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 — Hornady Press Kit, $319.99 w/FREE Case Prep Duo
⏺ Great Deal on reloading kit with Free Case Prep Machine worth $65
Here’s an excellent reloading package with everything you need to start handloading cartridges. And right now you can save 20%. 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 bonus Case Prep Duo would cost you $64.99 at MidwayUSA by itself, so it’s like getting the whole Kit for $255 — a steal!
⏺ Exclusive Weatherby Vanguard with 12 standard and Magnum chamberings
Here’s a great deal on a quality, American-made hunting rifle with a Cerakote finish, and sub-MOA accuracy guarantee. This Sportsman’s Warehouse Exclusive Weatherby Vanguard is offered in 12 different chamberings all for $879.99, with built-in discount. This rifle has smoked bronze Cerakoting on the action, bottom metal, and hammer-forged, spiral-fluted barrel. It features an excellent adjustable 2-stage trigger with 3-position safety. The handsome Monte Carlo stock is a pale green with gray webbing accents. You could pay twice as much and not get a better hunting rifle than this.
3. Bullet Central — Krieger and Bartlein Pre-Fit Barrels
⏺ Great quality pre-fit barrels, ready to mount to your rifle
Do you own a Kelbly, BAT, or Impact action and need a new barrel but don’t want the hassle (and cost) of having a smith chamber and headspace the barrel? Consider a Krieger or Bartlein Pre-Fit Barrel from Bullet Central. On BulletCentral.com you’ll find a wide range of barrels in various calibers for multiple action types. Place your order for professionally-chambered, custom-grade barrels that you can install yourself.
4. Grafs.com — FREE Shipping and FREE Hazmat Specials
⏺ Get Free Shipping over $75 and Free Hazmat over $150 powder/primers
Graf & Sons is a excellent source for gun parts, tools, and reloading supplies. Right now if you spend $75.00 or more on most items you’ll get FREE shipping in the contiguous 48 states. Note, there are some exclusions including clearance items. The other special deal provides FREE Hazmat, a $23.50 value. If you purchase $150.00 or more of in-stock powders and/or primers, one HazMat fee will be waived per order.
5. EuroOptic — Leica 6X Zoom Scopes, 40-44% Off
⏺ Great deal on superb long-range hunting/varminting scopes
Here are two very high-quality Leica riflescopes at big discounts. These are SFP optics with 0.1 Milrad clicks. With an amazing 6X zoom ration, there is a huge field of view at the 2.5X base magnification. Then you have 15X on the other end for long shots. The 56mm objective version is now $899.99 on sale, a 44% savings off the $1599.99 price, while the version with a 50mm objective is also $899.99, a 40% discount off the regular $1499.99 price. With these deals you can save up to $700 — enough to buy a rifle.
6. Midway — Caldwell Front Rest and Rear Bag, $99.99
⏺ Great price on good set-up for sighting-in hunting rifles
Need a good basic front rest and rear bag to sight-in that hunting rifle or do load development? Here’s a solid, functional benchrest set-up at a great price. This Caldwell Rock BR Rest and Bag Combo is great combo deal for just $99.99. This will more than suffice for testing a hunting rifle or basic bench-work. Upgrade the rear bag later. The front rest adjusts for both windage and elevation. This is a GREAT deal — consider that the Caldwell Rock BR Rest by itself sells for $179.99 at Sportsmans.com.
⏺ Great tool when a large number of cases need bullets removed
This is a very efficient bullet-pulling tool that has earned many positive user reviews. Frankford Arsenal’s Pile Driver Bullet Puller offers efficient processing with plenty of leverage. This unit mounts to your bench or reloading room wall. The lever design uses spring power to pull bullets up to .30-06. An optional magnum carrier (sold separately) will pull bullets up to .338 Lapua length. Bullets and powder are captured in an included trap with optional tube for high-volume. This unit design uses inertia to pull bullets with ease, making it faster, more user friendly and less damaging than traditional bullet pulling methods.
⏺ Great deals on durable AR500 steel targets — watch video below right
Caldwell’s new bright, easy-to-see steel targets come in multiple shapes and sizes for competition, training, and recreational use. Made of AR-500 grade hardened steel, these bright yellow targets can withstand thousands of rounds. Rated up to a 3000 fps impact velocity and a 3500 ft-lb impact energy, these targets come in seven styles and sizes with three hanging solutions. These bright yellow Caldwell AR500 Steel Targets are on sale now on Amazon, starting at just $16.99 for the 5″ Gong Target.
9. Amazon — RCBC Hand Primer Tool, $59.99
⏺ Handy tool primes all common rifle cases
Do you want to prime your brass without the hassle of something being mounted to a bench? Check out the RCBS Hand Primer and seat primers anywhere you want. The universal shell holder will accept cases from .32 ACP to .45-70 Government and the patented safety gate isolates the primer seating operation from the primer supply virtually eliminating the possibility of tray detonation.
How many times have you grabbed your electronic earmuffs only to find the batteries are dead. To avoid the hassles (and cost) of battery replacement, consider Walker’s Rechargeable Razor Ear Muffs. These rechargeable muffs have an estimated 80 hours of run time. That’s enough to get through several DAYS at the range. Then you can recharge the muffs conveniently at home or in your vehicle with a common USB cable. To hear range commands clearly, the muffs have HD speakers. Plus there’s a handy audio jack. These muffs are comfortable and boast a 23 dB Noise Reduction Rating (NRR).
Are you considering a small 9mm handgun for concealed carry (CCW) and self-defense? Then you should read an excellent 5-gun comparison review by Guns America Digest. This detailed article and accompanying video cover what the author calls the “Miracle 9 category” — 9mm micro-compacts that hold 10 or more rounds without the use of extended magazines. All these five pistols are very easy to conceal and all are striker-fired. The pistols compared are: Ruger MAX-9, SIG Sauer P365, Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus, Springfield Armory Hellcat, and Taurus GX4.
Here are key, short highlights of the Guns America 5-pistol roundup review. This is a start, but we strongly recommend you read the full comparison review on Guns America Digest.
L to R: Ruger MAX-9, Springfield Armory Hellcat, S & W M&P Shield Plus, Taurus GX4, SIG Sauger P365.
Ruger MAX-9
“The Ruger MAX-9 is the only pistol in this class to come standard with a slide cut that is ready for a mounted red-dot optic. The MAX-9 [also has] an impressive pair of sights. The front sight is a long one that houses a florescent yellow fiber optic[.] The slide stop control is small and can be quite difficult to use as a slide release – a common trait for Ruger handguns.”
SIG Sauer P365
“The P365 was the first Miracle-9 to market and literally knocked the industry on its butt. Despite rumors of intermittent problems or QA concerns, the marketplace beat a path to SIG’s doorstep and bought this pistol in droves. Being first to market has its rewards. The P365 is available in about a half-dozen variations, some significantly distinct — like the XL with its longer barrel and slide.” [Note: in this article, the reviewer focuses on the P365 SAS model with flush-mount fiber-optic sights.]
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus
“The Shield is most likely the best-selling micro-compact 9mm handgun in the past decade. The Shield Plus [is] a gun with millions of rounds of experience and credibility, proven popular ergonomics, and the presumption of staunch reliability. It is available in several variations that included sight upgrades and [optional] manual safety switch.”
Springfield Armory Hellcat
“The Hellcat is well-appointed, with an excellent set of sights called ‘U-Dot’ and a very nice trigger. Absent on the Hellcat is the rear grip safety that is found on XD models. The Hellcat is available in two variations – with or without the slide cut for an optic (and the inclusion of an optic is a further option).”
Taurus GX4
“The GX4 follows closely to the very popular TX22 in terms of ergonomics and grip texture. The controls are well placed and function very nicely. Similar to the P365 SAS, there is no takedown lever that protrudes from the frame, just a rotating pin. This reviewer has found the trigger of the GX4 to be less than ideal.”
Should the Five Miracle 9mms Be Six? (Adding a Glock 43X)
One Sheriff’s Deputy posted this comment on the Guns America review, suggesting that the Glock 43X should have been added to the comparison: “I’ve had a SIG P365 from the release. Love it. I’m a Deputy Sheriff and it is my constant off duty companion for years. Tried Hellcat, nice gun but paper and shot timers don’t lie, I was less accurate and slower. Other officers were better with it than Sig. So like we all know, shoot what suits you. Now I have two Glock 43X MOS. Factory night sights and just a trigger connector for add-ons. Those guns surprised me, I beat my Sig times and accuracy was same, excellent. So I’ve been carrying a 43x more. The 43x is definitely a contender to look at.” Here is the Glock 43X, silver slide version (10+1 3.39″ barrel):
Forum member F-Class John is an avid F-Class competitor and expert handloader. John reviews reloading hardware and shooting-related products for his popular F-Class John YouTube Channel, which now boasts 500+ videos. John also does important product testing for AccurateShooter.com. Through his YouTube channel, John has reviewed many of the latest and greatest reloading tools and accessories. For today’s Video Showcase, we selected six F-Class John product reviews. Products tested include front rests, borescopes, precision triggers, ammo caddies, steel rimfire targets, and a concentricity checker.
If you like these informative videos, consider joining F-Class John’s Patreon Channel for live video meetings, more in-depth videos, and detailed explanations. Join Patreon via Patreon.com/fclassjohn for full length videos, live chats, and more.
SEB NEO-X and Rodzilla Raptor Front Rests
This video covers two outstanding front joystick rests, the SEB Neo-X and the Rodzilla Raptor. Both of these rests work great for both benchrest and F-Class shooters, centerfire and rimfire. Build quality is outstanding for both rests. Tester F-Class John observes: “Both are great units and user preference will really dictate which to get. I own both and find they give me consistent target acquisition.” To learn more about these two excellent front rests, visit TheRodzilla.com and/or SEB Rests USA.
Testing Flavio Fare Triggers
The Flavio Fare triggers are some of the best on the market. These are offered for various action types including Remington clones and custom actions. CLICK HERE for a discussion of these triggers on our Forum. The Flavio Fare Veloce Hunting Trigger (with safety) adjusts from 5 to 25 ounces pull weight and retails for $439.95. The Flavio Fare Whisper 2.1 BenchRest Trigger (no safety) adjusts from 0.7 to 2.8 ounces, and costs $419.95. Reviewer F-Class John says these Flavio Fare triggers are “smooth, crisp, with a wide range of trigger pull weights … I love these things.”
Steel Targets for Rimfire Competition — Options Reviewed
NRL-22 and PRS Rimfire matches are growing in popularity. These types of competition are fun because reactive targets are used at the matches. Such targets provide “instant gratification” for a good shot — you hear a “ping” and may see the target swing or rotate. This video reviews a large variety of rimfire steel targets from D-M Targets. F-Class John notes: “These D-M Targets rimfire metal targets set-up quickly and easily. These targets are made from good steel and produce a good sound when hit.” John also observed that these DM steel rimfire targets don’t hang up when hit.
Teslong BoreScope Comparison — NTG500H and NTG450H Models
All serious rifle shooters should have a good digital borescope that allows you to view the inside of your rifle barrels. That helps you diagnose fouling/wear issues and evaluate the effectiveness of your cleaning procedures. Teslong makes some of the most popular electronic borescope systems. There are versions that can connect to your smartphone, iPad, or mobile device. We like the Teslong units that have their own dedicated hard-case display unit. This ensures you don’t have to fiddle with smartphone software updates or security conflicts. In this video, F-Class John reviews two different Teslong Borescope systems: model NTG500H and model NTG450H. Both these units have their own control cases with glass display screens. John notes: “Both units are priced right, have great screens, and are easy to use.”
Ammunition Caddies for F-Class and Benchrest Competition
If you shoot at a quick pace during benchrest, varmint, or F-Class competition, you can definitely benefit by having a well-designed ammo caddie that puts your round within easy reach. This video reviews loaded ammo holders produced by Accurate Forum member BGInvestor using a 3-D printer. The video showcases two different versions, one dark blue for benchrest, and a second, larger black unit for F-Class which is shown above. This video review shows different ways to mount these ammo holders, and discusses the multiple block sizes which are offered. F-Class John says you’ll want to pick a caddie that suits your shooting style and particular discipline.
Concentricity Checking with Accuracy One Gauge
Every serious hand-loader needs a quality concentricity gauge. The Accuracy One Concentricity Gauge boasts a smart design that delivers precise, repeatable results. We like the unit’s easy adjustability and its ability to work in a variety of configurations. The Accuracy One Gauge measures internal and external neck runout of cartridge cases as well as seated bullet runout. It can also measure the runout of the ogive, bearing surface, and boat-tail of individual bullets. And it can even measure your primer pocket runout. Reviewer F-Class John notes: “I think this is the best concentricity tool on the market. Such a tool is a necessity for new loaders or those who are always setting up new dies.”
If you ever shoot with electronic targets, ShotMarkers, or target cams, chances are you’ll spend lots of time looking at the screen of a tablet computer or iPad. These electronic devices are pretty amazing, but they have one major shortcoming when used outdoors — reflections from the highly-polished glass screen.
Well it turns out there is a simple, inexpensive solution to the problem of annoying tablet screen reflections. Just purchase a quality anti-reflective screen protector for your tablet, iPad, or smartphone and you will eliminate most annoying reflections and make your mobile device MUCH easier to use at the range.
Take a look at the two photos above. The first photo shows how annoying reflections can obscure the ShotMarker display on a tablet. The second shot shows how much easier it is to view the ShotMarker target image with an anti-reflective screen cover in place. BIG improvement!
Our friend Keith Glasscock recently added an anti-reflective screen protector to his iPad tablet and found that it works wonders. Keith recently reviewed the iCarez Matte Screen Protector for his Winning in the Wind YouTube Channel. These screen covers are available in a wide variety of sizes to fit most Apple iPhones and Apple iPads. These thin, matte screen protectors are quite affordable, with prices starting at just $9.95.
In addition, there are other brands of screen protectors for Android devices that work the same way. Again, you’ll find a variety of sizes. For example, Supershieldz now offers a 3-pack of matte screen covers for 10″ Samsung tablets for just $5.99 on Amazon
In the above video, Keith Glasscock explains the problem of screen reflections when using mobile devices for shot monitoring. Keith then describes his positive experience with the iCarez Matte screen cover installed on his personal iPad.
A good screen cover can eliminate this kind of harsh reflection on tablet screens:
Have you ever expanded a .22 or 6mm cartridge all the way up to .30-caliber? If so, you know this can be a difficult procedure that stresses the case necks and neck-shoulder junction. A significant neck-size expansion done in one big jump can increase run-out, cause doughnuts, or worse yet, even split the brass. Therefore you want to proceed in increments, increasing the neck diameter in stages. One smart way to do that is to use a Progressive Press. This article explains how…
The most successful short-range benchrest-for-score cartridge is the 30 BR. That cartridge, as well as 30 BR variants such as the 30 BRX, all start with the 6mmBR Norma parent cartridge, typically with Lapua 6mmBR brass. To get a nice 30 BR case you want to expand in stages, increasing the inside neck diameter incrementally from .243 to .308.
Darrell Jones of DJ’s Brass Service creates thousands of 30 BR cases each year. He has found a clever way to speed up the process — Darrell uses a Progressive Press. He runs his 6BR brass through four (4) separate Hornady neck-sizing dies with expander mandrels. First there is a .257 die, followed by .264 (6.5mm), .284 (7mm), and then .308. Then a fifth and final K&M die provides one last, slight expansion so the newly-fashioned 30 BR cases perfectly fit the arbor of Darrell’s neck-turning tool.
So to repeat, the case starts as .243 (6mm), then moves in up stages .257, .264, .284, and .308, with a final “finishing” step prior to neck-turning. You can see the expansion in this video, which starts with 6mmBR brass that was first hydro-formed to 6 BRX:
Watch 6mm Cases Expanded to 30-Caliber (6BRX to 30 BRX)
For this demo video, Darrell expands just one case at a time. However, he can also put multiple cases in the progressive — one per station. This takes a little more effort, Darrell says, but the results are still excellent. Darrell tells us: “I do put multiple cases in the progressive to save time. The results are the same — I just wanted to show a single-step process and how it reduces run-out by not stressing the shoulder with one big expansion from 6mm straight to 30 caliber. Doing the operation in multiple stages avoids binds and helps keep the shoulders concentric.”
This same multi-stage procedure can be use to expand other cartridge types. For example you could take .221 Fireball brass in stages up to .308 to create 300 Blackout brass.
Darrell uses caliber-specific, Hornady neck-sizing-only dies with elliptical expanders. Darrell tells us: “The Hornady elliptical expander has a reduced bearing surface that puts less strain on the brass when expanding the necks to the next size.” The fitting at the bottom of the die is the Lock-N-Load die bushing that allows fast die changes.
These particular cases used in the video were first hydro-formed to 6BRX then expanded to 30 BRX before neck turning. DJ’s Brass offers hydro-forming for many popular wildcat cartridges such as 6 PPC, 6mm Dasher, and .284 Shehane.
According to TimneyUSA, starting this month (July 2023) “all Remington Model 700 rifles will come standard with Timney triggers”. Remington’s Alpha 1 and Police Rem 700s will come with the Timney Elite Hunter trigger while ALL other new Rem 700 rifle models will ship with Timney’s new Impact 700 trigger.
The impressive Impact 700 trigger is the newest trigger in Timney’s extensive line of Remington 700 triggers. American-made by skilled craftsman, these Impact triggers enhance Remington production rifles and are a good choice when purchased separately for a Rem-clone rifle.
Timney fabricates the new Impact trigger the right way — parts are machined from billet steel. There’s no skimping with metal injection molding, rolled, or stamped parts. Timney hand-assembles, tests, and calibrates each Impact trigger. Yet they are offered at a very affordable price: $124.99 MSRP.
This new trigger has a factory set pull weight of 3 – 4 pounds (non-adjustable) that provides a crisp, clean break. This new Impact trigger features Timney’s Sear Engagement Adjustment Lock design (SEAL’d) for consistent performance.
The Impact 700 is the next evolution for a quality, drop-in replacement trigger for the iconic Remington Model 700 rifle. This Timney Impact trigger makes a Remington 700 production rifle more desirable than ever before, as the Rem 700 series now boasts one of the best triggers you can get on a factory rifle. This new Impact trigger is also a very good, affordable option for Rem-clone rifle owners.
Timney states: “Timney was asked to provide a Timney 700 Replacement Trigger that does not compromise on quality. Timney listened. Timney delivered.”
With the price of premium scopes approaching $3400.00 (and beyond), it’s more important than ever to provide extra protection for your expensive optics. ScopeCoat produces covers that shield scopes with a layer of neoprene rubber (wetsuit material) sandwiched between nylon. In addition to its basic covers, sold in a variety of sizes and colors, ScopeCoat has a line of heavy-duty 6mm-thick XP-6 covers that provide added security. CLICK HERE to review the full line of ScopeCoats on Amazon.
Triple-Thickness XP-6 Model for Added Protection
The XP-6 Flak Jacket™ is specifically designed for extra protection and durability. The 6mm-thick layer of neoprene is three times thicker than the standard ScopeCoat. XP-6 Flak Jackets are designed for tall turrets, with sizes that accommodate either two or three adjustment knobs (for both side-focus and front-focus parallax models). To shield an expensive NightForce, March, or Schmidt & Bender scope, this a good choice. XP-6 covers come in black color only, and are available for both rifle-scopes and spotting scopes.
The heavily padded XP-6 Flak Jacket is also offered in a Zippered version, shown at right. This is designed for removable optics that need protection when in storage. The full-length, zippered closure goes on quick-and-easy and provides more complete protection against dust, shock, and moisture. The line of XP-6 Scope Covers run $23 – $34 on Amazon.
Special Covers for Binos and Red-Dots
ScopeCoat offers many specialized products, including oversize covers for spotting scopes, protective “Bino-Bibs” for binoculars, rangefinder covers, even sleeves for small pistol scopes and red-dot optics. There are also custom-designed covers for the popular Eotech and Trijicon tactical optics.
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.
This RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit makes it easy to get started reloading — with everything you need into one package. The kit includes: RockChucker Supreme Master 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. Right now this kit is just $335.99, a 34% savings!
2. Sportsman’s — Citadel Stars and Stripes M1911 Pistol, $899.99
⏺ Handsome patriotic M1911-A1 pistol to Celebrate 4th of July
Tomorrow is the 4th of July. What better way to celebrate America’s Independence Day than with a patriotic Stars and Stripes M1911 pistol. Citadel’s full-sized M1911 Government has a handsome Cerakoted American flag finish. This is available by itself or with a matching Stars and Stripes ammo can. As on sale right now at Sportsman’s Outdoor Superstore, this pistol is $899.99 — $310 off the regular price.
3. Natchez — Frankford Arsenal Platinum Intellidropper, $169.99
⏺ Excellent scale/dispenser out-performs other much more pricey units
If you’re looking to upgrade your powder measure system, check out the Frankford Arsenal Intellidropper. It’s one of the most advanced, intelligent, and precise electronic powder measures on the market today. The Intellidropper features a proprietary powder calibration button for fast and accurate powder measurements. Auto and manual trickle capability with up to 250 grains of powder per throw. Holds more than 7,000 grains of powder and offers +/- 0.1 grain accuracy.
4. Creedmoor Sports — Shoulder Datum Tool, $49.95
⏺ Handy tool allows you to gauge bump for multiple cartridge types
Measure your shoulder datum with the NEW Creedmoor Sports Shoulder Datum Tool. Sometimes you just want to bump the shoulder back .002″ to .003″ to preserve brass life while still ensuring it will feed in your rifle. It can also help with accuracy in some cases if the shoulder is already touching the inside of the chamber. It can also be helpful to know how the brass stretches during firing. If it’s being stretched a lot, especially in a bolt gun, this can mean the headspace may be excessive, or that the bolt isn’t making firm contact on the lugs.
5. EuroOptic — SIG Sauer Pistol Sale, Save up to $180
⏺ Excellent, accurate, reliable match and defense pistols on sale
Sig Sauer makes some of the finest pistols on the market for target shooting, self-defense, and concealed carry. Head over to EuroOptic for the Sig Sauer Sale where you’ll find pages of models to choose from all at lower than normal prices.
6. Amazon — Peregrine Magnetic Gun Caddy, $13.17
⏺ Unique accessory for handy safe storage; can be used on vehicle
Keeping your rifles steady and upright in safe, shop, or vehicle can be a challenge. An easy way to keep long guns secure is the Peregrine Field Gear Magnet Gun Caddy. This works great inside a safe, and can also attach magnetically to a vehicle. The magnetic gun caddy is an extra set of hands when you need to rest your unloaded firearm. It’s small and lightweight so it fits in your vest pocket, glove compartment, or range bag.
7. Amazon — Birchwood Casey .22 LR Target Rack, $36.94
Spending the day plinking with a .22 LR can be a lot of fun and relaxing. A great way to practice is with a dynamic target such as the Birchwood Casey Steel Resetting Target. Shoot the four lower plates then hit the upper plate to reset the group. NOTE — This target is designed for .22 LR Rimfire rifles and pistols. This Rimfire Target features a twist design with no welds to break.
8. Amazon — Simhevn Electronic Digital Caliper, $9.49
⏺ Amazing low price on digital calipers — great for a backup unit
One of the keys to accurate reloading is having a good set of calipers for measuring everything from bullets to brass. An inexpensive but effective version is the Simhevn Electronic 6″ Digital Caliper. These budget-price electronic calipers offer a nice LCD display screen, which automatically turns off after 5 minutes of use. These calipers come with a pre-installed battery plus a spare battery.
9. Amazon — Boosteady Gun Swabs, $10.99
⏺ Handy swabs for cleaning rifles and pistols — goodo inside actions
Cleaning guns can be challenging enough without worrying about getting gunk out of tiny corner and nooks. For those areas we like BOOSTEADY 6-Inch Cotton Gun Cleaning Swabs. Right now get 300 swabs for just $10.99 on Amazon. These will work for a variety of calibers and can reach into hard to reach places. This makes them great for slides, receivers, chambers, magazine housings, and breeches.
Lever-action rifles have been an important element of American history. These were truly the rifles that “Won the West”. Today, lever-action rifles remain popular with hunters and cowboy-action shooters. And rimfire lever guns are fun for short-range shooting at reactive targets. Easy to carry, lever guns can also be very effective on varmints. For this Saturday-at-the-Movies installment, we feature eight videos about lever-action rifles. These videos review modern lever guns as well as historic 19th-century lever-action rifles. Three of these videos features sophisticated 3D computer animation so you can look inside the rifles to see how the internal mechanisms function to feed, fire, and eject cartridges.
How a Lever-Action Rifle Functions
This video shows the inner mechanisms of a classic lever-action rifle. It shows how the lever actuates case-feeding from the under-barrel tube, then how the hammer is cocked/fired, and finally how the ejection works after the shot is fired. This video also covers lever-action rifle history, looking at the Winchester 1873 as well as popular modern lever-action firearms.
Classic American Lever-Action Rifles — Hickok45’s Insights
Hickok45 is one of the more knowledgeable YouTube gun reviewers, and he personally owns a number of lever guns. In this video, which has over 2.5 million views, Hickok45 first showcases the original Henry Rifle, and the brass-receiver model 1866 (aka “Yellowboy”). Then he reviews Winchester’s model 1873 and model 1876 (Centennial). Next comes Winchester designs by J.M. Browning — the model 1886, model 1892, model 1894, and lastly the distinctive model 1895 with vertical magazine. The Model 1895 was a favorite of President Theodore Roosevelt.
This insightful Hickok45 video has garnered 2.5 million YouTube views. If you can take the time to watch the entire 37-minute video, this is a great history lesson for 19th-century lever guns. In the video, Hickok45 also shows cartridges used in the various rifles.
Top Five Lever-Action Rifle for Hunting and Home Defense
This video combines reviews from multiple YouTube hosts, including .22 Plinkster. It is a good starting point if you are considering purchase of a modern, lever-action rifle for hunting or home defense. We recommend, prior to purchase, that you go to a gun store to inspect the rifles and work the actions. Some lever guns are significantly smoother in operation than others. You’ll also want to check the triggers, and see the options for mounting optics. This video provides a quick look at a variety of lever guns including: Henry Side Gate Lever Rifle; Winchester Model 1866 Short Rifle (replica); Browning BLR Lever Rifle; Marlin Dark Model 336; and Marlin 1895 Custom Shop 45-70.
Seven Reasons to Own a Lever-Action Rifle
We own a variety of lever-action rifles, including Marlins well as handsome replica Uberti 1866 and 1873 rifles. There is much to be said about the lever gun design. Compared to typical modern bolt-actions, lever guns are narrower and lighter. With a little tuning, the replica 19th-century lever-action rifles cycle very quickly and smoothly. And the modern lever guns are good choices for hunters, with their ability to mount scopes and fire modern high-velocity cartridges. This video reveals the reasons every serious shooter should have at least one lever-action rifle in his or her collection.
How a Winchester 1873 Works
This video has over 15 million views on YouTube. The Model 1873 was one of the most successful Winchester rifles of its day, with Winchester marketing it as “The Gun that Won the West”. The original Model 1873 was manufactured between 1873 and 1923, and it is still available today in replica versions. The 1873 was originally chambered for the .44-40 cartridge, the first significant centerfire cartridge. The 1873 was later produced in .38-40 and .32-20, all of which later became popular handgun cartridges of the day. The Model 1873 was produced in four variations: a 24-inch barrel rifle, a 20-inch barrel carbine, and a “musket”—which was aimed at military contracts and only made up less than 5% of production. The standard rifle-length version was most popular in the 19th century, although Winchester would make rifles to order in any configuration the customer wished, including longer barrels or baby carbines with barrels as short as 12 inches, octagonal-shaped barrels, color case-hardened receivers and fancy engraving.
The Henry Big Boy Lever-Action .44 Magnum
Here’s good, thorough 16-minute review of a modern Henry Big Boy side-gate lever-action rifle chambered for the potent .44 Magnum round. This rifle shows the benefits of modern manufacturing methods, and shows good fit and finish. The review puts the rifle through its paces, show how quickly a modern lever gun can be cycled. We think this would be a good choice for a home defense rifle that could share ammunition with a defensive revolver.
How It Functions — The Classic Winchester 1894
This Winchester 1894 animation video has over 16 million views on YouTube. The video host, Weapons Explained, notes: “The John Browning–designed Winchester Model 1894 is the most prevalent of the Winchester repeating rifles. The Model 1894 was first chambered for the .32-40 and .38-55 cartridges, and later, a variety of calibers such as .25-35 WCF, .30-30, and .32 Winchester Special. Winchester was the first company to manufacture a civilian rifle chambered for the new smokeless propellants, and although delays prevented the .30-30 cartridge from appearing on the shelves until 1895, it remained the first commercially-available smokeless powder round for the North American consumer market.”
Marlin 336 XLR Tactical-Style Lever-Action Rifle
And now for something a bit different… Here a Marlin 336 XLR lever-action rifle has been updated with a tactical-style forearm, rail-mounted optic, and suppressor. The reviewer noted how well the rifle functioned: “Recently I got my hands on this 336 XLR from Marlin and all of my preconceptions of tactical lever action rifles has now changed. What I found was a very modern and capable twist to an old school platform.”
More Information on Lever-Action Rifles
Want to learn more about lever-action rifles? RifleShooter magazine has published an interesting article, the 10 Greatest Lever-Action Rifles of All Time. Writing for RifleShooter, Brad Fitzpatrick examined a wide selection of lever guns produced in the past 150 years, and came up with this list of ten “all-star” lever-action rifles:
Savage Model 99
Winchester Model 1873/73
Winchester Model 1888/88
Winchester Model 1892/92
Winchester Model 1894/94
As with all “Top 10″ lists, this will be controversial. Where is the Winchester model 1866 “Yellowboy”, the favorite of Native Americans? Where is the iconic Winchester model 1895, the beloved gun Teddy Roosevelt called “Big Medicine”? But other choices are hard to fault. The classic 1860 Henry Rifle surely belongs on the list. And, believe it or not, the Winchester Model 94 is the best-selling sporting rifle of all time in the USA, according to RifleShooter.
The anvil is the tripod-shaped thin metal piece protruding above the bottom of the primer cup. Getting the primer sitting fully flush on the bottom of the case primer pocket, without crunching it too much, requires some keen feel for the progress of primer seating.
Sadly, Glen Zediker passed away in October 2020. However, his insights live on through his written works. This feature is based on Glen’s popular reloading books and his articles for the Midsouth Blog.
In two informative Midsouth Blog articles, Glen Zediker offers helpful advice on priming. First he examines what happens to the primer itself as it is seated in the cup. Glen explains why some “crush” is important, and why you never want to leave a high primer. Glen also reviews a variety of priming tools, including his favorite — the Forster Co-Ax Bench Primer Seater. Then he offers some key safety tips. Glen provides some “rock-solid” advice about the priming operation. You’ll find more great reloading tips in Glen Zediker’s popular book, Top-Grade Ammo, which we recommend.
Priming Precision vs. Speed
Glen writes: “The better priming tools have less leverage. That is so we can feel the progress of that relatively very small span of depth between start and finish. There is also a balance between precision and speed in tool choices, as there so often is.”
Benchtop Priming Tools — The Forster Co-Ax
Glen thinks that the best choice among priming options, considering both “feel” and productivity, may be the benchtop stand-alone priming stations: “They are faster than hand tools, and can be had with more or less leverage engineered into them. I like the one shown below the best because its feeding is reliable and its feel is more than good enough to do a ‘perfect’ primer seat. It’s the best balance I’ve found between speed and precision.”
Load Tuning and Primers
Glen cautions that you should always reduce your load when you switch to a new, not-yet-tested primer type: “The primer is, in my experience, the greatest variable that can change the performance of a load combination, which is mostly to say ‘pressure’. Never (never ever) switch primer brands without backing off the propellant charge and proving to yourself how far to take it back up, or to even back it off more. I back off one full grain of propellant [when I] try a different primer brand.”
Priming Safety Tips by Zediker
1. Get a good primer “flip” tray for use in filling the feeding magazine tubes associated with some systems. Make double-damn sure each primer is fed right side up (or down, depending on your perspective). A common cause of unintentional detonation is attempting to overfill a stuffed feeding tube magazine, so count and watch your progress.
2. Don’t attempt to seat a high primer more deeply on a finished round. The pressure needed to overcome the inertia to re-initiate movement may be enough to detonate it.
3. Don’t punch out a live primer! That can result in an impressive fright. To kill a primer, squirt or spray a little light oil into its open end. That renders the compound inert.
4. Keep the priming tool cup clean. That’s the little piece that the primer sits down into. Any little shard of brass can become a firing pin! It’s happened!
With the price of premium scopes approaching $3400.00 (and beyond), it’s more important than ever to provide extra protection for your expensive optics. 
The heavily padded XP-6 Flak Jacket is also offered in a Zippered version, shown at right. This is designed for removable optics that need protection when in storage. The full-length, zippered closure goes on quick-and-easy and provides more complete protection against dust, shock, and moisture. The line of XP-6 Scope Covers run 
