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April 30th, 2007
RWS makes some of the very best brass in the business. Many of the top 1000-yard shooters use RWS brass for their big 30-caliber rifles, starting with a cartridge such as the 8×68, or 375 H&H magnum. RWS also offers premium brass for many of the big game and hunting calibers such as the 380 Blaser, 7mm Rem Mag, and 8×57. The primary importer for RWS products is UmarexUSA in Fort Smith, AR, (479) 646-4210. RWS brass is offered by UmarexUSA, MidwayUSA.com, and Natchez Shooters Supply. RWS brass is now on sale at Natchez, with most calibers 30% off. Here are some examples:
RWS 6.5×68, RW2144697, $19.98/20
RWS .280 Rem, RW2144514, $21.06/20
RWS 7×57, RW2144484, $16.20/20
RWS 7mm Rem Mag, RW2144875, $21.06/20
RWS 30-06, RW2144433, $20.52/20
RWS 300 Win Mag, RW2144778, $19.44/20
Many of our users have asked: “Where can one get RWS primers?” Unfortunately, RWS primers have not been directly imported into the USA for at least two years, and there are no plans to resume importation. None of the major vendors we polled, including Graf & Sons, MidSouth, MidwayUSA, and Natchez Shooters Supply, currently carry RWS primers. We discussed primer availability with Alan Newcombe, North American consultant for RUAG/RWS. Alan told us “The exchange rate and import duties are the problem. If RWS were to import primers right now, they’d have to cost $45-$50 per box of 1000. RUAG, RWS’s parent company, believes it could not sell sufficient quantities of primers at that price point, so there are no plans on the horizon to import RWS primers any time soon.”
April 24th, 2007
 Written by a team of respected outdoor writers, the new 316-page Rifle Bullets for the Hunter is an impressive reference for any shooter interested in bullet performance. Eric Stecker of Berger Bullets reports: “Hunters finally have a book that thoroughly addresses the component used where the metal hits the meat. This book hits on a topic of importance that until now has been mistakenly assumed, addressed in passing or ignored altogether.” Illustrated with over 125 color photos, the book covers a wide range of topics including: Bullet Testing, Stopping Power, Deer Bullets, Varmint/Small Game Bullets, Big Game Bullets, Solids, and Cast Bullets. Contributing authors include “Leupold Writer of the Year” Award winners Craig Boddington, John Barness, and Ron Spomer, plus Shooting Illustrated Editor in Chief Dave Campbell. The book costs $34.95, direct from Ballistic Technologies.
April 24th, 2007
The 6.5 Grendel is derived from the 6PPC necked up to 6.5mm. Popularized by Alexander Arms, the 6.5 Grendel is optimized for the AR15 platform. Fired through a dedicated 6.5mm upper, the 6.5 Grendel lets AR shooters employ a heavier bullet with excellent ballistics and downrange energy. For quite some time, Alexander Arms has offered loaded 6.5 Grendel ammo built with premium Lapua brass and bullets. That is great stuff, but a bit pricey at $24.99 per box. Now Grendel shooters have an alternative. Alexander Arms now sells low-cost 6.5 Grendel Ammunition made by Wolf. Priced at just $9.97 per box of 20, the Wolf ammo is loaded with a 123gr softpoint bullet that packs enough punch for deer-hunters. The round, which runs about 2600 fps, is also well-suited for target and varmint use. Wolf 6.5 Grendel ammo is also available from MidwayUSA for $11.99 per box of 20, item 449268. To learn more about the 6.5 Grendel, read our 6.5 Grendel Cartridge Guide, or visit 65Grendel.com.
April 20th, 2007
Berger’s 6mm 105gr VLD bullet has set multiple world records, including Terry Brady’s 0.860″ 600-yard IBS 5-shot record group. Berger has recently acquired new dies for the 105 VLD which should make the bullet more dimensionally consistent than ever before. Be aware, however, that since the new 105s are produced on a new die, the diameter is somewhat smaller and you may have to adjust your load. Through April 30th, MidwayUSA has Berger 105 VLDs on sale, for $19.99 per 100, item 195087. Midway isn’t able to pull specific lot numbers, but 105s made on the new die are Berger lot number 559 or higher.
 Eric Stecker of Berger Bullets tells us: “We use certified gauges and indicating micrometers to measure the OD. The new die produces bullets that are .2431 to .2432 at the pressure ring and .2430 at a point half way up the bearing surface. A measurement taken on the bearing surface close to the ogive will be .2429. The taper on these bullets is straight which we believe is good as this taper may line things up nicely in the bore.
Here is the important part: They are two things that happen during this type of change: 1. Due to the EDM and polish process no die maker can make the ogive portion of the die exactly the same. This produces a slight change in where the bullet will touch the rifling based on your seater die setting. The change could go either way (in or out). 2. Since the diameter of the bullet is smaller than what the previous die created the portion of the bullet that engages the rifling is moved back.
To make these bullets shoot well, treat them as an entirely new bullet and work up a load adjusting seating depth and neck tension. The nice thing is that once you get this dialed in you will be set for a while as we are dedicating this particular die to making nothing but 105 gr. These bullets are not undersized based on a .2430 groove diameter however they are smaller than previous lots. Dial them in as you would any new item and you will be happy with the results.”
April 17th, 2007
Eley Tenex Ultimate EPS is, in the opinion of many, the best 22LR ammo ever made. Red-label Ultimate EPS is the 22LR ammo with which Joe Friedrich recently shot a perfect 2500 and set a pending ARA 4-target record of 9700. This editor personally saw Joe shoot a 5-shot group at 50 yards that was one elongated hole about 0.300″ edge to edge. Lapua, RWS and Wolf also produce outstanding rimfire ammo, but if you’re looking for the pinnacle of rimfire accuracy, you owe it to yourself to try a couple boxes of Ultimate EPS. Through the end of April, MidwayUSA has Tenex Ultimate EPS on sale for $12.99 per box, item 126879.
If you need a particular batch of Eley ammo, Bob Collins of C&S Accuracy sells Eley products by specific lot number. If you’re curious about how lot differences can affect rimfire accuracy, read this ELEY AMMO ARTICLE by Bob Collins. Here’s a sample: “Eley uses a system where the first three letters are for grade, year, and crimp. For example, with UFW prefix, U is Ultimate, F is 2001, and W is the crimp machine. The next four numbers are for loading machine and Lot number. Thus, for ammo marked UFW4375, 4 is the four machine and the 375 is the Lot number. The fps is printed underneath, e.g. 1055 fps. This fps on the label is an average of 50 shots from one of the six test guns at the Eley factory; these guns have 26 inch barrels with the chronograph three feet in front of the barrel. There are 4 different machines that load Eley Ultimate and Match EPS. I have found that these machines are very specific to which gunsmith chambers and fine-tunes your rifle. Depending on barrel twist, length, and the gunsmith who put the gun together, you will find at least three Lots of ammo that will shoot under different conditions without turning the tuner. Each machine has subtle differences, so that different machine lots of Ultimate can chamber and give the best accuracy.” If you have questions, call Bob at (478) 472-7176. He truly has a wealth of information to share.
April 13th, 2007
In some parts of the country, State Agencies and/or private ranges are imposing “no-lead” restrictions for hunting and match ammunition. This is to avoid on-site lead pollution and to lessen the effects of lead ingestion by protected species such as the California Condor. Nosler has just announced its new E-Tip™ Lead-Free Bullet. Because the E-Tip™ has a polymer tip plus a dual-cavity interior (E² Cavity™), Nosler claims that its new bullet provides better expansion and enhanced weight retention. The new bullet will be available in the fall of 2007 in a 180gr, 30-caliber design. We applaud Nosler’s engineering work on this new bullet and hope that Nosler chooses to produce similar lead-free projectiles in 6.5mm and 6mm.
April 12th, 2007
 Lock, Stock, and Barrel has a great deal right now on Hornady 22 Caliber (.224) 50 grain V-Max bullets: $29.00 per box of 250 bullets, item HRN22616. (That works out to just $11.60 per hundred!) These are regular production bullets, not blems or seconds. Offer limited to five 250-ct boxes per customer and stock on hand. With a short boat-tail and polymer tip, the 50gr V-Max is accurate and very explosive on varmints. You’ll find loads for this bullet in our .223 Rem Cartridge Guide. Contributor Graymist’s favorite .223 Rem load is the 50gr V-Max pushed by Hodgdon H4895. He says “this combo has worked great in every .223 he’s shot.”
April 10th, 2007
Superior Shooting Systems has released a new 117 gr DTAC bullet, designed for 1:7.5″ or faster twist barrels. David Tubb advises these 117s require at least .040″ more throat length compared to his 115s. Robert Whitley got some new 117s and he told us they look very impressive: “The 117 gr bullet looks great, but it’s a real Goliath for a 6mm projectile. I checked on how the bullet sits in relation to the throating of various 6mms. I measured them multiple times in three different barrels–two with brand new, unfired chambers. It looks like you need about .050″ – .060″ more freebore than you need with a DTAC 115 to keep the junction of the boat tail and bearing surface in the same place, and about .125″ – .135″ more freebore than you need with a Sierra 107 to keep the junction of the boat tail and bearing surface in the same place. (I have cases with a slit up the neck so I can see where the junction of the bearing surface and boat tail sits in relation to the neck and shoulder of the case.)”
Robert adds: “I will try these in a 6XC (after I throat out one of my barrels a bit) but the bullet looks big for a 6XC case. I am also looking forward to trying these in the 6mm Super X, the 6CM, and the 6mm Remington I have, all of which have a good bit more powder capacity to enable the use of slower powders (H4831SC, H1000, etc.) with such a bullet. If these shoot as well as they look, the 6mms may give a 6.5 x284 some real competition at long range–we’ll see!”
Left to Right: Boron nitride-coated 117 gr bullet (1.376″) ,
Moly 115gr DTAC (1.290″), Moly 107 Sierra MK (1.225″)
March 24th, 2007
The .260 Remington is a popular long-range competition cartridge, particularly in Tactical and Silhouette matches. Check out Terry Cross’ Match-Winning 260. But until now, if you wanted to shoot the .260 Rem with high-BC match bullets you needed to hand-load. Now, for a limited time, Black Hills is offering .260 Rem match ammo loaded with Lapua Scenar 139gr bullets (.615 BC) in Remington brass. Price is $23 per 20rd box, $225 per 200, plus shipping. Order from
GA Precision, (816) 221-1844 (ask for Tracy).
March 23rd, 2007
 Our friends at Sinclair Int’l told us about Steve Boelter’s new 352-page Rifleman’s Guide to Rimfire Ammunition. This is a comprehensive study of all types of rimfire ammunition, with over 600 photos. Steve Boelter fired every brand and sample of rimfire ammo he could acquire (including 22LR, 17 Mach 2, 17HMR and 22 WMR), and he recorded all the results. Eleven different brands and 137 different rimfire rounds were tested with over 32,000 rounds fired. Test guns included a Turbo custom BR rifle, Volquartzen Custom 10/22, and Anschutz and Sako competition and sporting rifles. We consider this book a “must-have” resource, even if you are not a hard-core rimfire shooter. The 6″x9″ softcover (Zediker Publishing) costs $29.95. Click HERE for more details and sample pages.
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