At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.
1. Powder Valley — Sale on Popular Powders
⏺ High demand powders are IN STOCK now at very competitive prices
Powder Valley is a great vendor for reloading supplies. And right now Powder Valley has popular Hodgdon, Accurate, Alliant, and Vihtavuori powders in stock, plus other brands. Need Varget, H4350, H4831sc, Reloder 16, or Vihtavuori N133 or N550? Then head over to PowderValley.com to get savings up to 20%.
2. Palmetto SA — AR-15 Lower with Magpul Stock, $119.99
⏺ Great price on complete AR lower with trigger and adjustable stock
This is the lowest price we’ve seen for a name-brand AR-15 platform complete lower with a quality MagPul adjustable stock. If you are building an AR for varminting, 3-Gun, or home defense, check out this Palmetto sale. Get the Flat Dark Earth (FDE) Magpul MOE lower for just $119.99, a whopping $280 off the $399.99 list price. Or for the same $119.99 price get the Olive Drab Green (ODG) version or the Dark Grey version. All these lowers have quality Magpul stocks and grips and include full trigger groups. Use the money you save with these bargain lowers to buy a top-grade barrel.
3. Midsouth — RCBS Reloading Gear Sale, Save up to $110
⏺ Major sale on RCBS tools, presses, powder scales and more
Midsouth is running a huge SALE on RCBS products — Presses, Reloading Tools, Powder Dispensers, Tumblers, Dies, Priming Sets, Casting Accessories and more. Save up to $110 on Reloading Kits, up to $50 on powder scale/dispensers, and save $50 on case prep kits. Go to Midsouth’s RCBS Sale Page to see all 17 items on sale.
4. Midsouth — Starline Rifle and Pistol Brass Sale, Save 10-12%
⏺ Good selection of Starline cartridge brass on sale
Midsouth is currently running a major sale on Starline brand Rifle Brass and Pistol Brass. Prices are discounted 10-12% on popular cartridge types including 9mm, .44 Magnum, .45 ACP, .223 Rem, 6mm Creedmoor, .308 Win and more.
5. Natchez — SIG Sauer Scope and Rangefinder Combo, $399.99
⏺ Great “intelligent combo” — LRF data works with scope
Here’s a solid combo kit for hunters. For under $400 you can get the SIG Sauer BDX rangefinder and riflescope system — a 3.5-10x42mm scope and laser rangefinder. With the SIG BDX smartphone App you can pair the KILO BDX rangefinder and the BDX-enabled scope. Once you’ve created your basic ballistic profile, the system’s brain tells you the needed hold-over. After ranging your target, the KILO BDX rangefinder employs advanced Applied Ballistics software and then sends the elevation solution to the scope via Bluetooth.
6. EuroOptic — Swarovski 75th Anniversary Sale, Save up to $500
⏺ Save hundreds on top of the line optics
If you are looking for a superb riflescope, spotting scope, binculars, or rangefinder binoculars, check out the Swarovski 75th Anniversary Sale at EuroOptic.com. We’ve tested Swarovske RangeFinder Binoculars and they are superb, as is the Swarovski modular spotting scope system.
Here’s a great deal on good electronic muffs. Right now you can get black Walker’s Razor Slim Electronic Muffs (#ad) for just $33.28, a 58% discount. Other colors of Razor Slim muffs are offered starting at $37.00 for plain black (#ad). These Razor muffs have a good noise reduction rating (NRR) of 23 dB. (For best protection run plugs under the muffs.) The Razor series also feature Walker’s comfort fit headband for all day shooting. NOTE: These are Amazon’s #1 Best Seller in Hunting & Shooting Earmuffs.
8. Amazon — KUBEI USB Rechargeable Digital Scale, $24.99
⏺ Compact scale with USB-rechargeable battery at great price
Everyone can use an inexpensive, compact scale for loading at the range or sorting bullets or maybe even primers. One very affordable option KUBEI USB Rechargeable Digital Scale (#ad). Unlike most other inexpensive digital scales, this comes with a large dust cover with a “window” for your powder pan. Notably, this scale can be conveniently recharged with a standard USB cable — no batteries to replace ever! We have heard positive reports from Forum members about this $24.99 portable scale, which offers 9 types of weight units, calibration weight, and fold-down protective lid.
9. MidwayUSA — Frankford Arsenal Tumbler Kit, $59.99
⏺ Good, reliable tumbler complete with media separator
You want your cartridge brass to be clean before resizing and bullet seating. A tumbler can clean large quantities of brass quickly and efficiently. One of the best tumblers for the price is the Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Vibratory Case Tumbler. This reliable tumbler holds up to 600 9mm or 350 .223 Rem cases. The included separator fits most buckets, allowing efficient collection of media after tumbling. Bonus: If you order at least $99 of products from MidwayUSA, this Tumbler Kit ships free.
10. Amazon — Splatterburst Target 50 pack, $35.99
⏺ Good target with hi-viz bright yellow shot displays
Splatter targets make it easy to see your shot locations, even at significant ranges (300 yards and beyond). By contrast, bullet holes on regular paper targets can be hard to see past 200 yards. With these Splatterburst 12″x12″ Targets (#ad) you can instantly see your shots upon impact and spend less time checking your target. These targets feature five diamonds in a high-viz grid pattern for precise aiming. Chose a 10-pack for $12.99, a 25-pack for $22.99, or a 50-pack for $35.99.
As an Amazon affiliate, this site can earn revenues through sales commissions.
Ever wanted to see how Nosler bullets and cartridges are made? Here’s your opportunity. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) has produced a video (“Quality First”) that offers a behind-the-scenes look inside Nosler’s Oregon factory that produces bullets, brass, and ammunition.
Video Showcases Nosler Production Facility and Ballistics Lab
RMEF representatives were provided with unprecedented access into Nosler’s famously-guarded manufacturing plant to show the technology used by Nosler to produce bullets and ammunition. The “Quality First” video showcases Nosler’s complex production processes that include technologically advanced machinery, and stringent quality control measures.
After the intro, this video illustrates Nosler’s bullet construction techniques with an excellent animation sequence. The video then showcases the Nosler ballistics lab, inspection room, and packaging line. The video shows the bullet construction techniques followed by a ‘walk-though’ in the factory, showing the machinery used to make bullets, brass, and ammunition.
Information Resources — Load Data and Nosler Blog
The Nosler website also features comprehensive LOAD DATA, plus informative content in the Nosler Blog. The Load Data page works well on smartphones. Go to the Load Data Index Page, then simply scroll down to a caliber. Then select your cartridge type and bullet weight(s). The rifle listings are quite comprehensive, covering .17 caliber up to .458 caliber. Here is an example of Nosler load data for the 6mm Creedmoor with popular 105-107gr bullets.
Precision Benchrest and F-Class shooters favor premium brass from Lapua, Norma, Peterson, or RWS. (Lake City also makes quality brass in military calibers.) Premium brass delivers better accuracy, more consistent velocities, and longer life. Shooters understand the importance of good brass, but many of us have no idea how cartridge cases are actually made. Here’s how it’s done.
The process starts with a brass disk stamped from strips of metal. Then, through a series of stages, the brass is extruded or drawn into a cylindrical shape. In the extrusion process the brass is squeezed through a die under tremendous pressure. This is repeated two or three times typically. In the more traditional “draw” process, the case is progressively stretched longer, in 3 to 5 stages, using a series of high-pressure rams forcing the brass into a form die. While extrusion may be more common today, RWS, which makes some of the most uniform brass in the world, still uses the draw process: “It starts with cup drawing after the bands have been punched out. RWS cases are drawn in three ‘stages’ and after each draw they are annealed, pickled, rinsed and subjected to further quality improvement measures. This achieves specific hardening of the brass cases and increases their resistance to extraordinary stresses.” FYI, Lapua also uses a traditional draw process to manufacture most of its cartridge brass (although Lapua employs some proprietary steps that are different from RWS’s methods).
After the cases are extruded or drawn to max length, the cases are trimmed and the neck/shoulder are formed. Then the extractor groove (on rimless cases) is formed or machined, and the primer pocket is created in the base. One way to form the primer pocket is to use a hardened steel plug called a “bunter”. In the photos below you see the stages for forming a 20mm cannon case (courtesy OldAmmo.com), along with bunters used for Lake City rifle brass. This illustrates the draw process (as opposed to extrusion). The process of draw-forming rifle brass is that same as for this 20mm shell, just on a smaller scale.
River Valley Ordnance explains: “When a case is being made, it is drawn to its final draw length, with the diameter being slightly smaller than needed. At this point in its life, the head of the draw is slightly rounded, and there are no provisions for a primer. So the final drawn cases are trimmed to length, then run into the head bunter. A punch, ground to the intended contours for the inside of the case, pushes the draw into a cylindrical die and holds it in place while another punch rams into the case from the other end, mashing the bottom flat. That secondary ram holds the headstamp bunter punch.
This video employs DEFORM-2D software to show the draw process for brass casings.
The headstamp bunter punch has a protrusion on the end to make the primer pocket, and has raised lettering around the face to form the headstamp writing. This is, of course, all a mirror image of the finished case head. Small cases, such as 5.56×45, can be headed with a single strike. Larger cases, like 7.62×51 and 50 BMG, need to be struck once to form a dent for the primer pocket, then a second strike to finish the pocket, flatten the head, and imprint the writing. This second strike works the brass to harden it so it will support the pressure of firing.”
Thanks to Guy Hildebrand, of the Cartridge Collectors’ Exchange, OldAmmo.com, for providing this 20mm Draw Set photo. Bunter photo from River Valley Ordnance.
Though the worst shortages are behind us, quality ammunition remains pricey, particularly for popular cartridge types such as .22 LR, 9x19mm (9mm Luger), .357 Mag, .45 ACP, 6mm Creedmoor, .308 Win, and large-caliber hunting rounds. And 12ga shotgun ammo remains in short supply. In this article we list 15 reliable online sources for factory-loaded ammo. You may want to bookmark this page so you can quickly scan and price-check multiple vendors. In addition, you can use a service such as AmmoSeek.com. NOTE: There are complex laws restricting online ammo purchases by California residents.
Why Should You Shop for Ammo Online?
By shopping online for ammo, you can save money, get a wider selection, and often get bulk discounts. GunDeals.com explains the advantages: “Online purchases will save you a lot of money, and that is the biggest advantage, but that is not all, it will also save your time, deliveries are usually really fast, but one of the most important advantages is definitively the huge selection. You will be able to find any ammo brand online[.]” With online retailers you can quickly compare prices, and you will often get a discount on a large order (300 rounds or more) that is not available in local stores. Note, with some large vendors such as Cabela’s and Sportsman’s Warehouse you can order online then pick up in a local store.
Are There Restrictions on Online Ammo Purchasing?
In most (but not all) U.S. states is it legal to order ammunition online to be shipped to your residence. However, you MUST check your State and local laws and regulations. In some states and/or cities, it is ILLEGAL to purchase ammunition online for shipment across state lines with direct delivery. For example, in California, all ammo must be purchased from a licensed ammo dealer/vendor with a state background check (so much for the Second Amendment)*. Likewise Washington DC, Hawaii, and Alaska do not allow online ammunition purchases. And there are restrictions in New York City.
*In some instances ammo can be purchased online from an out-of-state seller who will then ship to an authorized, in-state California vendor who may transfer the ammo for a fee with background checks as required by CA law.
For today’s Sunday GunDay story we offer a short history of the legendary .50 BMG cartridge, tips on loading, and some fun photos from FCSA matches in the Western USA.
Fans of Heavy Artillery should visit Fifty Caliber Shooters Association (FCSA) website. There you’ll find range maps, photo collections and animated slide-shows On the FCSA photo gallery page, you’ll find a map. Click on any gray range link to see images from that venue. There are also a series of articles covering FCSA competition along with the “care and feeding” of the big 50-caliber rifles.
About the .50 BMG Cartridge
The .50 Browning Machine Gun (.50 BMG, aka 12.7×99mm NATO or 50 Browning) is a cartridge developed for the Browning .50 caliber machine gun in the late 1910s, entering official service in 1921. Under STANAG 4383, it is a standard cartridge for NATO forces as well as many non-NATO countries.
John Browning had the idea for this round during World War I in response to a need for an anti-aircraft weapon, based on a scaled-up .30-06 Springfield design, used in a machine gun based on a scaled-up M1919/M1917 design that Browning had initially developed around 1900. According to the American Rifleman: “The Browning .50 originated in the Great War. American interest in an armor-piercing cartridge was influenced by the marginal French 11 mm design, prompting U.S. Army Ordnance officers to consult Browning. They wanted a heavy projectile at 2700 FPS, but the ammunition did not exist. Browning pondered the situation and, according to his son John, replied, ‘Well, the cartridge sounds pretty good to start. You make up some cartridges and we’ll do some shooting’.”
Are you a died-in-the-wool .50 BMG fan? Got a hankerin’ for heavy artillery? Then visit the FCSA Photo Gallery page. There you’ll find hundreds of photos from Fifty Caliber Shooting Association (FCSA) matches and 50 Cal fun shoots in eleven states plus Australia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. To access the photos from the Gallery Page, start by selecting a shooting club and state with the brown buttons. After selecting the location, then click on the colored buttons for the event date.
Photo sets go all the way back to 2002, so you can see the evolution of the hardware over the years. Sample multiple archives to see the differences in terrain from one range to another — from Raton’s alpine setting to the hot, dry Nevada desert. This Gallery is really a treasure-trove of .50-Cal history. Here are a few sample images.
Reloading Powder and Special Tools for .50 BMG
Alliant’s Powder for 50-Caliber Applications
In 2009 Alliant unveiled Reloder 50, a slow-burn-rate powder designed primarily for long-range, .50-caliber rifle shooters. According to Alliant, the burn rate is “a little slower than Winchester 860″ and the powder is showing excellent lot-to-lot consistency. Load density is optimized for the 50 BMG and similar cases. Like Reloder 17, Reloder 50 employs a process which penetrates the kernels with the burn-rate-controlling chemical. This should allow a longer, flatter pressure curve, yielding more velocity than conventional powders can deliver. Alliant says that Reloder 50 offers “superior velocity and the ability to burn cleaner (with less residue)”. Reloder 50 comes in both 1-lb (#150527) and 8-lb (#150528) containers.
Forster and Lyman .50 BMG Trimmers
Big Fifty enthusiasts asked for a dedicated .50 BMG case trimmer, so Forster and Lyman created .50 Cal trimmers specifically for that cartridge. The cutter tip on the Forster .50 BMG Case Trimmer is much sharper than the cutter on the Lyman 50 Cal AccuTrimmer. However, with the Forster tool you will pay more for that superior cutting ability — the Forster .50 BMG trimmer is $125.18 at Precision Reloading compared to $85.21 on Amazon for the Lyman .50 BMG trimmer. Our advice is go ahead and pay the extra money for the Forster — the cutter head is much sharper, and we prefer the Forster’s collet-style case-holder. The Forster gets the job done more quickly, with less effort. NOTE: Grab the Forster while you can — we believe Forster has halted production (but it is still in stock at Precision Reloading and some other vendors).
Giraud .50 BMG Case/Bullet Comparator Giraud Tool makes a comparator for 50-Cal cartridges. The double-ended comparator is quite versatile. In one orientation you can measure base-to-ogive bullet length and also measure cartridge OAL from rim to bullet ogive. When reversed, you can use the comparator to measure cartridge headspace. The $33.00 Giraud .50 BMG Comparator gauge is constructed of 303 stainless and fits most any vernier, dial, or digital caliper. CLICK HERE for more info.
Many leading vendors are running sales for the 4th of July, with some sales extending through the 5th or 7th of July. You’ll find sitewide discounts plus significant additional savings on select products. In addition some vendors are now offering FREE Shipping. Here’s a quick summary of notable Independence Week Sales Events from leading online retailers.
Brownells 15% OFF Bargains with Code JULY15
As part of its July 4th promotion, Brownells is offering 15% Off a wide selection of products. To get this 15% discount, use promo Code JULY15 during checkout now through Sunday, July 7, 2024. Along with this 15% OFF deal, there are daily specials with significant additional savings. Items on sale include TriggerTech Independence triggers, AR Components, hunting rifles, magazines, loading tools and more.
Sportsman’s Warehouse Independence Day Sale
Sportsman’s Warehouse is running a huge Independence Day Sale with major discounts on a wide selection of outdoor gear including clothing, tents, camping gear, and fishing equipment — Save up to 50% on “summer adventure gear”. In addition, rifles and ammo are on sale, plus there are discounts on hearing protection, spinner targets, and more. Plus select gun parts are up to 35% off.
Vortex Month at Sportsman’s Warehouse — Huge Savings
Right now at Sportsman’s Warehouse you can get big savings on a wide selection of Vortex Optics including riflescopes, spotting scopes, binoculars, rangefinders, and red dots. Plus you can receive a Sportsman’s Warehouse Gift Card With Vortex Optics purchases. The card can be worth up to $200:
Spend $99-$200 receive a $10 Gift Card
Spend $201-$400 receive a $25 Gift Card
Spend $401-$500 receive a $50 Gift Card
Spend $501-$700 receive a $75 Gift Card
Spend $701-$1000 receive a $100 Gift Card
Spend $1001 or more receive a $200 Gift Card
Midsouth — FREE Shipping or FREE Hazmat with $99+ Orders
Midsouth Shooters Supply is running a major 4th of July sales promotion. For in-stock merchandise orders of $99.00 or more, with shipping weights up to 49 pounds, you can get FREE Shipping with Code 4SHIP24. Alternatively, the regular HazMat fee can be waived with $99+ orders of in-stock HazMat items (powder, primers). To get free HazMat, use Code 4HAZ24. These promos are for Ground Shipping only in the Lower 48 States.
Palmetto State Armory — Guns, Ammo, Optics on SALE
Palmetto State Armory (PSA) is running a major sale with significant discounts on hundreds of products including firearms, optics, ammunition, and magazines. If you’re looking to pick up AR-platform upper or lower, or a carry pistol, now’s a great time to shop at PSA.
Creedmoor Sports — FREE Shipping with Orders over $99
To mark Independence Day, Creedmoor Sports is offering FREE shipping with orders over $99.00 with Code CS1776. This deal is good through noon on 7/5/2025. NOTE: There are quite a few exclusions — ammunition, tumbler media, plastic beads, portable air gun ranges, firearms, air rifles, targets, and posters. And drop shipped items are exempt.
Precision Reloading — 15% Off Orders Over $150
Here’s a great deal from Precision Reloading. For orders over $150.00, you get 15% Off by using Code July4 during checkout. This applies to in-stock merchandise and some items are excluded. But it’s still a great promotion — you can save on bullets, brass, loaded ammo, tools, dies, accessories and more.
Natchez — $5.00 Flat-Rate Shipping on 4th of July
Natchez is offering $5.00 Flat-Rate Shipping on orders $99.99+ through 11:59 pm EST on 7/4/2024. Use Code FR240701. In addition, Natchez is currently running an Ammo Deals Days promotion through 7/10/2024 plus there optics sales for Burris, Vortex, and other brands.
Based on the questions we get on a daily basis on our 800 (Customer Support) line, twist is one of the most misunderstood subjects in the gun field. So let’s look deeper into this mystery and get a better understanding of what twist really means.
When you see the term 1:14″ (1-14) or 1:9″ twist, just exactly what does this mean? A rifle having a 1:14″ twist means the bullet will rotate one complete revolution every fourteen inches of the barrel. Naturally a 1:9″ turns one time every nine inches that it travels down the barrel. Now, here’s something that some people have trouble with. I’ve had calls from shooters thinking that a 1:14″ twist was faster than a 1:9″ because the number was higher with the 1:14″. The easiest way to remember this is the higher the number, the slower the twist rate is.
Now, the biggest misconception is that if a shooter has a .223 with a 1:8″ twist, his rifle won’t stabilize a 55gr bullet or anything lighter. So let’s look at what is required. The longer a bullet is for its diameter, the faster the twist has to be to stabilize it. In the case of the .223 with a 1:8″ twist, this was designed to stabilize 80gr bullets in this diameter. In truth the opposite is true. A 1:8″ will spin a 55gr faster than what is required in order to stabilize that length of bullet. If you have a bullet with good concentricity in its jacket, over-spinning it will not [normally] hurt its accuracy potential. [Editor’s Note: In addition, the faster twist rate will not, normally, decrease velocity significantly. That’s been confirmed by testing done by Bryan Litz’s Applied Ballistics Labs. There may be some minor speed loss.]
Many barrel-makers mark the twist rate and bore dimensions on their barrel blanks.
Think of it like tires on your truck. If you have a new set of tires put on your truck, and they balance them proper at the tire shop, you can drive down a street in town at 35 MPH and they spin perfect. You can get out on the highway and drive 65 MPH and they still spin perfect. A bullet acts the same way.
Once I loaded some 35gr HP bullets in a 22-250 Ackley with a 1:8″ twist. After putting three shots down range, the average velocity was 4584 FPS with an RPM level of 412,560. The group measured .750″ at 100 yards. This is a clear example that it is hard to over-stabilize a good bullet.
Twist-rate illustration by Erik Dahlberg courtesy FireArmsID.com. Krieger barrel photo courtesy GS Arizona.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.
1. Brownells — 15% Off Sale July 1-7 with Code JULY15
⏺ Great savings on large variety of products at Brownells
Starting today, 7/1/24, Brownells is running a major 4th of July Sale site-wide through July 7, 2024. With Code JULY15 you can get 15% off a wide range of products, plus there are special deals on firearms — rifles, pistols, and shotguns. Shown above are featured product deals plus some of the hundreds of rifles on sale with big savings.
2. EuroOptic — 12% Off Most Vortex Optics with Code VTX12
⏺ Use 12% discount code for big savings on Vortex optics
For a limited time, save 12% on most Vortex Optics products when you use promo code VTX12 during check-out. This special discount applies to the full selection of Vortex products including riflescopes, spotting scopes, laser rangefinders, and binoculars.
3. CMP — Crosman 2021 PCP Challenger Air Rifle, $650.00
⏺ Accurate, match-proven, excellent starter competition air rifle
Airguns are inexpensive to shoot, can be used indoors, and can be purchased directly — no FFL required. If you want an affordable, competition-grade air rifle, consider the Crosman Challenger 2021 PCP. This Sporter Class air rifle has an adjustable stock, 2-stage trigger, and competition sights. With good components and ergonomics, this Challenge rifle can compete with much more expensive rigs. This Crosman air rifle has earned 100% 5-star reviews from buyers. Here are recent buyer reviews on CreedmoorSports.com:
— “Outstanding price. Well made, easy to adjust. Once sighted in, drives tacks.”
— “Feels super comfortable to hold and shoot. Trigger is nice and crisp. First 5 shots off a bag in the prone position all went through the same hole… at 10meters.”
— “I [scored] Gold in [10m 3P] competition vs. other higher-priced rifles like Feinwerkbau and Anschutz.”
— “Very accurate, fun, 10m air rifle that sips air at such a low rate you wonder if the gage is broken.”
Note: For this $650 price, sales are restricted to members of CMP affiliated clubs only.
4. Midsouth — Lee Challenger Press with BONUS Die Set, $79.99
⏺ Good LEE Press on Sale with FREE DIES
The LEE Challenger is the world’s best-selling single station press. The lastest Gen III Challenger features an ergonomic lever plus a convenient tube for spent primers. Right now, to mark its 40th Anniversary, LEE is offering a FREE die set with the purchase of the LEE Gen III Challenger Press. Chose one of four cartridge types: .223 Rem, 9mm Luger, .38 SPL/.357 Mag, and .45 ACP (.44 SPL/.44 Mag is also listed but is out of stock). Another good feature of the LEE Press is the Breech Lock Quick Change Die System — change dies instantly with a twist of the wrist.
⏺ Massive savings up to $750 on quality PRS/NRL tactical scopes
EuroOptic is a top-flight vendor, with fast shipping and great customer service. Right now EuroOptic is running major sale on Burris Extreme Tactical II & III Tactical scopes, which work great for PRS/NRL competition. With the current Burris XTR Scope Sale, you can save up to $750.00 on a rugged, reliable FFP scope with various zoom magnification options (e.g. 3.3-18x50mm, 5-25x50mm, 5.5-30x56mm), with both 0.1 Milrad and 1/4 MOA click options.
6. Powder Valley — 2500 RUAG Small Rifle Primers, $169.99
⏺ Great price on high-quality primers
If you shoot benchrest rigs, varmint rifles, or ARs, you need small rifle (SR) primers. Now you can get high-quality German-made RUAG SR Primers for $169.99 for 2500. That’s the equivalent of $68 per thousand. These RUAG #4033 primers have earned positive user reviews: “Excellent quality… they performed very well… would recommend these to anyone”. NOTE: These are mil-spec primers with a fairly hard cup.
7. Creedmoor Sports or Graf & Sons
— Garmin Xero C1 Pro Radar Chronograph, $599.99
⏺ Superb game-changing compact radar chrono in stock
The Garmin Xero C1 Pro Chronograph works great and is ultra-compact. This popular radar chrono boasts an easy-to-use interface, great performance, and an excellent App for your smartphone. As of 7/1/2024 both Creedmoor Sports and Graf & Sons have the Garmin Xero C1 in stock for $599.99.
8. MidwayUSA — BOG Tripod + Electronic Muffs Combo, $139.99
⏺ Save $70 on outstanding tripod and electronic muffs combo
Here’s a great combo for PRS/NRL shooters and/or hunters. You get the excellent BOG Deathgrip Tripod AND Caldwell E-Max Electronic Muffs for just $139.99 total. Plus you get free shipping this week from MidwayUSA. The BOG DeathGrip Tripod has rugged aluminum legs and a patented hands-free clamp. The bipod head pans 360 degrees with cant adjustment. The 3-position leg angle lock allows bipod use in standing, kneeling, and prone positions. The comfortable, low-profile E-Max Pro electronic muffs have a 23dB noise reduction rating (NRR).
9. Palmetto SA, Blackhawk Shooting Mat/Rifle Case, $49.99
⏺ Multi-Function Shooting Mat/Rifle Case now $100 Off
Here’s a great deal on a multi-function Mat/carry case. The Blackhawk Stalker Drag Mat Carry Case is a nice padded shooting mat that ALSO serves as a rifle carry case and drag bag. Length is 50.5″ and width (in rifle case mode) is 9″. This mat/case is made from durable 1000 denier nylon and closed-cell foam. It has carry straps plus a shoulder strap.
10. Amazon — Real Avid Handgun Cleaning Kit, $19.99
⏺ Good, handy pistol cleaning kit in zipped carry case
To keep your pistols clean and safe, it’s wise to have a compact but well-equipped cleaning kit. We recommend the Real Avid Handgun Cleaning Kit (#ad). This kit includes a 2-part gun cleaning rod with T-handle, bore brush set, bore patch jag set, two small & large slotted bore patch tips and gun cleaning patches. All tools are stored in a handy, zip-closure carry case.
As an Amazon affiliate, this site can earn revenues through sales commissions.
Creedmoor Sports is a leading vendor of products for competitive shooters and serious hand-loaders. Along with great gear, Creedmoor Sports provides informative content for its customers. The Creedmoor InfoZone provides Reloading Tips, Gear Reviews, Shooting News, and basic gunsmithing information.
Bill Gravatt, President of Creedmoor Sports, is an expert on reloading processes and gear. He developed many of the popular tools marketed by Sinclair Int’l, and he brings that expertise to Creedmoor Sports. Bill hosts a series of “how-to” videos produced for the Creedmoor InfoZone.
In this video, Bill Gravatt demonstrates several methods to clean your cases. Bill tells us: “Powder residue should be removed before you insert your cases into your reloading dies. There are several ways to clean your cases. Many shooters use a combination of various methods…”
1. Manual Cleaning — You can use 0000 Steel wool for the outside of the case and a Case Neck brush for the inside. A paper towel can remove any remaining residue. This is a handy way to clean if you load at the range.
2. Vibratory Tumbling — This traditional method works well, particularly for pistol brass. Experiment with both Corn Cob and Walnut media. You can get a brighter shine by putting a small amount of liquid brass polish in the media.
3. Wet Tumbling with Stainless Media — This process can get your brass clean inside and out. Do check to ensure no pins are stuck in the flash-holes. Watch for peening of case mouths that can occur over time.
4. Ultrasonic Cleaning — Ultrasonic cleaning works great for small parts as well as brass. The ultrasonic process removes all carbon and traces of lube, which can leave the inside of case necks too dry. To smooth bullet seating, try putting a tablespoon of Ballistol in the cleaning solution.
Cleaning Reloading Dies
Cleaning your reloading dies is something that many hand-loaders neglect. In this 60-second Tech Tip, Bill Gravatt provides some smart advice on cleaning your dies. Bill notes: “After heavy use, case lube and carbon can build up in your reloading dies. It’s important to keep them clean. Also, with new dies, give them a good cleaning before first use, because they ship with a corrosion inhibitor.”
1. Step 1 — Prior to cleaning, disassemble the die and spray it with a good degreaser. Do this with brand new dies too.
2. Step 2 – Take a patch and run it in the die to remove old lube and gunk. Don’t forget the decapping assembly and other internal parts.
3. Step 3 — After cleaning the die, but before reassembly, spray the die with a good corrosion inhibitor, such as Corrosion-X or Starrett M1.
When shooting groups at long range on paper it can be difficult to distinguish which bullet holes belong to a particular sequence of shots. If, for example, you shot three 5-shot groups at 600+ yards on a paper target, you would have 15 bullet holes on the target (assuming no misses). But at that distance it would be difficult to see the holes on target (even with a spotting scope). Accordingly, when you inspected the target up close, it would be hard to tell which shots belonged to which group. You might have a vague idea, but couldn’t be sure, without a target camera recording the shot sequence.
Here is a method to separate multiple shots into specific groups so you can better evaluate your load and shooting skills. The trick is pretty simple — mark your bullets with a color from a Sharpie or other felt marking pen. If you are shooting three 5-shot groups, mark five with red, five with green, and five with blue (or purple). Then, when you inspect the target, you can identify the group placements by the colors that appear on the paper.
Round Robin: Using colors you can shoot “Round-Robin” to evaluate seating depths, neck tension, or other variables without having the shot order (and barrel heating) affect group sizes unequally. For example you might have three different neck tensions, each marked with a different color on the bullets. Then shoot Red, Blue, Green in that sequence for five total shots per color.
Smart Tip to Show Colors More Vividly
If the bullet inks are not showing up on your target paper clearly, here is a simple trick that can make the colors “bleed” to be more visible. In your range kit, bring some alcohol solution along with some Q-tips. Then dab the shots on the paper target lightly with wet Q-Tips. Here is the front of a target before and after application of alcohol:
Forum Member NewbieShooter explains: “Dabbing a bit of alcohol on the bullet holes with Q-Tips makes the color pop a bit… especially on the back side.” See below:
In short order you will see the colors spread into the paper, clearly marking the shot holes by distinguishing colors. If you were shooting a dark bullseye, view the the BACK side of the target to see the colors on a light background.
Credits: Bullet Tips photo by Forum Member Dave Way; Target photos by Forum Member NewbieShooter; Story tip from Boyd Allen.
Precision Benchrest and F-Class shooters favor premium brass from 
The headstamp bunter punch has a protrusion on the end to make the primer pocket, and has raised lettering around the face to form the headstamp writing. This is, of course, all a mirror image of the finished case head. Small cases, such as 5.56×45, can be headed with a single strike. Larger cases, like 7.62×51 and 50 BMG, need to be struck once to form a dent for the primer pocket, then a second strike to finish the pocket, flatten the head, and imprint the writing. This second strike works the brass to harden it so it will support the pressure of firing.”
For today’s Sunday GunDay story we offer a short history of the legendary .50 BMG cartridge, tips on loading, and some fun photos from FCSA matches in the Western USA.
Alliant’s Powder for 50-Caliber Applications
