This impressive 15-round group was shot by Jim See of Elite Accuracy.
Different Shooting Disciplines Demand Different Levels of Precision/Accuracy
In the rapid-fire 3-Gun game, you could probably “clean” most stages with a 2-MOA rifle. By contrast, in the short-range group benchrest game, to compete with the best, you’ll need a rifle that shoots in the “ones” (i.e. 0.1-0.19 MOA) in perfect conditions. In 1000-yard F-Class competition, the top shooters want a rifle that will hold one-third-MOA of vertical at that distance.
What is your standard of accuracy? How good is “good enough”. Jim See, a skilled gunsmith and successful PRS competitor, recently answered that question for his tactical discipline. For the kind of matches Jim shoots, he likes to have a rifle that will hold half-MOA for five (5) shots, 3/4-MOA for 15 shots, and 1 MOA for twenty shots. Remarkably, Jim’s rifle can do that with factory ammo. Above is an impressive 15-shot group shot with .260 Remington Federal Premium Ammo.
“I say it all the time, my loads need to print 5 under 1/2″, 10 under 3/4″, and 20 under 1″. It’s simple, if a hot barrel will keep 20 rounds fired in succession under my standard it will be a good barrel and load for Precision Match Shooting. Federal Premium Gold Metal Match .260 with Sierra bullets made the cut for me today. 15 consecutive shots under 3/4 MOA.” –Jim See
It’s said that you “can never have too much accuracy”, but there are acceptable standards for each discipline, and they’re not the same. A 100/200 yard Benchrest shooter will be sorely disappointed with a rifle/ammo set-up that can only deliver half-MOA. On the other hand, a PRS competitor like Jim See can achieve great success with a lesser degree of precision. This means you can save time and money. You can run your barrels longer between cleanings, and you don’t have to go “full OCD” when loading your ammo. The PRS shooter does not need to weigh-sort primers, or load powder to single-kernel standards. Proof is the performance. Jim See recently took third place at the Spearpoint Shootout, and he has been a podium finisher at other events. Learn more about Jim’s gunsmithing and training operations at EliteAccuracy.com.
Download This Load Development Target
Jim’s target seemed a bit familiar. AccurateShooter.com created this Diamond and Dot Target a few years back. On each aiming point, there are high-contrast black horizontal and vertical lines for aligning your cross-hairs. The gray circle lets you see the bullet impacts above, without obliterating the red diamond, which is quite useful for precise aiming (we put fine cross-hairs on the points of the diamond). This target sheet includes data entry tables below each of the three aim points. There are many other free targets out there, but this format is very popular. We’re pleased to see Jim using it. You can download this and dozens of other FREE Targets from the AccurateShooter.com Target Page.
6.5 Creedmoor (right) shown with .308 Win (left) and .243 Win (center) for comparison.
Though most popular for competition applications (PRS and XTC), the 6.5 Creedmoor is also a capable hunting cartridge. A few seasons back Norma spotlighted the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge and outlined the game-harvesting capabilities of Norma 6.5 Creedmoor factory ammunition. Here are highlights of that article, which may interest hunters this fall.
Origins of the 6.5 Creedmoor
Dave Emary, senior engineer at Hornady, asked fellow competitive shooters about their “wish list” for a mid-sized round with long-range potential. It needed to offer efficiency, good ballistics, fine accuracy, and reliable feeding from a magazine. To achieve these goals, Emary necked the .30 T/C to .264 caliber (6.5 mm). Dennis DeMille, then working at Creedmoor Sports, was also involved in the design (and naming) of the new cartridge type.
The shoulder on this 6.5 Creedmoor case is well to the rear, so long bullets with high ballistic coefficients can be used in short actions. The efficient Creedmoor case and its modest powder charge deliver hard hits on big game while keeping recoil modest. The case runs well in magazines sized for the .308 Winchester, and because it is efficient, the 6.5 Creedmoor delivers velocities very close to the .260 Remington (which is basically a 6.5-308 Win) with less powder. The 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge has shown excellent accuracy in PRS competition, though the 6mm Creedmoor has proven more competitive, given its reduced recoil. Overall the 6.5 Creedmoor has been a huge commercial success — the 6.5 CM is now one of the most-commonly chambered cartridges in new factory rifles.
Hunting with the 6.5 Creedmoor
by Wayne van Zwoll
I learned about the 6.5 Creedmoor by way of a rifle from Todd Seyfert at Magnum Research. The Remington 700 action wears a carbon-fiber barrel with a Krieger stainless core. GreyBull Precision added a stock and a modified 4.5-14X Leupold scope. Its 1/3-minute elevation dial is calibrated specifically for 130-grain boat-tail spitzers at Creedmoor velocities. “Spin the elevation dial to the distance in yards, and aim dead-on.” said GreyBull’s Don Ward. Prone with a sling, I was soon banging steel at 500 yards.
By the charts, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a superb cartridge for deer-size game. But I caught only a late elk season with this new rifle. The 6.5×55 and .260 had taken elk for me; surely the Creedmoor would as well. Alas, the close shot I’d wanted, to ensure precise bullet placement, didn’t come. When on the final evening Don and I spied a bull far off, there was no approach. “Your call,” he shrugged. “The air is dead-still.” I snugged the sling, prone, and dialed to the yardage. Ribs spot-lit by a sinking sun, the bull paused. Craaack! The animal spun, sprinted and fell. That shot was twice as long as any I’d ever attempted at elk.
Whitetail hunting with a Ruger 77, then a trip to sub-Saharan Africa with a T/C Icon, kept the 6.5 Creedmoor in my ammo pouch. The T/C dropped a Vaal Rhebok at 250 yards, in stiff wind. Shorter pokes on a variety of game produced consistently quick kills. I found the Creedmoor’s limit with an eland.
A high ballistic coefficient helped a Creedmoor bullet slice stiff wind 250 yards to this Vaal Rhebok.
Since then, I’ve seen several animals brought to bag by the 6.5 Creedmoor. And I’ve used it in a variety of rifles on paper and steel targets to 1,200 yards. It has become one of my favorite cartridges for deer-size game. Its mild report and recoil make it easy to shoot accurately. It seems an inherently accurate cartridge too. I’ve punched half-minute groups from production-class rifles. The proliferation of hunting loads for the 6.5 Creedmoor includes none better than Norma’s 130-grain Scirocco. This sleek, polymer-nose bullet, with its 15° boat-tail and a G1 BC over .550, flies very flat. In expansion and penetration tests, it opens reliably down to 1,750 fps, and drives straight and deep. A bonded bullet, it stays in one piece after high-speed impact, routinely retaining more than 80% of its original weight.
Story Tip from EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
Ever wonder how rifles, actions, stocks, optics, suppressors, and ammo components are produced in factories around the world? Today’s Saturday at the Movies installment features fascinating videos filmed inside major firearms industry factories including BAT Machine, ZEISS, Norma, SAKO, Nosler, CCI and Federal.
BAT Custom Rifle Actions — Factory Tour and Owner Interview
BAT Machine Co. makes some of the finest custom actions you can buy. Numerous national and world records have been set with BAT actions. To create this video, Ultimate Reloader’s Gavin Gear visited the BAT Machine production center in Post Falls, Idaho. Gavin talked with BAT’s founder Bruce Thom. The video features extensive footage of advanced CNC machines used to produce the superb BAT actions. If you own a BAT action, or hope to acquire one some day, definitely watch this video. CLICK HERE for Full Story.
Norma Ammunition Factory — Cartridge Creation Start to Finish
Norma has released a fascinating video showing how bullet, brass, and ammunition are produced at the Norma Precision AB factory which first opened in 1902. You can see how cartridges are made starting with brass disks, then formed into shape through a series of processes, including “hitting [the cup] with a 30-ton hammer”. After annealing (shown at 0:08″), samples from every batch of brass are analyzed (at multiple points along the case length) to check metal grain structure and hardness. Before packing, each case is visually inspected by a factory worker.
The video also shows how bullets are made from jackets and lead cores. Finally, you can watch the loading machines that fill cases with powder, seat the bullets, and then transport loaded rounds to the packing system. Guys, watch this video! You won’t be disappointed. The camera work and editing are excellent — there are many close-ups revealing key processes such as annealing and head-stamping.
SAKO Factory Tour in Finland
SAKO produces some of the best hunting rifles you can buy. SAKO, along with its sister company Tikka, operates sophisticated production facilities in Finland. In the video below, Canadian journalists visit the SAKO factory where rifles are made. It is interesting to see how stocks are made and barrels are bored and contoured. SEE More HERE.
Nosler Bullet Manufacturing
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. RMEF representatives visited Nosler’s famously-guarded manufacturing plant to show the technology used by Nosler to produce bullets and ammunition. After the intro, this video illustrates Nosler’s bullet construction techniques with a cool animation sequence. The video then showcases the Nosler ballistics lab, inspection room, and packaging line. SEE more HERE.
Video Showcases Nosler Production Facility and Ballistics Lab
ZEISS Sport Optics
ZEISS is a world leader in lens and optics technology. Along with ultra-high quality lenses used in production of computer chips and special optics for high-tech medical equipment, ZEISS produces great optics for hunters and shooters. ZEISS lenses are renowned for their sharpness, clarity, and high light transmission. ZEISS has a new series of LRP S3 and LRP S5 First Focal Plane scopes which promise to be favorites among PRS/NRL competitors and long-range hunters.
Silencerco Suppressor Fabrication Start to Finish
Here’s a cool video that shows the entire production process for a SilencerCo Octane pistol suppressor start to finish. Beginning with the raw materials, this video shows a wide variety of cutting, milling, drilling, burnishing, fitting, metal bathing, surface finishing, and laser etching processes. If you have any interest in production methods you’ll want to watch this video all the way through, and maybe a second time.
Rimfire Ammo Production at CCI/Speer and Federal Factories
YouTube host 22Plinkster got a chance to tour the CCI/Speer production facility in Lewiston, Idaho. This large plant produces both rimfire and centerfire ammunition. While touring the plant, 22Plinkster was allowed to capture video showing the creation of .22 LR rounds from start to finish. This is a fascinating video, well worth watching.
This revealing video shows all phases of .22 LR ammo production including cupping, drawing, annealing, washing, drying, head-stamping, priming, powder charging, bullet seating, crimping, waxing, inspection, and final packaging.
Field & Stream Tours Federal Ammo Plant in Minnesota
A while back Field & Stream toured the Federal ammunition production facility in Anoka, Minnesota. This large plant produces both rimfire and centerfire ammunition. While touring the plant, the reporter was allowed to capture video showing the creation of .22 LR rounds from start to finish. This is a fascinating video, well worth watching. Click speaker icon for sound.
Note to Viewers — After Starting Video, Click Speaker Icon to HEAR audio!
The Manufacturing Process for .22 LR Rimfire Ammunition Shooting Sports USA explains: “Rimfire cartridge cases are the oldest self-contained cartridge in existence, having been in continuous production since the mid-1850s. Rimfire cases are drawn from a thin piece of brass and formed with a hollow rim. A priming compound is then forced into the case using centrifugal force, where it is charged with powder and a bullet is seated in the mouth of the case. The case is then crimped around the bullet to ensure sufficient push and pull when the round is fired. When the firing pin strikes the thin brass rim of the case, the hollow rim is crushed and the primer is ignited.” Source: SSUSA.org 9/2/2017.
Many visitors to the site ask us, “I’ve got a .223 and .308. What will a 6mmBR Norma (6BR) give me that I’m not getting already?” Well first you will probably average consistently smaller groups than your current .223 or .308 rifle (assuming the 6BR has a quality barrel and trigger). A good .308 Winchester can be superbly accurate, no question about that, but the lesser recoil of the 6BR works in the shooter’s favor over a long string of fire. Even with a Rem 700 or Savage action factory action, a 6BR with a benchrest stock, premium barrel, and a high-quality chambering job should deliver 5-shot groups in the high twos to mid-threes, provided you do your job. We have one 6BR rifle that shoots Lapua factory-loaded 6BR ammunition in the low twos and high ones. That’s exceptional, we admit, but it still shows how the 6BR is an inherently accurate cartridge, even with factory loads.
Compared to a .223, the 6BR offers a much better selection of high-BC projectiles, and will deliver considerably more power on the target. So it’s a better choice for hunters and 600-yard benchrest shooters. Compared to the .308 Win shooting 168gr MatchKings, a 6BR shooting 105-107gr bullets offers better ballistics all the way out to 1000 yards. Plus, for most people, the 6BR is just easier to shoot than a .308 Win. Recoil is less than half of the .308 Win cartridge. Both the .308 and 6BR chamberings offer good barrel life, but the 6BR uses 15-18 grains less powder, saving you money. On the other hand the .308 Win is the designated cartridge for F-TR and Palma shooting, so it may be a more versatile chambering for Long-Range competition. So which would we choose between the 6BR and the .308? Actually we think you should have both. The 6BR is a favorite cartridge out to 500 yards, and we like the .308 Win for F-TR. The .308 Win has shown outstanding accuracy, as displayed last week at the NRA F-class Nationals in Arizona.
Winchester Ammunition has introduced the 21 Sharp™, a new rimfire cartridge with claimed “significant benefits for recreational shooters and small game hunters”. This new round is basically a .22 LR with a bit more zip and a non-rebated, slightly smaller diameter no-lead bullet. The main advantage of this new cartridge is that it works better with lead-free projectiles than the .22 LR. You can shoot the 21 Sharp from your existing .22 LR rifle, if you fit a new .21 caliber barrel. That barrel must have a smaller bore diameter and a slightly different throat/freebore configuration.
American Hunter explains: “For the mechanically curious among us, the .22 LR’s bullet diameter is .2255 inch, compared to the 21 Sharp’s bullet diameter of .2105. Both cartridges are spec’d to the same maximum average pressure of 24,000 PSI. Both have identical OAL of 1.00 inch, as well as identical case diameters, so both cartridges utilize the exact same case. While initial thoughts among industry folks were that surely the 21 Sharp would feature better ballistic performance due to the more aerodynamic projectile — and it does — the reality is that at the ranges for which this cartridge is intended (ideally inside 50 yards, max 150), the BC’s effect is negligible. Although Winchester Ammo says it will offer a range of bullet weights from 25 to 42 grains, the 21 Sharp’s primary loading [currently] is a 34-grain JHP bullet, which, with an advertised muzzle velocity of 1500 fps, performs pretty close to a .22 Stinger.”
The main reason for the creation of the new 21 Sharp cartridge is to offer slightly superior performance in 22 LR-action rifles with a lead-free cartridge that complies with the increasing number of anti-lead legal restrictions in U.S. states and foreign countries.
With the new 21 Sharp, according to American Rifleman: “All that should be necessary for most .22 Long Rifle-chambered firearms to shoot the new cartridge is a .21 Sharp barrel”.
Winchester is currently offering four types of 21 Sharp ammo, with bullet weights from 25 to 42 grains and velocities between 1300 and 1750 FPS. Winchester states: “The new 21 Sharp cartridge allows for a wide range of bullet types including full metal jacket (FMJ), copper matrix, and plated-lead options. Jacketed hollow point (JHP) bullets will also be available in 21 Sharp, delivering extreme expansion and energy transfer.” See chart below for the four options.
The 34-grain Super X JHP is expected to be the most popular. The 25gr Copper Matrix version has been tested by Peterson’s Hunting, which said accuracy was good, with velocities in the 1700 fps range. Tester David Draper noted: “Terminal performance was as expected with a rimfire round — a solid thump that tipped the prairie dogs right over. While the 21 Sharp isn’t meant to be a long-range round, fellow gunwriter Jeff Johnston was able to stretch its legs with confirmed kills out to 150 yards.”
21 Sharp Cartridge Chambering and Barreling Considerations
According to this video, the case on the new 21 Sharp cartridge is virtually identical to current .22 LR cases. However, and this is the KEY Point, the bullets have a smaller diameter and the chamber will have more free-bore. Existing .22 LR bullets have a slightly smaller diameter for the tail of the bullet which sits inside the case. The bullets for the .21 Sharp are straight taper (more like centerfire bullets) and will require a smaller-diameter barrel. We recommend you watch this video start to finish to understand the tech specifications of the new .21 Sharp cartridge.
American Rifleman states: “While the .21 Sharp will chamber in a .22 LR rifle barrel, due to its sub-caliber projectile, it cannot be fired with any degree of accuracy or precision. Additionally, .22 LR cartridges will not fit into a .21 Sharp chamber due to its heeled projectile. All that should be necessary for most .22 Long Rifle-chambered firearms to shoot the new cartridge is a [new] .21 Sharp barrel.”
Editor’s NOTE: We think it would have made more sense to use the .22 WMR case as the basis for the new .21 caliber rimfire ammo. This would allow higher velocities and better ballistics with the new .21 caliber bullets.
Final Note — Winchester Explains Why the 21 Sharp Was Created
Winchester claims the 21 Sharp design was created for “enhanced accuracy and on-target performance with both lead and lead-free projectiles.” Winchester states that: “Ammo manufacturers have tried with little success to incorporate lead-free projectiles into use in the venerable 22 Long Rifle (LR) cartridge. While those products are available, none have ever met the accuracy and on-target performance that a lead projectile can provide due to the original .22 LR design. The new 21 Sharp rimfire cartridge from Winchester was purposefully designed by Winchester to provide top performance with lead-free projectiles rather than accommodating them later.”
Have inflation (and supply chain shortages) affected the price of powder? You bet. Probably WAY more than you could imagine. Forum member “Two Time HM LR” posted this interesting photo (above) showing Hodgdon 8-lb powder prices from 1978, as sold by O.K. Weber in Oregon. Prices have risen over 1000% since then.
Eight Pounders under $45.00 in 1978
Now the prices — $20 to $44 — may not get your attention at first. But take note that these numbers are for EIGHT pound containers. Yep eight-pounders were all under $45! For example, H4895 was $44 for 8 pounds back in 1978, 45 years ago. And H335 was $20 for eight pounds — that’s just $2.50 per pound!
These days a single pound of a desirable powder such as H4831 might cost $60+ at some stores IF you can find it at all. On Hodgdon’s web site, H4831 powder is priced at $58.99 per pound in April 2024. Using that current $58.99/lb figure, H4831 is now 10.7 times higher than it was in 1978, when H4831 cost $44 for 8 pounds, i.e. $5.50 per pound. [Hodgdon’s current H4831 8-lb price is $403.99, or 9.18 times higher than before.]
Here are some comments from our Forum Members:
“Heck those prices are just about the same as current ones, just a little smaller container now.” — Joe
“I’ve got some H4831 in a can marked ‘WWII Surplus Powder’ with a price tag of $2.75. We’ll never see that again either.” Rick in Oregon
“1978 prices and 2022 income would be nice. Unfortunately that doesn’t work. If you compare prices and income, powder cost about the same. You also have to discount the temporary gouging that we are seeing.” — Tmwinds
“So I used to buy gas for 10 cents per gallon and they’d pump it, check the oil, and clean the windshield.” — Pirate Ammo
One comment suggests that the powder price hike actually tracks general U.S. currency inflation over the last four decades. So perhaps powder price increases are not as bad as they seem, when compared to how all prices have risen since 1978:
“Using H4895 as a comparison basis at $58.50 (list price) in 1978 calculates it to $275 in todays money. Looking at Powder Valley prices it looks like around [$340 in August 2023] for the same item in todays money [a 24% increase in real dollars]. Availability is another issue though and if someone is really needing powder they may well have to pay above suggested retail.” — Drover
Here’s good news for hunters — Both Browning and Winchester are offering 25% Off Rebates (worth up to $50 max) on select hunting ammunition for the 2024 fall season. Qualify with ammo purchases made from 9/15/24 through 11/20/2024. For both rebate offers there is a minimum one box purchase and maximum rebate amount of $50 per household. The deadline is 12/16/2024 to mail in your original UPC codes, original retail sales receipt, and completed redemption form.
Winchester 25% Off Hunting Ammunition Rebate
Winchester is now offering, for a limited time, a 25% Off rebate on all eligible hunting rifle ammunition prior to the start of the season. The offer is valid on qualifying purchases made between September 15, 2024 and November 30, 2024. The maximum rebate amount is $50 per household. Visit Winchester.com/Rebates to learn how to submit your rebate.
Eligible Winchester Hunting Ammo Types:
Winchester Deer Season XP®, Power-Point®, Copper Impact®, Ballistic Silvertip® and Expedition Big Game™ hunting rifle brands.
Browning 25% Off Hunting Ammunition Rebate
Browning is also running a Hunting Rifle Ammunition Rebate for the next 10 weeks. Browning offers a 25% Off rebate on all eligible hunting rifle ammunition prior to the start of the season. The offer is valid on qualifying purchases made between September 15, 2024 and November 30, 2024. The maximum rebate amount is $50 per household. Visit BrowningAmmo.com/Rebates to learn how to submit your rebate.
Eligible Browning Hunting Ammo Types:
Browning Hunting Rifle Silver Series, Max Point, Long Range Pro, Long Range Hunter, BXS, and BXV
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. Palmetto SA — FREE 9mm Pistol with SIG Rifle or Handgun
⏺ Get a FREE SIG Sauer P365 or P320 pistol with SIG gun purchase
Buy a gun, get a FREE gun. Here’s the deal — if you buy a specific SIG Sauer rifle or pistol you can get a FREE SIG P365 or P320 pistol. Customers who purchase a qualifying MCX-Regulator rifle, MCX-Spear rifle, or P226-XFIVE pistol will receive a SIG P365, P320-M17, or P320-M18 pistol through an online redemption offer at SIGSauer.com. CLICK HERE for details and list of qualifying purchases. You can purchase the qualifying guns through Palmetto State Armory or other licensed gun vendor.
2. Midsouth — Leupold VX-3HD Scope Sale with $100 Savings
⏺ Good scope for hunting rifles now $100 Off
If you need a new scope for a game-hunting or varmint rifle, check out the VX-3HD Line from Leupold. Right now Midsouth is offering a huge $100 discount on four popular Leupold VX-3HD scopes. Plus you get FREE shipping. Chose the 3.5-10x40mm, 3.5-10x50mm, 4.5-14x40mm, or 4.5-14x50mm, all with 1″ diameter main tubes.
3. Precision Reloading — Major Sierra Bullet Sale, All Calibers
Right now Precision Reloading is running a major sale on Sierra Bullets. There are significant savings on the full range of bullet weights and calibers — from .204 to .457. Save 12% or more this week. Choose from lightweight varmint bullets or high-BC match bullets in popular competition calibers: .224, 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, and .308. NOTE: Sierra Bullet Sale ends 9/22/2024.
4. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Depriming Tool, $39.99
⏺ Convenient tool — no press needed to deprime anywhere
Decapping fired brass can be tedious when using a reloading press and decapping die. Make things easier with the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Hand Deprimer Tool (#ad). You can deprime cases while watching TV. This handheld unit features an easily removable spent primer catch tube and an assisted-ejection case holder for easy removal of deprimed cases. The handle is spring-loaded to return the deprimer to the start position automatically.
Shooting waterfowl demands a rugged, accurate shotgun that won’t punish you with recoil. The Franchi 28″ Affinity Black 12ga Semi-Automatic Shotgun handles great and can shoot modern, full-size 3.5″ shells. Recoil is quite manageable — the quality TSA buttpad combined with the Franchi Inertia Drive system absorb up to 50% of perceived recoil. The shotgun has a ventilated rib barrel with red fiber-optic front sight. This Franchi shotgun ships with Improved Cylinder, Modified, and Full chokes plus choke wrench.
6. Amazon — Lyman Trigger Pull Gauge, $47.48
⏺ Very popular trigger gauge is accurate and easy to use
Lyman’s patented Digital Trigger Pull Gauge (#ad) is designed to be the fastest and most accurate trigger pull gauge available. This accurate electronic trigger gauge can register from 1 ounce all the way up to 12 pounds pull weight, with accuracy to the tenth of an ounce. That makes it ideal for all firearms types. This unit features a retractable pull rod to prevent damage. We like this Lyman tool and recommend it.
7. Scheels — Berry’s 400 Tumbler, $64.99
⏺ High-quality tumbler plus free shipping with $75 total purchase
Tumbling brass takes a strong machine that gets the job done quickly. The Berry’s 400 Tumbler is made from premium parts. The large, smooth bowl helps with fast, efficient cleaning while the clear lid lets you check progress easily. The motor has a 3-year warranty while other parts come with a lifetime warranty. NOTE: Currently Scheels offers FREE Shipping with a purchase of $75.00 or more. Add cleaning media ($17.99) to your cart and you can get FREE Shipping for both items.
Whether you’re working on your next firearm build or performing routine maintenance in your shop, the Wheeler Engineering 30-Piece SAE/Metric Hex and Torx P-Handle Set (#ad) is a great addition to your workbench. The stand design allows quick access, and the holder assembly can even be mounted on a wall. The tool handles are color-coded for type, and the front of the holder has clear/bright labels for size and type of each tool. This 30-piece set offers a full range of SAE Mex, Metric Hex, and Torx drivers.
8. Amazon — Lyman Micro-Touch 1500 Scale, $67.87
⏺ Good compact scale with touch screen
Every handloader can use a compact but precise scale. Get all the features of much larger models combined with state-of-the-art touch screen controls with the Lyman Micro-Touch 1500 Scale (#ad). It is just 3.25″ wide by 5.4″ long and 1.25″ tall. This digital reloading scale has a full 1500 grain capacity and is accurate to within 1/10 of a grain. The Micro-touch 1500 also includes its own powder pan and 100-gram calibration weight.
10. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Gen 2 Reloading Trays
⏺ Quality cartridge-specific trays offer no-wobble fit
Ammo trays that fit cartridge brass very well definitely enhance the reloading process. We like the Frankford Arsenal Gen2 Reloading Trays (#ad) because they are sized for individual cartridge types (or a cartridge family) for a precise fit. These trays help hand-loaders maximize efficiency and stay organized. Sold in a convenient 2-pack, each tray securely holds 50 cases. Tray sizes are available for popular rifle and pistol cartridges: 9mm, .223 Rem, .38 SPL/.357 Mag, .38 Super/.40 SW, .45 ACP, .308 Win/6.5 CM, 7mm RemMag/.300 WinMag, and .338 Lapua/.45-70.
As an Amazon affiliate, this site can earn revenues through sales commissions.
Ever wondered what the air around a moving supersonic bullet really looks like? Check out this video from the Bryan Litz Ballistics Facebook page. This is a Schlieren video* of a 6mm 109gr Berger LRHT bullet at about 2800 fps as fired from Francis Colon’s PRS rifle at the Applied Ballistics Lab.
Bryan Litz notes: “You can clearly see the compression (shock) wave at the front of the bullet. A compression wave is formed when the air has to move faster than the speed of sound to get out of the way, which is certainly the case for this bullet which is moving about 2.5 times the speed of sound (Mach 2.5).
That shock wave is the ‘snap’ you hear when bullets fly past you if/when you’re downrange. Also, compressing the air into a shockwave takes energy, and that energy comes directly out of the forward velocity of your bullet and gets converted into heat and noise as the shock wave forms and dissipates.
The turbulent wake at the base of the bullet shows where/how base drag applies. The third and smallest component of drag for a supersonic bullet is skin friction drag, which is a viscous boundary layer effect, and is the least visible in this image. So as you head to the range or the hunting stand, think about the absolute violence your bullets are committing in the atmosphere, before they even reach the target!”
Target Sports USA is running a major contest now through November 1, 2024. The Grand Prize is a 2024 Ford F-150 4×4 Crew Cab truck with custom wheels, truck cover, lift-kit and more. The truck is worth $50,174 and the truck accessories are worth $5,484. Along with that Grand Prize, there are three other major prizes plus travel benefits:
Second Prize: QuietKat eBike worth $4800 plus $470 worth of 9mm ammo.
Third Prize: Camp Chef WoodWind 36 Pellet Grill worth $1200 plus $470 worth of 9mm ammo.
Fourth Prize: Camp Chef Flat Top 900 Grill worth $900 plus $470 worth of 9mm ammo.
Bonus Benefits: AMMO+ Day event Travel and Accommodations Package
Prize Pool aggregate value for the Grand Prize to Fourth Prize levels is $63,967.94. Combined with the estimated $12,000 travel expenses (for winners), the Total Prize Pool is worth $75,967.94.
The winner will be announced on November 16, 2024. You have until November 1, 2024, to enter for the chance to win a prize. All Target Sports USA AMMO+ members are automatically entered to win. Ammo+ membership is NOT required to enter the contest. You can also enter by submitting a written entry card. NO Purchase or Paid Membership is required. CLICK HERE for Contest Entry Rules.
Details of Grand Prizes and Travel Packages
The four confirmed eligible winners will attend a special AMMO+ Day Event and participate in a random drawing where each winner is to win one of the following prizes:
• One Grand Prize Winner is to be awarded a 2024 FORD F-150, 4X4 Styleside Crew Cab, WIL2, White Color exterior black interior colored pickup truck that includes a V6 Ecoboost engine with custom 17-inch Silver Steel Wheels, Rims, Tinted Windows, Weather-Tech Mats, a RealTruck TruXedo Sentry CT Tonneau Truck Cover and a Lift-Kit. Approximate KBB vehicle value is $50,173.94 with accessories valued at $5,484.00. Total Grand Prize Pool ARV is $55,657.94.
• One Second Prize Winner is to be awarded a QuietKat Apex Pro eBike MSRP $4,800.00 plus two cases of 9mm New Republic ammo valued at $470.00. Total Second Prize Pool ARV is $5,270.00.
• One Third Prize Winner is to be awarded a Camp Chef WoodWind 36 Pellet Grill MSRP $1,200.00 plus two cases of 9mm New Republic ammo valued at $470.00. Total Third Prize Pool ARV is $1,670.00.
• One Fourth Prize Winner is to be awarded a Camp Chef Flat Top 900 Grill MSRP $900.00 plus, two cases of 9mm New Republic ammo valued at $470.00. Total Fourth Prize Pool ARV is $1,370.00 (USD).
• The AMMO+ Day Event Travel and Accommodations Package:
In addition to the above Prizes, four AMMO+ Day Event Travel/Accommodations Packages are awarded with estimated value of $3,000 per winner (may vary based on winner locations).
Total Prize Pool for the Grand Prize to Fourth Prize levels is $63,967.94, plus estimated travel expenses at $12,000.00 makes the Total Prize Pool value $75,967.94.
Non-Member Mail-in Method of Entry (AMOE)
Enter by legibly hand printing on a 3”x 5” or 4″ x 6″ postcard or paper, in black or blue ink, your first name, last name, mailing address, city, state, zip, day and evening phone numbers with area code (to be used for winner notification), e-mail address (if available) and date of birth. Mail each postcard separately in a hand-printed first class stamped #10 business size envelope to: Compliance / Target Sports AMMO+ Day Truck Giveaway IV, P.O. Box 468, Stonington, CT 06378. NOTE: The return address on the envelope must also be hand-printed with the sender’s full name and address.
Norma has released a fascinating video showing how bullet, brass, and ammunition are produced at the 
Many visitors to the site ask us, “I’ve got a .223 and .308. What will a 6mmBR Norma (6BR) give me that I’m not getting already?” Well first you will probably average consistently smaller groups than your current .223 or .308 rifle (assuming the 6BR has a quality barrel and trigger). A good .308 Winchester can be superbly accurate, no question about that, but the lesser recoil of the 6BR works in the shooter’s favor over a long string of fire. Even with a Rem 700 or Savage action factory action, a 6BR with a benchrest stock, premium barrel, and a high-quality chambering job should deliver 5-shot groups in the high twos to mid-threes, provided you do your job. We have one 6BR rifle that shoots Lapua factory-loaded 6BR ammunition in the low twos and high ones. That’s exceptional, we admit, but it still shows how the 6BR is an inherently accurate cartridge, even with factory loads.
