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March 26th, 2008
 Erik Stecker of Berger Bullets just let the cat out of the bag. Berger will be releasing four (4) new 30-caliber non-VLD bullet designs to supplement its line-up of .308 match bullets. The new bullets will be offered in 155.5 grain, 175 grain, 185 grain, and 210 grain weights. These will employ a more “classic” non-VLD design that is load-length tolerant. Like Berger’s recent, successful 108gr, 6mm tangent-ogive match bullet design, the new 30-caliber projectiles should work well seated OFF the lands, and should be relatively insensitive to cartridge load length. Match shooters should find that these bullets are easier to tune, and should function well when loaded to max magazine length. Berger’s new 155, dubbed the “155.5 Palma”, is designed specifically for Palma shooters who prefer to seat their bullets off the lands. This is a new shape and is designated “155 point 5″ to distinguish it from Berger’s current 155gr Match BT, and 155gr Match VLD, which will both continue to be sold. With the new 155.5 Palma, Berger now offers three 155-class match bullets. (FYI, the max legal weight for Palma bullets is 156.0 grains.)
| Bullet Weight |
155.5 |
175 |
185 |
210 |
| Calculated BC |
0.486 |
0.528 |
0.570 |
0.647 |
Product Availability
The new 155.5 Palma bullets should be available in 2-3 weeks. The 175s, 185s, and 210s, should be at vendors in 6-8 weeks. The new bullets will supplement Berger’s line-up of 30-caliber VLD bullets, currently offered in five different sizes: 168gr Match VLD (0.512 BC), 175gr Match VLD (0.528 BC), 185gr Match VLD (0.556 BC), 190 gr Match VLD (0.574 BC), 210gr Match VLD (0.631 BC). For more INFO, contact michelle.gallagher [at] bergerbullets.com.
March 22nd, 2008
Norma 6XC brass is available direct from Superior Shooting Systems for $60.00 per hundred. These days, that’s a good deal for premium brass. Other vendors are selling the Norma 6XC for up to $89.00 per hundred. This is excellent brass that has shot extremely well for German Salazar and other top prone and cross-the-course shooters. It has a large flash hole and large primer pocket. It has enough case capacity to drive 110-115 grain bullets to 3000 FPS in most 27-28″ barrels.
The much-awaited, polymer-tipped 111 DTAC MJPT (Match Jacket Plastic Tip) 6mm bullet is still awaiting delivery. [UPDATE: As of 7/17/2008, the ship date keeps slipping. Superior Shooting promised initial shipments at the “end of June”, but everyone’s still waiting.] The price is $105/500 for naked bullets, and $110/500 for boron nitride-coated bullets. The new DTAC 111 is showing good accuracy and can be shot in most rifles throated for the 105-107 grain bullets, though, ideally, you’d want freebore about .030″ longer (and we recommend a 1:7.5″ twist barrel). David says the new bullet’s ballistic-coefficient (BC) is “right around .600″ based on field testing using multiple chronographs set downrange. (This is actually measured, not calculated, BC.) When shot from a 6XC, 6-6.5×47, 6-250 or similar cartridge, you should be able to push this bullet at 3000 fps. The plastic tips provide a more uniform bullet-to-bullet ballistic coefficient according to David Tubb: “With the new bullet tip you no longer have to uniform the meplats to get a consistent BC shot-to-shot. What we’ve seen in field testing is a spread of only 2% in actual bullet BC.”
Download DTAC 111 Info Sheet
March 10th, 2008
How much does it cost you to send a round downrange? Ask most shooters this question and they’ll start adding up the cost of components: bullets, powder, and primers. Then they’ll figure in the cost of brass, divided by the number of times the cases are reloaded.
For a 6BR shooting match bullets, match primers, and 30 grains of powder, in brass reloaded a dozen times, this basic calculation gives us a cost per shot of $0.46 (forty-six cents):
Bullet $0.30 (Berger 105 VLD)
Primer $0.03 (Fed 205m)
Powder $0.08 (Varget @ $18.00/lb)
Brass $0.05 (Lapua priced at $60/100, 12 reloads)
Total $0.46 per round
$1.00 Per Shot True Cost? Yikes!
OK, we’ve seen that it costs about $0.46 per round to shoot a 6BR. Right?
Wrong! — What if we told you that your ACTUAL cost per round might be closer to double that number? How can that be? Well… you haven’t accounted for the cost of your barrel. Every round you fire down that tube expends some of the barrel’s finite life. If, like some short-range PPC shooters, you replace barrels every 700 or 800 rounds, you need to add $0.60 to $0.70 per round for “barrel cost.” That can effectively double your cost per round, taking it well past the dollar per shot mark.
Calculating Barrel Cost Per Shot
In the table below, we calculate your barrel cost per shot, based on various expected barrel lifespans.
 As noted above, a PPC barrel is typically replaced at 700-800 rounds. A 6.5-284 barrel can last 1200+ rounds, but it might need replacement after 1000 rounds or less. A 6BR barrel should give 2200-3000 rounds of accurate life, and a .308 Win barrel could remain competitive for 4,000 rounds or more.
The table below shows your barrel cost per shot, based on various “useful lives.” We assume that a barrel costs $500.00 total to replace. This includes $300.00 for the barrel itself, $160.00 for chambering/fitting, and $40.00 in 2-way shipping costs. Yes, you may have a smith that works for less, but these are typical costs shooters will encounter when ordering a rebarreling job.
The numbers are interesting. If you get 2000 rounds on your barrel instead of 1000, you save $0.25 per shot. However, extending barrel life from 2000 to 3000 rounds only saves you $0.08 per round.
NOTE: We assume component costs of $0.46 per round based on our 6BR example. If you shoot a larger caliber that burns more powder, and uses more expensive bullets and/or brass, your total cost per round will be higher.
How to Reduce Your TRUE Cost per Round
What does this tell us? First, in figuring your annual shooting budget, you need to consider the true cost per round, including barrel cost. Second, if you want to keep your true costs under control, you need to look at ways to extend your barrel life. This can be accomplished in many ways. First, you may find that switching to a different powder reduces throat erosion. Second, if you’re able to slow down your shooting pace, this can reduce barrel heat, which can extend barrel life. (A varminter in the field is well-advised to switch rifles, or switch barrels, when the barrel gets very hot from extended shot strings.) Third, modifying your cleaning methods can also extend the life of your barrel. Use solvents that reduce the need for aggressive brushing, and try to minimize the use of abrasives. Also, always use a properly fitting bore guide. Many barrels have been prematurely worn out from improper cleaning techniques.
March 3rd, 2008
American Rifleman Television features Barnes Bullets this week. Managing Editor Chad Adams went to visit the Barnes operation in Utah. The broadcast shows how the Brooks family transformed a basement operation into one of the most advanced bullet-making operations in the world. Among the many Barnes bullets of interest to precision shooters and varminters are the Barnes Varmint Grenade, and the just-released MPG bullet. Lead-free MPG bullets feature a frangible, powdered-metal copper-tin core inside a guilding metal jacket. “MPG” stands for “Multi-Purpose Green”. “Green” is military shorthand for “lead-free”—a requirement in military and LE practice environments. California also recently passed legislation banning lead-core bullets in thousands of acres of hunting lands. Barnes’ MPGs may be just what California hunters need.
Also in this week’s American Rifleman TV episode, Editor-In-Chief Mark A. Keefe, reviews the Blaser F3, a high-end over-under shotgun built to exacting European standards. Part of MidwayUSA and Outdoor Channel’s “Wednesday Night On The Range” lineup, “American Rifleman Television” airs each Wednesday at 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The show repeats on various days and times throughout the week.
 FREE Barnes DVD
Barnes offers a FREE DVD, called “Bullet Myths Busted”. This video tackles popular misconceptions about bullet performance and unmasks false claims. The DVD shows the explosive effects of the Varmint Grenade bullet and exclusive high-speed video compares hunting bullet expansion and penetration.
March 1st, 2008
In January we announced that Graf & Sons was offering Federal Brand Lake City .223 Brass. This is quality brass and the feedback has been very positive. In fact, the .223 brass was so popular, we heard that supplies ran short. Now Graf’s is showing plenty of Lake City .223 brass in inventory. The price is just $19.99 per hundred or $94.95 for 500.
Remember that these prices INCLUDE freight. Graf’s does charge retail customers a single $4.50 handling charge per order. Prepaid shipping is offered to the 48 states via ground only, excluding target loads. Customers pay actual freight for express shipping and/or for Alaska or Hawaii orders.
For more info on .223 Rem brass and reloading, see our 223 Rem Cartridge Guide.
February 29th, 2008
Now through March 31, 2008, MidwayUSA has Eley 17 Mach 2 ammo on sale for just $3.99 per box (item 134258). This ammo, based on a 22 Stinger case necked down to 17 caliber, shoots a 17gr jacketed V-Max bullet at about 2050 fps. We’ve shot all the various brands of 17 Mach 2 ammo in a Hall-actioned BR rifle, and the Eley is as good as anything out there. What you’ll typically get with a 5-shot group in a good rifle is 3 or 4 shots in a tight cluster and then one out. This is caused by a lot of factors (run-out, crimp problems, OAL variations etc.), and is true of all the 17 Mach 2 brands you try. Still, the round is fun to shoot and the 17 Mach 2 will deliver sub-MOA groups at 100 yards even with the “flyers”.
Bang for the Buck
When you consider that most brands of the 2500 fps 17 HMR ammo now cost about $12.00 a box, the Eley 17 Mach 2 is an excellent value. The Mach 2 delivers the same 17gr V-Max bullet as the 17 HMR, but the Mach 2 just runs a little slower — 2050 fps vs. 2500 for the 17 HMR. For many shooters, it makes sense to use the 17 Mach 2 rather than a 17 HMR. With the sale-priced Eley just $3.99 a box, you can buy 150 rounds of 17 Mach 2 for the price of 50 rounds of 17 HMR.
Here’s what one shooter posted on RimfireCentral.com: “My brother has a 17 HMR, and I have the 17 Mach 2. I found Remington 17 M2 at Natchez for $3.59 a box by the brick, and Eley 17 M2 at [Midway] for $4.00 a box. The best buy I found on 17 HMR was $10.50 a box. Do the math: $3.59 X 3 = $10.77 When you can get 17 Mach 2 ammo at 1/3 the cost of 17 HMR which one kills paper better? My vote is for the one I can shoot for 1/3 the cost. The 17 Mach 2 is also quieter.”
February 23rd, 2008
Many of our readers have asked “Where can we buy the Russian small rifle primers?” Currently, Wideners.com has the Wolf-brand, Russian-made Small Rifle and Small Rifle Magnum primers on sale for just $18.50/1000 or $87/5000. Test have shown these primers deliver very good accuracy and extremely low ES/SD with certain powders. However, we also note that the cup is harder than most domestic-made primers and a few guys have reported some ignition problems if they run a fairly “soft” firing pin spring in a Benchrest action. We’ve had no problem firing these primers from Remington and Savage actions with a normal firing pin spring.
Wolf recommends the Magnum primers for use in ARs and similar semi-autos because the Magnums have a slightly harder cup: “The Wolf Standard Small Rifle Primers have an all-copper cup, which is a little more sensitive than the brass cup magnum primers. If you are loading for an AR15 or Military-style semi auto rifle, or are loading high pressure cartridges in any other type of rifle, we recommend the Magnum Small Rifle Primers. Both primers use the same amount of compound. The only difference is in the cup hardness.”
February 22nd, 2008
Hornady has released more than a dozen new products for 2008. Of particular interest to precision shooters is the new 6.5 Creedmoor Cartridge, while game hunters should check out the new 300/338 RCM cartridges.
Hornady has collected information on all its new products on a 2008 Product Web Page. On that page you can find photos and specifications, along with streaming Videos for each of the new products. If you’re a high power or cross-course shooter, definitely check out the new 6.5 Creedmoor Cartridge. The 6.5 Creedmoor was designed to allow any shooter to compete at the highest level with factory-loaded ammunition. Built for match rifles, including the Tubb 2000 and DPMS LR Series, its case is slightly shorter than the 260 Remington, eliminating any “Cartridge Overall Length” issues when using 308 Winchester length magazines. Velocities match or exceed the 6.5×47 Lapua with similar-weight bullets.
CLICK HERE for VIDEO and SPECS for 6.5 Creedmoor.
February 20th, 2008
 Graf & Sons has teamed up with Hornady to provide quality ammunition in previously hard-to-find military surplus calibers. This specialized ammo is all loaded with modern, boxer-primed reloadable brass, using non-corrosive propellants and primers. If you shoot military bolt-action matches, or just enjoy collecting older military-class firearms, the new line of Hornady/Graf’s ammunition is a good choice to feed your surplus military rifles such as the .303 Enfield, 7x57R Mauser, and Schmidt-Rubin K31 Swiss.
Calibers available include: 6.5×52 Carcano, 6.5×50 Japanese, 7×64 Brenneke, 7x57R Mauser, .303 British, 7.5×55 Swiss, 7.65×53 Argentine, 7.7×58 Japanese, 7.92×33 Kurz, and 8×56 Hungarian.
When you shop at Grafs.com remember that Graf’s “pays the freight” for most orders. Here is Graf’s shipping policy:
“At Graf & Sons, we keep it simple. We pay the freight to the first 48 states. All you pay is the price you see plus a minimal $4.50 handling and insurance charge per order. This might make our pricing seem a bit high in some cases but with an ‘average’ order, our pricing meets or beats most of our competitors.”
February 17th, 2008
The 17 HMR rimfire round has been a huge success since its introduction. Millions of rounds have been sold, the major rifle-makers all offer 17HMR rifles, and varminters worldwide have embraced this innovative, high-velocity rimfire cartridge.
However, as 17 HMR costs climb steadily upward, many shooters are considering switching back to the 17 HMR’s little brother, the 17 Mach 2. Based on a 22 Stinger case necked down to 17 caliber, the 17 Mach 2 runs about 450 fps slower than the 17 HMR. However, the 17 Mach 2 still offers much-enhanced performance compared to a 22LR (See Chart.)
Ten Cents a Round vs. 26 Cents a Round
The big factor favoring the 17 Mach 2 is PRICE. You can shoot the 17 Mach 2 for $0.10 per round compared to $0.26 for the 17HMR. The Mach 2 is less than half the cost of 17HMR. Here is a chart showing current pricing of the 17 HMR vs. the 17 Mach 2.
| Cartridge |
Brand |
Bullet |
Price/box |
Vendor |
| 17 HMR |
CCI |
17gr Speer TNT |
$12.14 |
MidwayUSA |
| 17 HMR |
CCI |
20gr SpirePt |
$13.79 |
MidwayUSA |
| 17 HMR |
Hornady |
17gr V-Max |
$12.79 |
MidwayUSA |
| 17 HMR |
Hornady |
20gr XTP |
$12.99 |
MidwayUSA |
| 17 Mach 2 |
Eley |
17gr V-Max |
$4.89 |
MidwayUSA |
| 17 Mach 2 |
Hornady |
17gr V-Max |
$5.79 |
Midsouth |
| 17 Mach 2 |
Rem |
17gr V-Max |
$3.99 |
Natchez |
17 HMR Average Price = $12.93 (26 cents per round)
17 Mach 2 Average Price = $4.89 (10 cents per round)
We’ve done extensive testing with the 17 Mach 2 in a Hall-actioned benchrest rig built by Stan Ware of SGR Custom Rifles. With ammo sorted for length and concentricity (using a Nielson Brothers concentricity gauge), our little 17 Mach 2 has demonstrated remarkable accuracy–with many 1/4″ groups at 50 yards. Still, even with sorted ammo, don’t expect the 17 Mach 2 to run with the best (i.e. $14/box) 22LR match ammo. Typically, with the 17 Mach 2, you’ll get one shot out of five landing unpredictably out of the group. There are many reasons for this — excessive run-out, flawed bullet tips, bad crimps, even shaved jackets.
Our studies suggest that 17 Mach 2 ammo would be more consistent, and more accurate, if it was loaded to a lower muzzle velocity with the bullet seated longer. Crimping needs to be more uniform. We’d also like to see Hornady chamber the 20gr XTP bullet offered in the 17 HMR. Still, the 17 Mach 2 round has much to offer the varminter and club-level paper puncher. It runs 1000 fps faster than a 22LR, and bucks the wind much better than a 22LR at 100 yards. At $4.00 to $5.00 a box, it is less than half the cost of 17 HMR, and one-third the cost of the super-premium 22LR.
We let three top 22LR benchrest shooters try our 17 Mach 2 recently. To a man, they agreed this round is “fun to shoot” and “offers great promise”. If the ammo-makers can improve quality control, this round may, some day, have a place in target competition, particularly with the highest-grade 22LR ammo now topping $20.00/box (for new Lapua X-ACT ammo).
Here are ONE HUNDRED-Yard Groups Shot with Eley 17 Mach 2 Ammo. Note HUGE Effect of Concentricity Sorting. Top target shows 0.006″ Run-out ammo. Bottom Target displays 0.001″ Run-out ammo.
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