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April 25th, 2010
 The Creedmoor Sports 2010 catalog will be mailed out to Creedmoor’s customer list next week. Want a sneak peek? The complete, 88-page 2010 catalog, in digital format, is available online. CLICK THIS LINK to browse through the pages, search for products and zoom in for details.
There are many new products in the 2010 Creedmoor Catalog, such as a new fullbore prone coat, with special features for belly shooters. Creedmoor worked with Dennis Flaherty, U.S. Palma Team Captain, to develop this product. $50.00 from the sale of each coat goes to support the U.S. Palma Team. Also new this year is a “No-Pulse” sling, item NPS-01, $81.95. The 2″-wide sling is made of synthetic material so it won’t stretch or shrink, no matter what the weather. Special “grippy” backing stabilizes the sling on your arm, while a unique dual-strap connection on the cuff dramatically reduces pulse effects. In addition, Creedmoor has a new, deluxe spotting scope mounting head (“Polecat” series) which comes in three versions, so it can fit 5/8″, 3/4″, or 1″ stands.
April 23rd, 2010
If you’re planning to attend the 2010 National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, or if you just want to learn more about this “mother of all rifle matches”, you should download the FREE 2010 National Rifle and Pistol Championships Program and Entry Information Guide. This comprehensive 100-page digital publication (PDF) is chock full of helpful content, including maps, schedules, lists of nearby facilities. and entry information. The Camp Perry Program Guide also includes complete courses of fire and rules for the numerous firearm classes and various events. Anyone involved in competitive smallbore or high power shooting will find many things of interest in the 2010 Camp Perry Program Guide, even if you can’t make it to Ohio this summer.
CLICK HERE to download 2010 Camp Perry Program (PDF file, printable, 11.7 mb)
(After launching this file in browser, click “Save” icon to download to your computer.)
April 22nd, 2010
 America’s four-time-Olympic medalist Kim Rhode won the Gold Medal and equaled the existing world record at the 2010 ISSF World Cup in Beijing, China. Chinese shooters Shi Hong Yan and Wei Ning finished second and third, respectively.
Rhode was nearly perfect throughout the competition. By nailing 74 of 75 targets in the first three rounds and shooting a final round of 24, Rhode won the competition by two targets. With this victory, Rhode has earned more valuable points in her quest to again represent the United States in the 2012 London Games. If Rhode does participate in the 2012 Games, she could become the first American Olympian from an individual sport to earn medals in five consecutive Olympic Games. Rhode was pleased with her performance: “This is an exciting time for me. I was hoping to get a 99 [to set a new record] but it just was not meant to be.” On competing again in Beijing, Rhode declared: “This city is so incredible. Things are a lot different now than they were during the Olympic Games but it still is such an amazing place to compete.”
April 21st, 2010
 Tired of filling out forms, making copies, purchasing stamps and waiting to hear if your application arrived on time? Wait no longer! Entries for the National Rifle and Pistol Championships — as well as the various junior camps — are now being accepted online.
Just go to the NRA Camp Perry Sign-up webpage, fill out the appropriate fields (enter your NRA ID if you have one), and your application will automatically be entered into the system. According to John Park of the NRA’s Competitive Shooting Division, “We’ve had a lot of requests for an online system and [we] can’t wait to start using the new system.” Parker advises that, for the system to function correctly, users should employ Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher or Netscape 6.0 or higher. You can also access the impressive 100-page Camp Perry digital Program & Entry Information, which contains maps, schedules, Courses of Fire, Rules and much more. Click the first link below to read the Program online. Click the second link to download the Program as a PDF file.
CLICK HERE to view 2010 Camp Perry Program (Digital e-book)
CLICK HERE to download 2010 Camp Perry Program (PDF file, printable, 11.7 mb)
(After launching this file in browser, click “Save” icon to download to your computer.)
April 18th, 2010
 Texan Erik Cortina (aka X3MHunter in our Forum) showcased some great marksmanship recently. Competing at Houston’s Bayou Rifle Club, Erik shot a spectacular 600-49X to break the Rifle Club’s 300-yard F-Class Open division record of 599-32X. Erik smashed the Bayou record, raising the point count to a perfect 600 with 17 more Xs than before. Erik reports: “Conditions were calm, about 65 degrees with about a 1-3 mile wind from right to left. I would say they were almost perfect conditions. I was there at the right place at the right time!” Eric’s three strings, in order, were: 200-17X, 200-16X, and 200-16X. That’s consistency! In setting the new record, Erik demonstrated how accurate the 6.5 x 47 Lapua cartridge can be. (Note: There is no official NRA 3x20x300-yard F-Open Record at this time. The NRA currently logs only an individual 20-shot 300-yard F-Open record, which was set by Shiriz Balolia, with a perfect 200-20X).
We know many of our readers have built, or plan to build, a 6.5×47 Lapua match rifle. The question often arises: “What powder should I shoot and what weight bullet?” We normally advise people to start with bullets in the 120-130 grain-range with a powder such as Varget or Reloder 15. However, the unique properties of Reloder 17 offers a “heavy bullet solution.” In the hands of Asst. Editor Jason Baney, our AccurateShooter.com 6.5×47 Lapua test rifle shot the 140gr Bergers very accurately using Reloder 17. In fact, Jason’s most accurate 200-yard load was with the 140s and RL17.
 Erik Cortina also found that the 6.5×47 cartridge can work superbly with 140 grain-class bullets. Erik shot the 139gr Lapua Scenar bullets (jammed .020″ in the lands) with a stout load of Reloder 17 (more than 40 grains). Erik was able to drive the 139gr Scenars well over 2900 fps with the small 6.5×47 case. Erik tells us: “I developed this load doing a ladder test at 500 yards. This might be a very hot load in most rifles but mine is throated specifically for the 139 Scenars since I didn’t plan on shooting anything else. This load does not show pressure signs on my rifle.” Erik got great accuracy with minimal brass prep: “The Lapua 6.5×47 brass is great. After uniforming the primer pockets, I tried to weight sort but only found .3 grains variance on 300 pieces of brass, so I just loaded the brass and went shooting.”
Rifle Components and Smithing
Erik’s rifle features a Lawton 7500 RBRP left-eject action, mated to a 1:8″-twist, 28″ Krieger barrel. The barrel was chambered for a no-turn 6.5×47. The stock is a Richard Franklin Low Rider made by West Custom Rifles. The rifle was smithed by Mark Pharr of Tumbleweeds Custom Rifles.
April 15th, 2010
 The 2010 Eastern CMP Games and Creedmoor Cup Matches will be held May 8th through 16th at Camp Butner, NC. The event is hosted by the North Carolina Army National Guard. The 4th Eastern CMP Games and Creedmoor Cup Matches are co-sponsored by the CMP and Creedmoor Sports, Inc. CMP Games Matches will take place on 8-11 May while Creedmoor Cup Matches will be held 12-16 May. All interested shooters, (of all ages and skill levels) are invited to participate in these popular competitions. You’ll want to get your entry form in soon. There’s less than four weeks before the match starts.
CLICK for Match Program | CLICK for Match REGISTRATION
The Eastern CMP Games begin with a clinic on Saturday, 8 May. Three days of Garand, Springfield and Vintage Military Rifle Matches take place on 8, 10 & 11 May. The CMP Games Matches also include an “As-Issued” M1 Garand EIC Match on 9 May, a Rimfire Sporter Match and As-Issued Military Pistol Match on 9 May and an M1 Carbine Match on 10 May. New this year is a “Vintage Sniper Rifle Test Match” for two-man teams on 11 May. The Creedmoor Cup Matches begin on Wednesday, 12 May, with an advanced clinic. The Creedmoor Cup Matches include a Practice Match, a NMC team match, the 80-shot Creedmoor Cup Match and an EIC service rifle-NMC match rifle event. Both competitions feature special hospitality events and prize awards. Remington Firearms is sponsoring the High Power Rifle Clinic and a Practice Match (NMC). Creedmoor Sports is sponsoring a Four-Man team match (4 x NMC), the Creedmoor Cup 800 Aggregate and the Creedmoor EIC Match.
April 13th, 2010
From April 30 – May 2, the Original Pennsylvania 1000 Yard Club will host a multi-day, long-range benchrest school at its Williamsport range. For $250, up to 36 students will enjoy 1 night and 2 days of training under the tutelage of some of the nations’ top 1000-yard shooters. There are still some spots available for the Spring class, so get your applications in before the April 25th sign-up deadline.
 On Friday night (April 30), students will meet their mentors. Saturday (May 1), the class moves to the range for a full day of hands-on technical training. Topics include precision reloading, load development, gun handling, use of chronograph, analysis of shooting results, gun cleaning, and target analysis. The Williamsport Club will provide the rifles and all reloading components. Saturday’s sessions are followed by a steak dinner, included in the $250 seminar price.
On Sunday (May 2), after an early training session covering bench set-up and match strategies, students will shoot a 1000-yard match, spending time both behind the trigger and in the pits. The program wraps up before 4:00 pm on Sunday. The 1000-yard Benchrest School is limited to 36 students (with less than 3 students per advisor). Intructors include Gunsmiths Bruce Baer and Mark King, our Asst. Editor Jason Baney, and many Williamsport Hall of Fame shooters. For more info, email School Director Frank Grappone, frankgrappone [at] sbcglobal.net.
1000-Yard Benchrest School Slide Show
Sebastian Reist attended the 2009 Williamsport 1000-yard BR school. A talented professional photographer, Sebastian captured the highlights of his Williamsport 1K training weekend in the slideshow below, provided courtesy www.sreistphotography.com.
Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this VideoPress video.
April 11th, 2010
 There’s a big cash incentive for first-time female competitors at this year’s NRA Bianchi Cup, May 26-29, 2010, in Columbia, Missouri. Larry and Brenda Potterfield of MidwayUSA have donated big bucks for first-time female competitors, using a production handgun, who achieve the highest Aggregate score of all four championship events (moving target, falling plate, barricade, and practical). A qualifying production handgun must be “right out of the box”, unmodified, with no customizations.
First Place in the 1st time women’s category will receive $2,500, Second Place $1,500 and Third Place $750. Right now, with six weeks to go before the match, few women registrants meet the requirements to win this first-time shooters’ award. So, ladies, here’s a chance to win serious money. And guys, if you know a skilled female shooter, encourage her to sign up. For more information on the 2010 NRA Bianchi Cup, call 703-267-1451 or email BianchiCup [at] nrahq.org.
April 10th, 2010
 The 2010 14th Edition of the CMP Competition Rules for Service Rifle, Service Pistol and As-Issued Military Rifle shooting has just been released. These new rules go into effect immediately. The new rulebook can be downloaded from the CMP website. Printed copies of the new rules, which can be purchased from the CMP for $3.00 each, will be furnished to each match sponsor and National Matches competitor.
CLICK HERE to download 2010 CMP Competition Rules (14th Ed.)
There are fewer changes this year than there have been in any of the past 10 years — a sign that military rifle and pistol rules have stabilized. Most competitors in CMP-sanctioned Service Rifle, Service Pistol, and As-Issued Military Rifle Matches will NOT have to adapt to any significant changes this year. But there are a few changes to rules regarding AR15 stocks, rapid-fire time limits in Garand matches, and coaching during Military Rifle Matches. To learn more, read the CMP website’s point-by-point Summary of 2010 Rule Changes
April 6th, 2010
 Summer is just a couple months away. If you’re looking for supervised shooting opportunities for your youngsters this summer, the NSSF has created a list of suitable programs. Parents can choose from shotgun, rifle and/or handgun programs with certified adult instructors. All the programs listed below offer an introduction to target shooting, and some provide opportunities for individual and team competition. To learn more about training programs for young people, read “A Parent’s Guide to Recreational Shooting for Youngsters,” which is available online at www.nssf.org/lit.
AIM (Academics, Integrity, Marksmanship): AIM provides a safe, positive experience with firearms and registered trapshooting for youth, elementary school through college age. AIM encourages good sportsmanship and personal responsibility. Learn more at www.shootata.com/aim/aim4ata.html.
American Legion: Thousands of male and female junior shooters have participated in the American Legion Junior Shooting Sports Program, which has a perfect safety record. The Junior Program includes a Basic Marksmanship Course, Qualification Awards and Air Rifle Competition. To learn more, visit www.legion.org/shooting.
Civilian Marksmanship Program: The CMP offers many programs for youth shooters, including indoor air rifle clinics, summer shooting camps, and Rimfire Sporter competitions which are held natiowide. CLICK HERE to read about Rimfire Sporter matches, and learn more about all CMP youth programs at www.odcmp.com.
Junior USA Shooting Patch Program: This NSSF patch program allows youngsters to get started in target shooting. Under adult supervision, participants learn safety and shooting basics while earning official Junior USA Shooting team rifle or shotgun patches. Learn more at www.nssf.org/JRUSA/.
National 4-H Shooting Sports: More than 300,000 4-H members have been introduced to shotgun, rifle, muzzleloader and handgun shooting through this program, which emphasizes the development of youth as responsible, productive citizens. Learn more at www.4-hshootingsports.org.
Scholastic Clay Target Program: Directed by adult coaches, the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) provides team competition for youth in skeet, trap and sporting clays, with the opportunity to win state and national championships. Learn more at www.sssfonline.org.
Scholastic Steel Challenge: The SSC provides the opportunity for young adults aged 12 through 20 to participate in the challenging sport of “speed steel” in a supportive environment taught by trained adult coaches who focus on the safe handling and use of handguns.
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