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.
⏺ Hard to beat SFP scope at this price — great glass
Here’s a great deal on an excellent ZEISS 6-24x50mm SFP optic, with 1/4 MOA clicks, and handy Z-MOA1 reticle. The glass is exceptional — at the $849.99 sale price, you’ll be hard to beat the quality of this scope. It is a great choice for varmint work and club matches. Here are actual purchaser reviews: “Excellent, A++, Clear glass”; Awesome clarity and the adjustments are spot on — Zeiss V4 scopes are hard to beat for the money”; “Great mid-level scope. Clear Glass with a good no nonsense reticle and easy to operate turrets”.
2. Midsouth — 1500 Fiocchi Small Rifle Primers, $129.99
⏺ High quality primers in bigger quantity 1500 pack
You may not have tried Fiocchi primers before, but these are effective and very reliable. These primers are manufactured on modern equipment using the best available materials. Folks, please note, this is for 1500 (one thousand five hundred) primers. Fifteen hundred. Nearly all other primer sellers ship packs of 1000 primers. So you get 50% more than normal. This is the equivalent of $86.66 for 1000 primers — a very good deal these days. NOTE: They are somewhat harder than average and work well for military firearms with floating firing pins.
3. Precision Reloading — Wilson Products Sale Through 5/18/22
⏺ Great products with good discounts, but act soon, sale ends 5/18/23
We highly recommend Wilson products. This editor uses a Wilson case trimmer and Wilson micrometer inline seating dies. They work great. Right now you can get significant savings on ALL Wilson products at Precision Reloading. Save on Case Trimmers, Seating dies, case gauges, bushings, deburring tools, as well as combo tool/die kits.
⏺ Great Deal — 20% Off reloading kit with 500 free bullets and free shipping
Here’s an excellent reloading package with everything you need to start handloading cartridges. And right now you can save 20% and get free shipping. With this Hornady Lock N Load Deluxe Classic Reloading Kit you get the Classic single-stage press, powder measure with stand, digital scale, hand priming tool, OAL gauge tool, calipers, loading block, bullet release “hammer”, powder trickler, funnel, chamfer/debur tool, shellholder pack, die bushings, lock rings, Hornady Reloading Manual and much more. Folks, this is a great bargain at $319.99! The same Hornady L-N-L Classic Press Kit is $369.97 on Amazon, fifty bucks more. Plus you get 500 FREE bullets from Hornady with the purchase of this kit.
5. MidwayUSA — Leupold 12-40x60mm HD spotter, $1199.99
⏺ Big discount on very good spotter for hunters and field shooters
Here is an excellent spotting scope for hunter and tactical shooters who have to carry lots of gear in the field. This Leupold 12-40x60mm HD spotter is compact and relatively light weight. The prism-less Folded Light Path (FLP) system uses mirrors to compress a long optical system into half its typical length. And this scope has great glass with best-in-class eye relief. Right now save $300.00 on this spotter. NOTE: This is a factory-refurbished item that may have a slight blemish, but it comes with the full lifetime Leupold warranty.
Here’s a patriotic, American-Flagged theme rimfire starter rifle for a junior marksman in training. Right now KYGUNCO has the Keystone 2d Amendment Crickett Precision .22 LR Rifle, complete with scope and bipod, for just $392.99. Plus, Keystone is offering a $75 factory rebate through 5/31/2023. That lowers your net cost to $317.99. If you don’t need the scope or bipod you can also get the basic Crickett Precision Rifle in Flat Dark Earth for $292.99, or $217.99 after the $75.00 rebate. These rifles feature adjustable cheekpiece and adjustable LOP with spacers. REBATE Details.
⏺ Very handy conversion — shoot .22 LR with your AR15
Save money when training with your AR15 by using this CMMG AR15 .22 LR Conversion Kit. You get a complete new rimfire bolt mechanism plus three (3) magazines that fit .22 LR cartridges. Right now this kit is on sale at Brownells for $179.99. Then use Brownells Code CART20 during check-out to lower the net cost to just $159.99. That’s a great deal. You can get decent .22 LR ammo for under ten cents a round. Centerfire .223 Rem ammo can easily cost $0.50 per round (or more), so this kit will pay for itself after just 400 rounds. CMMG recommends Federal 36gr plated round-nose ammo for best performance.
8. Graf & Sons — CCI .22 LR Ammunition from $3.99/50
⏺ Quality CCI .22 LR ammo in stock at very good prices
With the growth of NRL22, PRS 22, and rimfire F-Class, more and more shooters are competing with rimfire rifles. And with action steel matches, rimfire pistol shooting is hugely popular these days. Thankfully, its still possible to get good rimfire ammo at reasonable prices. At Graf’s you’ll find good CCI .22 LR ammunition starting at just $0.08 (eight cents) per round. CLICK HERE for CCI .22 LR Deals.
The 22BR cartridge is viewed by many as primarily a varmint round. However, with modern, high-BC bullets, it offers excellent long-range performance. With high-BC 80-95gr .22 caliber bullets, the 22BR can excel in a variety of shooting disciplines. Here we feature the Tubb 2000 rifle of Clint Greenwood. Clint did his load testing with the 90gr JLK (Jimmy Knox) VLDs, but now the new Sierras promise to rival the performance of the JLKs with readily-available factory bullets. That’s good news for long-range shooters since we’re told Jimmy is retiring from the bullet-making business.
A ‘New Twist’ on the Tubb 2000
A few seasons back, Texan Clint Greenwood let us know about a 22BR project he had in the works. We were intrigued by the potential of 90gr bullets in this cartridge. Clint reports: “I got involved with the 22BR after working with its parent case, the 6mm BR Norma. I became interested in the 6BR about three years ago. I had read everything I could find concerning the 6BR, particularly several of Larry Bartholome’s Precision Shooting articles. I was convinced that I just had to have a 6BR, so I took a Rem 700 short action that I had and sent it off to Greg Tannel for some work. While waiting for the rifle to return, I succumbed to the fever and purchased a Tubb 2000, also in 6BR. Both of these rifles were outstanding. It was harder to find a load that didn’t work in the 6BR than to find one that did.
I devote most of my shooting time to High Power XC, but shoot the occasional prone match. My home club was constructing a 1000-yard range and would shortly begin shooting monthly 1000 prone matches. I had originally planned to shoot one of my 6BRs in the prone matches, but a friend that I shoot with, also a 6BR fan, had recently built a bolt-gun in 22BR, and was really pleased with it. We talked at length about his rifle. He had Dave Kiff grind a reamer that would allow him to neck down Lapua 6BR brass to 22 BR and not have to neck turn. His rifle was barreled with a 7.7-twist Kreiger, and he was having great success shooting the 80 Sierra MK across the course.
Better BC for Service Rifle Competition I am primarily a Service Rifle shooter, shooting an AR. Being aware of the self-imposed limitations of shooting the AR Service Rifle, particularly at long range, I had always endeavored to gain every advantage for myself. When the .224 90gr Jimmy Knox (JLK) VLDs came out… I jumped on the bandwagon with a passion. I was easily able to obtain 2750 FPS with the 90 out of the tiny .223 case using VV N540, moly and CCI 450 primers. This familiarity with the quirks of the 90 JLK led me to build my wife a prone rifle in .223.
I had John Holliger chamber a 30″ PacNor in 1:6.5″-twist for the rifle. John Holliger is absolutely the guru for 6.5-twist barrels, having pioneered them. I have had a half-dozen 6.5-twist PacNors that John has done, and every one has been a hummer. Using the 30″ barrel, I was able to push the 90gr JLK to 2900 FPS with no problems. The 90gr JLK’s BC has been listed from .560 to .590, and pushing it at 2900 fps, it was obvious that, as far as a .22 was concerned, the 90gr JLK was the best wind-bucking bullet [available at the time]. [Editor’s NOTE: There are now other high-BC .22 caliber bullets from Berger, Lapua, and Sierra].
Several factors converged at once to finally turn on the dim 10-watt bulb in my head. I had a large supply of Lapua 6BR brass, several thousand 90gr JLKs, a friend with a 22BR reamer for loan, and a gunsmith that really knew his way around 6.5 twist PacNor barrels who also made T2K barrels. I was doomed! Holliger chambered a 30″ 6.5-twist PacNor for my T2K, using my friend’s reamer. I was busy getting tooling ready. When the barrel arrived, I removed the 6BR barrel off of my T2K, and screwed the 22BR barrel on.”
22BR Cartridge Basics
The 22BR is a simple wildcat formed by necking-down 6mm BR brass. Case forming is easy — just run a 6BR case through a 22BR sizing die. With custom bullets, the 22BR has done well in NBRSA short-range Benchrest. Accuracy is on a par with 6mm BR out to about 250 yards, but from there, the 6mm VLDs, with their high BCs, buck the wind better. The 22BR with 90gr bullets offers very impressive ballistics, with less recoil than you might experience shooting a 6BR or 6mm Creedmoor with 105-110gr projectiles.
Forming the 22BR Case
Forming 22BR brass is not complicated. Starting with 6mm BR cases from Peterson or Lapua, you simply run the case through a 22BR full-length sizing die. Be sure to outside-chamfer the case mouths first and lube the case necks and body.
To reduce run-out, half-way through the stroke back out the case and rotate it a half-turn. Then finish by running the case all the way up into the FL die. You can also use a bushing neck-sizing die, but it goes more smoothly if you use an intermediate bushing, then do a second pass with your final bushing. (Or, if you have a Redding 22BR die, using it first will reduce the neck enough to finish with a single bushing.) Using a full-length sizing die is the better method, as the bushings tend to push brass down to the neck-shoulder junction (NSJ). With either method we suggest you run a mandrel down the necks after necking down, and neck-turn the last .050″ or so of the neck and slightly up into the shoulder. This will remove any bulge at the NSJ, and help prevent doughnut formation. And remember to load a few dummy cases before you spec the neck diameter for your reamer to ensure your cases will chamber without further neck-turning.
Load Development for the 22 BR
After necking down the brass from 6mmBR, Clint used a K&M neck turner to remove the doughnuts formed when necking down. He ran the turned brass back through the sizer die, with no expander, and then inside-neck-reamed with a .221 reamer. Then, as a last step he used a mandrel to expand the necks, using two different mandrels to obtain some cases with .004 and some with .002 neck tension.
Clint reported: “I talked with Wes Grass, who had been playing with the 22BR and the 90 JLK. He opined that Varget, while a stellar powder in the 6BR, was simply too fast for the 22BR pushing the 90-grainer. Wes suggested trying VV N550, of which I had a supply. I loaded incremental loads of 0.5 graina of Varget and N550, in the two different sets of neck-tensioned cases. Being familiar with the 6BR, and having spoken with Wes about his loads, I began the Varget loads at 30.0 going up to 32.0. The N550 started at 30.0 also, and went up to 31.5.” Here is a table with the loads Clint worked up using the 90gr JLK:
VARGET Charge
Velocity
Extreme Spread
Std. Dev.
30.5
3022
14.3
6.2
31.0
3091
28
11.5
32.0 Ejector marks — too hot
3185
2.5
2.2
Vihtavuori N550 Charge
Velocity
Extreme Spread
Std. Dev.
30.0
2861
60.9
27
30.5
2930
46
16.5
31.0
2960
33
12.7
31.3 — Match Load
3050
22
9
31.5
3062
10.5
4.9
Clint noted: “All of the above loads used Lapua 6BR brass, neck turned and reamed, .004 tension, CCI BR4 primers. (I did settle on .003 neck tension). These loads were OK in my rifle. Reduce at least 10% before using them! [EDITOR’S NOTE: If you start about 10% under these loads, that should be a good beginning point for using the 90gr Sierra Match-King in a 22BR.]
Final Thoughts on Bullets, Powder and the 22BR
Clint Greenwood found that his 90gr JLK .22 Caliber worked best in his barrel seated well into the lands. You may get different results with different brands of VLD bullets or hybrid bullets. We recommend trying different seating positions and evaluating what works best.
Clinet explained his load development using 500 series VV powder. He observed that he had to get the pressures up pretty high. With higher pressures, “the groups will suddenly shrink dramatically. When you reach the operating pressure for the 500 series of powder, groups shrink dramatically, as if a light switch has been thrown.”
Working up the loads for the 22BR didn’t yield any surprises with the components that I had chosen. At 30.5 grs, the VV N550 loads began to really group into knotholes. 31.5 grains of N550 yielded some pretty impressive groups, as well as chrono numbers that were encouraging. I decided to back off 0.2 grains, as shooting in South Texas, I might be shooting these loads anywhere from 45 degrees to 110 degrees. The VV 500 series is fairly temperature insensitive, not as good as Varget, but decent, but on a few occasions in the past I have had a few “pressure excursions” that were unsettling in .223, and didn’t want to go there with my T2K. Dropping the loads 0.2 grains didn’t appear to change the accuracy and gave me a little insurance. At 200 yards, the warmer N550 loads were consistently under 1/2 MOA. I expect a bit better results when I use the fireformed brass, instead of the new Lapua that was sporting .010″ runout.
I am really pleased with the accuracy of my T2K in 22BR. I have to give most of the credit to John Holliger. If he hadn’t gone out on a limb and experimented with the PacNor 6.5 twist .22 barrel, none of this would have been possible. Good Luck, and remember to work up to these loads! — Clint Greenwood
David Tubb Explains T2K Stock Adjustments
I advocate setting stock length a little longer than most people might. I am a firm believer that it is best to “reach” slightly for the pistol grip as this ensures a strong, secure hold on the rifle. I pull the rifle firmly into my shoulder pocket when shooting offhand, and also prefer to have what I would characterize as very firm contact between rifle butt and shoulder in the sitting and prone positions as well. When using a sling in prone or sitting, stock length (and sling tension) should be great enough so that, at the least, you have to push the buttpad forward with your hand in order to place the stock into the shoulder pocket. My buttstock is shortest offhand and longest prone. If my standing setting is “0”, I’m usually out about 1-1/2 inches for sitting and about another inch for prone. I have found that many people tend to shoot with a stock that’s too long in sitting and too short everywhere else.
I have found the cast off/on adjustment feature on the buttstock greatly helps in attaining the natural shooting positions I desire. For prone, I offset the clamping block so the buttplate moves outward [the index mark on the clamp is to the right of center on the scale on the receiver extension tube]. I swing it a little bit inward for offhand and slightly more inward for sitting. The amounts of cast on/off (in clock-face terms) are approximately 6:30 for standing, 4:30 for prone, and 8:00 o’clock for sitting.
Stock Length Adjustment Procedure
The buttstock is adjustable in length 4-plus inches. This adjustment is accomplished by moving the buttplate tube in or out after loosening the four screws on the clamping block. Ensure that the buttstock tube is fully contained in the block. The extent of rearward (lengthening) movement is determined by the front of the buttstock tube fitting flush with the front of the block.
Cast and Cant Adjustment Procedure
The buttstock is adjustable for cast or offset by loosening the four screws on the clamping block and swiveling the block on the receiver extension tube. The buttplate itself is adjustable for cant up to 360 degrees and after loosening the screw directly in the center of the rubber recoil pad is adjustable for height at approximately 1-1/2 inches. The cheekpiece is adjustable vertically approximately one inch. The vertical cheekpiece adjustment is accomplished via the top knurled ring. The lower knurled ring will then secure the setting.
For more information on the Tubb 2000 Rifle and SSS Accessories, contact:
Superior Shooting Systems
Maker of Tubb 2000 Accessories,
and DTAC Bullets and Brass DavidTubb.com
With our inflationary economy, ammo continues to go up in price. So many readers are looking for bargains on factory-loaded ammunition, particularly for popular cartridge types such as .22 LR, 9x19mm (9mm Luger), .357 Mag, .223 Rem (5.56×45), and 6.5 Creedmoor. It 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.
Why Should You Shop for Ammo Online?
By shopping online for ammo, you can save money, get a wider selection, and get bulk discounts. GunDeals.com explains: “Online purchases [can] save you a lot of money [and can] also save your time… one of the most important advantages is definitively the huge selection.” 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, and Hawaii do not allow online ammunition purchases. And there are restrictions in New York City. In Alaska there are multiple shipping regulations that impact ammo deliveries from online sales so many vendors do not ship to Alaska.
*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.
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. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Intellidropper, $179.49
⏺ Precise powder scale/dispenser with advanced features
Do you need a faster and more accurate way to drop powder charges? If so consider the Frankford Arsenal Intellidropper. It features a self-optimizing powder calibration, +/- 0.1 grain accuracy, along with auto-trickle and manual trickle capability. This advanced machine operates with a handy touch-screen. Alternatively, you can operate remotely using Frankford’s Intellidropper App on your mobile device. User reviews of this scale/dispenser have been quite positive.
2. Creedmoor Sports — Sightron Optics Sale
⏺ Save hundreds on excellent high-magnification optics
Building a new match rifle and need a high-magnification scope? If you need a high-power optic at a great price, head over to EuroOptic for the Sightron May Scope Sale. Save a full $300 on the impressive, new SV 10-50x60mm ED optic, or save $130 on a 36X or 45X Sightron SIII scope.
3. Amazon — Rock Chucker Supreme Kit, $399.99
⏺ Quality, full-featured kit — great way to get started
RCBS offers the full line-up of reloading products — presses, tools, scales, and more. New handloaders should consider the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit. This Kit includes about everything you need to get started — Rock Chucker Reloading Press, Universal Case Loading Block, .17-.60 Debur Tool, M500 Mechanical Scale, Uniflow III Powder Measure, Hand Priming Tool, Hex Key Set, Case Lube Kit, Powder Funnel, and Speer Reloading Manual. Now $399.99 on SALE, this is an excellent deal — the very same kit sells for $459.99 at other vendors.
4. EuroOptic — SIG Laser Rangefinder Binoculars, $799.99
⏺ Great for hunting and tactical matches — 10X power with rangefinder
Rangefinding binoculars are great for hunters and tactical competitors — you simplify your load-out by having a single tool that ranges AND magnifies. Right now you can save $300 on SIG Sauer’s impressive SIG Sauer KILO3000BDX 10x42mm rangefinding binoculars. These offer sharp 10X glass with a very fast LightWave DSP™ Technology rangefinder. The rangefinder includes Angle Correction, rapid updates, and RangeLock. These SIG LRF binoculars have an additional “smart” feature. When paired with a SIG Sauer BDX-equipped riflescope, the onboard Applied Ballistics software sends ballistic drop data via Bluetooth to the scope’s reticle, providing an illuminated holdover dot and wind hold.
5. Graf & Sons — Competition Electronics Chronographs
⏺ Get a good, functional chronograph for under $130.00
Not everyone needs a $625.00 LabRadar. Some shooters just need a simple but effective chronograph to confirm a load velocity for hunting or target shooting. A good, affordable option is a Competition Electronics ProChrono chronograph. Competition Electronics offers good, reliable, made-in-the-USA chronographs at VERY affordable prices!
6. Bruno’s — PT&G Chambering Reamers In Stock, Many Types
⏺ Get precision reamers now — good prices, reamers IN STOCK
You can’t chamber a barrel without a reamer but unfortunately you might have to wait many months to get a new custom reamer. But don’t be discouraged — Bruno’s now has a wide selection of PT&G chamber reamers in stock and ready to ship. These are available for the .223 Rem, 6mm PPC, 6mmBR, 6mmGT, 6XC, .284 Winchester, .300 WSM and many other popular chamberings. If you have a project in the works, it’s great to be able to order a reamer that can be shipped to you immediately.
⏺ Nice, compact 9mm complete with integrated laser — great carry gun
Here is a great value in a 9mm carry/defense pistol. The Smith & Wesson SD9VE 9mm features a comfortable grip and a built-in laser. The Crimson Trace LG-457 Laserguard is a powerful red laser that can be set to activate instantly when the pistol is gripped, via a button on the grip front. This two-tone pistol has a black polymer frame and stainless slide. Priced at just $369.99 on sale, this S&W handgun is $200 less than a similar-sized Glock 19 without a laser. NOTE: For $389.99 ($20 more) you can get this pistol with a 16rd mag and a 10rd mag and Hi-Viz sights. Both versions come with FREE night sights.
8. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Funnel Kit, $33.54
⏺ This static-free funnel kit works great — perfect fit to necks
Handloaders need a good funnel to transfer powder into their brass. Ideally the funnel should closely fit the cartridge necks to minimize spillage. A great choice is the Frankford Arsenal Powder Funnel Kit. This quality funnel kit offers EIGHT (8) funnel nozzles with diameters that precisely fit nearly all popular cartridge types. Manufactured from static-free aluminum with a black chrome finish, this powder funnel easily slides onto case necks without hang-ups or static.
9. Palmetto State Armory — 9mm Blazer 1000 Rounds, $279.99
⏺ Great price on very reliable 9mm pistol ammo
The 9mm Luger (aka 9x19mm) is the most popular centerfire pistol round. If you need good 9mm ammo for training and plinking, grab this CCI Blazer 115gr FMJ ammo for the crazy low price of $279.99 for 1000 rounds. That’s just $14 for 50 rounds, a great deal on quality, American-made, brass-cased ammo.
10. Palmetto SA — Walker’s Muffs + Safety Glasses, $15.99
⏺ Killer deal on hearing and eye protection combo
Is it time to replace your hearing and eye protection? Or perhaps you could use an extra set for friends? Check out this Walker’s Ultra Slim Muff & Glasses Combo. You get good quality 27dB NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) muffs AND a set of quality shooting glasses — all for just $15.99. That’s a great price for essential safety items. Shooters should always have both eye and ear protection whenever at the range.
Sierra Bullets has released extensive load data for the popular 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge. This medium-sized cartridge has become one of the most popular chamberings for tactical and PRS shooters. The 6.5 Creedmoor combines excellent accuracy, good mag-feeding, good barrel life, moderate recoil, and reasonable component cost. That’s why this cartridge has caught on quickly, and is now one of the most popular chamberings in factory rifles.
Developed in 2007 by Dennis DeMille and Dave Emary, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a shortened and improved 30 TC cartridge case that was inspired by the .308 Winchester design. This short action design was created to maximize case capacity and a wide range of loading lengths, while still fitting in standard short action magazines. With the correct twist barrel, the versatile 6.5 Creedmoor can take advantage of the wide range of bullet weights available in 6.5 mm (i.e. .264 caliber). Reloaders should keep in mind that the 6.5 Creedmoor works best with medium to medium-slow powders such as H4350, Varget, Win 760, and RE-17. The light recoil and adaptability of the efficient 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge has already proven itself in high power, precision rifle series and benchrest competitions. Couple that with respectable barrel life and its intrinsic accuracy potential and you have a recipe for success which should insure its legacy for decades to come.
Here are three tables from the Sierra Bullets Reloading Manual (5th Edition). IMPORTANT — This is just a sample!! Sierra has load data for many other 6.5mm bullet types, including FB, Spitzer, SBT, HPBT, and Tipped MK from 85 grains to 142 grains. To view ALL 6.5 Creedmoor DATA, CLICK HERE.
INDICATES MAXIMUM LOAD – USE CAUTION
LOADS LESS THAN MINIMUM CHARGES SHOWN ARE NOT RECOMMENDED.
INDICATES MAXIMUM LOAD – USE CAUTION
LOADS LESS THAN MINIMUM CHARGES SHOWN ARE NOT RECOMMENDED.
INDICATES MAXIMUM LOAD – USE CAUTION
LOADS LESS THAN MINIMUM CHARGES SHOWN ARE NOT RECOMMENDED.
Two More Great 6.5 Creedmoor Reloading Resources
Want More 6.5 Creedmoor Load Info? View Starline’s 6.5 Creedmoor Guide by Gavin Gear:
PRB 6mm Creedmoor and 6.5 Creedmoor Load Survey
The Precision Rifle Blog compiled Load Data from PRS Competitors, for both 6mm Creedmoor and 6.5 Creedmoor. This is a good place to start. PRB surveyed the match loads for “173 of the top-ranked precision rifle shooters in the country”. CLICK HERE.
This custom war wagon hauls varmint hunters around the Longmeadow Game Resort in Colorado.
Will you be heading to the varmint fields this summer? Proper planning is key to a safe, satisfying, and productive varmint holiday. Of course you’ll be busy reloading, but you should make a check-list of all the gear and supplies you need. Bring a variety of rifles if possible — you’ll need to switch off as one barrel gets hot, and the chambering that works best for your close shots may not be ideal for those longer shots out past 400 yards. Here are some tips from our Forum members that can help you shoot more effectively, and avoid problems on your varmint hunt. Here’s one key tip: at your shooting station, put a strip of surveyor’s tape on a tall stake to show the wind direction. Then shoot in the direction the wind blows. This will minimize the effect of cross-winds.
Varmint Safari Planning, Equipment, and Shooting Advice
From PatchHound: “The gear you bring will make or break a trip out to Prairie Dog land. A lot has to do with where you going and how far you are from [civilization]. For starters, bring lots of water. It will be hot in Wyoming in a few more weeks but it don’t hurt to bring warm clothes in case it snows. It’s best to wear leather boots unless you’re real good at dodging cactus while walking around. Good sunscreen [and a wide-brimmed hat] will save the day too. [What you need to bring] really depends on whether you’re shooting on some friendly ranch or 100 miles in the middle of [a wilderness area]. Good survival gear is a good thing to have for the latter!”
This photo is from a Dan Eigen TV Show video featuring a P-Dog hunt.
From Stoner25mkiv: “I’d suggest an adjustable bipod if you are going to do any walking. A laser rangefinder is a huge asset. Have a fanny pack or backpack for extra ammo, water, bore-snake, etc. when you go on your walkabouts. We also take a couple pivoting benches, heavy movers’ pad/blanket, sandbags (Uncle Bud’s Bulls Bag) for shooting from near the vehicle. Boonie hat for blocking the sun, sun glasses, sunscreen. High leather boots.
Anyway, on to the rifles…consider bringing a .17 HMR, .223 Ackley bolt gun, .223 Ackley AR, and a .243 WSSM. Some years the .17 HMR isn’t removed from its case. We had a couple windless days and the 17 was lots of fun. I’d walk into the dogtown and then lay down and wait. After five minutes or so I’d have dogs within easy rimfire range, and out to as far as I’d care to stretch the rimfire. 275 yards was about it.”
From CTShooter: “The .204 [Ruger] is a laser beam and good to 400 yards easy. Forget the rimfire! Do you have a portable bench that pivots? Bring bipod, binocs. Bring a LOT of water. I have a milspec sniper shooter’s mat/drag bag with shoulder straps. It is good to carry everything when you want to wander off and shoot prone with bipod. Here’s a view through my 6BR in ND.”
From RJinTexas: “In most of the locations that we’ll be shooting we’ll usually set up a minimum of 200 yards from the edge of a major dog town. We’ll start by working over the close-in dogs and shooting our way out, some of these towns may run in excess of 500/600 yards deep. I believe that a rimfire will put you at a distinct disadvantage. The only rimfire that will somewhat work is the .17 HMR and you can reload for your .204s for close to the cost of HMR ammo and you’ll be less apt to be under-gunned. Your .204 will work well out to 300/400 yards unless the wind is blowing hard. We classify a 10-mph crosswind as a very calm day and what makes it a little more challenging is that it is usually also gusting.”
From Wes (P1ZombieKiller): “[For my first PD trip] there are so many things I was not ready for. The one thing that I did bring (that no one told me about) was a canopy. I’m glad I did. Even though the weather was [near perfect], I know that sun can humble you real fast. With my pop-up canopy, I could shoot all day without getting killed by the sun. You had to tie the canopy down real well or the wind would blow it across the pasture.
We sat on shooting benches that pivot 360°, and are fast and easy to set up. Most all shots were 175-250 yards. I just felt comfortable at that range. It was more fun for me to be able to film the hits, and the camcorder I was using just did not get good video past 350 yards. The digital zoom distorted the image too much. I knew I would only get this one chance to film my first P-dog outing, and I wanted to get it on film for [posterity].”
Bring Multiple Rifles on Your Varmint Adventures
On our P-Dog adventures, we like to have multiple rifles — a .17 HMR for close work, then maybe a .20 Practical AR for 150-250 yards, then a larger caliber such as 22 BR, 6BRA, 6 Dasher or 6XC for those long shots. The classic .22-250 is also a wickedly effective varmint cartridge.
.20 Practical (20-223 Rem) AR-Platform Varminter
Here is a .20 Practical built by Robert Whitley. Whitley’s Ultimate Prairie Dog Rifle (PDR) features a 24″ Bartlein 1:11″-twist cut-rifled barrel, DPMS side-charging upper, and a Jewell trigger. It is chambered in 20 Practical, a cartridge popularized by Warren “Fireball” Brookman.
This .20 Practical cartridge is simply the .223 Remington necked down to .204. You can use your existing .223 Rem brass — no special case-forming required! The 20 Practical is accurate, flat-shooting, and has almost no recoil. The advantage over the standard .223 Remington is that, grain for grain, the bullets have a higher BC and travel at a higher velocity for more dramatic effect on a small varmint. The ultra-low recoil allows you to easily see your hits, even without a muzzle brake. The 20 Practical, launching 40-grainers at about 3750 fps, shoots flatter than a .223 Rem with 55gr hollowpoints.
.17 HMR Savage A17 Varmint Rifle
We also like to have a Rimfire for the closer shots, inside 150 yards. The .17 HMR or .17 WSM are good choices. With a rimfire you save on ammo costs and you don’t waste precious centerfire barrel life.
This video shows a successful Prairie Dog hunt with a .17 HMR. Watch and you’ll see hits out to 160 yards (00:50), proving the effective range of the 17 HMR cartridge. The host is shooting a Savage A17 semi-auto 17 HMR rifle in a Boyds laminated stock.
You’ve heard the adage — “The couple that plays together, stays together.” Here’s a story about a married couple that competes together in precision rifle matches. Shooters Tim and Regina Milkovich recently both placed in the Top 10 at the popular CowTown Accurized AR Match. Regina took third with a nearly-clean run, dropping only one shot on Stage 5 to end with 49 points and an overall time of 49.50. Tim followed closely behind, placing sixth with 48 points and a time of 37.95.
This match, held at the CowTown Range in Peoria, Arizona, is designed to test and build shooters’ long range skills. Shots are taken from normal PRS-style positions and supports. Each match consists of five stages with targets ranging from 100 to 700 yards. Each stage has a 20-round maximum, and the match typically requires 40 to 50 hits.
Tim and Regina, who are both sponsored by Nosler, can often be found competing together at individual and team matches. At this match, both shot ARs chambered in .223 Rem loaded with Nosler .22 caliber 77gr Custom Competition bullets.
This video is from a Cowtown Accurized AR match last October.
Regina is a Top Female PRS Shooter
Regina is one of the top female precision rifle competitors in the country. She is one of only two women to ever win a national-level Precision Rifle Series (PRS) match. Just a few years ago Regina was a novice in the PRS/NRL game. Now ranked as a Master Class shooter, today she is a respected, top-level competitor.
Time is a Veteran Who Shoots Many Disciplines
Tim is a military veteran with service in the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, and U.S. Air Force. He has been shooting competitively since 1986 in multiple disciplines including Pistol Silhouette, Bullseye Pistol, USPSA, IDPA, and 3 Gun. Tim has a Master Class ranking in most of the disciplines he shoots.
Tim also shoots bolt-action rifles. Below are his 6.5×47 Lapua cartridges loaded with Nosler 140gr RDF bullets and Varget powder. Photos from Tim Milkovich Facebook Page.
Jason Baney was one of the “founding fathers” of this website when we started out as 6mmBR.com 18 years ago. A few seasons back, Jason created an interesting wildcat, a mid-sized 7mm cartridge based on the 6.5×47 Lapua case. In this report, Jason (who now works at Eurooptic.com) talks about his 7×47 wildcat and his initial velocity (and feasibility) tests. To determine the 7×47’s velocity potential, Jason did a multi-stage test, cutting a barrel in two-inch increments. This process is illustrated in a video, embedded below.
You may be surprised that the little 7×47 cartridge could drive a 180gr Berger Hybrid at 2770+ FPS with a 32″ barrel and Reloder 17. Max Velocity with H4350 (and 32″ barrel) was roughly 70 FPS slower. With a 24″ barrel length, the 7×47 was still able to propel the 180gr Hybrids over 2600 FPS with H4350. That’s impressive performance for a mid-sized cartridge pushing a very big bullet.
7×47 Lapua Wildcat — Great Accuracy and Surprising Velocity
By Jason Baney, Eurooptic.com
The biggest enemy in long-range shooting is wind. This also happens to be the hardest to gauge and predict. The only way mere mortals can attempt to defeat the wind demons is to shoot a cartridge with the most ballistic efficiency, yet maintain a user-friendly combination of recoil and component consumption as well as performance on target.
The 7mm bullets tend to yield the best compromise of all of these aspects. Their BC-to-weight ratio is outstanding and 7mm bullets provide sufficient impact energy for most situations. In addition to that, the recoil of 7mm bullets can be more manageable than heavier/larger .30 and .338 caliber projectiles.
In cartridge design, of course you want the best case possible. Having used the 6.5×47 Lapua since its release in 2006, I felt this cartridge was the perfect choice to start with as I wanted a true short-action non-magnum round that gave the least possible wind drift to 1000 yards. The 6.5×47 parent case also allowed seating of the heavy 180gr class bullets completely out in the neck yet it maintained an overall length that would actually work in a factory Remington short action magazine.
The 6.5×47 brass from Lapua is as good as it gets and is a very efficient case. The small primer pocket has been a proven winner so no need to change anything. This combination has always given reliable precision and extremely tight velocity spreads.
So here I was, ready to expand a 6.5×47 Lapua to 7mm but a web search revealed no info on a 7×47 wildcat, so test loads would be based purely on an educated guess. My initial assessment/prediction was that heavier 180gr bullets in the larger 7mm caliber would end up at a max load very close to a 140gr bullet in the parent 6.5 caliber. This actually turned out to be a very accurate assumption.
The performance goal of this cartridge was to get a 180gr Berger Hybrid moving at 2720 FPS or faster to be able to shoot inside of a 6.5mm 140gr Berger Hybrid at 2900 FPS. (That 2900 speed is what I was able to achieve with the standard 6.5×47 Lapua). I also planned to try the 168gr VLD as well as the 180gr Lapua Scenar and 162gr Amax, but the specific goal was the beat the 6.5 140gr bullets at 2900 FPS. I believed the 180 Hybrid at 2720 FPS would be the easiest way to accomplish this.
Here are Summary Test Results for H4350 and Reloder 17 for 180s, and IMR 8208 for the 168s. Speeds were clocked by two chronographs at nine (9) barrel lengths, 32″ to 16.1″.
Since this cartridge was a complete unknown I thought it would be quite interesting to see what the 7×47 could achieve at various barrel lengths from very long to very short. We wanted to see which length would best suit the bullet/cartridge combination for max performance. Obviously testing 8-10 barrels at different lengths would be pointless due to natural performance variations between barrels, not to mention expensive and wasteful. I decided instead to attempt a fairly radical test and cut a barrel from 32″ down the 16.1” while chronographing the same loads along the way to see what each combination delivered at the different lengths.
Before I could get started of course a reamer and dies and a few other parts were needed. Dave Kiff at Pacific Tool and Gauge was excited to get going on the project so soon after our phone conversation my one of a kind reamer arrived. Since I had been using Forster dies in the 6mmx47 Lapua and 6.5×47 for all these years, I contacted my friend Bob Ruch at Forster and he was willing to make me a few sets of special dies for the project. Lapua of course provided some brass for the project and Rock Creek Barrels sent a beautiful 1:8.7″-twist 5R barrel blank as a sacrificial lamb. The gunsmith I chose for the chamber job on this project needed to be a tactical long range rifle shooter to appreciate the capability of the round all the way down to its 16.1” barrel length so I asked my good friend Wade Stuteville from Stuteville Precision to help me out.
The rifle I selected for the test was Accuracy International’s new AT rifle. This rifle is basically an overhauled and updated AI AW with a quick user-changeable barrel. I can literally change a barrel in 1 minute or less. The machining they have done to give this function was quite simple and brilliant in the way it retains the barrel yet allows the release quickly and with only a 4mm Allen wrench. This would make the test that I contrived go very smoothly as no major tools were needed.
My goal was to use as many different load combos for the test as I could without making it extremely cumbersome to complete. I wanted to test at least the 180 and 168 Berger as well as a couple different powders representing different burn rates to get an all-around feel for how the cartridge would behave at the different lengths. From previous experience with the 6.5×47, the best powder choices were Hodgdon H4350 and Alliant Reloder 17 (RL17) so these would be the main players. I also picked IMR 8208, Varget, and VV N550 to cover the spectrum of acceptable burn rates. Also, my standard CCI 450 primer was used as that has been successful for me in the 6mmBR and 6.5×47 since 2006 as they are incredibly consistent, however they are also better able to take high pressures without blanking. After picking the powders, I first ran ladder tests to assess max loads in the long 32” barrel.
Velocity Study — Chopping the Barrel from 32″ to 16.1″
Laying out the test actually took a bit of bit of mental gymnastics to provide randomness. The barrel was to be cut in 2” increments from 32” down to a final of 16.1”. Each length was actually pre-scored by Wade to make cutting easier to start and was actually 1/8” long at each mark so when I finally ended up at 16 1/8”, I was able to have the barrel re-crowned without going below legal length.
Six loads were assembled using the five powders mentioned above and two bullets (Berger 168gr VLD and 180gr Hybrid). Each set of rounds to be fired at each cut was predetermined and laid out so that the same load never preceded nor followed another more than once. Reloder 17 and H4350 loads were fired at each cut, while the four others were fired at every-other cut to keep the round count under 200. Twenty rounds (4 loads times 5 rounds each) were fired at each cut from 32” down to 18” and at the final 16.1” length each of the six loads was fired. That is a total of 190 test rounds. The barrel was cleaned before firing at the 24” length and before firing at the 16.1” length. After cleaning each time I fired two rounds of the next load as fouling shots to normalize velocities.
The rifle was fitted with a 3” fore-end attachment and fired from my 40-lb front rest for 1000-yard benchrest competition with a rear bunny-ear bag. Throughout the test, the rifle never changed its position — though the muzzle did retreat 2” with every cut. I used two chronographs for the test. An Oehler 35P was placed 10 feet from the original 32” muzzle and a Magnetospeed V3 was attached on the muzzle (at all barrel lengths down to 16.1 inches.)
After every round of firing, the barrel was removed and we poured cold water on the exterior only and wrapped a wet towel around it to speed cooling. While the barrel was cooling we used a couple C-clamps and a 2×4 to create an impromptu barrel vice to hold it while we were cutting. While it was clamped, we used a simple hacksaw to cut off two inches and crowned the barrel with an RCBS deburring tool for a nice finish. It took an average of two minutes to cut through the barrel at each length.
OBSERVATIONS:
Throughout the test, the rifle lost 3.2 lbs on its way to 16.1 inches. The recoil and muzzle blast increased dramatically from 32″ down to 16.1″. Groups on target were actually quite impressive given that we were not really trying for absolute precision and we had rough-cut crowns. Many groups formed one large hole and several were half-MOA or better – even at the final 16.1″ length.
Each load lost between 12.25-16.8 FPS per inch (loss per inch – LPI) over the entire test, though the rate of the loss varied by the burn rate of the powder and by barrel length. Generally below the 24” barrel length the LPI accelerated rapidly. Initial LPI at the longest lengths was 0-10 FPS, while the loss per inch at the shortest lengths were much higher at 30-55 FPS!
In general I did not quite achieve the velocity I was hoping for, but am very close and intend to test longer throats and different throat geometry to get where I want to be. Below I will break the attainable performance down into 3 barrel lengths for consideration in different disciplines.
APPLICATION ONE: 28-30” Barrel for 1000-Yard Benchrest:
Since I am close to or past my target velocity at the longer lengths (above 2720 FPS with the 180gr Berger Hybrid), I intend to barrel a 1000-yard Benchrest rifle in this caliber and give it an honest try in 1K benchrest. I feel that, with a 28-30″ barrel length, my goal will be attainable and it will pull away from 6.5mm class rounds in the wind drift department. While there will be a slight recoil increase, in a 17-lb rifle it is not a concern. There will also surely be a significant gain in useful barrel life as well.
With spring soon changing to summer, we are in peak varmint season in many parts of the country. In an area with a high number of critters, a semi-auto varmint rifle is a good choice. You get quick follow-up shots, with reliable 20-rd and 30-rd magazines.
For this Saturday at the Movies Showcase we feature a variety of semi-auto, AR-platform rifles chambered for efficient, high-velocity varmint ammo. Cartridges include: .17 WSM, .17 Remington, .20 Practical, .204 Ruger, .22 Grendel, .223 Rem, and 6mm ARC. We conclude with a video that reviews a variety of lead-free .223 Rem ammo types.
Rock Chuck Hunting in Eastern Oregon
This video has some great backcountry footage. The host nails a number of rockchucks with his .223 Rem-chambered AR-15. The shooter says that the default AR-15 cartridge works great for varmints: “The .223 Remington becomes a rockchuck hunter’s friend with the right load: Nosler 40gr Ballistic Tip loaded over a stuffed case of H335 powder. This achieves 3800 FPS with excellent accuracy.”
.17 Remington AR-15 — Small Bullet, Ultra-High Velocity
The .17 Remington wildcat is based on the .223 Remington case necked down to .172″, with the shoulder moved back. High muzzle velocity (4000+ FPS), flat trajectory, and very low recoil are the .17 Remington’s primary attributes. It has a maximum effective range of about 440 yards on prairie dog-sized animals, but the low BCs of the small .17-cal bullets makes them quite susceptible to crosswinds at such distances.
This Varminter.com video was created in spring 2022, just in time for Rockchuck and Thermal Coyote hunts. The host noted: “This was my first experience with the .17 Remington, but I was not unaware of its history and steady popularity among varmint and predator hunters. Although finding an available and affordable .17 Remington bolt-action rifle is nearly impossible nowadays, building one in an AR-15 was simple and straight-forward.” The video has full description of all the components for the build. The .17 Rem is fast — the 25gr bullet runs 3777 FPS from an 18″ barrel (see 01:42 time-mark). READ Full Story.
.17 WSM Rimfire in Franklin Armory F17-L
What’s the ultimate rimfire varmint rifle? An AR chambered for the .17 WSM could be the answer. Eric Mayer of Varminter.com states: “The Franklin Armory F17-L in .17 Winchester Super Magnum (WSM) has a lot of firsts. It is the first semi-automatic rifle in .17 WSM now available to the general public. It is the first gas-piston system, AR-15 rimfire rifle built in partnership between Franklin Armory and Osprey Defense.”
Eric has used the .17 WSM AR shooting ground squirrels, rock squirrels, prairie dogs, and rabbits. Eric notes: “The report of the .17 WSM is nowhere near as loud as most of the centerfire [varmint] cartridges. I found that when I shot the FA-17, it did not cause the other ground squirrels… to run for cover. The lack of recoil … allowed me to see right where I hit [and] if I happened to miss, [low recoil] made for quick corrections for wind, or distance.” READ Full Report
The .17 WSM is a much larger, more powerful round than the .17 HMR. See the size difference above.
Eric Mayer created his own custom .17 WSM AR-15 varmint rifle, built with a Franklin Armory F17-V4 Upper, Aero Precision Lower, and Magpul stock. This was used in California and Arizona. READ Full Story.
.20 Practical — Fast, Accurate, Easy to Form
The .20 Practical cartridge is simply a .223 Rem necked down to .20 caliber. This is a great choice for prairie dogs — and probably our favorite wildcat for the AR-15. Just neck down your .223 Rem brass, fit a .20-Cal barrel and you’re good to go. Robert Whitley notes the the .20 Practical “is a perfect cartridge for varmint hunting and general shooting — very accurate and fast! It functions 100% out of an AR-15.”
The .20 Practical offers some notable advantages for high-volume varmint shooters. The .20 Practical delivers very high velocity with very low recoil while still providing outstanding accuracy. The .20 Practical is great option for folks who favor “fast and light” — smaller, lower-mass bullets traveling at very high velocities. This little cartridge can launch 40-grainers at over 3900 FPS, and 32-grainers even faster. This makes the .20 Practical a great choice for an AR-based varmint rifle.
.20 Practical Ultimate AR Varminter
A decade ago AccurateShooter.com created a .20 Practical AR15 Ultimate Varminter with a custom 20-caliber upper from Robert Whitley of AR-X Enterprises, LLC. That project rifle was ultra-accurate — every 5-shot group out of the gun was less than the size of a dime. That gun was auctioned off, but Robert Whitley continues to produce custom 20 Practical AR-15 uppers.
You make .20 Practical cases by simply necking down .223 Rem brass to .20 caliber. You can start with standard .223 Rem brass and even load with standard .223 Rem dies. Just swap in a smaller expander and use smaller neck bushings.
Prairie Dog Hunt with .204 Ruger AR — Watch The P-Dogs Fly
The video was created during a 2018 prairie dog safari. It has stunning footage of hits on P-Dogs at multiple distances. You can see over FIFTY hits with some amazing P-Dog aerials. Watch the first flyin’ dog at 00:20 time-mark and there’s a truly spectacular gut-busting hit at 3:13. That shows the potency of a high-speed .20-cal projectile. The shooter was using a custom-built AR-15 chambered in a .204 Ruger. That cartridge was driving 35gr Berger hollow point bullets at a stunning 4050 FPS! The rifle was fitted with a Dakota silencer suppressor and many other custom components. If you’ve never tried prairie dog hunting, watch this video start to finish and you may be hooked.
6mm ARC AR-15 Varmint Rig
This Varminter.com video examines the 6mm ARC cartridge from a varmint hunter’s perspective. Created by Hornady, the 6mm ARC was designed for target shooting and medium-sized game both in bolt guns and Modern Sporting Rifles. Hornady states: “The 6mm ARC … fits in an AR-15-pattern action, functions reliably out of standard-capacity 24- or 17-round magazines. It delivers substantially better ballistics than the .223 Rem[.]” This video examines how the 6mm ARC performs in an AR-15 for varmint and predator hunting. The host reviews available factory varmint loads. The video also examines reloading components for the 6mm ARC — brass and bullets. CLICK HERE for full article.
Cottontail Rabbit Hunting with Suppressed .204 Ruger AR-15
As a varmint hunting tool, the .204 Ruger in an AR-15 is a versatile, worthy cartridge/rifle combo for the job. This video covers a cottontail rabbit hunt. The host states that “We were contacted by a farmer who was being slammed with cottontail rabbits eating out huge portions of his alfalfa fields.” This suppressed .204 Ruger AR-15 proved seriously effective on the rabbits, driving high-velocity rounds with impressive accuracy. See more details on the Varminter.com website.
The .22 Grendel is an extremely accurate and efficient cartridge based on the 6.5 Grendel necked down to .22 caliber. The case can drive 55gr varmint bullets at high velocities — over 3500 FPS. With a faster-twist barrel you can load up to 90gr bullets at 2500 FPS. The tester achieved velocities close to a 22-250. The short, fat case fits in AR-15 magazines, but may not feed as reliably during rapid fire. The tester did experience one double-feed.
Lead-Free Ammo Offerings Tested in .223 Rem AR-15
Some states — such as California — prohibit hunting with bullets that contain lead. If you plan to hunt in an area with such restrictions, you’ll need to find a lead-free substitute. Thankfully a number of manufacturers produce ammo with solid brass projectiles or other lead-free bullet designs. This Varminter.com video reviews .223 Remington no-lead ammunition from Cor-Bon, Hornady, Nosler and Winchester. These ammo types were tested in a AR-15 varmint rifle, used in a coyote hunt featured at the end of the video. SEE Full Story on Varminter.com.
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. Midsouth — Berger Bullets in Stock, Good Prices
⏺ Top-quality Berger bullets in stock now — order before they sell out
Berger bullets in popular calibers/weights have been in high demand. But Midsouth recently received a large shipment of .224, .243 (6mm), .257, .264 (6.5mm), .284 (7mm), .308 and .375-caliber Berger bullets. There are various weights in the popular calibers (e.g. 52gr, 73gr, 80gr, 85.5gr, and 90gr in .224). Over 40 Berger bullet types are in stock now, starting at $44.99 per 100. Grab these while you can.
⏺ Excellent precision reloading scale now $100 OFF
Need a high-quality reloading scale, but can’t afford an $800 A&D force restoration scale? Then you’re in luck. Right now you can get the excellent Creedmoor Sports TRX-925 scale for $249.95. This deal — a huge $100 savings off the regular $349.95 price — is for the first 249 customers only, so act soon. Note: The TRX-925 measures natively in GRAINS rather than grams, so it offers excellent precision.
3. Barnes Bullets — Barnes Match Burner Bullet Sale
⏺ Great prices on good match bullets, multiple calibers
If you’re looking for good target bullets at a good price, consider the Barnes Match Burners. On sale now direct from Barnes, these come in an assortment of calibers and bullet weights. Prices start at just $26.99 per hundred. For PRS/NRL we recommend the 6mm Match Burner 105gr HPBT, at $34.99 per hundred.
4. MidwayUSA — Vortex Optics on Sale, Save up to 40%
⏺ Huge discounts on popular Vortex scopes, spotters, binoculars
5. Graf & Sons — Ginex primers in Stock, $73/1000 for 5K
⏺ Reliable small rifle and small pistol primers at good prices
Primers are still hard to find and most are priced well over $100 per 1000. Give your wallet a break by picking up Ginex primers from Graf’s. Available in small rifle as well as small pistol sizes, these are quality primers offered in 5000-primer bulk packs, priced at $365.00 for 5K, which works out to $73.00 per thousand. User reports for these Ginex primers have been quite positive.
6. Midsouth — Triggertech Trigger Sale
⏺ Excellent triggers for competition and hunting rifles
Triggertech makes high-quality, reasonably-priced triggers that fit a wide selection of rifles. Right now Midsouth is running a Triggertech Sale with over 50 trigger types on sale — including triggers for Rem 700s (or clone) and ARs. Save 11% or more on a quality trigger and get FREE Shipping right now.
⏺ Unique design rechargeable muffs with behind-head strap
Ordinary electronic muffs can lose power at inopportune times. Save the aggravation and grab a pair of these Walker’s Rechargeable Firemax Ear Muffs. These Behind-the-Neck (BTN) muffs boast a 2000 mAH rechargeable lithium battery for over 200 hours of protection (way more than typical drop-in batteries). Simply charge your muffs before heading to the range. These Walker BTN muffs have a notable design — the primary padded strap runs BEHIND the ears, with a secondary, removable top strap. Many shooters will find this arrangement more handy and comfortable than conventional muffs with a bulky top strap.
8. EuroOptic — ZEISS Binoculars Sale, save $75-$150
⏺ Major discounts on high-quality ZEISS binoculars
ZEISS, the respected German optics maker, has launched a Spring into Savings event through participating ZEISS authorized retailers. This promotion runs through May 15, 2023, offering major instant savings on high quality ZEISS binoculars. And when you purchase ZEISS binoculars from EuroOptic.com, you get speedy RED Expedited Shipping. Here are the ZEISS Binoculars Spring Savings offers:
$150 Instant Rebate on ZEISS SFL 40 Binoculars
$100 Instant Rebate on ZEISS Conquest HD 42 and 22 Binoculars
$75 Instant Rebate on ZEISS Terra ED 42 and 32 Binoculars
9. Natchez — Ammo Sale (Multiple Brands)
⏺ Many popular ammo types at good prices
While it’s not one of the largest ammunition sales you’ll find on the web, this week’s Natchez Ammo Sale offers very significant discounts on a variety of popular cartridge types, with a good selection of manufacturers, including Hornady, Winchester, PMC, and Aguila.
10. Brownells — Ruger Max-9 FX Optics Ready 9mm, $349.99
⏺ Slim, smooth, 9mm Luger handgun with big discount
Ruger makes very reliable pistols and has excellent customer service. If you are looking for a very compact, easy-to-carry 9mm handgun, consider the Ruger Max-9 now $349.99 on sale at Brownells ($170 off MSRP). This particular pistol has a cool dark blue-gray optics-ready slide for easy mounting of small red dot sights. The MAX-9 also features a tritium fiber-optic day/night front sight.
11. Amazon — Splatter Stick-On Targets, $6.99/100ct Roll
⏺ 100 3″-diameter Adhesive Splatter Targets on roll
Splatter targets help you see bullet impacts clearly from a distance. Most splatter targets come in big sheets, but these handy 3″-diameter, stick-on splatter targets come on a convenient roll. Get a 100-count roll for just $6.99 on Amazon. These circular targets feature a black bullseye with red center and bright yellow rings. These targets are easy-to-peel and the roll can be stowed easily in a range bag.
Better BC for Service Rifle Competition
The 22BR is a simple wildcat formed by necking-down 6mm BR brass. Case forming is easy — just run a 6BR case through a 22BR sizing die. With custom bullets, the 22BR has done well in NBRSA short-range Benchrest. Accuracy is on a par with 6mm BR out to about 250 yards, but from there, the 6mm VLDs, with their high BCs, buck the wind better. The 22BR with 90gr bullets offers very impressive ballistics, with less recoil than you might experience shooting a 6BR or 6mm Creedmoor with 105-110gr projectiles.
Developed in 2007 by Dennis DeMille and Dave Emary, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a shortened and improved 30 TC cartridge case that was inspired by the .308 Winchester design. This short action design was created to maximize case capacity and a wide range of loading lengths, while still fitting in standard short action magazines. With the correct twist barrel, the versatile 6.5 Creedmoor can take advantage of the wide range of bullet weights available in 6.5 mm (i.e. .264 caliber). Reloaders should keep in mind that the 6.5 Creedmoor works best with medium to medium-slow powders such as H4350, Varget, Win 760, and RE-17. The light recoil and adaptability of the efficient 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge has already proven itself in high power, precision rifle series and benchrest competitions. Couple that with respectable barrel life and its intrinsic accuracy potential and you have a recipe for success which should insure its legacy for decades to come.
From Wes (P1ZombieKiller): “[For my first PD trip] there are so many things I was not ready for. The one thing that I did bring (that no one told me about) was a canopy. I’m glad I did. Even though the weather was [near perfect], I know that sun can humble you real fast. With my pop-up canopy, I could shoot all day without getting killed by the sun. You had to tie the canopy down real well or the wind would blow it across the pasture.
.20 Practical Ultimate AR Varminter
