Here are highlights from an article Glen Zediker wrote for the Midsouth Blog. In this article Glen focuses on cartridge brass for semi-auto rifles, AR-platform guns in particular. Glen notes that semi-autos are tougher on brass than bolt-action rifles, so you need strong, durable brass, that has been full-length sized. And you need to be careful about neck tension, and primers. The article starts with Glen’s recommendations for tough, hard brass, and then includes the points outlined below.
ONE: Full Length-Size Cases with Adequate Shoulder Set-Back
This is a huge source of debate… amongst my readers, but, since now I’m strictly speaking of semi-auto needs I doubt there will be much dissent: full-length resize all cases! Most cases from most semi-autos will emerge with a pretty well-blown case shoulder [taming down an excessively functioning gas system can reduce this]. Make double-sure you’re sizing the cases down to at least 0.003 clearance. If you don’t there are safety and function problems ahead.
TWO: USE Sufficient Neck Tension
The case neck [must be] reduced an adequate amount to retain the bullet. There should be a minimum net difference of 0.003 inches (three-thousandths) between sized outside case neck diameter and loaded round outside case neck diameter. [Editor — that means at least three thou of “grip”.] Reason: don’t take a chance of inadvertent bullet movement during the recoil and feeding cycles. That movement can be back or forward! It’s easily possible for a bullet to jump ahead when the inertia from the bolt carrier assembly chambers the next round.
THREE: Use Tough Primers
Choose a tough primer! There’s a floating firing pin on an AR15 (M1A also) that is supposed to be held in check but that system doesn’t always work! If you load and extract a round and see a little dimple in the primer, that’s from the firing pin tapping off of it (again, created by inertia of bolt closing). A combination of a high primer and a sensitive primer cup assembly can create a “slam-fire”. Brands? CCI has some mil-spec primers that work well, and I’ve had great success with Remington 7-1/2. Some of the well-respected “match” primers are a little thin. The CCI and Remington also hold up well to the (sometimes) greater firing forces working on the primer (again, from the quick unlocking).
And, finally, make double-sure that each and every primer is seated to below flush with the case head! That’s true for any firearm (because it also means that the primer is fully seated) but imperative for safety in a semi-auto. This is especially an issue for those who use a progressive-type loading press.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every 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 — All Lapua Products on Sale — Brass, Bullets, Ammo
If you want to win, and want brass that lasts, think Lapua. Over 90% of all modern benchrest records have been set with Lapua brass. What’s more, Lapua makes outstanding bullets. Lapua Scenars have delivered superb accuracy in our site’s benchrest and tactical rifles. As for factory ammo, again Lapua is hard to beat. We got our hands on some Lapua 90gr 6mmBR factory ammo a few seasons back. That stuff was amazing. It delivered honest 5-shot, quarter-MOA groups! If you want these superior Lapua products, now is a great time to buy. Grafs.com is running a giant sale on all Lapua-brand products, including brass, bullets, and loaded ammo. You’ll save at least 10% on everything, with many items 20-24% off, and select loaded ammo up to 59% off. Lapua 6.5 Creedmoor SR brass is discounted 22%, a great deal. Plus, if you spend $250 or more you’ll get a free box of Lapua Center-X.
Get a Ruger Precision Rifle in 6mm Creedmoor for $788.00 complete. That price, which includes rings, is great for a Gen 2 model. If you’ve been thinking of purchasing a Ruger Precision Rifle (RPR) chambered for the 6mm Creedmoor cartridge, this is a killer deal. Right now GunPrimer.com is offering this popular tactical rig for under $800.00, in the 6mm Creedmoor chambering. This shoots faster and flatter than the 6.5 Creedmoor — so many PRS guys have switched to it. This is a good choice for the PRS production class, or you can take in to another level of performance with a Pre-Fit 26″ cut-rifled barrel from Krieger. This is the lastest RPR Gen 2 version with the upgraded handguards. Heck of a bargain boys — you can pay $1200 or more elsewhere for the same rifle.
3. Midsouth — 6.5mm 123gr Match Bullets, $119.99 for 500
This is a great option for PRS and tactical shooters. These 6.5mm bullets work great with the popular 6.5mm cartridges such as 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 Grendel, and 6.5×47 Lapua. With a shorter length than the 140s, these fit magazines better. Plus we’ve found you can run these significantly faster than the 140gr class 6.5 mm bullets, so you are not giving up that much in drop or windage. G1 Ballistic Coefficient is .510
Reloading information is interchangeable with 6.5mm Nosler Custom Competition bullets with the same grain weight. NOTE: These Match Monster Bullets are NOT BLEMS!
4. Al’s — Vortex Razor HD 20-60x85mm Spotting Scope, $809.99
AMAZING DEAL — save $390.00! Other vendors sell this very same Razor HD spotter for $1199.
Here’s a great deal on a high-quality spotting scope from a top optics maker. AL’s Sporting Goods has last year’s model Vortex Razor 20-60x85mm spotter for only $899.99, including eyepiece. This impressive HD-glass spotter sells elsewhere for $1200.00. But it gets better — use Code ALS10 for another 10% Off, bringing the final price down to $809.99. This is a very good spotter for the money and Vortex has one of the best warranties in the business.
5. Powder Valley — Hodgdon Powders In-Stock at Great Prices
H4895, Varget, H4350 — these are all great powders for competition cartridges such as the 6mmBR Norma, 6 Dasher, 6.5 Creemoor, and .284 Shehane. Because these powders work so well, they can be hard to find. Right now Powder Valley has a great supply of these and other excellent Hodgdon powders (such as H4198 and H4831sc) in both 1-lb and 8-lb containers. For example H4350 and Varget are $27.35 for 1-pounders, while H4895 and H4198 are just $26.35 for a 1-lb bottle. An 8-lb jug of H4350 is $194.50, a lot less than you’d pay in most retail stores.
6. Sportsman’s Guide — Browning Buck Mark, $279.99 with Code
Everyone should own a nice .22 LR rimfire pistol. The Browning Buck Mark is a classic, and for good reason. These pistols are reliable, well-balanced, have a good trigger, and they are very accurate. We have nothing but praise for the bull-barreled Buck Marks. And now you can get one for a super-low price. Sportsman’s Guide has the Browning Buck Mark Camper UFX with 5.5″ Barrel on sale for $299.99 ($284.99 member price). But it gets even better — if you use Code “WARRIOR” during check-out, you save $20.00, putting your total price at just $279.99 (or $264.99 for SG members). That’s a great deal on a very solid rimfire pistol that can serve you well for decades.
7. CDNN — Cleaning Set and Tool Kit in Wooden Box, $19.89
We doubt $20 spent any other way could deliver more utility (for a gun owner) than this Outers Combo Cleaning Kit and Driver Set. In a nice wooden box there is a 28-piece gun cleaning set, PLUS you get a 51-piece screwdriver and tool kit that includes Flat, Phillips, and Torx heads in multiple sizes. Here’s what you get for just $19.89:
51-Piece Screwdriver Driver Kit
Molded Driver with Magnetic Tip
15 Flat Head Bits
10 Hex Bits (inch)
9 Hex Bits (metric)
4 Phillips Bits
9 Torx Bits
2 Extra Long Phillips Bits
1 Hex to Square Adapter
8. Stocky’s — LR Stocks with Aluminum Bedding Block, $199.99
Here’s a good deal on a versatile Stocky’s Long Range Stock with aluminum V-block bedding system. For just $199.99, order this for Rem/Rem Clone long actions or short actions, with either narrow or wide (varmint/tactical) barrel channel. This would be a good choice for a varmint rifle. This is also offered with handsome hydrographic or web-pattern baked-on textured finishes for $219.99.
9. Amazon — Jialitte Scope Bubble Level, $10.99
All serious rifle shooters need a scope level. This nicely designed Jialitte Scope Bubble Level features a 30mm milled inside diameter, plus an inner insert ring so it will also fit 1″-diameter main tubes — that dual-diameter versatility is a nice feature. We also like the way the unit is nicely radiused, and has a low profile in the middle. Price is just $10.99 with free shipping. User reviews have been very positive. You could easily pay $35.00 or more for a 30mm scope level. Purchasers have praised this product — nearly all verified buyers rated this five stars.
10. Amazon — 12″ x 12″ Splatter Grid Targets, 10 for $9.99
This 12″x12″ Splatterburst Target combines splatter shot marking with a grid background, with five aiming points. The bright neon shot circles make it easy to see your shots. And the handy grid lets you quickly estimate your group size. Get a 10-pack for $9.99, or a 25-pack for $17.99 (better deal). This particular target has earned rave reviews — 87% of verified buyers gave this a FIVE-Star rating. One example: “Excellent quality and durability. The adhesive is really strong. High contrast makes down range targeting easy and the splatter contrast is [great].”
We’re starting to see barrel tuners employed in more competitive disciplines than ever — from 100 yards to 1000 yards. And even some varmint hunters are employing tuners or tuner/brakes now. This allows them to dial in accuracy with different loads (when shooting hundreds of rounds in a weekend). Here’s a quick over-view of the potential benefits of tuners.
Commentary by Mark Walker, Sierra Bullets Product Development Manager This story originally appeared in the Sierra Bullets Blog. Visit SierraBullets.com.
Some people love tuners and others hate them. I use them on my rifles and I’ve had more than one person ask me why on earth I would put one of those things on my barrel. I’ve even had a national long range champion tell me to unscrew it and throw it into Lake Erie on my next trip to the pits at Camp Perry. However, there are other shooters that swear by them and have many match wins to back it up.
It’s an indisputable fact that tuners do have an effect on a rifle’s accuracy, however how much is somewhat open for debate. The large heavy target barrels that we use for benchrest or F-class may not be affected as much by a tuner as a lighter weight sporter type barrel. Each barrel that I’ve installed a tuner on not only showed improvement in accuracy but also displayed a wider load window. The increased accuracy is because of the ability to adjust the tuner to the load, however I believe the wider load window is due to the added weight of the tuner slowing down the barrel vibrations. These are both very important aspects of having a very accurate rifle.
While better accuracy and a wider load window are two areas of improvement, I believe the most important feature of a tuner is the ability to adjust the tune during the middle of a match. This is especially important during matches where you must load all your ammo earlier and cannot make adjustments to the load during the match. If you happen to miss the load, instead of having to deal with a gun that isn’t shooting you can make an adjustment to the tuner and hopefully improve the accuracy of the rifle.
While I’ve laid out several ways that a tuner can help, there are also a few ways that tuners can cause problems. They add weight so if you are shooting a discipline that has weight limits on the rifle, you may not be able to install a tuner and still make weight. Sometimes, a barrel just doesn’t show improvement with a tuner installed. These are few and far between, but it is something to consider. If you make an adjustment to the tuner in a match, you need to make sure you move it in the right direction. Adjusting a tuner in the wrong direction can cause very large groups. And finally, if they aren’t tightened properly, tuners can come loose during firing which will cause a lot of problems as well.
As you can see, tuners have both positive and negative aspects. In my personal experience, the positives far outweigh the negatives so I will continue to use them on all of my competitive rifles. If you’ve been thinking about installing a tuner, hopefully some of the information that I’ve presented will help you make an informed decision.
Sinclair Internationalhas released an interesting article about Case Concentricity* and bullet “run-out”. This instructional article by Bob Kohl explains the reasons brass can exhibit poor concentricity, and why high bullet run-out can be detrimental to accuracy.
Concentricity, Bullet Alignment, and Accuracyby Bob Kohl
The purpose of loading your own ammo is to minimize all the variables that can affect accuracy and can be controlled with proper and conscientious handloading. Concentricity and bullet run-out are important when you’re loading for accuracy. Ideally, it’s important to strive to make each round the same as the one before it and the one after it. It’s a simple issue of uniformity.
The reason shooters work with tools and gauges to measure and control concentricity is simple: to make sure the bullet starts down the bore consistently in line with the bore. If the case isn’t properly concentric and the bullet isn’t properly aligned down the center of the bore, the bullet will enter the rifling inconsistently. While the bore might force the bullet to align itself with the bore (but normally it doesn’t), the bullet may be damaged or overstressed in the process – if it even it corrects itself in transit. These are issues we strive to remedy by handloading, to maintain the best standard possible for accurate ammunition.
The term “concentricity” is derived from “concentric circle”. In simple terms it’s the issue of having the outside of the cartridge in a concentric circle around the center. That goes from case head and center of the flash hole, to the tip of the bullet.
Factors Affecting Concentricity
The point of using this term is to identify a series of issues that affect accurate ammunition. Ideally this would work best with a straight-walled case; but since most rifle cartridge cases are tapered, it equates to the smallest cross section that can be measured point by point to verify the concentric circle around the center. For the examples below, I’m working with .308 Winchester ammo.
Figure 1: The cartridge.
Figure 2: Centerline axis of the case, extending from flash hole to case mouth.
The case walls have to be in perfect alignment with the center, or axis, of that case, even if it’s measured at a thousandth of an inch per segment (in a tapered case).
Figure 3: Case body in alignment with its axis, or centerline, even in a tapered case.
The case neck must also be in alignment with its axis. By not doing so you can have erratic bullet entry into the bore. The case neck wall itself should be as uniform as possible in alignment and in thickness (see the M80 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge in Figure 5) and brass can change its alignment and shape. It’s why we expand the case neck or while some folks ream the inside of the neck and then turn the outside for consistent thickness, which affects the tension on the bullet when seated.
Figure 4: Neck in alignment with center of the case axis.
Figure 5: Variations in case neck wall thickness, especially on some military brass, can cause an offset of the bullet in its alignment. This is an M80 ball round. Note the distinct difference of the neck walls.
Having a ball micrometer on hand helps, especially with military brass like 7.62x51mm in a semi-auto rifle, where there are limits as to how thin you want the neck walls to be. In the case of 7.62 ball brass you want to keep the wall to .0145″.
Figure 6: A ball micrometer like this RCBS tool (#100-010-268) can measure case neck thickness.
Turning the outside of the neck wall is important with .308 military cases regardless of whether you expand or ream the neck walls. There are several outside neck turning tools from Forster, Hornady, Sinclair, and others. I’ve been using classic Forster case trimming (#100-203-301) and neck turning (#749-012-890) tools for 40 years.
Bullet Run-Out
The cartridge, after being loaded, still needs to be in alignment with the center of the case axis. Figure 7 shows a bad example of this, a round of M80 ball. A tilted bullet is measured for what’s known as bullet “run-out”.
Figure 7: An M80 round with the bullet tilted and not aligned with the axis. This will be a flyer!
Run-out can be affected by several things: (1) improperly indexing your case while sizing, which includes not using the proper shell holder, especially while using a normal expander ball on the sizing die (it also can stretch the brass). (2) The head of a turret press can flex; and (3) improper or sloppy bullet seating. This is also relevant when it comes to using a progressive press when trying to load accuracy ammo.
Mid Tompkins came up with a simple solution for better bullet seating years ago. Seat your bullet half way into the case, back off the seater die and rotate the case 180 degrees before you finish seating the bullet. It cuts down on run-out problems, especially with military brass. You also want to gently ream the inside of the neck mouth to keep from having any brass mar the surface of the bullet jacket and make proper seating easier. A tilted bullet often means a flyer.
Figure 8: Proper alignment from the center of the case head to the tip of the bullet.
(NOTE: This links to a Web Archive version of older Sinclair Int’l article.)
*Actually some folks would say that if we are talking about things being off-center or out-of-round, we are actually talking about “eccentricity”. But the tools we use are called “Concentricity Gauges” and Concentricity is the term most commonly used when discussing this subject.
Story Tip from EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
We are big fans of the .17 HMR round. It’s just about perfect for ground squirrels, and is effective on prairie dogs out to about 200 yards. The two main .17 HMR producers have been CCI and Hornady. Now we have a new player in the .17 HMR world — Norma — and that’s a good thing. For 2019, Norma® has expanded its rimfire line-up with the introduction of its new .17 HMR V-MAX. A great round for varmint hunters and small game hunters, the Norma .17 HMR V-MAX delivers fine accuracy and hard-hitting performance all the way out to 200 yards.
Norma’s .17 HMR V-MAX is engineered to deliver high energy upon impact combined with good accuracy. With a 2560 FPS muzzle velocity rating, this ammo features a 17gr polymer-tipped V-MAX bullet designed for rapid expansion. MSRP for a 50-round box is $12.78. Expect “street price” under $10.00.
“The .17 HMR has a very loyal following among hunters and target shooters alike,” said Paul Lemke, General Manager for RUAG Ammotec USA. “With outstanding accuracy and excellent energy transfer, Norma’s new .17 HMR V-MAX lives up to the reputation of this … rimfire caliber.”
What rifle would you feed Norma’s new .17 HMR ammo? How about the new .17 HMR version of the Ruger Precision Rimfire Magnum. Here’s an informative video on that new modular bolt-gun, which is also available in .22 WMR. Reviewer 22 Plinkster gets good accuracy at 100 yards shooting 17gr CCI .17 HMR ammo. (The 20gr ammo was much worse).
About Norma — A company from Sweden
Norma is a registered trademark of RUAG Ammotec, a RUAG Group Company. Established in 1902 and based out of Amotfors, Sweden, Norma has built a reputation world-wide for its dedication to quality, precision and reliability For more information, visit Norma-ammunition.com.
Don’t have time to neck-turn hundreds of cases? Don’t want to invest in your own annealer? Want to try a Dasher or 6 BRA but don’t like the hassle of fire-forming? Then give Darrell Jones at DJ’s Brass a call at 205-461-4680. He can handle all the difficult brass forming/brass restoration chores efficiently and affordably. And Darrell’s turn-around time is typically very fast.
Hydro-Forming News — .284 Shehane, 6 PPC, 6 BRA, 6 Dasher and More
NEW for 2019! Darrell also just got a custom hydro die for the .284 Shehane, a wildcat based on the .284 Winchester. This is a very popular option for F-Open Shooters. He is also doing a ton of fire-forming for the 100/200 benchrest crowd, hydro-forming 220 Russian into 6 PPC. And he tells us “Those guys in Montana are keeping me very busying hydro-forming the 6BR Ackley (6 BRA). NOTE: Darrell offers Free Annealing with hydro-forming services, which starts at $60 per 100 cases.
With the price of premium brass topping $1.00 per case for popular match cartridges, it makes sense to consider annealing your brass to extend its useful life. You don’t want to chuck out brass that costs a buck a case (or more)! Forum member Darrell Jones offers a full range of brass prep, brass forming, and brass restoration (annealing, ultra-sonic cleaning) at very affordable prices. Starting at just $20 per 100 cases ($25/100 for magnum cases), Darrell’s company, DJ’s Brass, will anneal your used brass using the impressive Bench-Source annealing machines. Annealing plus ultrasonic cleaning starts at $35 per 100 cases ($45 for magnum cases). For a bit more money Darrell can also uniform the primer pockets and chamfer the case necks.
Custom Neck-Turning Services
Another great service DJ’s Brass provides is precision neck-turning. Darrell can neck-turn any size case to your specified neck-wall thickness. The price starts at $60.00 per hundred for standard cases or $75.00/100 for magnum size. And if you’ve got a bucket of brass to neck-turn, that’s fine with Darrell — he recently neck-turned 1500 pieces of brass for one customer!
DJ’s Brass can process everything from .17 Fireball all the way up to the big magnum cases. And the job gets done quickly. Darrell normally offers a 10-day turn-around. For most jobs, Darrell tells us, he gets the processed brass to the Post Office within three business days. For more info, visit DJsBrass.com or call Darrell Jones at 205-461-4680. IMPORTANT: Contact Darrell for shipping instructions BEFORE sending any brass for processing. ALL BRASS MUST BE DE-PRIMED before you send it.
• Anneal Case Necks Only ($20.00/100 normal or $25.00/100 magnum)
• Ultrasonic Cleaning, Check Necks, and Annealing ($35.00/100 normal or $45.00/100 magnum)
• Full Service: Uniform primer pockets, Chamfer case mouths, Ultrasonic cleaning, Anneal case necks (Starting at $60.00/100 call for quote)
• Neck Turning or trim-to-length Custom Order Service (Starting at $60.00/100 for standard cases and $75.00/100 for magnums)
• Hydro-Form Specialty cases (such as Dasher) $0.60 (sixty cents) each minimum of 100 pieces plus actual return shipping cost
• Expand Case Necks and Anneal brass (Call for Price)
• Create False Shoulder for Fire-Forming (Call for Price)
Hydro-Forming Cartridge Brass
Hydro-forming by Darrell costs $0.60 per case with 100-ct minimum. All hydro-formed cases are annealed at no extra charge after the forming process. After hydro-forming, Darrell can also neck-turn the case for an additional charge (call for combined quote). In addition to the 6mmBR-based cases shown below, Darrell can now hydro-form 6PPC cases from .220 Russian brass, and he also offers .284 Shehane.
With Darrell’s hydro-forming service you don’t have to buy any special dies or other equipment. Darrell says: “Simply send me the brass you need or have it dropped-shipped to me along with a fired case that has not been sized. If you need formed brass for a new build (gun not yet fired), let me know and I will size the brass to fit within .001″ of a PT&G GO gauge.”
DJ’s Brass Offers Specialized Custom Services
Darrell tells us: “At DJ’s Brass, we can handle all your brass refurbishing needs. From ultrasonic cleaning to custom annealing for specific wildcat cartridges. We can expand your necks from .22 caliber to .30 caliber and anneal shoulders for consistent bump-back. We can turn your case-necks and trim the brass to your specs. For some cartridge types, I can pre-form cases to assist in fire-forming a wildcat cartridge. We also remove the carbon build-up in muzzle brakes. Don’t lose your accuracy by having carbon build up and close off the clearance required for the most accurate bullet release through a muzzle brake.” Note: Extra charges apply for neck-turning and neck expansion operations, or specialized cartridge-forming operations. Please call Darrell at 205-461-4680 for special services pricing.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every 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. Brownells — MEC Marksman Press $164.99 with CODE “NCS”
The MEC Marksman is an outstanding single stage press — very strong, with convenient open front and a patent-pending self-centering shell holder (that can improve loading consistency). Right now, with discount CODE “NCS”, you can get this beefy USA-made Marksman from Brownells for just $164.99, including FREE Shipping. That’s a bargain — this press sells elsewhere for up to $208.00. The MEC Marksman has strong, cast-iron construction and offers plenty of leverage. It is compatible with all 7/8-14 thread dies, so you can reload from .22 Hornet to .416 Rigby. If you are looking for a premium single-stage press you won’t be disappointed. Act soon as this Brownells discount offer may expire soon.
2. Bullet Central — Kelbly Atlas Tactical Action, $895
The rifle action is the cornerstone of accuracy in any rifle build. If you don’t start with a strong precision made action then all your other money will be wasted. That’s why so many people choose Kelbly Actions. They’re make the most rugged action possible for practical, tactical, or hunting. Using a Black Nitride finish from H & M Metal Processing. This allows you to use this action “dry” or without lubrication for extreme environments. In addition to the Black Nitride process they use a fluted bolt, to help move dirt into the flutes allowing better function of the action. Magazine wells use the Accuracy International single stack magazines. Another key feature of this action is the TG ejector, it is a mechanical ejector that does not put any chamber pressure on the round. It is also a “never fail” setup, meaning that there are no springs to get gummed up and stop working. Actions rarely go on sale which is why we couldn’t resist highlighting this Kelby Atlas Tactical Action over at Bullet Central for the low price of $895.00.
The Walther Creed offers excellent ergonomics, good accuracy, and well-designed controls at a killer price — $249.99 at CDNN Sports. This gun, designed to be a value-leader, emulates Walther’s more expensive PPQ model (MSRP $649.00) at a much lower price. The Creed’s frame size and shape is the same as the PPQ, but the Creed lacks interchangeable backstraps. Slide and trigger are very similar. The Creed features a snag-free bobbed hammer. Testers have praised the new Creed, saying that, despite the bargain price, it “sacrifices little to nothing in… ergonomics, accuracy, and reliability.”
4. Midsouth — CCI Rimfire Ammo Rebate, up to $200
The days of .22 LR shortages are over, and now there is ample supply of rimfire ammo at reasonable prices, and the ammo-maker are even offering REBATES. Right now, Midsouth Shooters Supply has a great selection of CCI 22LR, 17 HMR, and 2 WMR Rimfire Ammo. Plus, for every five boxes of CCI rimfire ammo you buy, you get a rebate for the value of one box. That basically works out to buy 4 get 1 free. The limit is $200.00 in rebates per household. CLICK HERE for the CCI Rimfire Rebate Program.
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 are rarely correct for the firearms parts we work on. Solve your tool dilemma with the Lyman Master Gunsmith Tool Kit. This handy kit includes nearly all the common sizes and shapes to fit just about anything in your gun safe, all in a convenient case.
6. Bruno Shooters Supply — Bore Tech Cleaning Rod SALE
Cleaning rods are a way of life for anyone who shoots. No matter the caliber or brand, every gun needs to be cleaned and using quality rods will help prevent your barrel from being damaged. Most cleaning rods on the market using metals that can react with your cleaning solvent causing false readings on your patches. Bore Tech has solved that problem by using a non-reactive tip ensuring that copper shows up if you have it and doesn’t if you don’t. These Bore Tech rods are very stron and feature one of the best ball-bearing handles, which provides a smooth motion that really lets you feel the barrel. You can get the excellent Bore Tech Proof Positive cleaning rods from Bruno Shooters Supply and treat your barrels to a new level of care.
7. Natchez — Fed GM Match .308 Win + Range Bag, $84.99
Show up to any range and .308 Win is still one of the most prolific rounds available, for good reason. The .308 Win is good for both hunting and target shooting and you’ll get excellent barrel life. In the .308 Win world, a top ammo brand is Federal. Right now Natchez offers 80 rounds (four 20rd boxes) of Federal Gold Medal Match 168gr SMK along with a FREE range bag for the sale price of $84.99. We’ve shot this ammo and it delivered outstanding accuracy in an M1A and a bolt gun.
8. Amazon — Steiner Military-Marine 8x30mm, $193
Steiner is a quality optics brand with practical features. The very popular, highly-rated Steiner 8x30mm Military-Marine binoculars are now on sale for just $193.00. With 8x magnification, the Steiner Military-Marine 8×30 binoculars are a rugged design with a unique focus system that puts everything from 20 yards to infinity in focus. These Steiners use flexible silicone lens mounts to absorb severe shock, impact and abuse without damage. NBR rubber armoring shields a lightweight, rugged chassis that withstands 11 Gs of impact. Your Editor personally owns and uses the Steiner Military-Marine. 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.
9. Amazon – Proster Wind Meter, $16.99
Wish you had a modern impeller-style wind meter but only shoot a couple matches a year and can’t justify spending $150 (or more) on one? This Proster wind meter has a very impressive 4.5 star overall rating (with hundreds of reviews), so buy with confidence. Now on sale for just $16.99, this is a very useful tool for a bargain basement price. Get this affordable Wind Meter to ensure you have reliable wind readings for ballistics calculations. And unlike a costly Kestrel, with this low-priced wind meter, you won’t feel too bad if it gets lost or misplaced some time.
The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit publishes reloading “how-to” articles on the USAMU Facebook page. One Wednesday “Handloading Hump Day” post covered preparation of once-fired 5.56x45mm brass. This article, the first in a 3-part series, has many useful tips. If you shoot a rifle chambered in .223 Rem or 5.56x45mm, this article is worth reading. And visit the USAMU Facebook page for other hand-loading tips.
This week, Handloading Hump-Day will answer a special request from several competitive shooters in Alaska. They asked about procedures for morphing once-fired GI 5.56mm brass into accurate match brass for NRA High Power Rifle use. The USAMU has used virgin Lake City (LC) 5.56 brass to win National Championships and set National Records for many years. In this 3-part series, we’ll share techniques proven to wring match-winning accuracy from combat-grade brass.
Preparing Once-Fired GI 5.56 Brass for Reloading (Part 1 of 3)
Assuming our readers will be getting brass once-fired as received from surplus dealers, the following steps can help process the low-cost raw material into reliably accurate components.
1. Clean the Brass
First, clean the brass of any dirt/mud/debris, if applicable. Depending on the brass’s condition, washing it in a soap solution followed by a thorough rinsing may help. [This step also extends the life of the tumbling media.] Approaches range from low-tech, using gallon jugs 1/2 full of water/dish soap plus brass and shaking vigorously, to more high-tech, expensive and time-consuming methods.
2. Wet-Tumbling Options (Be Sure to Dry the Brass)
When applying the final cleaning/polish, some use tumblers with liquid cleaning media and stainless steel pins for a brilliant shine inside and out, while others take the traditional vibratory tumbler/ground media approach. Degree of case shine is purely personal preference, but the key issue is simple cleanliness to avoid scratching ones’ dies.
Shown below are Lake City cases after cleaning with Stainless Media (STM). Note: STM Case cleaning was done by a third party, not the USAMU, which does not endorse any particular cleaning method.
If a liquid cleaner is used, be SURE to dry the cases thoroughly to preclude corrosion inside. One method is to dump the wet brass into an old pillow case, then tilt it left/right so the cases re-orient themselves while shifting from corner to corner. Several repetitions, pausing at each corner until water stops draining, will remove most water. They can then be left to air-dry on a towel, or can be dried in a warm (150° F-200° F max) oven for a few minutes to speed evaporation.
3. Inspect Every Case
Once dry, inspect each case for significant deformation (i.e., someone stepped on it), damaged mouths/necks and case head/rim damage. Some rifles’ ejectors actually dig small chunks of brass out of the case head — obviously, not ideal for precision shooting. Similarly, some extractors can bend the case rims so badly that distortion is visible when spinning them in one’s fingers. These can be used for plinking, but our match brass should have straight, undamaged rims.
Dented case mouths are common, and these can easily be rounded using a conical, tapered tool, [such as a .223 expander mandrel. A dummy 7.62 or .30-06 cartridge with a FMJ spitzer can also work.] If most of your brass is of one headstamp, this is a good time to cull out any odd cases.
4. Check the Primers Before Decapping
Your clean, dry and inspected brass is now ready for full-length sizing, decapping and re-priming. Historically, primer crimps on GI brass have caused some head-scratching (and vile language) among handloaders. Our next installment will detail efficient, easy and practical methods to remove primer crimp, plus other useful handloading tips. Until next week, Good Shooting!
NOTE: The USAMU Handloading (HL) Shop does not RE-load fired 5.56 brass. We use virgin LC brass with our chosen primer already staked in place. However, our staff has extensive personal experience reloading GI brass for competition, which will supplement the Shop’s customary steps. In handloading, as in life, there are many ways to accomplish any given task. Our suggestions are note presented as the “only way,” by any means. Time for loading/practicing is always at a premium. Readers who have more efficient, alternative methods that maintain top accuracy are invited to share them here.
There is so much to see at SHOT Show, with nearly 2000 exhibitors showcasing tens of thousands of products. SHOT Show is the largest trade show of its kind in the world, attracting 60,000+ attendees from more than 100 countries.
Thankfully there are many teams of reporters who covered SHOT Show this year, and they’ve now posted a wide selection of video reports. In today’s SHOT Show video showcase, we post our “pick of the litter” — ten of our favorite video reports from SHOT Show 2019, plus one great video “blast from the past”.
There are tens of thousands of products on display at SHOT Show, the world’s largest firearms industry trade show. We visited dozens of manufacturers to see their featured items on display. Here are our selections of interesting products as well as some eye-catching product displays. Check out the cutaway Redding dies, the Norma giant plexiglass bullet shell.
Volquartsen .22 LR Ultralite with ModShot Carbon Stock, 3.8 LBS
Volquartsen showcased a radical rimfire rifle with “carbon everything”. Designed for rapid-fire Steel Challenge games, this unique rig has a carbon-wrapped barrel, carbon buttstock shaft with an aluminum buttplate, and a carbon fiber handhold forward of the action. The ModShot stock secures the bottom of the action, provides attachment points for rear section and front handhold. Total weight (without optics) is just 3 pounds, 13 ounces! MSRP is $1733.00. Our hunting editor, Colton Reid, said this “bare bones” carbon-enhanced design could be adapted for an ultralight centerfire hunting rifle under 5 pounds.
Redding Cutaway FL and Neck Sizing Dies
At the Redding booth, we saw interesting sets of “cutaway” sizing dies. It was cool to see the insides of various types of dies. In the photo above the top two dies are micrometer-top dies. Below are three sizing dies: neck-sizing bushing die at left, a “plain” full-length sizing die in the middle, and a bushing full-length sizing die on the right. The bushing FL die would be our first pick — it allows you to size the entire body of the case, while adjusting neck tension (and bullet “grip”) with the neck bushings.
F-Open Champion with Kestros ZR Stock
Today, January 24th, Norm Harrold, the current F-Open 2018 national champion and 1000 yard record holder, appears at the McMillan booth. In the video above he’s holding the advanced, long-wheelbase Kestros ZR stock he used to set the new National Record and capture his F-Open title. Norm will explain the features of this stock that make it shoot so well. The Kestros ZR’s low COG and long wheelbase help the stock track and resist torque.
Christensen Arms Modern Precision Rifle
Our buddy Jason Baney was mighty impressed with the Modern Precision Rifle from Christensen Arms. With a handsome desert bronze finish, this rifle features carbon-wrapped lightweight barrel, carbon handguard/forearm, and carbon cheek piece. The folding buttstock folds quickly and secures with a magnetic lock. The rifle comes with a sub-MOA accuracy guarantee, and is available in 8 chamberings: .223 Rem, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .308 Win, 300 PRC, .300 Win Mag, .300 Norma Mag, and .338 Lapua Mag. Jason was so impressed with this $2295 rifle he said: “this could be my next hunting field rifle”. He said the folding stock really is an advantage when trekking long distances.
Rimfire Cases — How They Are Formed
At the Capstone Precision Group booth, we saw a long sheet of shiny brass metal. We were fascinated. This sheet illustrated how SK .22 LR casings are created from brass, started with a dime-sized flat circle, then ending with an extend narrow cylinder. This then becomes the case which receives the priming material (in the rim), powder and bullet. This is not identical to the actual factory production process, but it does show the key stages of rimfire case “punching” and drawing.
Frankford Arsenal New Compact Rotary Tumbler
Rotary tumblers do a fine job cleaning brass with media in liquid solution. There are many large rotary tumblers on the market. But frankly most are bigger than needed by rifle shooters who might just clean 100-200 pieces of brass at a time. Frankford Arsenal developed a smaller tumbler that runs smaller batches efficiently. Good idea. Look for this product at MidwayUSA in a few months. It should be significantly cheaper than Frankford Arsenal’s large, 7-liter Platinum tumbler which sells for $165.00 on Amazon.
Norma’s Giant See-Through Cartridge Display
Norma, maker of excellent brass, bullets, and loaded ammunition, had a eye-catching prop for displaying Norma bullets and cartridge brass. Over four feet long, this one-of-a-king plexiglass cartridge half-model held hundreds of projectiles and casings. Eye-catching for sure.
AMP Mark II — Runs Longer, Cooler, And Does .50 BMG
The makers of the Annealing Made Perfect (AMP) electro-induction annealing machine showcased a new, upgraded Mark II model. The new Mark II machine looks similar on the outside, but has a number of enhancements. It has bigger strong fans so it ran process more cases before you need to take a break to let the machine cool down. In addition, the Mark II now has a “super-sized” case chamber that can hold virtually any size case — all the way up to the .50 BMG. We watched as the AMP 2 annealed a jumbo .50 BMG in just a few seconds. Very impressive. For more info and pricing, visit www.AMPannealing.com.
Parting Shot — Goblin Green Race Pistol
Eley, the UK-based rimfire ammo maker, had a couple wild-looking race guns on display. This Metallic green stunner features a massive compensator, relieved slide (for faster cycling), and a color-coordinated C-MORE Reflex sight on top. Inconspicuous, this pistol is not!
With the price of premium brass topping $1.00 per case for popular match cartridges, it makes sense to consider annealing your brass to extend its useful life. You don’t want to chuck out brass that costs a buck a case (or more)! Forum member 
