When a hunter treks deep into the backcountry, he wants a tough yet light-weight rifle that’s easy to carry. But if the hunter is pursing very big game, such as a mature bull elk, he needs a rifle capable of shooting a large-caliber bullet at serious velocities. That’s what Kelbly’s offers with the impressive Nanook MG rifle. Built on a magnesium chassis, with a 26″ carbon-wrapped barrel and folding stock, the 7.9-lb Nanook MG is a long-range hunting rifle that’s easy to carry, yet can effectively shoot big-caliber cartridges capable of taking very large game.
The Kelbly’s Nanook MG offers the benefits of a chassis rifle with lighter weight through the use of carbon fiber components. Take a look — you’ll see carbon pistol grip, carbon cheek riser, and even a carbon buttstock beam. And the buttstock folds 180-degrees behind the chassis. This allows convenient carry when strapped to a backpack. With its folding stock, the Nanook MG is quite “packable” even with a 26″ barrel that allows high velocities from .300 PRC, .300 Norma Magnum, or .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges.
Photo courtesy Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF). CLICK HERE to DONATE to RMEF.
Nanook MG — Modern Chassis Rifle for the Long Range Hunter
The Nanook MG is a modern, light-weight chassis rifle optimized for medium- and long-range game hunting. Key Nanook MG components are low mass, allowing an overall weight of just 7 lbs. 14 ounces (before scope) even with a 26″ barrel. The heart of the rifle is Kelbly’s new light-weight Nanook action that weighs just 26.5 ounces. The barreled action rides in a magnesium XLR Element 4.0 MG chassis fitted with a carbon fiber hand grip and cheek riser to save those precious ounces. To ease packing the rifle, the chassis is fitted with a folding buttstock. This allows the rifle to have a proper 26″-long barrel to deliver high velocity with big cartridges.
The carbon-wrapped Heavy Palma Contour barrel is crafted by Preferred Carbon and fitted with self-timing Klaw Muzzle Brake. Kelbly’s states these barrels give excellent 3-shot accuracy, enough shots for any hunting situation. That accuracy is aided by a premium Bix’N Andy Dakota trigger set at a crisp 2.5 pounds.
Q & A with Ian Kelbly about the Features of the Nanook MG Rifle
Q: What were Kelbly’s design goals in making the Nanook MG rifle?
Kelbly: Our design goal was to create an optimized long range hunting rifle. We wanted something easy to pack (i.e. light-weight with a folding stock), that still had a fairly long 26″ barrel. This barrel length allows the hunter to take full advantage of the .300 PRC, .300 Norma Magnum, or .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges. We also wanted to showcase our new Nanook action, fitted to a modern chassis rifle that was light enough for mountain hunting.
Q: What are the best features of the Nanook MG Rifle?
Kelbly: There are many important features in this turn-key hunting rifle. The magnesium XLR Element chassis boasts high strength and ruggedness, with no more weight than a synthetic stock. The carbon-wrapped barrel from Preferred Barrels offers ample length for high velocities, but significantly reduced weight compared to a normal stainless barrel. The Bix’N Andy Dakota single-stage trigger provides a super-crisp break with the adjustability of a high end competition trigger.
Q: What factors favor a Chassis Rifle for long-range hunting?
Kelbly: The XLR Element 4.0 MG chassis offers the modularity of a modern precision rifle, including a full-length ARCA Rail for bipod/tripod attachment, but with the weight of a synthetic stock. The chassis also features M-Lok slots for for attaching any accessories that the hunter would want. Another key feature is that this chassis design allows you to fold the buttstock for scabbard packs and easy carrying.
Q: How do the carbon-wrap barrel and folding stock benefit the hunter in the field?
Kelbly: The carbon barrel allows us to remove significant weight from the rifle. We also specify the rifle with a carbon buttstock and hand grip to allow for more weight savings. The folding stock makes transport and packing much easier by reducing the overall length. Carbon barrels are well-suited for hunting, as they have proven to be very repeatable on cold bore and follow-up shots. The only thing a carbon barrel can’t do well is sustained rapid fire for many shots, but that is not needed for big game hunting applications.
Q. What are good chambering options for the Nanook MG Rifle?
Kelbly: We offer the Nanook MG in .300 PRC, .300 Norma Magnum, and .338 Lapua Magnum. All chamberings include a self-timing Klaw Muzzle Brake.
The two-lug Nanook action, at just 26.5 ounces, is extremely light for a steel action. The action body is made of 416R steel while the bolt is 4140 steel. This action features built-in Picatinny rail, while the bolt boasts an aluminum handle plus teardrop bolt knob.
How to Make Your Elk Hunt a Success
A North American elk hunt represents the adventure of a lifetime for many. Before heading out on an elk hunt, you want to maximize your chances of success by having the right equipment, and by doing your homework before the hunt. This National Shooting Sport Foundation (NSSF) video offers good advice on planning your first elk hunt.
Success! Elk hunt photo from West Canyon Ranch, a private hunting ranch in Utah.
Sherri Jo Gallagher, the second woman in history to win the NRA High Power National Championship, sports Eye Protection at Camp Perry. The first lady High Power Champion was Sherri’s mother, Nancy Tompkins.
In response to a Bulletin article about Protective Eyewear, one of our Canadian readers posted a personal story. His account demonstrates the importance of wearing eye protection whenever you shoot — no matter what type of firearm you are using — even air rifles. We hope all our readers take this to heart. All too often at rifle matches we see shooters, even some top competitors, risking their vision by failing to wear eye protection.
Eye and Hearing Protection are now MANDATORY for Highpower Rifle competitors and Pistol shooters in all CMP-affiliated matches. The 2020 CMP Highpower Rifle, Pistol, and CMP Games Rulebooks all contain the following rule: “All competitors and competition officials are required to wear appropriate eye and hearing protection when on shooting range firing lines during highpower rifle or pistol firing. All competitors must comply with this requirement before they can participate in a CMP sponsored or sanctioned competition. Competitors are responsible for selecting their eyewear and hearing protection.”
Eye Protection — Lesson Learned by Nicholas from Canada
As a boy on a mixed farm on the plains the first shooting stick I owned was a Red Ryder BB gun. My Dad bought it for me as I showed a keen interest in the shooting and hunting sports. I was about 9 years old at the time.
We had literally thousands of sparrows in our large farm yard and they liked to roost on the steel railings in the barn loft. I took to slowly thinning out their ranks by flashlight at night as these little winged pests settled in the farm buildings.
One evening as I slayed sparrow after sparrow in the barn loft — with about a dozen farm cats following me to consume these easy meals, I fired at another bird centered in my flashlight beam.
However, my aim was a bit low — and the copper pellet hit the steel beam square on. Instantly I felt a sharp pain as the BB bounced back and hit me squarely between the eyes on the bridge of my nose – drawing blood from the partial penetration into the skin. A half inch either way and I’d have lost an eye!
Never, never, never shoot at any target with a steel background with any firearm, even a BB gun – is the hard lesson I learned, and wear the best shooting glasses that money can buy!
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT!!
Editor’s Comment: Among competitive pistol shooters, the use of safety eyewear is universal. You’ll never see Rob Leatham, Julie Golob, or Jerry Miculek competing without eye protection — for good reason. The handgun sports’ governing bodies effectively enforce mandatory eye protection policies. We wish the same could be said for competitive rifle shooting. We often see benchrest, High Power, and F-Class competitors shooting without eye protection. We’ve heard all the excuses, yet none of them trump the safety considerations involved.
We recommend that all shooters and hunters employ eye protection whenever they use firearms or are at a location where live fire is taking place. You only have two eyes. A tiny bullet fragment or ricochet is all it takes to cause permanent blindness in one or both eyes. As rifle shooters, we place our eyes a couple inches away from a combustion chamber operating at pressures up to 70,000 psi. I know quite a few guys who will religiously put on safety glasses when running a lathe or a drill press, yet the same guys won’t use eye protection when shooting their rifles — simply because it is “inconvenient”. That’s nuts. It doesn’t matter is you are a cub scout or a multi-time National Champion — you should wear eye protection.
I will give you a personal example. A year ago I was shooting a 9mm pistol. One of the cartridges had a primer burst outward blowing small particles, some brass, and a piece of the pistol’s extractor right back into my eyes. Thankfully I was wearing good wrap-around safety glasses. No injuries at all. But without those safety glasses, this could have been very serious. I always wear safety glasses with ALL firearms. Shown below is the same kind of primer blow-out I experienced, but with a .270 Win rifle cartridge.
Be wise — protect your eyes. To learn more about eyewear safety standards, and to learn about the latest options in ANSI Z87-certified protective eyewear, read our article on Eye Protection for Shooters.
The 2022 NRA F-Class National Championships have been underway at the Ben Avery Range in Arizona this past week. The Mid-Range F-Class Nationals ran October 16-19, and the Long Range (1000-yard) event started on October 20 and concludes on Sunday, October 23, 2022. Many of the nation’s leading F-TR and F-Open shooters are battling it out at Ben Avery right now. The week of competition will conclude on Sunday October 23, 2022 with the final 1000-yard relays followed by award ceremonies.
Looking down-range with F-TR rifle at Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix, Arizona.
F-Class Shooting at Bisley Range in the United Kingdom
F-Class competition is popular around the world, and the UK is a major center of F-Class shooting in Europe. The Bisley range is justly famous, with a long heritage of shooting competitions. This video features the European F-Class Championship held at Bisley in 2015.
Highlights from Day 1 of 2021 F-Class Nationals
In 2021 the NRA F-Class National Championships were held at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. Here is interesting footage from Day 1 of the Long-Range 1000-yard match. The video is narrated by our friend Erik Cortina, a top F-class shooter and member of Team Lapua-Brux-Borden. Erik has a popular YouTube Channel featuring interviews with many top shooters as well as reloading and tech tips.
WICKED WINDS — At Ben Avery with 18-30 mph Winds
Long-range F-Class shooters will tell you that the winds can be the biggest challenge in a match. And things can get pretty wild at times as the Ben Avery range in Phoenix, site of the 2022 NRA F-Class National Championships. In this video, shooters fight through extremely strong 18-30 mph winds at 600 yards. In these kind of extreme conditions, a major unexpected gust can send your bullet off-target.
F-0pen rifle at the Berger SW Nationals at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix, AZ.
Front Rest Options for F-Open (and Benchrest) Competition
If you are shopping for a front rest, definitely watch this comprehensive 42-minute video from start to finish. This is probably the most informative video about premium shooting rests available on YouTube. Top F-Class shooter and video-maker F-Class John covers a wide selection of front rests, with some observations about coaxial bipods as well. John covers the impressive new SEB NEO-X, the easy-to-transport SEB Mini-X, the excellent Rodzilla Rest, the innovative 21st Century Hybrid Rest, the sleek Italian Lenzi Rest. And at the end of the video John reviews the very affordable Caldwell Fire Control Rest ($204.99 on Amazon), explaining how it can be a decent choice for shooters on a limited budget.
Newbie Perspective — First Time Shooting F-Class
Just getting started in F-Class? Then you would appreciate this video, which covers the experience of an F-Class novice from Australia. The host of the video shot his first F-Class match at 600 yards with the Brisbane Mariners Rifle Club (BMRC) in Brisbane, Australia. He was using a Tikka T3 factory rifle with a $40 bipod. He enjoyed the challenge and had a good experience. This video shows that club-level F-Class can be fun, even with a modestly-priced factory rig. NOTE: This video is filmed indoors after the match, NOT on the lovely BMRC range shown above.
Reloading for F-Class — Interview with Erik Cortina
In this Precision Rifle Network video, Erik Cortina of Team Lapua-Brux-Borden covers the reloading process for his F-Class rifle. All phases of reloading are noted — brass prep, annealing, primer seating, precision powder measuring (to the kernel), and bullet seating. Erik also talk about load testing and use of barrel tuners. Erik produces the EC Barrel Tuner which is used by many top competitors.
Building a Modern F-Open Stock for Competition
In this video, our friend F-Class John explains the process for building two custom laminated stocks for his F-Open rifles. John selected handsome, highly-figured African hardwoods, which were then laminated into layers with purple-tinted heart-wood and dark Wenge wood stringers in the middle. The stock-maker then sliced the wood into layers (1:02) and then glued the layers together (1:40). After final cutting, the stocks are shown at 2:00, and then the video shows how the stocks received their final finish. Both stocks are fitted with the R.A.D. recoil-reduction system. See the bedding at 19:00 and the fully finished rifles at 19:12 with barreled actions fitted.
Here is another beautiful F-Open stock, on the firing line at Ben Avery with a SEB Mini front rest. Note the metal side-bars on the front of the forearm. These metal fittings extend the stock’s “wheelbase” while also lowering the rifle’s center of gravity.
BONUS Video
Crazy Small F-Class Group — Five Shots in 1.3″ at 1000 Yards
This video might just make you slap your forehead and say “that’s amazing!” During a practice session, Erik Cortina had a camera set up on the firing line along with a ShotMarker system on the target 1000 yards away. Erik recorded himself nailing a 1.3″ five-shot group, with four of the shots all touching in just 0.3″. The full group size, 1.3″, works out to 0.124 MOA — amazing accuracy for a big 7mm cartridge! And the four touching shots in 0.3″ represent an insane 0.029 MOA cluster! (1 MOA at 1000 yards is 10.47″.) As this was not shot in a competition, Erik’s 1.3″ group doesn’t count as a record, but it just shows how accurate a modern F-Open rifle can be when all the stars align for a talented trigger-puller.
Hydro Press and Arbor Press from 21st Century Shooting
Gear Review by F-Class John
Inline dies, used with arbor presses, continue to dominate the world of precision reloading. While arbor presses have remained mostly unchanged, 21st Century Shooting offers the Hydro Bullet Seating Press, a radical departure from your average arbor press. If you are looking for improved “feel” and feedback on bullet seating pressure, you should definitely check out the Hydro Press. This design has been around for a while now but has remained unchallenged since its inception. The 21st Century Hydro Press still remains a category leader (and the choice of many top competitors) for good reason. It is offered for $300.00 or, with a variety of gauge options, for $367.00. You can add an extended base with loading block another $85.00. CLICK HERE for ordering options.
Arbor presses have traditionally worked by using a gear-driven ram operated with a rotating handle. This allows for a compact design but often lacks the tactile feel and smooth operation that many reloaders want. The 21st Century Hydro Bullet Seater works by using simple mechanical leverage coupled with a hydraulic pressure gauge to seat bullets in a smooth motion all while helping you keep track of seating pressures.
Editor: Many top shooters believe they can seat bullets with greater precision using the 21st Century Hydro Press. I personally get more consistent seating, which seems to improve accuracy and even help a bit with lowering ES. The Hydro Press gives you excellent feedback when seating bullets. That has helped me detect a case with too much neck tension, or a case that may have doughnut issues. When the gauge does something odd or spikes, you are alerted to a possible issue.
In this video, John Perkins of 21st Century Shooting Shows how the Hydro Seater functions.
You might be asking why or how simple a simple mechanical lever gives you an advantage over gear driven systems and the answer is simple, leverage. The Hydro Seater is equipped with a long arm that comes straight up and out from the front and uses a set of hinges that connect to the ram. This elongated arm provides lots of leverage allowing easy force modulation. This smoothly applies pressure to the seating die in one fluid motion. This transfer of power helps seat bullets smoothly in even the tightest of necks without any jerky or stuttering movements.
Working at the same time is a hydraulic pressure gauge using internal oil. I found this gauge was incredibly sensitive, accurate, and repeatable compared to spring-driven gauges. The Hydro gauge read-out really gives the user the chance to sort ammo by seating pressure should they choose. In my particular case I only use it to cull out noticeably high or low ones as “blow off” rounds and am perfectly happy if the rest fall within a given pressure range. The nice thing is that the press allows you to be as picky as you want.
Compact 21st Century Standard Arbor Press
Not to be outdone by its big brother, 21st Century offers a Standard Arbor Press as well, in both right-hand and left-hand versions. Affordably priced at $128.00, this small arbor press in made to the same exacting standards as the Hydro Seater and has some nice features of its own compared to other small arbors.
The large, knurled adjustment knob is one of my favorite features. It tightens securely, yet it allows for easy raising or lowering of the head unit without the need for hex wrenches. 21st Century’s basic arbor press also has a slightly canted lever arm which allows the user to apply pressure more easily and consistently compared to some other arbor presses. While this press is small enough to fit many range bags, it can be disassembled quickly with a single Allen wrench.
While I own the 21st Century Hydro Press for use at home, the Standard Arbor Press goes with me to out-of-town events, so I can adjust bullet seating depth at the match. I love using it for this purpose since the little press is so easy to transport, and then set up and use on the road. The seating action is smooth, and there is plenty of leverage.
Seating my bullets long before I travel gives me the ability to set them to adjust for any throat erosion that may occur. This also ensures my bullets are seated correctly, by eliminating any potential bullet weld or problems from the bullets accidentally bouncing in your luggage. I like the confidence of knowing that my bullets are properly seated before a big match, especially when it has been days or weeks since I loaded them.
New Generation Arbor Press from 21st Century
UPDATE: In addition to the Standard Arbor Press, 21st Century now offers a New Generation Arbor Press for $185. This features direct leverage action plus a light-weight return spring that provides enhanced “resistive feedback” when seating bullets. This Editor has used this New Generation Arbor Press and it does have improved seating “feel”. An extended base with loading block is available at extra cost.
21st Century explains: “Our New Generation Arbor Press is the perfect upgrade for shooters looking to get the most out of their hand dies. With many truly unique features… this press features a butter-smooth direct leverage action. The tight tolerances of this design and exclusion of friction-inducing gears ensures that the press exerts consistent pressure through its full range of motion with minimal effort. Leverage is increased through the incorporation of an extra-long press handle, reducing hand and arm fatigue. The return springs are strong enough to reset the press but do not diminish the operator’s ability to feel the resistive feedback generated by neck tension. Press head clearance is adjustable up to 9 inches.”
SUMMARY — 21st Century Makes Great Bullet Seating Presses
Whether you need a premium bullet-seating Press such as the Hydro Bullet Seater or a basic, easy-to-transport Arbor Press, 21st Century Shooting has a excellent option for you. The Hydro Press offers outstanding bullet seating “feel” and consistency, with an ultra-smooth operation. The basic Arbor Press is well-made, compact, and also yields excellent results. Both these presses are built for a lifetime of use, using high-quality materials.
For those who prefer to neck-size their brass (rather than full-length-size), the LEE Collet Die is a popular, inexpensive option. It works by having collet tangs or “fingers” press the neck against a central mandrel. The benefit is that you get a very straight neck, which is sized consistently from top to bottom. Canadian shooter Jerry Teo explains: “LEE Collet Dies produce sized cases with very low runout (measured runout is under .001″ using a Sinclair concentricity gauge). You also don’t get the build-up of brass at the base of the neck, as can happen with bushing neck dies. The neck-shoulder junction stays nice and crisp.”
NOTE: For most handloading, we recommend FULL-LENGTH sizing of cases. You should always have a good Full-length sizing die for your brass. But there are some situations where neck-sizing may be useful. This article explains how to neck-size effectively with a LEE Collet Die.
Here’s a good video that explains how to use a Lee Collet Die to Neck-Size .243 Win brass:
TIP ONE — Adjusting Tension
LEE Collet dies don’t have a specific mechanical adjustment for neck tension. But you CAN easily modify the die to provide more or less tension. If you want to adjust the neck tension using a Lee Collet die, you can simply chuck the mandrel in a drill and reduce the diameter with some sand-paper (to increase neck tension) or you can order a mandrel the next caliber larger and turn it to whatever diameter you want (the larger the mandrel diameter, the less the neck tension). You can also order custom mandrels from Lee sized to any diameter you want.
Regarding neck tension, Boyd Allen makes an important point: “The only way to properly get more neck tension with collet dies is to either reduce the diameter of the mandrel, or order a smaller-diameter mandrel from Lee. I remind folks that adjusting the die position to have more toggle at the top of the ram stroke (not the factory recommended method), or leaning on the press handle with more force than recommended will NOT increase neck tension.”
TIP TWO — Polish and Tune for Easy Case Removal
Some users have complained that their Collet Dies grab the case-neck too firmly, making the case hard to remove. There are solutions to this problem. First inspect the collet fingers and smooth the inner surface up a bit with polishing compound or an extra-fine sanding pad. Second, you can open up the fingers a little bit. LEE recommends that if your Collet Die is sticking, take a steel punch and tap the fingers apart a little bit so that the natural “unloaded” position is wider. Lastly, you should lightly lubricate the outside of the collet fingers (see arrows) before you re-assemble the die. This will ensure they slide smoothly. Also, to prevent the collet fingers from closing too tight, never load up the die with your press without putting a case in place first. Without a case neck between the collet fingers and the mandrel, the collet can clamp itself too tight as you raise the ram.
TIP THREE — Always Have a Case Inside When Operating Collet Die
Our friend Boyd Allen tells us that you need to follow directions and NEVER operate the die without a case inside. Boyd explains: “This is because doing so will spring the quadrants of the collet inward so that they interfere with the insertion of a case, and the user will have to figure out how to undo the damage if the die is to operate properly. This advice would not be needed if everyone read the instructions before using the die…. but many times, they don’t. Another thing that I tell new users is to take the die apart so that they will have a better chance of understanding how it works.”
TIP FOUR — Size Twice and Spin Your Case 1/8th Turn
After reaching fully “down” on your press handle, withdraw the case about an inch and manually rotate it about 1/8th (NOT 1/4 or 1/2) turn while still in the shell-holder, then size again. This will place the die’s collet petals on the four “high spots” of the case neck and will result in a rounder, more evenly-sized neck with slightly more bullet tension. This takes only about one second more per case and is well worth the slight extra effort. (We thank reader Stonecreek for this smart tip).
Get CUSTOM Lee Collet Dies for Your Brass
Yes LEE does make custom collet neck-sizing dies! LEE Precision currently offers Custom Collet Neck-Sizing Dies, made from two of your fired cases. LEE offers custom standard-thread (7/8×14) collet dies for $100.00 (plus S/H) and custom large-thread (1¼x12) collet dies for $300.00 (plus S/H). This is a good option if you run wildcats or have unusual chamber dimensions. CLICK HERE to ORDER.
Protect Your Hearing — Wear Protection Whenever You Shoot
Noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus are two of the most common afflictions for recreational shooters and hunters. Everyone knows that gunfire is loud, but very few people understand the repercussions that shooting can have on their hearing until it’s too late.
The better quality suppressors can reduce the noise of a gunshot by 20 to 35 decibels (dB). Good muffs or plugs will reduce sound by 23 to 33 dB. By decreasing the overall sound signature, suppressors help to preserve the hearing of recreational shooters and hunters. Even the most effective suppressors, on the smallest and quietest calibers (.22 LR) reduce the peak sound level of a gunshot to between 110 to 120 dB. To put that in perspective, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), that is as loud as a jackhammer (110 dB) or an ambulance siren (120 dB). For normal caliber handguns and rifles, suppressed sound levels routinely exceed 130 dB, just shy of OSHA’s “hearing safe” threshold of 140 dB.
According to Dr. William W. Clark, the current Director of the Washington Univ. School of Medicine’s Audiology/Communication Sciences Program, a “serious threat to hearing comes from recreational hunting or target shooting”. This is in large part due to the fact that many people choose not to use traditional hearing protection devices like earplugs and earmuffs because they want to be able to hear their surroundings. Multiple studies have found that between 70 to 80% of hunters never wear earplugs or earmuffs, and nearly half of all target shooters don’t consistently wear traditional hearing protection. Thus, it should come as no surprise that for every five years of hunting, hunters become seven percent more likely to experience high frequency hearing loss.
This article is based on information from the American Suppressor Association (ASA). Since the ASA’s formation in 2011, three additional states have legalized suppressor ownership and 18 states have legalized suppressor hunting. For more information, visit www.AmericanSuppressorAssociation.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. MidwayUSA — Lyman Products on Sale at Major Discounts
⏺ Major savings on Lyman products — Presses, Tools, Dies and more
Lyman crafts a huge variety of reloading gear — everything from dies to 8-station turret presses and even bullet-casting furnaces. Right now get HUGE savings on Lyman products at MidwayUSA. Save 15-20% on presses, 27% on trigger pull gauge, 25% on Lyman electronic powder dispenser, and up to 53% on dies. This major MidwayUSA sale includes most popular Lyman presses, case trimming tools, scales, tumblers, dies, and much more.
2. Amazon — RCBS Summit Press, $150.35
⏺ Unique compact design, also great for range loading
Do you need a press that can be mounted on a bench with no overhang? The perfect solution is the RCBS Summit Press. With the ability to mount anywhere due to it’s top-down operation this press is compact and versatile. Better yet, it will accommodate 1″ dies which is a rare ability for presses. The Summit’s unique design allows it so be mounted with an extremely small footprint on your bench.
3. KYGUNCO — Benelli Nova Pump Shotgun, $399.99
⏺ Great price on quality pump shotgun with good sights
If you in the market for a well built home defense pump shotgun check out the Benelli Nova. With it’s 18.5″ barrel, easy to use ghost ring sights and it’s ability to cycle everything up to 3-1/2″ shells the Nova is a great shotgun and even better deal for under $400.
4. Creedmoor Sports — Deluxe Padded Shooting Mats on SALE
⏺ Some of the best, most comfortable shooting mats, now on sale
If you shoot prone then you need a good mat to keep you comfortable and stable. You can find a large selection of Shooting Mats at Creedmoor Sports. You’ll find roll-up or 4-part folding mats on sale now. Most of these are customizable with colors and accessories.
5. Bruno’s Shooters Supply — BAT Actions IN STOCK
⏺ Avoid the wait with superb BAT actions in stock now
It’s never taken longer to build a custom rifle than it does in today’s world. Shorten that time a little bit by picking up one of these in stock BAT Actions from Bruno Shooters Supply. Right now Bruno’s has a very large selection of BAT actions, and the best thing is they are ready to ship today.
6. Sportsman’s WHSE — Vortex HD 20-60x85mm Spotter, $799.99
⏺ Very good spotter for the price with outstanding warranty
Vortex has updated its top-of-the-line Razor HD spotting scope, changing from a small-knob focus system to a single large focus ring. Now get the previous model Vortex Razor HD 20-60x85mm Spotting Scope at a huge discount. The $799.99 sale price is $800 less than the current 27-60x85mm Razor HD ($1599.00 on Amazon) — that’s HALF the price! This two-tone $799.99 spotter features premium High Definition (HD) glass for excellent sharpness/resolution with minimal chromatic aberration (color fringing). Verified purchaser reviews have been very positive: “Great spotting scope at a great price”.
7. Amazon — WildShot Cleaning Kit, $34.95
⏺ Cool “Big Cartridge” kit that is also very functional and versatile
Are you looking for a fun gift or maybe a conversation piece for your gun room? Check out this unique WildShot 51-piece Cleaning Kit. This kit features 3 brass cleaning rods, plastic handle, 10 brass wire brushes, 5 mops, 2 brass adaptors, 2 plastic slotted patch holders, 25 cleaning patches, 1 double ended nylon brush, 1 double ended cleaning pick, 1 oil bottle & case. All these cleaning tools are housed in a durable plastic container that looks just like a giant cartridge case.
8. Palmetto SA — Rifle Case, Earmuffs, Shooting Glasses $49.99
⏺ Great bundle deal with Walker Muffs, Glasses, and Carry Case
Here’s a great combo deal for NRL22 competitors and black rifle shooters. Right now, for just $49.99 you can get a “bundle” with PSA 36″ rifle case, Walker’s NRR 27 Slim Muffs, and shooting glasses. The rifle case includes three pockets on the front side plus nice, adjustable shoulder straps on the opposite side. Grab this PSA Case, Muffs, Glasses Bundle while you can! You basically get the muffs and shooting glasses for FREE since the PSA 36″ rifle case by itself costs $49.99!
⏺ Protect gun collection in your safe with advanced dehumidifier
Gun owners need to control the humidity levels in their gun safes and storage vaults. One efficient, modern tool for this task is the Hornady Rechargeable Dehumidifier, now $22.99 on Amazon. This electrical unit helps control humidity to help prevent rust and mildew. Simply charge the unit and place in your safe to draw unwanted moisture away from your valuables. When the moisture-control crystals change color, then recharge the unit with a 110v outlet. Hornady says this is effective in spaces up to 333 cubic feet.
10. EuroOptic — Sitka Clothing Closeout Sale, Save 43%
⏺ Sitka makes superb camo gear — now get major discounts
Whether hunting or shooting, being in the cold is no fun when you have the wrong clothes. Stay warm with Sitka Gear and grab some during the EuroOptic Sitka closeout sale. They make some of the best cold weather gear combining wind-resistance and warmth using modern, lightweight yet durable materials.
The late Bill Myers was recognized as one of greatest rimfire smiths who ever lived. Myers crafted many match-winning, record-setting rimfire benchrest rigs. Here we feature one of Bill’s most interesting creations — a clamping action that allows a rimfire barrel to be indexed (rotated) around the bore axis.
Bill was a creative thinker, and his own exhaustive testing has convinced him that barrel indexing can enhance accuracy in rimfire benchrest guns. Myers did acknowledge that, particularly with a very good barrel, the advantages of indexing may be subtle, and extensive testing may be required. Nonetheless, Myers believed that indexing could improve rimfire accuracy.
Indexing with the Myers’ Clamping Action
To index the barrel, Myers simply loosens the three clamping-bolts and rotates the barrel in the action. Because there is no thread to pull the barrel in or out, the headspace stays the same no matter how much the barrel is rotated. In other words you can rotate the barrel to any position on the clockface and the headspace remains unchanged.
The Challenge of Barrel Indexing With a conventional barrel installation, employing a shoulder with a threaded tenon, it is difficult to index the barrel. Even with a cone breech (photo right) that eliminates the problem of extractor cuts, you’d have to use shims to alter the barrel index position, or otherwise re-set the shoulder each time you screwed the barrel in further.
Clamping Action Allows Barrel to Be Rotated to Any Position
Bill has come up with a masterful solution to barrel indexing. He designed and built his own prototype custom action that clamps the barrel rather than holding it with threads. The front section of the action is sliced lengthways, and then clamped down with three bolts. A special bushing (the gold-color piece in photos) fits between the barrel and the action. By using bushings of different inside diameters, Bill can fit any barrel up to an inch or so diameter, so long as it has a straight contour at the breech end. To mount the barrel, Bill simply places the fitted bushing over the barrel end-shank, then slips the “sleeved” barrel into the front end of the action. Tighten three bolts, and the barrel is secure.
Rimfire is hot now. Across the nation, .22 LR rimfire disciplines are now the fastest growing types of rifle competition. And with today’s featured rig, the Competition Machine (Eliseo) Universal Match Rimfire Rifle (UMRR), you can shoot a variety of matches — NRA rimfire, NRL22, NRL22X, PRS Rimfire, local silhouette-style steel matches, even local rimfire benchrest matches (with a bag-rider fitted up front).
Compared to shooting centerfire, rimfire shooting is much less costly. You can get pretty good match ammo for under $8.00 per box. That works out to just 16 cents per round. Compare that to $1.20 or more per round for handloaded centerfire ammunition. And you don’t have to deal with the persistent shortages of powder and primers, or spend hours hand-loading. With rimfire, just open your .22 LR ammo box, load your magazine, and shoot.
Versatile, Accurate, Affordable — Universal Match Rimfire Rifle
If you’re a Palma shooter and want to shoot rimfire with a rifle with identical ergonomics and “feel” as your centerfire tubegun, Gary Eliseo’s new Universal Match Rimfire Rifle (UMRR) is your logical choice. Or if you are looking for a high-quality bolt-action chassis rifle for NRL22 (rimfire tactical) competition, this is a great option. Running a smooth Tikka T1x action, the UMRR offers match-grade performance at an attractive price — $1750.00 for the Sport-Target model with 20″ Tikka factory barrel.*
The Tikka T1x action is a smooth, short-throw action that cycles quickly and easily:
Gary Eliseo, head honcho of Competition Machine in Arizona, explained the features of the UMRR: “Our Universal Match Rimfire Rifle system has all the features of its big brother the Universal Match Rifle System (UMRS) and will accept all the same accessories and attachments. The rimfire UMRR is identical in size to the centerfire version so it’s possible to have your centerfire and rimfire rifles set up exactly alike.” That’s ideal for guys who compete in both centerfire and smallbore matches, and likewise it is ideal for cross-training using lower-cost rimfire ammo.
The UMRR is built around the excellent Tikka T1x platform. Gary notes: “We have accurized and tuned the T1x to give the best possible performance from factory barrel and trigger. The UMRR can also be customized with a high-end match barrel and trigger. By just changing the attachments, the UMRR can be used in multiple shooting disciplines like NRL22 and NRA rimfire competitions.” Gary also noted that Tikka recently updated the T1x bolt and magazine for improved feeding and extraction. See video below.
Sport-Target UMRR Shows Excellent Accuracy with Factory Barrel
Eliseo confirms that the Sport-Target UMRR with factory Tikka barrel and trigger is easily capable of sub-MOA precision. Check out those five-shot groups shot at 50 yards. The smallest group (.210″) works out to 0.40 MOA, while the largest group (0.39″) is 0.74 MOA. Remember this is with Tikka factory barrel!
The Sport-Target UMRR with factory Tikka barrel and trigger is capable of sub-MOA precision.
The Sport-Target version uses the factory 20″ Tikka barrel with threaded muzzle that has been set back and re-chambered so the bullet will engrave the rifling, which increases the precision of the rifle significantly. The excellent Tikka trigger is tuned to a pull weight of one pound. Overall the UMRR is a great choice as an XTC/LR prone trainer or NRL competition rifle at very reasonable cost.
Superb Accuracy from UMRR Match-Target Model
The Match-Target version comes with a top of the line Benchmark match barrel and Eley match chamber with the muzzle configured for your application to accept a front sight, tuner, or threaded, there are several aftermarket single-stage or two-stage match triggers available. Current Eliseo Rifles price for the UMRR Match-Target is $2400.00.*
The Match Target with Benchmark match barrel is capable of competing at the highest level. Shown above are 50-meter sling targets and Lapua 50-meter test center results. The bottom box shows 20 shots with a superb 10.52 average score.
Updates from Tikka Improve the T1x Action and Magazine
Gary noted that Tikka recently made an update to the Tikka bolt and magazine to improve feeding and extraction. Tikka replaced a wire-type system with a solid ejector element in the magazine. Gary says that improves the reliability of both feeding and extraction. Watch the video to see how this works.
Centerfire Accesories Will Work on UMRR
Gary notes that all the centerfire UMRS attachments will fit the UMRR, including handstop, rear balance weights, Picatinny scope rail, ARCA accessory rail, rear bag-rider, bipod mount, and front bag riding attachments. This easy adaptability makes the UMRR a true multi-discipline system for smallbore matches, NRL22/PRS rimfire competition, and cross-training.
Adapt the UMRR Easily to Multiple Shooting Disciplines
The UMRR can be easily configured for NRL, PRS, or NRA rimfire competitions by just changing the attachments. The UMRR is built on the excellent Tikka T1x barreled action that’s been accurized and bonded into the UMRR chassis system. Gary says the UMRR feeds .22 LR rounds flawlessly from the Tikka 10-round magazine, especially with the new, improved magazines. The UMRR is currently available in two basic configurations, both of which can be customized to your specifications.
Two Versions — Sport-Target and Match-Target
The Sport-Target version of the UMRR uses the factory 20″ Tikka barrel with threaded muzzle. Gary can tune the excellent Tikka T1x trigger down to a pull weight of around one pound, though for tactical work he says you may want to leave it stock. Gary tells us the Sport-Target is a great choice as an XTC/LR prone trainer or NRL22 competition rifle.
Match Target UMRR with Benchmark Custom Barrel
The Match-Target version comes with a top-of-the-line Benchmark match barrel and Eley match chamber with the muzzle configured for your application to accept a front sight, tuner, or suppressor. There are several aftermarket single-stage or two-stage match triggers available.
Tikka T1x — Quality Rimfire Technology from Finland
Gary Eliseo’s impressive UMRR is based on the smooth, reliable Tikka T1x rimfire action shown below. Note the nice craftsmanship of action, bolt, mag system, and trigger group. There is an extensive review of the T1x (.17 HMR version) on Britain’s GunMart.net website.
Gary Eliseo of Competition Machine. Here is UMRR designer Gary Eliseo at the 2017 Berger SW Nationals. Gary is a talented rifle marksman who competes in both smallbore and high power disciplines.
* Price is subject to change. Price may be increased based on increased costs of actions, barrels, and components. Contact Eliseo Rifles for current pricing.
Rimfire plinking with reactive targets is FUN and affordable. We always like to include REACTIVE TARGETS during a trip to the range with our .22s. Decent .22 LR rimfire ammo is not expensive, and a wide variety of affordable steel targets are available. Rimfire-class steel is much less costly than the heavy AR500 steel plates used for centerfire rounds. In fact, Birchwood Casey makes a wide variety of reactive steel rimfire targets that retail for under $50.00. These offer great “Bang for the Buck”.
A fast-cycling, semi-auto .22 LR rifle like the Savage A22 is great for shooting reactive targets.
GunsAmerica Digest has reviewed a variety of reactive rimfire target systems from Birchwood Casey. We recommend you read this detailed article Little Targets, Big Fun, by Jordan Michaels. He acquired four different steel target systems and tested them at his Texas range. Michales was impressed: “At $30-$55 a pop, Birchwood-Casey’s targets are small enough to be challenging and cheap enough to buy four or five for the price of one centerfire-rated target. They’re also light, portable, reactive, and easy to set up.”
B/C Gallery
B/C Back Drop
B/C Qualifier Spinner
B/C King of Diamonds
Check out how these Birchwood Casey steel targets perform. These animated GIFs show actual shooting sessions with .22 LR rifles and pistols. The targets hold up well, though the black paint comes off. The reviewer notes: “You shouldn’t worry about durability as long as you stick to .22 LR. I shot the heck out of these targets with rifles and handguns using both standard and high-velocity cartridges, and I didn’t notice any denting or cracking. If the targets are going to be kept outside, however, keep an eye out for rust – the black paint comes off immediately.”
Safety Considerations with Steel Reactive Targets
The tester said the targets worked best with a .22 LR ammo with at least 1000 fps MV at the targets. He tested with .22 LR pistols as close as 7 yards, and .22 LR rifles out to 100 yards. Be advised — when shooting steel targets at relatively close ranges ALWAYS wear full-coverage eye protection because ricochets and splash-backs are definite risks. Also comply with all range rules.
In response to a Bulletin article about 
Eye Protection — Lesson Learned
Editor’s Comment: Among competitive pistol shooters, the use of safety eyewear is universal. You’ll never see Rob Leatham, Julie Golob, or Jerry Miculek competing without eye protection — for good reason. The handgun sports’ governing bodies effectively enforce mandatory eye protection policies. We wish the same could be said for competitive rifle shooting. We often see benchrest, High Power, and F-Class competitors shooting without eye protection. We’ve heard all the excuses, yet none of them trump the safety considerations involved.
Just getting started in F-Class? Then you would appreciate this video, which covers the experience of an F-Class novice from Australia. The host of the video shot his first F-Class match at 600 yards with the 
TIP ONE — Adjusting Tension
TIP TWO — Polish and Tune for Easy Case Removal
With a conventional barrel installation, employing a shoulder with a threaded tenon, it is difficult to index the barrel. Even with a cone breech (photo right) that eliminates the problem of extractor cuts, you’d have to use shims to alter the barrel index position, or otherwise re-set the shoulder each time you screwed the barrel in further.
