Since 2010, Lapua has shipped its quality cartridge brass in sturdy blue plastic boxes. Here’s a handy tip for you — don’t toss the plastic boxes when you load up your brass! These are double-duty containers. If you’re not familiar with “Blue Box” Lapua brass, you may not realize that the boxes are designed to serve as 50-round carriers for your loaded ammo and fired cases. (Yes we know some folks who’ve been tossing out their blue boxes without knowing how the boxes work as caddies.)
Snapped in place under the box lid is a rectangular plastic grid that fits in the bottom of the box. Pop the grid loose and slide it into the box with the smooth side facing up. Side supports molded into the lower section hold the grid in place.
Voilà, instant Ammo Box! Each grid contains holes for fifty (50) loaded rounds or empty cases. The convertible plastic container/ammo box is a great idea that Lapua executed very nicely. Now you have even more motivation to purchase your cartridge brass from Lapua.
USER TIPS: When transporting ammo you may want to put some foam over the loaded rounds. That will protect the bullet tips. Also, with shorter cartridges, this will help keep your loaded ammo and fired cases from moving around. You can also tape the FREE Redding Ammo Box Labels on the underside of the lids to list your load information.
Ever wondered how the parts inside an AR-15 work together? Just exactly how does the reciprocating bolt carrier feed rounds from the magazine? How do the elements in the trigger group work and reset after each shot? How does the gas system bleed gas from the barrel and operate the bolt carrier? These and other questions are answered in this eye-opening video from 45Snipers. Using “cutaway” 3D computer animation, this 5-minute video shows all features of an AR15 inside and out. This fascinating firearms animation allows the viewer to look inside the upper and lower receivers, into the bolt carrier, chamber, barrel, and magazine. There’s a second AR-15 Video that shows all the internal and external parts of the AR-15 Rifle. CLICK HERE for AR Parts Animation.
2. How an AK-47 Works — With Parts Assembly
This animation shows how the AK-47 (officially Avtomat Kalasnikova model 1947) rifle functions. This very realistic video shows the component parts of the AK47 coming together. They you can see how the fire control system works to ignite the primer, sending the bullet down the barrel. Next you see how the gas piston pushes the bolt carrier rearward to chamber a new 7.62x39mm cartridge.
Tech Note: This high-quality 3D animation was created by Matt Rittman using Cinema 4D and After Effects software. Corona renderer was used in order to create realistic materials and reflections. Credit Forum member Captain Dave F. for finding this video.
3. How a Pistol Cartridge Fires
This cool 3D video from German ammo-maker GECO (part of the Swiss RUAG group of companies) unveils the inside of a pistol cartridge, showing jacket, lead core, case, powder and primer. Uusing advanced CGI rendering, the video shows an X-ray view of ammo being loaded in a handgun, feeding from a magazine. Then it really gets interesting. At 1:32 – 1:50 you’ll see the firing pin strike the primer cup, the primer’s hot jet streaming through the flash-hole, and the powder igniting. Finally you can see the bullet as it moves down the barrel and spins its way to a target. If you’ve ever wondered what happens inside a cartridge when you pull the trigger, this video shows all.
For Best Viewing, Click Gear Symbol and Select HD Playback Mode
4. How a Rifle Cartridge Fires
This CGI video shows what happens inside a rifle chamber and barrel when a cartridge fires. The 3D computer animation reveals every stage in the process of a rifle round being fired. X-Ray-style animation illustrates the primer igniting, the propellant burning, and the bullet moving through the barrel. The video then shows how the bullet spins as it flies along its trajectory. Finally, this animation shows the bullet impacting ballistic gelatin. Watch the bullet mushroom and deform as it creates a “wound channel” in the gelatin.
Watch Video – Cartridge Ignition Sequence Starts at 1:45 Time-Mark
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.
NOTE About Price Changes — We put up great deals when we find them. But prices change, so be “on your toes”. Example: Last week, on Monday morning, we featured Steiner AZ830 binoculars priced at just $116.00. This week, the very same Steiner binocs now cost $274.68! The price has more than doubled! Lesson here? If you see something at a great price, don’t hesitate.
1. Cabelas — 500 Rounds Winchester .22LR Ammo $31.99
Here’s an ammo bargain that also makes a great Christmas gift. Who wouldn’t like a nice, wooden crate of rimfire ammo under the Christmas tree? Cabela’s is offering this Winchester 500-round Ammo Special for just $31.99. That’s just 6.4 cents per round. The Limited Edition wooden crate is filled with Winchester Super-X Hi-Vel .22 LR ammo, loaded with 36gr copper-plated HP bullets. This ammo is rated at 1,280 fps velocity, making it good for small varmints as well as plinking. This would make a great end-of-year gift for a 4H Club Team, or Boy Scouts youth shooting program. And, to make the deal even better, you can get FREE Shipping with Cabela’s Code “7HOLIDAY” (no minimum).
2. Powder Valley — 12 Days of Christmas Promotion
Are you feelin’ lucky? Well here’s your chance to win. Over the next twelve days (through December 22, 2016), Powder Valley Inc. is giving away thousands of dollars worth of products from big name suppliers. This is top-of-the-line stuff, with products from Accurate, Alliant, Berry’s, Hodgdon, Hornady, Nosler, Ramshot, Shooters’ World, Sierra Bullets, Speer, and Zero Bullets. Each day there will be a new set of prizes. The prizes for Monday December 11th are Hornady Ammunition and a Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic Kit with Reloading Press (MSRP $339.00). CLICK HERE for Contest.
UPDATE: The Prizes for December 12th are Accurate Reloading Powders.
It’s easy to be entered to win one of the Daily Giveaway prize packages. Simply visit Powder Valley’s Facebook Page, and make a comment on the featured Daily Giveaway Post. You don’t have to fill out any forms, but you must have a Facebook account so you can comment. Each day the folks at Powder Valley will select winners from among the visitors who commented. NOTE: You can enter multiple times by commenting on multiple days, but sorry, if you win, you are no longer eligible.
Ruger Precision Rifle, 6.5 Creedmoor, $998.00 complete — what’s not to like? If you’ve been thinking of purchasing a Ruger Precision Rifle (RPR) chambered for the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge, here’s the best deal we’ve found in recent months. Right now Gunprime.com is offering this poular tactical rig for under $1000.00, in the high-demand 6.5 Creedmoor chambering. Heck of a bargain boys — you can pay $1300 or more elsewhere for the same rifle. This is a good choice for the PRS production class, or you can take in to another level of preformance with a Pre-Fit 26″ cut-rifled barrel from Krieger. This is the lastest RPR Gen 2 version with the upgraded handguards. Scope and rings NOT included in price.
4. MidwayUSA — Edgewood Rear Bag Clearance — Save $60 to $99
It’s common knowledge that Edgewood makes some of the very best rear sandbags you can buy, withe top quality AND workmanship. It is very rare to see these ultra-premium bags discounted. It is even more remarkable to see them at fire-sale prices — 31% to 48% Off at MidwayUSA. Quantities are very limited so, these will probably sell out within a few hours of being listed in our Deals of the Week. With some models, only one example is available at this price. Don’t hesitate if you need a bag — but first be sure to Check the Spacing Between the Ears to ensure it fits your rifle stock. This dimension varies from bag to bag. For each listed bag, click the “Specification” tab to get the ear spacing width, which varies from 0.375″ to 0.750″.
5. Creedmoor Sports — Holiday Sale, Many Items 15-20% Off
Creedmoor Sports is running a big Holiday Promotion. Many popular items, including gun cases, slings, coats, optics and more, have significant markdowns. CLICK HERE to see all Holiday Sale items. Sling shooters — if you are looking for a shooting coat, sling, or glove — there are some great deals to be had during this holiday sale.
6. Brownells — Buy Revolver Get $100 Gift Card + $50 S&W Rebate
This is the best promo we’ve ever seen for premium Smith & Wesson revolvers — America’s favorite wheelguns. You get a double bonus when you purchase one of the eligible S&W revolvers. First you get a $100 Brownells Gift Card. In addition, Smith & Wesson will send you a $50 rebate in the form of a prepaid Visa Card. That’s $150.00 in value. Plus you can use coupon “MDK” for 10% off + free shipping on orders over $200. This promo applies to over 50 different S&W revolvers, not just the ones in the graphic. SEE ALL Revolvers HERE.
This Editor owns a number of Smith & Wesson revolvers. They are all extremely accurate and a pleasure to shoot. I have bought and sold Glocks, HKs, Springfields, and Rugers. But I can never seem to part with any of my Performance Center S&W wheelguns — the accuracy and build quality is just too satisfying. If you don’t own a Performance Center S&W yet, here is your chance.
7. Plano 52″ Double Rifle Case with Wheels, $112.74
This Plano Double Scoped Rifle Case is an Amazon Best Seller for good reason. It offers the functionality and durability of an SKB-type hard case for HALF the money. This is under $115.00, while the equivalent SKB is around $240.00, so you can buy two Planos for the price of one SKB. The 51.5″ interior will fit most scoped competition rifles up to about 29″ barrels (measure your own rifle to make sure). If you separate the barreled action from the stock you can transport even ultra-long ELR rifles. The handles are convenient and beefy and the wheels make this case easy to move through airports and parking lots. This is a very tough, roomy case for the money (plus there’s Free Shipping for Amazon Prime members).
Exterior Dimensions: 54.625″ x 15.5″ x 6″
Interior Dimensions: 51.5″ x 12.63″ x 5.25″
Pluckable Interior Dimensions: 46″ x 10″
Features: Wheels, Secure Draw-Down Latches, O-Ring Seal, Pressure Relief Valve, Customizable Foam
8. Amazon — Howard Leight Electronic Muffs, $31.98
NOTE: These were a deal last week at $34.99, and now they’re even cheaper. Every shooter should own a pair of Electronic muffs, even if you prefer shooting with earplugs and/or standard muffs. Electronic muffs are great when you are doing spotting duties or are working near the firing line. They allow you to hear ordinary conversations while still providing vital hearing protection. Right now Amazon.com has the Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic Muffs on sale for just $31.98, with free Prime Shipping. This is good deal — these NRR 22 muffs are currently Amazon’s #1 seller in the category.
9. MidwayUSA — Packable Shooting Mat, $19.99
Here’s a heck of a deal on a good light-weight shooting mat. MidwayUSA has slashed the price on its Packable Shooting Mat. Available in Coyote Tan or Olive Drab, this 67″ Long x 31″ Wide padded mat is now just $19.99. This Packable Mat has some nice features, such as 12″ front flap, elbow pads, 0.15″ thick padding, and six staking grommets. It’s easy to transport, rolling up to a 9″ x 4.5″ package, secured with a heavy strap. If you need a low-cost, basic shooting mat, check out this deal. Weighing just 1.5 pounds, this a good, light-weight mat to keep in a vehicle or to use on a “walk-around” varminting hunt.
Pierce Engineering Ltd. recently revealed a new prototype action, a jumbo-sized receiver big enough to handle the CheyTacs and other very large magnums. This is good news for K02M and Extreme Long Range (ELR) Competitors, who favor mega-magnum cartridges pushing .375-caliber and larger bullets.
John Pierce says: “It’s been a long time coming, from design to prototype to testing. The Big 10 X is ready. This first test was in .300 Norma…next will be in .375 CheyTac.” Shown is a single-shot receiver. John adds that the “First repeater version should be completed next week. [This is a] dream come true.” This is one beefy action. Sources at Pierce say production versions should weigh roughly 3.75 pounds.
Sorry, we don’t have price or availability yet for the new 10X action. This new 10X receiver isn’t in full production yet. But we expect examples should be available by mid-year 2018. For more information, visit PierceEngineeringltd.com or call (517) 321-5051.
Based in Lansing, Michigan, Pierce Engineering produces a full line of custom rifle actions, including competition actions, tube gun actions, hunting actions, and even ultra-light titanium actions. In addition, Pierce Engineering produces precision accessories, including rails, rings, floor plates, and replacement firing pin assemblies for Rem 700 actions.
Do you shoot a .45 ACP? We love this short, fat cartridge because it is inherently accurate, it makes big, easy-to-see holes in paper, and because it it works so well in the classic 1911 series of pistols. It is hard to beat a good, tuned model 1911 when it comes to trigger pull/reset and natural pointing ability.
Once you get the hang of it, 1911-type pistols are also easy to field strip for cleaning. Here is a video showing how to disassemble and reassemble your model 1911:
Model 1911 Field Stripping and Reassembly
.45 ACP Ammunition Loading Guide
If you “roll your own” .45 ACP cartridges, there are many good powder choices. Our favorites are Vihtavuori N320, AA No. 5, and Hodgdon TiteGroup, but there are many other good choices. You’ll find these three recommended powders (plus seven others) in this .45 ACP Reloading Guide from Nosler:
With all the noise lately about the 6.5 Creedmoor, it’s easy to forget that before we had the Creedmoor, we had another accurate, efficient mid-sized cartridge, the 6.5×47 Lapua. Just as the 6.5 Creedmoor inspired the 6mm Creedmoor, the 6.5×47 Lapua has been successfully necked-down to 6mm (.243) for a 6-6.5×47 variant. This has worked great in a number of roles — benchrest, varminting, and tactical/PRS. This article, from a few seasons back, shows how the 6-6.5×47 Lapua can be successfully packaged as an accurate, potent 6mm varminter.
The 6-6.5×47 Lapua for Precision Long-Range Varminting
Report by Stan Stewart
6mm AI ‘Sellers Remorse’ Spurs New 6mm Project
After selling my 6mm Remington Ackley Improved a couple of years ago and wishing I had not, I thought about a new customer rifle for work on Prairie Dog towns and New York wood chucks at 600+ yards. I have a .223 AR and 22-250 for medium ranges but I missed my 6mm AI for long-range work. The 22-250 is a fine chambering, but it is hard on barrels, and I think the 6mms may have an accuracy edge out past 400 yards. Also, shooters today enjoy a vast collection of really great 6mm bullets. Barrel life and bullet ooptions were two main reasons I decided to build a 6mm rather that another .224-caliber gun. But the question remained — what 6mm chambering to choose? Although I missed my 6mm AI, I did not miss fire-forming the brass, so when I learned about the 6-6.5×47 Lapua, a wildcat case easily formed by necking down the parent 6.5×47 case, I thought this might be the answer.
I started doing serious research on the 6-6.5×47 Lapua. I received a lot of good advice from AccurateShooter.com and other websites on the pros and cons of the new cartridge. Most reports were positive. I also talked to gunsmiths — quite a few recommended the new cartridge as well. Some of the cartridge attributes I liked were the small rifle primer, enough case capacity to efficiently reach 3700 fps with a 70gr bullet and 3400 fps with an 85-grain, without being terribly over-bore.
Most important was the 6-6.5×47’s reputation for inherent accuracy without being finicky like my 6mm AI (my experience). So, having chosen my cartridge, I started asking for gunsmith recommendations. Again the folks on the AccurateShooter Forum were very helpful. After many conversations I settled on Dave Bruno in Dayton, Pennsylvania. He was a good choice. After working with Dave on this project, I could not be happier. He was very helpful considering this was my first complete custom gun.
Putting Together the New Rig with Premium Components
From the get-go, I knew I wanted a BAT action and Krieger barrel. BAT Machine and Krieger Barrels enjoy a great reputation in the shooting industry. BATs are beautifully machined, smooth, and strong. Krieger cut-rifled barrels are known for dependable accuracy and long barrel life. While many 6-6.5×47 shooters choose a 8-twist barrel to shoot the 100-108gr bullets, I would be using smaller, varmint-weight bullets, so I selected a 1:10″-twist Krieger. This would allow me to shoot bullets from 60 grains up to 90 grains. Dave chambered the barrel with an 0.269″ neck and fluted the barrel to save weight. I also had Dave install a Vais muzzle brake. The Vais brake is more expensive than some others, but it is a proven product. Dave fitted the BAT with a 2 oz. Jewell trigger, mounted with a +20 MOA scope rail, then pillar-bedded the BAT into a McMillan Hunter-Class-style fiberglass stock. The scope is a 12-42x56mm Nightforce NSX, mounted in a set of Nightforce rings I hand-lapped for better contact.
Load Development for Varminting
I had selected a few powders and bullets recommended by other 6-6.5×47 shooters and started by seating all the bullets .005″ off the lands. The powders I selected were Varget, Vihtavuori N550, and Reloder 15.
I was very pleased with the 88gr Bergers. In initial testing, they grouped well and I was able to drive them to 3400 fps easily. As I wanted a gun for long-range varmint work, I was hoping the 10-twist barrel would provide enough stability for the heavier weight bullets. It did — the 10-twist worked great! I was able to shoot the lighter weight bullets very well and the 88s were superb. With a BC of 0.391, leaving the barrel at 3400 fps, these bullets were still traveling at 2600 fps at 600 yards!
I did wonder how well the 88s would work on varmints given their small meplats (and limited expansion). A call to Berger reassured me the 88s should work fine on small varmints. The test came last summer when I made a trip to NY and got to visit my old Chuck hunting farms with my new rifle and old hunting buddy. The longest shot we had was only 300 yards, but the Berger 88s did great. None of the eight critters we nailed so much as wiggled after they were hit.
I did a lot of testing, recording group sizes for a variety of different bullets and powders. With all the data collected in a spreadsheet, I was able to “crunch the numbers”, and that helped me choose my preferred loads. By looking at the average group size for the individual bullets and powders, the data drew a clear picture of what the rifle shot best. Below is a chart showing comparative group sizes, arranged by both bullet type and powder brand.
This article, which originally appeared in the Sierra Bullets Blog, provides a new terminology that helps describe the geometry of bullets. Once you understand the meaning of “Caliber(s) of Ogive”, you can quickly evaluate potential bullet performance by comparing listed Caliber of Ogive numeric values.
by Mark Walker, Sierra Bullets New Product Development Manager
During one of our recent product releases, we listed the “caliber of ogive” of the bullet in the product description. While some understood what that number meant, it appears that some are not aware of what the number is and why it is important. In a nutshell, the “caliber of ogive” number will tell you how sleek the front end of the bullet is. The higher the number is, the sleeker the bullet. It also makes it easy to compare the ogives of different caliber bullets. If you want to know if a certain .308 caliber bullet is sleeker than a 7mm bullet, simply compare their “caliber of ogive” numbers.
So exactly how do you figure “caliber of ogive”? If you look at the drawing of the .30 caliber 175 gr HPBT bullet #2275 (at top), you will see that the actual radius of the ogive is 2.240. If you take that 2.240 ogive radius and divide by the diameter (or caliber) of the bullet you would get 7.27 “calibers of ogive” (2.240 ÷ .308 = 7.27). (See top photo).
In a nutshell, the “caliber of ogive” number will tell you how sleek the front end of the bullet is. The higher the number is, the sleeker the bullet.
Next let’s look at the print (below) of our 6.5mm 142gr HPBT #1742 bullet for comparison. The actual radius of the ogive is 2.756. Like with the .30 caliber 175 gr HPBT bullet #2275, if you divide 2.756 by the diameter (or caliber) of the bullet you get 10.44 “calibers of ogive”.
Some people would say why not just compare the actual ogive radius dimensions instead of using the “caliber of ogive” figure. If we were comparing only bullets of the exact same diameter, then that would be a reasonable thought process. However, that idea falls apart when you start trying to compare the ogives of bullets of different diameters. As you can see with the two bullets presented above, if we compare the actual ogive radius dimensions of both bullets the difference is not much at all.
However, once again, testing has shown that the 6.5mm 142 gr HPBT #1742 has a significantly higher BC. The only way that this significant increase shows up, other than when we fire the bullets in testing, is by comparing the “caliber of ogive” measurement from both bullets.
Hopefully this will help explain what we mean when we talk about “caliber of ogive” and why it’s a handy number to use when comparing bullets. This information will help you to make an informed decision the next time you are in the market to buy bullets.
Story tip from Grant Ubl. We welcome reader submissions.
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.
Here’s a great holiday gift for a friend or family member getting started in hand-loading. The Lee Breech Lock Challenger Reloading Kit includes Press (with quick change die system), Powder Measure, Scale, Priming Tool, Shell Holders, Reloading Tray, and Chamfer Tool. And you get all this for just $99.99 with discount code! Brownells’ current discounted Sale Price is $109.99, but you get $10.00 off with CODE M3P. That lowers your net cost to $99.99. Get the entire kit for under one hundred bucks. That’s a steal — this same kit sells for around $125.00 on Amazon.
2. PMA Tool — 10% Off Orders Plus Free Shipping
PMA Tool carries some of the very best products for precision reloaders. PMA offers Micro-Die Adjusters, superb case trimming tools, cleaning gear, as well as great products from Kelbly’s, Harrell’s Precision, and Lenzi. Right now you can save on a vast array of products PMA sells. The folks at PMA report: “The Christmas and New Year Holidays are here. Every once in a while it’s nice to give yourself a little something special. As a special thank you to you, our favorite customers, we are offering 10% off your entire order during the Holiday Season. Simply use the code YFVVB46UEWU upon checkout at pmatool.com to receive your 10% discount. We at PMA Tool are also offering FREE SHIPPING within the USA through the end of 2017.” Editor’s Note: PMA Tool carries many great products. If you are a serious benchrest or F-Class shooter, you should look carefully at PMA’s full product line. The Lenzi bags are superb for example, and PMA’s unique action cleaning tool is a perfect “stocking stuffer”.
Looking for a good hunting rifle at a great price? Check out this promotion for the Winchester XPR. This is a fine-handling rig with a smooth bolt and many chambering options. Right now at CDNN Sports the basic gray-stocked Winchester XPR is on sale for $379.99. But here’s the kicker, Winchester is offering a $100.00 Mail-In Rebate. That drops your net cost to just $279.99. That’s an insanely good deal. You can also get the XPR in Vias Camo for $299.99 after rebate. Get Rebate Form HERE.
4. Browning — Big Rebates on Rifles, Shotguns, and Pistols
Browning is running a big promotion this month, with significant rebates on many popular Browning firearms. Save $100 on over/under and auto-loading shotguns, save $75 on Pump Shotguns, Centerfire Rifles, Rimfire Rifles and Rimfire Pistols. You can also save $50 on centerfire pistols. If you’ve been eyeing a Browning Buckmark .22LR Pistol, now is a great time. CLICK HERE for rebate details.
5. Amazon — Steiner AZ830, 8×30 Binoculars, under $135
Need a good set of rugged, affordable binoculars for hunting or varmint work? Then check out the Steiner AZ830 at $131.21. These are essentially identical to the respected Steiner 8×30 Military Marine binoculars which sell for around $230.00. The only differences are the color and the packaging. The AZ830s are a black “house brand” created for Amazon by Steiner. Other than the color (black vs. OD Green) everything is the same. Same bright glass, same auto focus system, some tough rubber armor, same rock solid Steiner Heritage Warranty. With these Steiner binoculars, once you adjust the eyepieces, everything from 20 yards to infinity is in focus. We highly recommend these AZ830 binoculars — the quick-focus system works really well in the field.
Specifications: 8X magnification, 30mm objective lenses, 20mm eye relief, 18 oz. weight, 6.8×2.4×4.6 inches. Auto-focusing design has sharp focus from 20 yards to infinity.
UPDATE: Sorry guys… Amazon’s price on the AZ830 has bounced between $116 and $136 in the last 48 hours. We really can’t keep up on the hourly price shifts. You can use CamelCamelCamel.com to track AZ830 price shifts in the days ahead.
6. Amazon — Howard Leight Electronic Muffs, $34.99
Every shooter should own a pair of Electronic muffs, even if you prefer shooting with earplugs and/or standard muffs. Electronic muffs are great when you are doing spotting duties or are working near the firing line. They allow you to hear ordinary conversations while still providing vital hearing protection. Right now Amazon.com has the Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic Muffs on sale for just $34.99, with free Prime Shipping. This is good deal — these NRR 22 muffs are currently Amazon’s #1 seller in the category.
7. Stocky’s — LR Stocks with Aluminum Bedding Block, $179.99
Here’s a good deal on a versatile Stocky’s Long Range Stock with aluminum V-block bedding system. For just $179.99, 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 $199.99.
8. MidwayUSA — 25% Off all 5.11 Gear and Apparel
When you see the 5.11 logo, you may think “tactical trousers”. But 5.11 makes many other quality products including boots, backpacks, gun cases, range bags, camo gear, holsters, and even smartphone cases. Right now MidwayUSA has discounted its entire inventory of 5.11 products. You can save 25% on apparel, packs, gun cases and more.
9. MidwayUSA — Blaze Orange Hunting Vest, $5.00
If you hunt, you need one of these. In fact, in some States, Hi-Viz orange gear is mandatory. Right now MidwayUSA is running a super clearance sale on the MidwayUSA Deluxe Blaze Orange Vest. You can now get this vest for just five bucks ($5.00). Available in L, XL, and XXL, this bright vest features two Cargo Pockets with snaps plus two Handwarmer Pockets. It is made with a quality YKK zipper and “Quiet Double Layer” fabric.
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.
IMPORTANT: This is a Special Edition for Cyber Monday, November 27, 2017. Most of the deals listed here will EXPIRE at 11:59 pm on 11/27/2017. To take advantage of Cyber Monday, you must ACT on these deals and promotions before time runs out at 11:59 pm.
Precision Reloading — 15% Off All Orders Over $75.00
Precision Reloading is running a compelling Cyber Monday promotion through 11/27/2017 at 11:59 PM. Here’s the deal — you can save 15% off all orders of $75.00 or more. That means effectively that everything Precision Reloading sells is 15% off (as long as you spend at least $75.00). Yes that includes powder, bullets, dies, reloading tools and more. Get your 15% savings by using CODE “Black15″ during check-out.
Cutting Edge Bullets
Cutting Edge Bullets produces advanced monolithic bullets made on computer-controlled lathes. Ultra-uniform, these High-BC solid projectiles are used by some of the world’s top Extreme Long Range (ELR) shooters. Cutting Edge also produces hunting bullets. Right now you can get 30% Off the entire line of Cutting Edge Match and Hunting bullets, through 11:59 pm on 11/27/2017. As part of this promotion, you will also get FREE Shipping. Since lathe-turned bullets are pricey, this is a great opportunity to try some at a significant discount.
SilencerCO — 20% Off All Products in Store
SilencerCo has knocked 20% off the price of everything it sells in its online store. This includes barrels, accessories, muzzle brakes, suppressor covers, clothing, other gear. But, this does not appear to apply to the cost of suppressors themselves.
SIG Sauer — 25% Off Products in SIG Online Store
This is a very impressive promotion — you can save 25% on a wide variety of SIG Sauer products (other than firearms). NOTE: This 25% discount applies to the products SIG sells online in its store: ammunition, accessories, magazines, parts, and airguns. This promotion does NOT include pistols and rifles. Also the savings for Electro-optics, such as Laser RangeFinders, is 15% not 25%
Creedmoor Sports — Cyber Monday Sale
For Cyber Monday, Creedmoor Sports has slashed prices on dozens of items. High-tech chronographs are on sale: Labradar $499.95 ($60.00 off); MagnetoSpeed V3, Cyber Monday Price $339.95 ($60.00 off). You can also save on Shooting Coats, Slings, Shooting Mats, Gun cases, and Ammunition. Get Free Shipping with orders over $49.00. Creedmoor Sports is also giving away products: Free shirt with orders over $200, a Free ammo bag with orders over $100, and a Free ECI with orders over $50.00.
Brownells — Aguila Ammunition Discounted 11% or More
Brownells has concluded its Black Rifle Friday promotion, but for Cyber Monday, Brownells is offering at least 11% off its full inventory of Aguila centerfire and rimfire ammo. You’ll find some other big discounts. For example, Aguila 9x19mm FMJ is marked down from $13.99 to $9.99 for a 50-round box — that’s a 28% savings.
XLR Industries — Up to $150 Off Chassis Systems
XLR Industries, manufacturer of modular chassis systems, is offering super savings on Cyber Monday. There are big cash-value discounts on everything XLR sells. Here’s how it works — if you spend $595 or more and save $150.00 with checkout code BF150. Or, if you spend $200 or more you save $40 with code BF40. With this promotion you can get the Evolution Chassis, normally $750.00, for just $600.00. That’s a huge savings.
GunBuyer.com — Deep Discounts on Handguns and Black Rifles
If you’re in the market for a handgun or an AR-platform rifle check out GunBuyer.com. We’ve seen some exceptional bargains on major-manufacturer pistols. Here are some of the best Cyber Monday Deals on handguns:
Springfield Armory XD 45 ACP, 5″ bbl, $329.00
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm, 3″ bbl, $289.00
Smith & Wesson Model 642 Revolver, 1.87″ bbl, $339.00
Walther PPS M2 9mm, 3.18″ bbl, $309.00
5.11 Tactical — 25% OFF All Gear and Apparel
5.11 Tactical is running a HUGE sale on Cyber-Monday. Pretty much everything is marked down 25%. Save on well-designed, long-wearing pants, shirts, outerwear, gloves, and boots. Also save big on packs, gun cases, and range bags. 5.11 Tactical also offers watches, knives, eyewear, phone cases, and other accessories.
Sportsman’s Guide — Outdoor Gear at Big Savings
Hunters should visit SportsmansGuide.com this Cyber Monday. Dozens of items are discounted heavily, including outdoor apparel for hunters: Camo jackets, parkas, boots, hats, gillie suits, and more. In addition, tree stands and blinds are marked down on 11/27/2017.
Cutting Edge Bullets, SilencerCo, XLR tips from EdLongrange. We welcome reader submission.
Seems like new cartridges are being introduced every few months, particularly for the AR15 platform. This past January, Nosler gave us the .22 Nosler, a potent cartridge with better ballistics than the “plain vanilla” .223 Remington. American Rifleman reported: “Nosler is claiming its new [.22 Nosler] cartridge … can get 300 FPS and 25% more energy out of the AR platform” compared to the .223 Rem.
New .224 Valkyrie from Federal
Now Federal has introduced a .22-Caliber Hot Rod cartridge — the .224 Valkyrie. Designed to rival the .22 Nosler while still running well in ARs, the new .224 Valkyrie offers excellent long-range performance when loaded with modern, high-BC bullets.
Federal claims its .224 Valkyrie ammo loaded with the Sierra 90 MatchKing stays supersonic all the way out to 1300 yards. Watch the video above for details. Design-wise, the .224 Valkyrie has a medium-length neck, 30° shoulder. Unofficially, we are told this new cartridge is “based on on the .30 Remington/6.8 SPC case, necked down to .22 caliber”. (Source: TheFireArmBlog). It’s similar in appearance to a 6.5 Grendel necked to .22-Caliber, but the body is longer. Case capacity has been measured at 34.5 grs H2O, about 1.3 grains less than the .22 Nosler.
Federal currently offers four types of .224 Valkyrie Ammunition: 75gr TMJ “American Eagle”, 60gr Nosler Ballistic Tip “Varmint”, 90gr SP “Fusion MSR”, and 90gr HP SMK “Premium”.
COMMENTARY — Do We Need Another .22-Caliber Cartridge?
Is the .224 Valkyrie really needed? Bolt-gunners can just shoot a 22-250 (or a 22 Dasher if you want a more efficient cartridge). But for guys who want a hot-performing .22-Caliber round that feeds and functions 100% in AR-Platform rifles, this .22 Valkyrie may make sense. Just as the .22 Nosler has found favor with some shooters, there may be a market for the .224 Valkyrie — both among varmint hunters and PRS Gas Gun Series competitors.
Conceivably some bolt-action PRS shooters might adopt the .224 Valkyrie. Why? Reduced recoil. With the 90gr SMK, the .224 Valkyrie offers ballistics similar to the 6.5 Creedmoor but with significantly less felt recoil. Check out this a chart from Federal showing comparative recoil levels (highlights added).
Even with the heavy-for-caliber 90gr SMK, the .224 Valkyrie delivers significantly less felt recoil than a 6.5 Creedmoor shooting 130gr or 140gr bullets. You get a similar trajectory and good wind-bucking ability, with less push. The reduced recoil CAN make a difference, particularly during rapid-fire strings. Since PRS is shot “on the clock”, less recoil could provide a competitive advantage.
Cheaper to Shoot? Maybe, But Consider Barrel Life…
Cost considerations might also drive some PRS shooters to the .224 Valkyrie. Quality .22-Cal bullets definitely cost less than match-grade 6.5 mm projectiles. Therefore, high-volume shooters may find the .224 Valkyrie more affordable to shoot. On the other hand, barrel life for the .224 Valkyrie will likely be shorter than with the 6.5 Creedmoor, so you may end up paying more in the long run. What you save on the cost of bullets you may have to invest in new barrels.
6mm AI ‘Sellers Remorse’ Spurs New 6mm Project
Load Development for Varminting
