over to Brownells and grab some very soon. We expect the most popular Alliant powders will sell out soon. In addition, there are per-customer purchase limits for many of the Alliant powder varieties. For example, with Reloder 15.5 TS and Reloder 16 you can buy two (2) 1-pounders, or one (1) 8-pound jug.
UPDATE: The Alliant 15.5 TS one-pounders sold out in minutes after we released this report. The 8-pounders are still available as of 9:50 am CT 7/16/22.
As of 9:30 am CT on July 16, 2022, here are Alliant powders in stock at Brownells: Reloder 10X, Reloder 15, Reloder 15.5 TS, Reloder 16, Reloder 17, Reloder 19, Reloder 50, 20-28 Shotshell Powder, Bullseye, Green Dot, Red Dot, Blue Dot, Power Pistol, Promo, 2400 Smokeless, E3 Shotshell, BE-86, Pro Reach Shotshell, Extra Lite.
Current Brownells Discount Codes
Brownells has a number of discount codes that can save you 10% or more on your purchase. Use these codes during checkout to save on your orders. Note: Unless otherwise stated, these codes may expire at any time, so place your orders soon.
$120 Off Orders $1000+
CODE: JULY120
Expiration date 7/31/2022
$55 Off $500+
CODE: JULY55
Expiration date 7/31/2022
$25 Off $250+
CODE: JULY25
Expiration Date 7/31/2022
$45 Off $450
CODE: 45OFF450
Expiration Date Unknown
$35 Off $350
CODE: 35OFF350
Expiration Date Unknown
This thought-provoking article has been one of the most popular Daily Bulletin features in recent years. We are republishing this story today for readers who may have missed it the first time around…
Here’s a little known fact that may startle most readers, even experienced gunsmiths: your barrel wears out in a matter of seconds. The useful life of a typical match barrel, in terms of actual bullet-in-barrel time, is only a few seconds. How can that be, you ask? Well you need to look at the actual time that bullets spend traveling through the bore during the barrel’s useful life. (Hint: it’s not very long).
Bullet-Time-in-Barrel Calculations
If a bullet flies at 3000 fps, it will pass through a 24″ (two-foot) barrel in 1/1500th of a second. If you have a useful barrel life of 3000 rounds, that would translate to just two seconds of actual bullet-in-barrel operating time.
Ah, but it’s not that simple. Your bullet starts at zero velocity and then accelerates as it passes through the bore, so the projectile’s average velocity is not the same as the 3000 fps muzzle velocity. So how long does a centerfire bullet (with 3000 fps MV) typically stay in the bore? The answer is about .002 seconds. This number was calculated by Varmint Al, who is a really smart engineer dude who worked at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, a government think tank that develops neutron bombs, fusion reactors and other simple stuff.
On his Barrel Tuner page, Varmint Al figured out that the amount of time a bullet spends in a barrel during firing is under .002 seconds. Al writes: “The approximate time that it takes a 3300 fps muzzle velocity bullet to exit the barrel, assuming a constant acceleration, is 0.0011 seconds. Actual exit times would be longer since the bullet is not under constant acceleration.”
We’ll use the .002 number for our calculations here, knowing that the exact number depends on barrel length and muzzle velocity. But .002 is a good average that errs, if anything, on the side of more barrel operating life rather than less.
So, if a bullet spends .002 seconds in the barrel during each shot, and you get 3000 rounds of accurate barrel life, how much actual firing time does the barrel deliver before it loses accuracy? That’s simple math: 3000 x .002 seconds = 6 seconds.
Gone in Six Seconds. Want to Cry Now?
Six seconds. That’s how long your barrel actually functions (in terms of bullet-in-barrel shot time) before it “goes south”. Yes, we know some barrels last longer than 3000 rounds. On the other hand, plenty of .243 Win and 6.5-284 barrels lose accuracy in 1500 rounds or less. If your barrel loses accuracy at the 1500-round mark, then it only worked for three seconds! Of course, if you are shooting a “long-lived” .308 Win that goes 5000 rounds before losing accuracy, then you get a whopping TEN seconds of barrel life. Anyway you look at it, a rifle barrel has very little longevity, when you consider actual firing time.
People already lament the high cost of replacing barrels. Now that you know how short-lived barrels really are, you can complain even louder. Of course our analysis does give you even more of an excuse to buy a nice new Bartlein, Krieger, Shilen etc. barrel for that fine rifle of yours.
It’s great to be able to access online load data for your cartridges. You can quickly get load data for a particular powder and bullet weight. However, there are times when we prefer to consult old-fashioned printed/bound load manuals. The primary reason is that manuals produced by bullet- and tool-makers will, for a particular cartridge, include data for powders from multiple manufacturers. Having a single source can save you time and trouble. For example, if you want to find 6.5 Creedmoor loads using H4350 (Hodgdon), Reloder 16 (Alliant), and N150 (Vihtavuori) you would have to visit three different powder-maker websites, one after another. OR you can pick up a modern load manual and find everything in one place.
There are many excellent printed load manuals on the market. We have used the Berger Manual, Sierra Manual, Speer Manual, Lyman Manual, and Hornady Manual. We like the Berger and Sierra manuals for match rifle cartridges, and the Lyman and Hornady manuals for hunting loads and pistol cartridges. Unfortunately, the popular binder-format Sierra Manual is currently back-ordered. But the excellent Nosler Reloading Guide 9 is back in stock at Midsouth for $28.99.
The Lyman Reloading Manuals have earn praise over the years:
“Every other reloading book I’ve used favors their own bullets over every other manufacturers. With Lyman you get an honest representation of a wide variety of different… manufacturers. [Lyman has] a ton of reloading data on just about any bullet style you can imagine. I’ve tried a wide range of their recipes and everyone I’ve tried has been spot on. The overall breadth of information this book covers is impressive.” Review by RangetoReal.com.
Along with the Lyman 50th Edition Manual, here are other recommended Reloading Manuals:
Here Are Four General Instructional Books That Cover Reloading Procedures:
POWDER BURN RATE TABLE
Here is the most recent powder burn rate chart from Hodgdon/IMR that we could find. Click links below to access printable PDF. Note, some readers have suggested a couple powder ranking issues in the table. However, this is the latest official version from the IMR website, released in November 2019.
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.
1. Grafs.com — Sightron Optics Sale, Save 25%
⏺ Great prices on high-magnification competition scopes
If you need a high-magnification competition or long-range varmint scope, but need to keep costs down, check out the Sightron Sale at Graf & Sons. You can get an excellent 10-50x60mm SIII optic for $1124.99, 25% off the regular price. The 36X and 45X fixed power optics — good for short-range benchrest disciplines — are 25% off also. NOTE: When you visit Graf’s Sightron SALE, be sure to scroll through ALL THREE PAGEs to see all sale items.
2. Guns.com — Ruger American Rimfire Long Range, $591.99
⏺ Great rimfire rig — good action/barrel/trigger — takes 10/22 mags
This limited-edition Ruger American Rimfire .22LR Long-Range Target rifle features a 26″ free-floated heavy barrel and a competition-worthy stock, with adjustable comb, adjustable LOP, and forearm M-LOK rail. The hammer-forged 0.860″ bull barrel has a threaded muzzle with thread protector. The gun comes with a bedding block system, 60-degree bolt throw, and 3-5 lb. adjustable trigger. This rifle would be an excellent choice for a precision rimfire match. The rifle accepts all 10/22 magazines. Full SPECS HERE.
3. Creedmoor Sports, American Bullet Co. Bullets Sale
⏺ Get excellent practice bullets at significant discounts
Need bullets but your budget is limited? Check out American Bullet Company bullets at Creedmoor Sports. There are multiple bullet weights in both .224 (52gr, 55gr, 69gr, 77gr) and .308 (125gr, 168gr, 175gr) calibers, plus 107gr 6mm bullets. Creedmoor Sports states: “American Bullet Company bullets are factory seconds, and are priced accordingly to provide more range time without breaking the bank”. Save up to 50% compared to first-run offerings. These ABC bullets are a good choice for M1 Garand, M1A, and 1903 Springfield shooters running .30-06 or .308 Win chamberings. And, at just $22.95 per 100 and $104.95 per 500, the 52gr and 55gr .224 bullets will also work well for high-volume varmint shooters. NOTE: Use Promo Code ABC to save an additional 15% on these bullets.
⏺ Good deals on Timney triggers for Rem 700 hunting and competition rifles
Here are good deals on Timney triggers for Rem 700s and clone actions. Get the Elite Hunter Straight for $116.41. This same trigger sells for over $150 elsewhere. Or get the advanced Rem 700 HIT Curved Trigger or Straight Trigger for $165.79, discounted from $230.99. The HIT trigger adjusts from 8 ounces up to 2 pounds — making it good for competition rifles. The trigger’s sear and trigger shoe are precision-machined, heat treated to 56 Rockwell with a black oxide trigger coating and an NP-3 plated sear.
5. Palmetto/KYGUNCO — Taurus TX22 .22 LR Pistol, $273.99
⏺ Ergonomic, reliable fun-shooting rimfire pistol
The Taurus TX22 is a good little gun for fun plinking or rimfire cross-training. Good trigger, excellent ergonomics. It’s on Sale now starting at $273.99. Owner reviews have been very positive: “Fantastic ergonomics, great trigger! More than 500 rounds through this pistol without a single jam or failure to feed. Can’t recommend this pistol enough. Buy one!” Another: “Really great shooting gun. It even ate through the cheap ammo with no problems.” And a third buyer notes: “This gun is very accurate… a fantastic training gun. Reliability is excellent. I would recommend this handgun to a friend.”
6. Amazon — Steiner 8×30 AF Predator Binoculars, $195.00
⏺ Excellent 19 oz. compact binoculars with unique focus feature
We have used Steiner binoculars for years. These 8×30 AF Steiners are great for hunters. On sale for $195.00, the 19 oz. 8×30 AF Predator is light yet rugged. And once you adjust the oculars to your eyes, everything from 20 yards to infinity is in focus. And the CAT lenses do help spot prey. One verified purchaser posted: “For hunting close quarters the CAT coating will be a game changer.” We like the 8X magnification, but if you prefer 10-power, Steiner also offers 10×42 Predator AF binoculars for $285.00. BestBinocularsReviews.com named the Steiner Predator AF binoculars as the “2019 Best Lightweight Binocular for Hunting”. The glass is excellent considering the price, and the focus system is a huge advantage — once you set the individual eye-pieces, no fiddling with focus knobs required — everything beyond 20 yards is sharp.
7. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Perfect Seat Priming Tool, $59.99
⏺ Precise Depth Control, 12 Shell Holders, Quick-Change, Carry Case
Seating primers to a consistent depth helps deliver enhanced accuracy and low ES/SD. However, most priming systems don’t allow precise depth control. If you’re looking for a priming tool that allows you to adjust primer seating depth, check out the Frankford Arsenal Perfect Seat Hand Primer. This tool comes in a protective case along with a full set of case holders and primer flip tray. A quick thumb release system allows you to switch from small to large primers quickly. Get this now for $59.99 on Amazon.
8. Palmetto State Armory — Norma TAC-22 Ammo, $3.99/box
⏺ Excellent rimfire ammo at a GREAT price — .22 LR Deal of the Year
We’ve found no other .22 LR ammo that rivals Norma TAC-22 at anywhere near the price — just 8 cents per round ($3.99/box). If you shoot NRL22 or just practice for fun, grab some Norma TAC22 .22 LR ammo at Palmetto State Armory. On sale at just $3.99 per 50-round box, this TAC-22 ammo is a truly great bargain. In our test, it out-shot some ammo that cost $8 per box. During testing with a CZ 457, one of our Editors had multiple 5-shot groups at 50 yards that were typically one ragged hole (all shots touching). He observed “It’s amazingly good ammo for the money”.
9. BarrelCool and RifleKuhl Portable Cooling Units, Under $40
⏺ Get barrel coolers for hot summer months, extend Barrel Life
In summer it can be tough to keep your barrel at moderate temperatures. But a compact cooling fan device can really help. Two of the best barrel coolers on the market are the original yellow BarrelCool at $39.99 and the red Magnetospeed RifleKuhl at $39.09 . NOTE: The RifleKuhl is shown as $60.00 MAP price. Add to Cart to get the low $39.09 price! Both cooler units double as empty chamber indicators, feature high power fans, and can cool your barrel down to a usable temperature in about 10 minutes.
⏺ Excellent Tool Kit for rifle, shotgun, pistol maintenance tasks
Finding the right tools to work on your guns, scopes, rings and other items can often be frustrating. Regular tools from the hardware store work in a pinch but often aren’t hollow ground to protect your screws and the sizes may not fit precision firearms parts. Solve your tool dilemma with the Lyman Master Gunsmith Tool Kit now $45.52 on Amazon. This handy kit includes bits for slotted screws, Hex screws, 6-lobe screws, and Phillips screws to fit just about anything in your gun safe, all in a convenient case.
Precision Benchrest and F-Class shooters favor premium brass from Lapua, Norma, Peterson, or RWS. (Lake City also makes quality brass in military calibers.) Premium brass delivers better accuracy, more consistent velocities, and longer life. Shooters understand the importance of good brass, but many of us have no idea how cartridge cases are actually made. Here’s how it’s done.
The process starts with a brass disk stamped from strips of metal. Then, through a series of stages, the brass is extruded or drawn into a cylindrical shape. In the extrusion process the brass is squeezed through a die under tremendous pressure. This is repeated two or three times typically. In the more traditional “draw” process, the case is progressively stretched longer, in 3 to 5 stages, using a series of high-pressure rams forcing the brass into a form die. While extrusion may be more common today, RWS, which makes some of the most uniform brass in the world, still uses the draw process: “It starts with cup drawing after the bands have been punched out. RWS cases are drawn in three ‘stages’ and after each draw they are annealed, pickled, rinsed and subjected to further quality improvement measures. This achieves specific hardening of the brass cases and increases their resistance to extraordinary stresses.” FYI, Lapua also uses a traditional draw process to manufacture most of its cartridge brass (although Lapua employs some proprietary steps that are different from RWS’s methods).
After the cases are extruded or drawn to max length, the cases are trimmed and the neck/shoulder are formed. Then the extractor groove (on rimless cases) is formed or machined, and the primer pocket is created in the base. One way to form the primer pocket is to use a hardened steel plug called a “bunter”. In the photos below you see the stages for forming a 20mm cannon case (courtesy OldAmmo.com), along with bunters used for Lake City rifle brass. This illustrates the draw process (as opposed to extrusion). The process of draw-forming rifle brass is that same as for this 20mm shell, just on a smaller scale.
River Valley Ordnance explains: “When a case is being made, it is drawn to its final draw length, with the diameter being slightly smaller than needed. At this point in its life, the head of the draw is slightly rounded, and there are no provisions for a primer. So the final drawn cases are trimmed to length, then run into the head bunter. A punch, ground to the intended contours for the inside of the case, pushes the draw into a cylindrical die and holds it in place while another punch rams into the case from the other end, mashing the bottom flat. That secondary ram holds the headstamp bunter punch.
The headstamp bunter punch has a protrusion on the end to make the primer pocket, and has raised lettering around the face to form the headstamp writing. This is, of course, all a mirror image of the finished case head. Small cases, such as 5.56×45, can be headed with a single strike. Larger cases, like 7.62×51 and 50 BMG, need to be struck once to form a dent for the primer pocket, then a second strike to finish the pocket, flatten the head, and imprint the writing. This second strike works the brass to harden it so it will support the pressure of firing.”
Thanks to Guy Hildebrand, of the Cartridge Collectors’ Exchange, OldAmmo.com, for providing this 20mm Draw Set photo. Bunter photo from River Valley Ordnance.
Story by Boyd Allen
While many top competitive shooters trickle their stick powder charges to a kernel or two, that would be impractical when loading charges for giant naval guns. You may be surprised, but the shells fired by the U.S. Navy’s massive 14″ and 16″ naval guns were also propelled by stick-type extruded powders. You couldn’t trickle these ‘kernels’ though — a single stick or ‘grain’ can be over 2″ long.
The U.S.S. Iowa fires her massive 16″ main battery. The U.S. Navy’s Iowa-class battleships carried nine huge 16-inch Mark 7 cannons in three turrets. The big naval guns were 50 calibers long, i.e. 50 times bore diameter, making the barrels 66.7 feet long from chamber to muzzle.
In connection with a Benchrest Central discussion that drifted to the subject of powders used in large naval guns, I heard from Joe McNeil, whose father was involved in manufacturing those very propellants as a DuPont employee. Joe writes:
“My Dad worked for the DuPont company for over 40 years. Every time the nation went to war he was assigned to the gun powder plants which DuPont ran for the government for $1.00 per year! His last assignment was at the Indiana Ordnance Plant in Jefferson, Indiana from 1952 through 1958. He had a display case made of all of the different powders made at the plant and left it to me. That’s why I have a grain of 16″ gun powder. He took me out to the Jefferson proving grounds once when they tested the powder in a 16″ gun. We watched from a half-mile away but it left a lasting impression when they fired that gun. They actually had a set of rings they fired through to test the performance of the powder and shell. This was a truly fond memory of my Dad and his work.”
Here are some pictures of the gun powder “grains” made during the Korean War at the Indiana Ordnance Works where Joe McNeil’s father worked.
Above is the display case with the different powders manufactured at the DuPont plant. They include: 37 MM/AA, 75MM Pack Howitzer, 50 Cal. 5010, 20 MM 4831, 30 Cal. 4895, 76 MM, 3″, 5″, 90 MM, 4.7″, 240MM, 8″, 280 MM, 175 MM, 155 MM Howitzer, 155 MM Gun M.P., 8″ Gun M.P., 12″, 14, 16″. There are different-sized ‘grains’ for specific rounds.
16-inch/50-caliber gun projectile plus six propellant bags. Display mockup aboard U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61) in San Pedro, CA. Photo by James Madison per Creative Commons CC-BY-SA-4.0 license.
Do you need to pull bullets that have been seated in a case? You can use lever-actuated, collet-type pullers, or inertial hammer-style pullers, but there is a faster solution. The Grip-N-Pull bullet puller is a precision-machined hand clamp that works for multiple calibers. A single Grip-N-Pull can replace several other tools, while being faster to use. With larger-diameter bullets loaded with light-to-moderate neck tension, it works well. The bullets come out pretty easily, with no scuff marks or dents.
For smaller-diameter, .204 to .243 caliber bullets, it may be hard to grip the bullet easily, or you may end up with some jacket damage. And we wouldn’t use this for factory-crimped cartridges. One tip for the smaller-diameter bullets — you can try the tool notch one size smaller than nominal bullet diameter. One Grip-N-Pull owner reports: “I’ve had one for a while and like using it much better than a kinetic puller. I have found with .22 and .24 caliber bullets they pull better using one size down.”
Introduction to Grip-N-Pull — How It Works:
How to Use the Grip-N-Pull
Put your loaded case in the shell-holder on a reloading press. Raise the ram so the bullet is exposed at the top of the press. Then select the correct, caliber-specific slot in the Grip-N-Pull, clasp the bullet firmly, then lower the ram. The bullet withdraws from the case-neck, retained in the tool. Fast and simple. If there isn’t much neck tension (or a crimp), the bullet should come out undamaged.
Not So Great for Small-Diameter Bullets
Watch this video — the tester says the Grip-N-Pull works well with larger-diameter bullets, but there can be slippage with smaller-diameter projectiles, or those with short bearing surfaces. When there is a lot of neck tension, you have to grip extremely hard which can cause your hand to hurt after a while. And the bullets can get marred. (NOTE: For smaller-diameter bullets, it may sometimes work better to use the next size down slot. E.g. use the .22 Slot for .243 bullets.)
This video explains some of the shortcomings of the Grip-N-Pull.
Four Grip-N-Pull Models Available Grip-N-Pull bullet pullers can be used for multiple calibers. For example, the Standard Rifle Grip-N-Pull pulls bullets for these calibers: .17, .20, .22, .24, .25, .26, .27, .28, and .30. The Large Rifle model works with 8mm, .338, .375, .416 and .458. There is a third model for pistol cartridges, and a fourth “Mil-Spec” unit that does 5.56, 7.62, .338 and .50 BMG. Grip-N-Pull bullet pullers are made of 1/4″ heavy-duty #30 stainless steel and are backed by a lifetime warranty.
Speed and Efficiency of Grip-N-Pull
The Grip-N-Pull’s creators claim this hand clamp cuts bullet pulling time in half. For a speed comparison between Grip-N-Pull and a hammer-style (inertial) bullet puller, watch this Extreme Outer Limits video. Bob and Chris Beck do a head-to-head comparison between the Grip-N-Pull and an inertia puller. It’s no contest — the Grip-N-Pull is way faster, and the powder stays in the case.
Pull Comparison — Grip-N-Pull Vs. Hammer-Style Inertial Puller
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The headstamp bunter punch has a protrusion on the end to make the primer pocket, and has raised lettering around the face to form the headstamp writing. This is, of course, all a mirror image of the finished case head. Small cases, such as 5.56×45, can be headed with a single strike. Larger cases, like 7.62×51 and 50 BMG, need to be struck once to form a dent for the primer pocket, then a second strike to finish the pocket, flatten the head, and imprint the writing. This second strike works the brass to harden it so it will support the pressure of firing.”
