The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) has published a series of reloading “how-to” article on the USAMU Facebook page. In this article, the USAMU’s reloading gurus address a question frequently asked by prospective handloaders: “Should I buy a single-stage press, or a progressive?” The USAMU says the best answer is Solomon-esque in both its wisdom and simplicity: “Get BOTH!” However, there is definitely more to the issue, as the USAMU explains below.
Bottom line, the USAMU recommends that novice handloaders start with a single-stage press. That press will always be useful for many tasks, even if a multi-station progressive is later acquired.
Progressive Press Safety Considerationsby USAMU Staff
Many are the beginning handloaders who have asked a friend about their “setting up” a progressive press for them. The idea is that the newbie could then just feed in components and crank out buckets of practice ammo without needing to really learn much about handloading. Tempting though this might be, that’s simply not how it works. Such an approach might be ok if there were never a malfunction with either press or operator, but that’s unrealistic. Our hypothetical newbie would then lack the knowledge to problem-solve most situations.
Worse yet, several different handloading operations would be occurring at different stations on the progressive press at the same time. It takes an experienced operator to keep track of, and truly understand the significance of, all those potential mini-problems. Loading without this experience is a recipe for potential disaster — such as a double powder charge (especially with pistol cartridges) dropped while the loader was attending to some other function, etc. Progressives are an animal unto themselves, and while they offer many benefits, they do take some getting used to – even by experienced handloaders!
ILLUSTRATIVE HORROR STORY
Here, enter a 40-year veteran handloader who decided to jump onto the progressive bandwagon late in his career, having used only single-stage presses all his life. A High Master NRA High Power Rifle competitor, he had no background in competitive pistol shooting, where historically most progressive presses are found.
Experienced Action Pistol shooters have typically encountered multiple episodes in which shooters “skipped” a powder charge for some reason, leading to a squib round and a bullet possibly lodged in the bore. Thus, at matches, it’s reflexive for them to yell “STOP!” in unison if they see a shooter get a “click” vs. a “bang”, and rack the slide to keep firing. This writer has personally seen several pistols saved in just such scenarios over the years.
Better Safe Than Sorry — the RCBS Lock-Out Die
RCBS Makes a “Lock-Out Die” that senses the powder charge. This will halt the Progressive press if you have a double charge, or an undercharge. Your Editor has the Lock-Out Die on his RCBS Pro 2000. It has “saved his bacon” a half-dozen times over the years. It can be used on Dillon and Hornady progressives as well as RCBS machines.
Click No Bang — What NOT to Do
Our High Master set up a popular progressive press and began turning out .223 Rem 100-yard practice ammo with abandon. He was using a moly-coated 52gr match bullet and an economical, fast-burning surplus powder that gave great accuracy. Once on the range, he began practicing strings of rapid-fire. All was well, until he heard “Click!” rather than “Boom”.
Lacking the above experience or onlookers to halt him, he reflexively operated the charging handle on his expensive, custom NM AR15 Service Rifle, and the next trigger squeeze reportedly registered on seismographs over at least a three-state radius. He sat, uninjured but bewildered, until the hail of expensive bits and pieces quit raining down around him.
When the smoke cleared, he immediately cursed the horrid, evil, demonically-possessed progressive press for this, his first-ever reloading mishap. His $1400 NM upper was ruined, but thankfully, his $800 pre-ban lower… and he had escaped injury.
This tale is told not to discourage the use of progressive presses, but to emphasize the need to EASILY and IMMEDIATELY KNOW what is happening with the press at each station, every time the handle is cranked. Not to do so is, as they say, “bad ju-ju.”
It illustrates why we at the USAMU Handloading Shop agree in recommending that new handloaders should begin with a single-stage press. Once one thoroughly learns the steps in each phase of handloading by repeated experience, then one will be qualified to move on to a progressive press.
The single-stage press will REMAIN virtually indispensable for one’s entire handloading career, even after having purchased a progressive press (or two). There are endless small projects that are best handled on a single-stage press, and a poll of USAMU’s Handloading staff reveals that not one would willingly be without his single-stage press, despite owning at least one progressive.
I have seen it time and time again, shooters on the line wrestling with their rifle trying to get the bolt closed while the wind is switching. They were too focused trying to get their bolt to close and getting their rifle settled back on the bags that they missed the wind switch. Bang… Eight! The straw that broke the camel’s back for me was at the 2017 Canadian Nationals. I was paired up with a young girl and she would try really hard to close the bolt on her rifle. The majority of the time she would get it to close, but often times she could not even get the round to chamber. She was focused on her rifle the entire time rather than on the conditions. When we completed our strings, she had five rounds that did not chamber our of 15! That is way too many!. I told her she needed to think about Full-length sizing with 0.002″ shoulder bump, or Controlled Full-length Sizing like I call it. I told her not to worry about losing accuracy. I told her that I full-length size all my rounds and asked if she noticed how smooth my bolt was and noticed my score. She said yes, they were both great!
Controlled Full-length Sizing Does NOT Harm Accuracy
I have found that Controlled Full-length Sizing does NOT hurt accuracy or shorten brass life. I find that I can focus much more on the conditions when I don’t have to think about chambering a round nor extracting it. It has become second nature. After firing, I keep my head welded to the stock, I open the bolt by placing my thumb on top of stock and rotating hand upwards. I reach in and retrieve spent case, place it back in ammo box, and pick up another loaded round and put in chamber. I verify conditions and when ready, I push the bolt in and close it with my index and middle finger.
With Controlled Full-length Sizing you “bump” the shoulder around .002″ for bolt guns.* Image courtesy Sinclair International which carries a variety of Full-length dies.
Whidden Full-Length Sizing Dies by AccurateShooter.com Editor
For proper Full-length sizing, you want a quality die that’s a very good match to your chamber. For our project rifles we usually turn to Whidden Gunworks which offers both bushing and non-bushing FL dies. And if you want the hot new option, check out Whidden’s patent-pending, click-adjustable FL-sizing die. This gives instant, precise control over shoulder bump. It works great.
*With gas guns, such as the AR10, you may want to increase shoulder bump to .003″ or more. With some benchrest cartridges, .0015″ bump may prove optimal. But .002″ is a good starting point.
We first ran this story a few years back. But it’s still a very interesting subject for benchrest shooters. Shown above, the 30 BR (a 6mmBR necked up to .30 caliber) currently rules the benchrest-for-score game. However, a 30 BR Improved offers some potential advantages, particularly when the winds are strong or tricky. In this article Al Nyhus explains his 30 BRX wildcat. Running Hodgdon H4198, Al says he gets an easy 150 -200 FPS more than the conventional 30 BR. That can translate to less drift in the wind. It also lets you pursue a higher speed node, which can lead to improved accuracy with some barrels.
Forum member Al Nyhus is a top-level score shooter who has competed successfully with the 30 BR cartridge in VFS (Varmint for Score) matches. Al has been working on an “improved” 30 BR cartridge that delivers extra velocity. Al’s 30 BRX cartridge is inspired by the 6mm BRX cartridge, popular in 600-yard benchrest and across-the-course competition. The 6mm BRX cartridge maintains the same sidewall profile and shoulder angle as the parent 6mmBR case. Likewise, the 30 BRX retains the 30° shoulder used on the popular 30 BR cartridge.
Al reports: “Thought you might like to see what I’ll be working with in my VFS gun this season. It’s a true 30 BRX — a 30 BR with the shoulder moved forward 0.100″ with the standard BR shoulder angle. Stan Ware of SGR Custom Rifles built one last season for Steve Grosvenor and I was really impressed by the performance of Steve’s gun. The 30 BR barrel on my VFS gun needed replacing, so the new 30 BRX got the nod.”
30 BRX Delivers 150-200 FPS More Velocity than 30 BR
Al says his 30 BRX gives a solid 150-200 fps speed gain over the 30 BR at the top, while needing just 2.5-3.0 more grains of Hodgdon H4198 to do so. A 30 BR case holds on average 40.8 grains of water, while the 30 BRX holds 42.3 grains (roughly 4% more). So the 30 BRX delivers a 7% increase in velocity with a mere 4% increase in H20 capacity. That’s pretty good efficiency. [Editor’s Note: Assuming 34 grains of H4198 is a typical 30 BR match load, Al’s increase of 2.5-3.0 grains for the 30 BRX represents roughly a 7.5-8.5% increase in actual powder burned. That explains the higher velocities.]
Why did Nyhus decide to try an “improved” 30 BR?
Al explains: “The 30 BRX was created to operate at a [higher] velocity level than can be achieved with the standard 30 BR case, while at the same time keeping the easy-tuning characteristics of the standard 30 BR case. We also wanted to use the same powders currently used with the 30 BR and maintain similar operating pressures.” Is the 30BRX harder to shoot because of the increased velocity? Al doesn’t think so: “In a 13.5-lb HV gun, the 30 BRX case is a pleasure to shoot with just a flea bite of recoil.”
Will the 30 BRX Become Popular in Score Competition?
The 30 BR is already an exceptionally accurate cartridge that dominates short-range Benchrest for Score competition. Will the 30 BRX make the standard 30 BR obsolete? Nyhus doesn’t think so. However, Al believes the 30 BRX offers a small but important edge in some situations: “On any given day, it’s the shooter that hits the flags best and makes the fewest mistakes that ends up on top. No amount of velocity will save you when you press the trigger at the wrong time. Missing a switch or angle change at 200 yards that results in 3/4″ of bullet displacement on the target can’t be compensated for with another 200 fps. That’s the hard fact of benchrest shooting. But on those days when, as Randy Robinett says, ‘our brains are working’, the BRX may offer enough of an advantage to turn a close-but-no-cigar 10 into an ‘X’ at 200 yards. Or turn a just-over-the-line 9 into a beggar 10.” Given the fierce competition in Score matches, an extra 10 or another X can make the difference between a podium finish and also-ran status.
There has been a long, cold winter in many parts of the USA. So if you want to maintain your shooting skills, shooting indoors may be the only convenient option. When shooting indoors you should always be extra careful and follow all key gun safety practices and adhere to proper range “Etiquette”.
The NSSF (NSSF) offers a useful Range Safety and Etiquette video. This 8.5-minute video explains safe practices, especially at indoor ranges. In the video, the moderator list the basic rules of gun safety, before covering key range etiquette topics such as range officer commands, how to uncase your firearm on the range when you first arrive, and what to do if a firearm is accidentally dropped. There are also safety tips specific to handling both semi-automatic handguns and revolvers.
BAD RANGE BEHAVIOR — Five Things NOT to Do at the Range
Here are the five worst behaviors we’ve seen at indoor ranges. These behaviors are both dangerous and inconsiderate. Any one of these behaviors can get you permanently banned from an indoor range.
1. Sweeping other individuals after loading a weapon behind the firing line is very bad. All your weapons should be empty until you reach your shooting station.
2. Turning the handgun sideways while trying to clear a malfunction or insert/remove a magazine. This will point the muzzle at a fellow shooter. Or, after shooting a gun, the shooter fails to clear the weapon and then places the gun somewhere near the shooting station with the muzzle in an unsafe position.
3. Reacting unpredictably when firing a high recoil handgun. We’ve seen people take a second shot by accident with the muzzle way off target.
4. Not obeying range commands — in particular continuing to shoot during called cease-fires.
5. Poorly aimed shooting that hits target frames or carriers, causing ricochets.
Seven Types of People at the Gun Range — HUMOR
This video is satire, but with lots of truth in the characterizations. Laughter guaranteed.
Double-Up on Hearing Protection When Shooting Indoors
When shooting pistols indoors we recommend quality muffs with earplugs underneath, offering double protection. When inside an enclosed range, with other shooters blasting away right next to you, you really need effective hearing protection. But you also need to hear range commands and be able to communicate with your fellow shooters. That’s why we recommend electronic muffs with plugs underneath.
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. KYGUNCO — Hunting Sale with Guns, Optics, Ammo, Camo Gear
⏺ Hunters save on guns, optics, ammo, camo gear and more
Hunting season is here. And right now you can get EVERYthing you need at a discount, thanks to KYGUNCO’s big Fall Hunting Sale. You’ll find hunting rifles, scopes, rangefinders, camo clothing, trail-cams, and scent-blockers on sale. In addition, there is a large selection of quality factory hunting ammunition from Federal, Norma, and Winchester. Shown above are some of the best deals, but there are hundreds of other items on sale including crossbows, knives, deer attractant feed, and even tree-stands. CLICK HERE for the full KYGUNCO Hunting Season Sale Flyer with all the deals.
⏺ Versatile, affordable — great for ARs and sighting-in hunting rifles
Here’s a great product for sighting-in your hunting rifles. This Caldwell Precision Adjustable Turret Rest, now just $76.11 on Amazon offers quick horizontal and vertical adjustment making it great for target shooting as well as varminting from a bench. Amazon user ‘Jet Mech 1′ reports “…it’s REALLY solid! Solid steel legs and everything is heavy duty. It’s really compact. Easily fits in the smallest car trunk. It holds your firearm very securely. The tilt and pan is super smooth and precise. This is the perfect platform for an AR-style rifle but works equally well for just about anything.”
3. Locked-N-Loaded — SAR USA Mete 9mm w/ Red Dot, $329.99
⏺ Amazing deal on modern 9mm pistol with installed Red Dot
Here’s a great deal on a versatile 9mm handgun for self-defense and/or action pistol matches. The SAR USA Mete 9mm with Riton Red Dot is ON SALE now for just $329.99 at Locked-N-Loaded. Yes that low price includes the Red Dot sight! These optics-equipped SAR USA Mete pistols are offered with Safari Tan frame. Great bargain for just $329.99. There is a OD Green frame version also, but it could sell out fast.
4. Midsouth — .22 LR, .22 WMR, .17 HMR Rimfire Ammo Sale
⏺ Big inventory of .22 LR and .17 HMR ammo at good prices
With the current high price of powders and primers, more shooters are turning to rimfire shooting. Bulk .22 LR ammo costs as little as six cents a round. Compare that to $1.00 or more for factory centerfire ammmo. Right now Midsouth is running a big sale on rimfire ammunition. Save big on .22 LR, .22 WMR, and .17 HMR.
5. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Perfect Seat Priming Tool, $59.99
⏺ Precise Depth Control, 12 Shell Holders, Quick-Change, Carry Case
Seating primers to a consistent depth helps deliver enhanced accuracy and low ES/SD. However, most priming systems don’t allow precise depth control. If you’re looking for a priming tool that allows you to adjust primer seating depth, check out the Frankford Arsenal Perfect Seat Hand Primer. This tool comes in a protective case along with a full set of case holders and primer flip tray. A quick thumb release system allows you to switch from small to large primers quickly. Get this now for $59.99 on Amazon.
6. Palmetto SA — PSA 36″ Gun Case plus 7 Magpul Mags, $99.99
⏺ Great combo for AR owners — good value
Here’s an excellent bundle deal for AR and tactical rifle owners. You get a rugged, 36″ long gun case with 3 large storage pouches for ammo and accessories. The case features comfortable back-pack style shoulder straps. Choose either the Flat Dark Earth (FDE) model or the Black model case. Both cases come with SEVEN quality 30rd Magpul magazines. With either color choice, get both the 36″ case and 7 mags for $99.99.
7. Amazon — KUBEI USB Rechargeable Digital Scale, $24.99
⏺ Compact scale with USB-rechargeable battery at great price
Everyone can use an inexpensive, compact scale for loading at the range or sorting bullets or maybe even primers. One very affordable option KUBEI USB Rechargeable Digital Scale. Unlike most other inexpensive digital scales, this comes with a large dust cover with a “window” for your powder pan. Notably, this scale can be conveniently recharged with a standard USB cable — no batteries to replace ever! We have heard positive reports from Forum members about this $24.99 portable scale, which offers 9 types of weight units, calibration weight, and fold-down protective lid.
8. Amazon — F.A.T. Firearm Torque Wrench, $47.89
⏺ Versatile, precise, affordable Torque Wrench for gun owners
Here’s versatile tool every gun owner can use. This Wheeler Engineering F.A.T. (Firearm Accurizing Torque) Wrench performs a multitude of duties for rifles and handguns. The wrench provides a precise read-out of torque values for action screws, scope rings, and other vital connectors. The wrench is also handy for working on other projects (such as torqueing motorbike fasteners). This torque wrench comes complete with 10 bits, all in a handy, fitted case. Save 20% now with the $47.89 Amazon Sale Price.
9. Graf & Sons — Lockdown Safe Accessory Package, $12.50
⏺ Good accessories for every gun safe — now 75% Off
Here’s a great Lockdown Accessory Package for gun safes at a super-low price. The battery-powered vault light is a must-have item. You also get an excellent large organizer that can hold pistols, knives, Kestrels, and other items. The hardshell Document Holder takes documents up to 10″ x 12.5″. For interior mounting, Velcro pads and magnets are supplied for both the Organizer and the Document Holder, so fitting to fabric-covered or bare metal doors/safe walls will work. The price for all three items is just $12.50 — a whopping 75% savings off the regular $49.99 price.
⏺ Good compact electronic muffs plus 4-lens safety glasses
Here’s a quality ear and eye protection combo for shooters. The Walker’s Razor Slim electronic (amplified) muffs offer a 23 dB Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). These are pretty comfortable and have a slim profile — good for prone shooting. These muffs feature twin mics, volume control, and a handy audio input jack. This kit, now just $49.99 at MidwayUSA (41% Off), includes a nice set of ANSI Z87.1-approved safety glasses with four interchangeable lenses: Smoke Gray, Amber, Yellow, and Clear.
11. Amazon — 10000mAh Dual USB Battery Packs, $21.99
⏺ Recharge your smartphones and tablets — good for Labradar too
Do you have a cellphone, tablet, LabRadar, barrel cooler, or other device that needs mobile power? If so, we found a great deal on a pair of Miady 10000mAh Dual USB Portable Chargers. Yes you get TWO (2) charging packs for just $21.99 total! Featuring USB and USB-C ports and fast 2 amp charging capability, this pair of portable power banks is a very good deal.
In some areas of the country (California in particular), hunters are now forbidden to use bullets that contain lead. The Biden administration is currently pursuing a wide-scale ban on lead ammo on Federal lands. If you need a lead-free projectile for your deer rifle, consider Nosler’s E-Tip projectile. This has plenty of penetrating power and retained energy while complying with laws requiring “unleaded” ammunition. An “expansion chamber” behind the green polymer tip helps ensure reliable expansion with 95% weight retention. The video below shows a .30 caliber, 180gr lead-free E-Tip impressively power through TWO 12-inch blocks of Ballistics Gel at 100 yards. This was fired from a .308 Winchester.
Watch 180gr eTip Penetration and Expansion in Ballistic Gelatin:
Nosler claims the E-Tip (“Expansion Tip”) bullet has advantages over other solid copper hunting bullets: “Unlike the competitor’s one-piece designs, Nosler E-Tip bullets will not blow the petals off at extreme velocities nor will the low end expansion ever be questioned, as the minimum impact velocity is set at 1800 fps for standard calibers.” One hunter, posting on Facebook, gave the E-Tip high marks: “I have had the opportunity to take a pig with a 130 gr E-Tip from my .270 and they work flawlessly. My son took two pigs with his .300 Win Mag and 165gr E-Tips and they worked flawlessly as well.”
This video illustrates the design and construction of the Nosler eTip Bullet:
Put the same load in a variety of barrels (with the same length and chamberings) and you’ll see a wide variance in muzzle velocity. In fact, it’s not unusual to see up to 100 fps difference from one barrel to the next. We demonstrated this with a comparison test of Lapua factory ammo.
Chron Testing Lapua Factory Ammo
At our Southern California test range some years ago, we chronographed Lapua 105gr 6mmBR factory ammo in three different 8-twist barrels of similar length. The results were fascinating. Lapua specs this ammo at 2790 fps, based on Lapua’s testing with its own 26″ test barrel. We observed a speed variance of 67 fps based on tests with three aftermarket barrels.
Barrel Velocity Variance
Brand ‘S’ and Brand ‘PN’ were pre-fit barrels shot on Savage actions. Brand ‘K’ was fitted to a custom action. All test barrels were throated for the 100-108 grain bullets, though there may have been some slight variances in barrel freebore. With a COAL of 2.330″, the rounds were “jumping” to the rifling in all barrels.
Among the four barrels, Brand ‘PN’ was the fastest at 2824 fps average — 67 fps faster than the slowest barrel. Roughly 10 fps can be attributed to the slightly longer length (27″ vs. 26″), but otherwise this particular barrel was simply faster than the rest. (Click Here for results of 6mmBR Barrel Length Velocity Test).
IMPORTANT: Results Are Barrel-Specific, Not Brand-Specific
These tests demonstrate that the exact same load can perform very differently in different barrels. We aren’t publishing the barrel-makers’ names, because it would be wrong to assume that ‘Brand X’ is always going to be faster than ‘Brand Y’ based on test results from a single barrel. In fact, velocities can vary up to 100 fps with two identical-spec barrels from the SAME manufacturer. That’s right, you can have two 8-twist, 26″ barrels, with the same land-groove configuration and contour, from the same manufacturer, and one can be much faster than another.
Don’t Demand More Than Your Barrel Can Deliver
We often hear guys lament, “I don’t get it… how can you guys get 2900 fps with your 6BRs and I can only get 2840?” The answer may simply be that the barrel is slower than average. If you have a slow barrel, you can try using more powder, but there is a good chance it may never run as fast as an inherently fast barrel. You shouldn’t knock yourself out (and over-stress your brass) trying to duplicate the velocities someone else may be getting. You need to work within the limits of your barrel.
Factory Ammo Provides a Benchmark
If you have a .223 Rem, 6mmBR, .243 Win, 6.5×47 Lapua, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5×55, .308 Win, 30-06, or .338 LM Rifle, we recommend you buy a box of Lapua factory-loaded ammo. This stuff will shoot great (typically around half-MOA), and it can give you a baseline to determine how your barrel stacks up speedwise. [Editor’s NOTE: The original test was conducted in 2008. The velocity of current-production Lapua factory ammo might be higher or lower, so your results may vary.]
When you complete a new 6mmBR rifle, it’s definitely smart to get a box of the factory ammo and chronograph it. That will immediately give you a good idea whether you have a slow, average, or fast barrel. Then you can set your velocity goals accordingly. For example, if the factory 6BR ammo runs about 2780-2790 fps in your gun, it has an average barrel. If it runs 2820+ in a 26″ barrel (or 2835 fps in a 28″), you’ve got a fast tube.
One of the most unique and popular air rifle matches in the world takes place next week in Arizona. The Extreme Benchrest Championship, hosted by Airguns of Arizona, takes place October 6-9, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. This is the 11th annual Championship and Airguns of Arizona plans on making this the biggest and best one yet. NOTE: The event name is a bit of a misnomer. This is NOT just a benchrest match. In fact this event encompasses multiple airgun disciplines — Benchrest, Silhouette, Field Target, and Action Steel — with targets at 50, 75, and 100 yards.
About the Extreme Benchrest Championship in Arizona
Extreme Benchrest earns its name with airguns being shot as far as 100 yards outdoors where the elements will test the best in ammunition, air rifle, and shooter. With very few limitations on equipment, this all-inclusive match is exciting and truly a test of marksmanship. This multi-discipline event tests shooters in precision as well as speed and adaptability in the field. Along with traditional Benchrest shotoing, the event includes Speed Silhouette, Big Bore, Field Target, and Action Steel shooting. Manufacturers from across the globe are providing top level prizes and awards. Competitors will participate with some of the finest air-gunners in the country. CLICK HERE for more information.
This video is WORTH WATCHING — it shows multiple disciplines and many airgun types:
Sightron Will Be Major Sponsor of Extreme Benchrest Championship for Air Rifles
“We are very excited to be the official optics sponsor of this incredible championship,” said Mack Matsumoto, President of Sightron. “Sightron optics are made to compete at the highest level. The SII Blue Sky 20-60×85 HD spotting scope will definitely be a huge advantage for the competitors utilizing them. The new S6 series of riflescopes among others will be on display during the championship.” To learn more about the complete Sightron product line, go to Sightron.com or visit Sightron’s Facebook Page.
Sightron will be sponsoring the attendee goodie bag with several promotional items. Sightron is also providing a $2899.99 SVIII 5-40x56mm ED Illuminated LRM riflescope for the raffle. Sightron will bring multiple SII Blue Sky 20-60×85 HD angled spotting scopes for viewing by spectators. Several of these will be linked to televisions in the attendee shooting area.
With the huge popularity of NRL22 and PRS rimfire matches, along with the growth of rimfire benchrest events, and local rimfire fun matches, we’ve seen heightened demand for all types of .22 LR ammunition. Plus the high cost of centerfire bullets and limited availability of powders and primers has pushed many centerfire shooters into the rimfire fold. Accordingly, quality .22 LR ammunition has been harder to find this year, and prices have been escalating. Thankfully, if you use Ammoseek.com, you can still find most types of .22 LR ammunition, from bulk-pack plinking fodder to high-end Lapua, ELEY, RWS, SK, and Norma.
Find Rimfire Ammunition Fast with AmmoSeek.com
Here’s a great search service that can help you locate hard-to-find ammunition and reloading components — while saving money in the process. AmmoSeek.com monitors scores of online vendors — checking current pricing and available inventory, for pistol, rifle, and shotgun ammunition. Looking for .22 LR ammo for your rimfire trainer or NRL22 rifle? Just select “.22LR” from AmmoSeek’s “Quick Seek” menu. NOTE: In mobile view type “22LR” in the “Search Ammo by Caliber” field top center.
And here are the 9/27/2022 search results for .22 LR ammunition. These are five of the 1000+ entries, starting with the least expensive, just six cents ($0.06) per round:
How to Search by Manufacturer and Bullet Weight
You can also search for a particular .22 LR ammunition manufacturer, and/or search by bullet weight. Just click on the “Modify Search Link”. Once you see the “Modify Search” column on the left, scroll down and you can sort by price (cost per round) and/or shipping cost. Here are the first results of a search for ELEY .22 LR rimfire ammunition:
Midsouth Shooters currently has a large selection of Rimfire Ammunition in stock:
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. Sportsman’s WH — Savage Axis Rifle/Scope Combo, $329.99
⏺ Truly great deal for 6.5 Creedmoor Deer Rifle with Bushnell Scope
Planning to hunt this season? Here’s a shockingly good deal on a scoped 6.5 Creedmoor hunting rifle. The Sportsman’s Warehouse exclusive Savage AXIS XP rifle features a black synthetic stock paired with a carbon steel, button-rifled sporter barrel chambered for 6.5 Creedmoor. This package rifle is ready to shoot, right out of the box, thanks to a mounted and bore-sighted Bushnell 4-12x40mm scope. Being a Savage, with a barrel nut, you can easily add a pre-fit barrel in a larger caliber.
2. Creedmoor Sports — Berger Bullet and Ammo Sale
⏺ Top-quality match bullets and excellent loaded ammo priced favorably
Did you know that Berger makes both bullets AND loaded ammunition? If you’re in the market for either check out the Berger Bullet & Ammo Sale at Creedmoor Sports. This is a great opportunity to pick up bullets and ammo at favorable prices. Some of the most popular bullets will sell out — so don’t delay.
3. Midsouth — LEE Breechlock Challenger Press Kit, $144.99
⏺ Heck of a deal on a good press and complete reloading system
For under $150 you can get pretty much everything you need to reload, except dies. This Lee Breech Lock Challenger Kit includes Press, Powder Dispenser, Scale, Hand Primer Tool, Funnel, Chamfer Tool, Primer pocket tool, and more. We like the press — the handle is adjustable and the primer-catching system sends spent primers into a receptacle for no mess cleanup. This $144.99 Kit comes complete with the Breechlock Quick Change die system. If you are looking to get started in handloading, or want a back-up second press with accessories, this is a great deal.
4. Graf & Sons — Winchester Centerfire Ammo REBATE
⏺ Save 20% on good loaded rifle ammunition
Need some good made-in-USA factory ammo? Check out the Winchester Ammunition Rebate at Graf & Sons. For a limited time, get a full 20% OFF eligible centerfire rifle ammunition. Maximum rebate amount is $75 per household. Offer is valid on qualifying purchases made between September 19, 2022 and December 4, 2022. The 20% Rebate applies to these types of Winchester loaded ammo: .223 Rem, 5.56x45mm, 7.62 x 51mm (.308 Win), and 300 Blackout.
⏺ Great deal — versatile rotating bench for varminting or home range
If you shoot on your own property or an undeveloped range, it’s great to have a portable shooting bench. The very affordable Birchwood Casey Xtreme Shooting bench offers superior comfort with a 2” thick padded back rest and seat. The benchtop rotates a full 360 degrees — great for varminting. The 23″ W X 34″ L padded top offers a comfortable, stable shooting surface for target practice or field hunting.
6. Amazon — Field Dressing Kit, $69.97
⏺ Must-have kit for game hunters — very useful
Heading out on a fall hunt and need tools to prepare the game meat you harvest? The versatile Knine Outdoors Field Dressing Kit offers a great selection of tools for a low price. This very complete Dressing Kit includes: 12″ Boning Knife, 9-1/2″ Gut-Hook Skinner, 8-1/2″ Hawkbill blade knife, 8-1/2″ Caping Knife, 12″ Gut-Hook Butcher Axe, 10-1/2″ Skinning Cleaver, 8-1/2″ Bone Saw, Ribcage Spreader (7″ to 12″), 9-1/4″ Game Shear, 11-7/8″ x 7-7/8″ Cutting Board, Knife and Shear Sharpener, and Cleaning Gloves.
7. Midway USA — Competition Range Bag, $59.99
⏺ Large capacity with good padding and strong fabric
The MidwayUSA Competition Range Bag is one of the best range bags on the market. Offered in four colors (Black, Charcoal Grey, Olive Drab, and Coyote Tan), this range bag can transport everything you need for a match or a day at the range. It boasts five notable carry compartments: huge primary bag, removable stage bag/ammunition carrier, two removable pistol rugs, and a removable fired brass/ammo carry bag. If you do a lot of pistol or 3-Gun shooting, this bag is a very good choice.
8. Amazon — Tri-Layered Scent-Safe Bag, $28.37
⏺ Handy, effective, very useful scent-blocker bag for game hunters
When you’re hunting for wild game, the last thing you want is to have your prey smell you coming. The Hunters Specialties Scent-A-Way Scent-Safe Travel Bag has a durable nylon outer and inner layers enclose a specially formulated foil that locks out foreign odors and locks in cover scents. Hunters we know have used this bag and recommend it.
⏺ Easy to see hits at distance, convenient 200-target roll
When shooting plain paper targets, it can be hard to see impacts. With these handy 4″ Splatterburst Targets your hits instantly display in bright yellow upon impact. Spend more time shooting and less time looking for shots. These adhesive targets peel off the 200-ct roll and then stick firmly to your target backer. Get a roll of 200 adhesive targets for $22.99 on Amazon. That works out to just 11.5 cents per target.
Forum member Al Nyhus is a top-level score shooter who has competed successfully with the 
Barrel Velocity Variance
