IPRF Open Division champion Austin Buschman of Team USA.
The first-ever International Precision Rifle Federation (IPRF) World Championship was held in France in mid-August. The inaugural IPRF event drew 250 shooters from 26 nations to France’s Militaire Camp de Bitche. Hosted by the French Precision Rifle Association (FRPRA), this 7-day event featured 5 days of competition. Team USA dominated the match, taking first place in Open, Limited, and Ladies divisions. Team Great Britain & Northern Ireland took first place in Factory division. Team South Africa won the Senior division, while Team Norway claimed the Military & Law Enforcement division. At the end of the event the World Champion Trophy was awarded to highest scoring shooter, Austin Buschman of Team USA.
The inaugural Precision Rifle World Championship was held August 6-12, 2022 in Bitche, France, at the Bitche Military Camp. Team USA and 25 other national squads competed in Open, Limited, and Factory classes, which included Ladies, Junior, Senior, and Mil/LE divisions.
We hail Austin Buschman as the first IPRF World Champion. And we congratulate the USA Precision Rifle Team for winning the first-ever Precision Rifle Team World Championship. American competitors shooting Berger Bullets won the Open, Limited, and Senior Open classes.
Team USA Members Win Big with Berger Bullets
Team USA’s Austin Buschman won gold in the Open Class with 158 impacts. Austin used Berger 6mm 109gr Long Range Hybrid Target (LRHT) bullets. Fellow American and Team Berger member Morgun King took second in Open Class with 157 impacts. And Team USA member Coulter Mariott took first place in the Limited Class.
1st Place Open – Austin Buschman, Berger 6mm 109gr LRHT
2nd Place Open – Morgun King, Berger 6.5mm 156gr Elite Hunter
1st Place Limited – Coulter Mariott, Berger 6mm 105gr Hybrid Target
1st Place Senior Open – Rusty Ulmer, Berger 6mm 105gr Hybrid Target
2nd Place Senior Open – Paul Higley, Berger 6mm 109gr LRHT
3rd Place Ladies Open – Allison Zane, Berger 6mm 109gr LRHT
Open class Champion Austin Bushman noted: “Berger 105 grain Hybrid Target and 109 grain LRHT bullets are what I’ve used exclusively in PRS style competitions for three years. I find these 6mm Berger bullets to be very consistent over many different charge weights and seating depths. This has allowed me to focus on developing my shooting skills rather than spend hours on load development”.
Berger Long Range Hybrid Target Bullets — Bryan Litz Explains Features
Team Great Britain & Northern Ireland Wins Factory Division
The Great Britain and Northern Ireland IPRF Team (aka Team GB), won the Factory Division title at the IPRF Championships. Team GB members place 1st, 3rd, 5th and 25th place in the factory division. The combined score earn Team GB 1st place overall in the factory division.
On Facebook, Team GB shooter Tom Rice posted: “Huge congratulations to [class winner] Lawrence Barnes for showing us all how it should be done right from the first stage. Benjamin Mcilwaine rounded out the podium in 3rd place with an exceptional performance. A huge thank you goes out to Accuracy International Ltd. for supporting all four of us as we were all using their AT-X rifles.”
Team GB’s Tom Rice added: “Another massive thank-you must go out to ZEISS Hunting, Andy Simpson, and Precision Rifle Series UK for supplying me with the absolutely awesome new ZEISS LRP rifle scope. Never before have I seen such impressive glass. It performed flawlessly in some pretty hostile conditions that we’ve had to endure out here.”
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.
⏺ Good press, quality measure, and very complete set of tools
This fine RCBS Rebel Reloading Kit, $349.99 at MidwayUSA, contains all one needs to get started in reloading. This Kit includes: Rebel Single-Stage Reloading Press, Uniflow-III Powder Measure, 1500gr digital scale, hand priming tool, deburring tool, case loading block, powder funnel, hex key set, accessory handle with neck brushes, primer pocket brush, spray case lube, and Speer #15 manual. NOTE: If this sells out at MidwayUSA, this same kit is $374.99 at Brownells. That’s still a great deal — the exact same Rebel Kit is $439.99 at Cabela’s.
2. Palmetto SA — S&W M&P Shield 9mm Pistol w/ 5 Mags + Bag
⏺ Awesome $449.99 deal on pistol, five magazines, and quality carry bag
Smith & Wesson makes accurate, reliable carry pistols. Here’s a great package deal with a S&W 9mm M&P Shield pistol, plus five magazines, and a handy “Bug Out Bag” with first aid kit. This compact 9mm Shield features a 3.1″ barrel and “optics ready” slide. Guys — act soon, this $449.99 deal won’t last long. From most vendors, you could pay more just for the pistol and two magazines.
3. MidwayUSA — Loadbooks Reloading Manuals, $4.87 and up
⏺ Over 70 loadbook varieties — great for pistol and hunting loads
Loadbooks pack a ton of valuable load data in a single handy volume. These booklets efficiently summarize data from multiple bullet and powder manufacturers. We have used these Loadbooks for our pistol loading as well as common rifle hunting loads. Right now many of these loadbooks are discounted up to 27% at MidwayUSA, with prices as low as $4.87 (The 6.5 Creedmoor manual is $7.49, while the .45 ACP book is $7.99). Chose from over 70 cartridge types, including .380 ACP, 9mm Luger, .357 Magnum, .40 SW/10mm, .45 ACP, .204 Ruger, .223 Rem, 22-250, 6mm Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5×55, 7mm-08, .270 Win, .284 Win, .308 Win, .30-06, 300 WinMag, .338 LM, 12ga shotshell and many more. NOTE: On MidwayUSA’s landing page, click “Select Title” then scroll down to choose the cartridge type.
4. CDNN Sports — Gun Case Super Sale
⏺ Great low prices for rifle, shotgun, and AR cases (with mag pockets)
For local trips to the range, a good soft case is great for pistols, rifle, and shotguns. Right now CDNN Sports has a big selection of firearms soft cases on sale up to 60% off normal retail. Among the many cases on sale are modern sporting rifle case with magazine pouches, compact pistol cases, and traditional shotgun carry cases with carry handles.
5. KYGUNCO — Vortex Scope Sale
⏺ Super deals on good Vortex scopes for hunters and varminters
Need a good, lifetime-guaranteed scope for your hunting rifle or varmint rig? Right now KYGUNCO has huge discounts on Vortex 4-12x44mm Sonora and 4-16x44mm Viper HS riflescopes. Along with these discounted optics, there are dozens of other great deals offered to promote the opening of a new KYGUNCO store in Louisville. There are many pistols, rifles, and shotguns on sale. SEE KYGUNCO Flyer PDF.
6. Natchez — Big Discounts on LEE Dies and Powder Measurese
⏺ Complete 4-die set for $55 and bargain LEE powder measures
LEE dies work surprisingly well given their affordability. Right now Natchez offers complete Lee Ultimate Rifle Die sets for just $54.99. That’s a steal for a Four Die Set that includes Full Length Sizer, Collet Neck Sizer, Easy-Adjust Dead Length Bullet Seater, Factory Crimp Die, and universal shell holder. You could pay more than $55 for a single sizing die from another maker. Sets on sale include: .223 Rem, 22-250, .243 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Win, .308 Win, .30-06 Springfield, .300 WinMag, and more. Along with these bargain LEE die sets, Natchez has LEE Powder Measures and LEE Pro moulding pots on sale.
7. Midsouth — Lyman Case Prep Express, $149.99
⏺ Popular unit performs multiple case prep tasks efficiently
When traveling by air with a handgun, the pistol must be in a case with a TSA-recognized lock. The Snapsafe Treklite XL Lock Box fits that role perfectly. It will hold two compact pistols or one larger pistol with magazing (which must be UNLOADED). Made with a strong polycarbonate case, This lightweight (2.2 lb) lock box is one-third the weight of a steel box. Right now the Treklite XL FDE Lock Box is just $29.99 at Midsouth, 25% OFF the regular price.
9. Amazon — Jialitte Scope Bubble Level, $10.99
⏺ Great value — works with both 1″ and 30mm rings
All serious rifle shooters need a scope level. This nicely designed Jialitte Scope Bubble Level features a 30mm milled inside diameter, plus an inner insert ring so it will also fit 1″-diameter main tubes — that dual-diameter versatility is a nice feature. We also like the way the unit is nicely radiused, and has a low profile in the middle. Price is $10.99 — a great value. You could easily pay $35.00 or more for a 30mm scope level. User reviews have been very positive, with 85% four- or five-star Amazon ratings.
⏺ Excellent, comfortable earplugs with 33 dB Noise Reduction Rating
These Howard Leight NRR 33 Max plugs are your Editor’s favorite foam earplugs. The flared outer edge creates a good seal and helps with fit. Between shooting, motorcycling and mowing lawns, I probably have Max plugs in my ears 2-3 days a week. This is a very good price for a bulk pack of 50 pairs (100 plugs). NOTE: With the lower NRR thin earmuffs (NRR 21-22), we recommend running plugs under the muffs.
Kestros ZR Stock — Impressive Design for Competition
Review by F-Class John
Walk the line at just about any rifle competition and you’ll see your share of McMillan stocks. Known for crafting high-quality fiberglass/composite stocks, McMillan has long been at top choice for competitive shooters, hunters, and tactical marksmen. Now McMillan is out to dominate F-Open with the Kestros ZR stock. The Kestros line features several models, but the ZR represents the pinnacle of craftmanship. Each one is finished off by a single craftsman and takes roughly four times longer to create than any other Kestros. So when McMillan offered me a chance to test one out, I jumped at the opportunity.
The aluminum Z-Rail extends nicely from the front of the stock and has a nice contrast of metal against the matte finish of the stock. I inspected the rails and noticed that they are very cleanly machined — all the corners and rails were precise and sharp. As a result, I grabbed some 1000-grit sandpaper and just lightly knocked the edges and corners down just to keep from accidentally scratching myself or my gear.
Lead time for a ZR is currently 6-9 months. I was like a kid on Christmas when mine arrived after seven months. Holding a Kestros ZR is definitely a unique experience compared to a traditional wood stock and you can’t help but feel like you’re holding something special. I chose three shades of blue that transitioned dark from the butt stock to lighter on the fore-end in a spectacular flame pattern. With McMillan, there are thousands of possible color and pattern combinations. These color/pattern options are outlined on McMillan’s Gallery Page.
The Kestros ZR comes fully inletted with pillars. I was able to bolt my Defiance action right into the stock “as is” without a bedding job. (McMillan states bedding is not required, though this is certainly something most Kestros owners will do). I threw in my action, fit a couple action screws and tightened it all down. I was amazed at how nicely it all fit together with even the little details like the port cutout being perfectly smooth with my action port. I loaded up some .284 Win rounds and headed to the range to test the new stock at 100 yards.
Here are examples of targets shot with the Kestros ZR at 100 yards.
During initial range testing (see above) I shot nine groups for vertical and all of them were under 0.40″ with the smallest being .08″ of vertical. I topped off the testing by shooting a 200-11X the next week at my club match. The thing that really stood out was how smoothly the stock tracked with its lower center of gravity while shooting free recoil and ultimately this translated to success on target.
Low-Rider — You may find that because of how low the Kestros rides as well as its additional length due to the Z rail, you may require an extension for your front rest.
CONCLUSION — Great Modern Low-Profile F-Class Stock
Overall the Kestros ZR exceeded my expectations. After a small learning curve, it was a joy to shoot and it performed great. As someone who believes in the power of muscle memory, I found each time I transitioned between the Kestros and my traditional wood stocks there was a slight adjustment period but not enough to impair accuracy in any way. Something to consider is that because every Kestros is made to the same dimensions, it makes owning multiples an easy process of switching between guns without any need for readjustment.
For those willing to put in the practice, your patience will be rewarded, and I think most shooters will find the Kestros ZR could become their new favorite stock. If you’re in the market for a new F-Open stock, the Kestros ZR is definitely one to consider.
McMillan Kestros — Proven National Championship Winning Stock
Norm Harrold (above) won the 2018 USA F-Open National Championship shooting a .284 Shehane. Norm’s F-Open rig features a McMillan Kestros ZR stock and Bartlein barrel chambered for the .284 Shehane, which has a bit more case capacity than a standard .284 Winchester. Norm loaded Berger 184gr 7mm bullets in Lapua brass. Norm revealed his load in an Erik Cortina YouTube Video.
Tips for Ordering a Kestros ZR
Ordering the Kestros ZR is a simple process thanks to McMillan’s online order form. While there are a number of options available, McMillan has a helpful guide that walks you through each one to ensure you get exactly what you need. F-Class John notes: “While filling out my form I realized that because I have a custom-designed action, I needed some help, so I gave McMillan a call. The staffers were incredibly helpful and their knowledge of all the major actions out there made answering my questions a snap. I liked the fact that there is no set, fixed price on any of the stocks. The pricing system allows customers to get just what they want (within limits) and not have to pay for anything they do not want or need.”
If you have ever competed in NRA High Power, Silhouette, or Long Range disciplines, you know the name David Tubb. Arguably the greatest rifle marksman in American history, David has recorded 11 High Power Rifle Championships, 6 Long Range National Championships, and 7 High Power Silhouette National Championships. Over his career David has won 130 NRA trophies for various competitions. No one has even come close to that number of Championships and honors in rifle competition.
David Tubb Biography Video
Click the video above to view a great new documentary which covers David Tubb’s career in competitive shooting. Called America’s Rifleman, this fine documentary by filmmaker Sheldon Charron takes you inside the life and mind of legendary shooting champion David Tubb.
Learn how David evolved into the most successful rifleman in the history of competitive shooting, the challenges he faced, and how he overcame them on his road to success, both at the range and in his business, Superior Shooting Systems.
David Tubb Competition Shooting Accomplishments:
11 Time – NRA National High Power Rifle Champion – Camp Perry
6 Time – NRA Long Range Rifle (600-1000 yard) National Champion
7 Time (Consecutive) – NRA National High Power Rifle Silhouette Champion
6 Time – NRA National High Power Hunting Rifle Silhouette Champion
4 Time – NRA National Smallbore Hunting Rifle Silhouette
7 Sportsmen’s Team Challenge Championships
2 Time – Wimbledon Cup Winner
2019 ELR World Record Holder recognized by 50 Cal. Shooters Association
2019 NRA ELR Heavy Gun Winner
Over 130 NRA Championship Event Trophies (Individual Match Winner)
David Tubb with the ELR Adaptive Target Rifle (ATR) he designed which has set ELR records. You can see David shoot this rig in the video below:
David Tubb Shoots ELR Adaptive Target Rifle at KO2M
For the Extreme Long Range discipline, David Tubb developed a .375-caliber, long-barreled ELR version of his famous Tubb rifle, called the Adaptive Target Rifle (ATR). A version of this rifle, piloted by David’s son-in-law Nate Stallter, set the current ELR World Record in January 2018.
The TUBB 2000 — Innovative Modular Bolt Gun
David Tubb is arguably the greatest High-Power Across-the-Course rifle competitor in American history. He won many of his championships shooting a modular rifle of his own design — the Tubb 2000, aka T2K. In this video, David shows the features of the Tubb 2000 rifle which makes it adaptable to multiple shooting positions — prone, sitting/kneeling, and standing.
David Tubb Talks about KO2M and Extreme Long Range Shooting
David Tubb’s long-range rifles have performed well in Extreme Long Range shooting. AT the 2019 NRA Extreme Long Range Championship, David Tubb won the Heavy Gun Division. In this video, created during the King of 2 Miles (K02M) competition at the Whittington Center in New Mexico, David talks about the challenges of ELR shooting, and cartridge selection. Big, heavy, large-caliber bullets with ultra-high BCs are favored for the ELR game, but recoil and cost must also be considered.
David Tubb’s Approach to Load Development
In this 27-minute video, David talks about case prep and loading with both regular and progressive presses. David shares his methods. He recommends weighing your brass and segregating them in one grain increments. He then does an initial test with powder charge weights in half-grain increments (for smaller BR cases we recommend 0.3 grain increments). He then also experiments with seating depths.
“America’s Rifleman” Movie Credits:
Production Company: Enter360 Media
Producer/Director/Editor: Sheldon Charron
Production Assistant: Christie Tubb
Brownells donated a check for $59,884 to the Washington-state-based Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) to help fund the lawsuit against the state’s ban on standard-capacity magazines signed into law on March 23, 2022.
“The Second Amendment Foundation really appreciates the financial support that Brownells has given us to make our lawsuit possible,” said Alan Gottlieb SAF Executive Vice President. “This is not the first time Brownells has helped fund our [Second Amendment Rights Litigation efforts].”
Brownells raised the funds during its “Mag Dump for Washington State” event – lasting from March 14 until June 24, 2022. The event promised consumers that a percentage of sales from every Brownells aluminum 30-round magazine sold would be donated to aid in SAF’s Washington legal effort.
“Brownells is a passionate defender of the Second Amendment”, said Ryan Repp, Brownells VP for Marketing. “We support several pro-Second Amendment organizations, but we see SAF as a stalwart in the fight preserve our Constitutional freedoms. It’s a pleasure to make this donation to aid in their fight to help the citizens of Washington”.
Washington state residents took advantage of the Mag Dump to purchase reliable standard-capacity magazines during the grace period between the day Senate Bill 5078 was signed into law and July 1, the day the magazine ban took effect.
Do you have an Eliseo Tubegun that you use for sling-shooting competitions, but would like to try your hand at F-Class Open matches? Well here is a low-cost, yet very effective add-on that can transform your TubeGun into a serious F-Open rifle. The bolt-on rails also work great for load development if you want to use a front rest with 3″-wide front bag for greater stability and repeatability.
Competition Machine’s Gary Eliseo is a very smart designer as well as a talented shooter. The inventor/builder of the popular Competition Machine Tubegun chassis systems, Gary offers a bolt-on bag-rider accessory. Gary call this his PickleFork fore-end extension. The Pickleforks are rails that fit to the sides of the tubular fore-end/handguard on his chassis systems. This allows you to use a pedestal-style front rest for F-Class competition.
Pickleforks also provide a much more stable platform for load testing, varmint hunting, or any kind of rest-assisted precision shooting. These PickleForks transform a Tubegun into an ultra-stable, straight-tracking rig when used with a competition-style front rest.
Gary explains: “Now you can have the same super low-boreline, long ‘wheelbase’ and vertical sides of our innovative F1 F-Class chassis system for your tube chassis. The new PickleForks attach directly to the sides of the F-Class/Tactical fore-ends, no modifications are required. They are very rigid with no flex or twist and make the rifle track like it’s on rails.” The new Eliseo Competition Machine PickleForks are offered for a very reasonable $70.00 per pair, with Cerakote finish. (You get two metal units, one for each side of the fore-arm). For more information, visit www.GotXRing.com or call (928) 649-0742.
Product Tip from EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
Here’s a handy training option for F-Class shooters. Forum member SleepyGator is an F-Class competitor, but there are no long-distance ranges close to his home. Accordingly, he wanted some “reduced-distance” targets he could use at 300 yards for practice. There IS an official reduced-distanced standard for 300-yard F-Class matches. This utilizes the NRA No. MR-63FC – F-Class Target Center which is pasted over the MR-63 target. It provides a 1.42″ X-Ring, 2.85″ 10-Ring, and 5.85″ Nine-Ring. We offer some free targets you can print out for use at 300 yards. The dimensions of F-Class targets are found in the NRA High Power Rules, Sec. 22, part 4, page 70-71 — see sample below.
To duplicate the 300-yard target, SleepyGator made a printable version of the MR-63FC Target Center, along with a pair of training targets with two bulls and five bulls. The two-bull and five-bull targets mirror the scoring rings on the MR-63FC, but they display only the innermost three rings and two rings respectively. All three targets are Adobe PDF files that can be easily printed.
NOTE: You may need to adjust the scale (sizing) on your printer to get the dimensions exactly correct. As noted above, when printed, the 10-Ring on all three targets should measure 2.85″. This should provide some handy practice targets you can use between matches. Thanks to SleepyGator for providing these targets. You can download all three as a .Zip archive. After downloading the .Zip file, just click on the .Zip archive to extract the individual targets.
The 6mm Creedmoor has become one of the most popular cartridges for PRS/NRL competition, and it also works great in the varmint fields. There are many 6mm Creedmoor factory rifle options now, such as the Savage Model 10 in GRS stock and the Ruger Precision Rifle (6mm Creedmoor).
Do-It-Yourself 6mm Creedmoor Rifle Project — UltimateReloader.com
Another cost-effective option for 6mm Creedmoor fans is to build your own rifle, starting with a Howa barreled action. The Howa 1500 is a mag-fed, flat-bottomed bolt action that ships with the excellent HACT 2-stage trigger. Howa barreled actions have been available with a variety of barrel lengths and contours, starting at about $440.00 at Brownells. (However, many are currently out-of-stock).
There are quite a few good stocks/chassis systems now offered for Howa 1500 actions, including the excellent KRG Bravo Chassis, which features an ergonomic composite outer shell over a precision-machined inner chassis.
Gavin Gear fitted a KRG enclosed fore-end and Mystic Precision MPOD to his 6mm Creedmoor rifle.
Our friend Gavin Gear of UltimateReloader.com has built a nice 6mm Creedmoor rifle using a Howa 1500 heavy-barreled action and KRG Bravo Chassis. This project has proven very successful. The rifle has shown impressive accuracy and outstanding reliability. Gavin hopes to use this rifle in practical/tactical competitions later this year.
In this video, Gavin fits KRG’s enclosed fore-end to the KRG Bravo chassis. This accessory fore-end features a top Picatinny rail and various attachment options on the sides and lower section. Here you can see the enclosed fore-end (upper right) next to the factory forend included with the KRG Bravo (lower left):
Gavin then fits a Mystic Precision MPod from EGW. This stable, wide-base bipod uses a T-Slot rail for rifle attachment, and has legs that adjust independently for height. The video shows the rifle coming together step-by-step. This is something the average guy can do with simple tools — no gunsmithing is required, because the Howa barreled action is pre-chambered for the 6mm Creedmoor cartridge.
In the video above Gavin unboxes his Howa 1500 barreled action from Brownells. He then mounts the barreled action to the KRG Bravo stock, checking the torque levels. Next Gavin borescopes the hammer-forged barrel (5:55) noting: “What I saw I liked — there are practically no tooling marks. The finish on the lands and grooves looks really good”. Lastly, Gavin tested the trigger with his TriggerScan TS-11 (6:24), confirming a two-stage pull weight of about 2.25 pounds out of the box.
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. Bruno Shooters Supply — Berger Bullets SuperSale
⏺ Excellent discounted prices on great Berger match and hunting bullets
Been searching for competition-grade bullets but can’t seem to find them anywhere? Head over to Bruno Shooters Supply which is running a big Berger Bullets SuperSale. You’ll find just about every caliber in stock with very attractive prices. But don’t delay — the most popular calibers/weights may sell out soon. There are some great values. For example, you can get 500 105gr 6mm VLD target bullets for just $198.74. That works out to just $39.75 per hundred, a great deal!
2. Graf’s — Peterson Brass In Stock
⏺ Peterson brass is strong, consistent, and long-lasting
Now that you found Berger bullets you need high-quality brass to go with them. Graf’s has a wide selection of Peterson Brass in a variety of popular cartridge types, in stock and ready to ship. Note — the excellent 7mmBR brass can be necked up to 30 BR or necked down to 6mmBR. Graf’s also has great Peterson brass in hard-to-find 30 Nosler, 33 Nosler, and 33 XC types, as well as big brass such as .338 Lapua Magnum.
3. Precision Reloading — Whidden Die Sets 10% Off Sale
⏺ Superior sizing and seating dies in stock and ON SALE now 10% Off
John Whidden has won multiple national rifle championships, and his company produces some of the best sizing and seating dies you can buy. This editor uses Whidden dies for his benchrest rifles. Right now Precision Reloading has Whidden sizing and seating dies IN STOCK for a wide variety of popular cartridges, including 6mm Dasher, 6mm BRA, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5mm Creedmoor, .284 Win, 30 BR, .308 Win, .300 PRC and many other chamberings — all at 10% Off discounts. Save money and avoid the wait for really excellent dies from a great company.
4. Midsouth — Lyman All American Turret Press Kit, $439.99
⏺ Good value in complete set-up with quality 8-station Turret Press
Those who load a variety of cartridges can definitely use a good turret press such as the Lyman 8-Station Turret Press. And right now Midsouth has the Brass Smith All-American Turret Press Reloading Kit for $439.99 ($40 off). You get the turret press itself plus Brass Smith Powder Measure, Lyman 50th Reloading Manual, Pocket Touch 1500, Loading Block, Case Prep Multi-Tool, Magnum Bullet Puller, Primer Tray, E-ZEE Powder Funnel, Case Lube Kit, Powder Trickler, and a Universal Trimmer.
5. Natchez — Save Up To 35% On Ammo
⏺ Ammo is becoming more available and prices are good
Natchez is offering a wide selection of pistol and rifle ammunition at very attractive prices — up to 35% off. With the current Natchez Ammunition Sale you’ll find great prices on 9mm, 40sw, .223 Rem ammo as well as a variety of rimfire types.
⏺ Good case with comfortable shoulder straps — three sizes offered
PRS/NRL competitors and hunters need to carry their rifles securely in the field. This DSLEAF Backpack Rifle Case can hold one or two medium-length rifles and lots of gear. The pack has comfortable shoulder straps and three large external pockets, one with 10 magazine slots. For the $69.99 28″ unit, internal length is actually 29.8″, so this will fit many NRL22 rifles. Choose khaki as shown or matte black. NOTE: If you need more length, there is also a 32″ case for $72.50 (34.5″ internal) and a 36″ version for $79.99. The 36″ model actually has a 37.5″ internal length — ample for many hunting rifles.
⏺ Good choice for hunting rifle — big discount, great value
Hunting season is coming soon. Here’s a great deal on the Vortex Viper 4-16x50mm riflescope for your deer or varmint rifle. Given the price, just $339.99 (37% off), the glass is surprisingly good. The forgiving eye box with increased eye relief gets shooters on target quickly. With a 30mm main tube, the Viper HS offers 50 MOA windage and elevation travel. This SFP scope has 1/4-MOA clicks with a V-Plex MOA reticle.
8. 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”.
9. Midway USA — Frankford Arsenal Tumbler Kit, $75.53
⏺ Complete kit with quality tumbler — great value
How would you like to buy a complete brass tumbling setup for under $80? Check out the Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Case Tumbler Master Kit. This kit includes quality vibratory tumbler, brass separator, media, and polish liquid, all for just $75.53. This is a very good deal — other similar tumbling kits with media separators cost over $100 elsewhere.
10. Graf & Sons — Hornady Ammo Sale & FREE TARGETS
⏺ Good prices on large selection of ammo, with free targets deal
Over at Graf’s they’re having an ammunition sale. They have discounted rifle, pistol, and shotgun ammo in a wide variety of calibers so you can stock up now. Plus, if you purchase at least $50 worth of Hornady handgun ammunition you get a nice set of 10 Grid Targets for FREE.
Brownells is a well-known retailer of guns, gun parts, tools, accessories, ammo, and pretty much everything gun related. Brownells has a very active video production department that releases new “how-to” and product information videos every week. These videos offer helpful advice on gun cleaning/maintenance, reloading, as well as selecting/assembling components for various kinds of rifles. There now over 1000 videos on the Brownells YouTube Channel, this really is a remarkable resource.
One of our favorite regular Brownells video features are the Quick Tip Cartridge Comparisons. Brownells tech staffers look at a pair of cartridge types and reveal the noteworthy differences. Here are three recent Cartridge Comparison videos from Brownells.
6.5 Creedmoor vs. .260 Remington
Brownells Gun Tech Caleb Savant compares and contrasts the 6.5 Creedmoor rifle cartridge with the older .260 Remington. Both cartridges are often loaded to nearly the same overall length (OAL), but with more of the bullet inside the neck for the .260 Rem. The .260 Remington is basically a .308 Winchester necked down to 6.5mm (.264″). The 6.5 Creedmoor has a shorter case, with a more modern 30-degree shoulder angle. With the same cartridge OAL, that can make it possible to load longer-ogive, higher-BC bullets. However, with a long-freebore chamber, the .260 Rem can certainly run any high-BC 6.5mm bullet made.
The .260 Remington can, theoretically, generate a bit more velocity at the muzzle because its longer case holds a bit more powder. However, with high-quality Lapua brass, in the real world, the 6.5 Creedmoor comes pretty darn close to .260 Rem performance with any given bullet weight. Moreover, the 6.5 Creedmoor is available with small primer pocket brass from Lapua. This brass may give a higher number of reloading cycles before case-head expansion becomes a problem. For the hunter, both choices are good, but the older .260 Rem may feed a bit better from a magazine, given the .260’s case taper and longer body. Overall, we favor the 6.5 Creedmoor for its versatility and efficiency, but the .260 Rem is a good cartridge too.
6.8 SPC vs. 6.5 Grendel
Brownells Gun Tech Caleb Savant compares two medium-caliber cartridges that can work in AR15-platform rifles: the 6.5 Grendel and the 6.8 SPC (aka 6.8mm Remington “Special Purpose Cartridge”). The 6.5 Grendel is typically loaded with a high-BC .264″ bullet, while the 6.8 SPC has a larger-diameter .277″ bullet. Both have the same 2.26″ OAL as the AR-15’s standard .223 Remington / 5.56 NATO round. The big difference is the 6.5 Grendel’s faster velocity and flatter trajectory. With the same bullet weight, Brownells says the 6.5 Grendel will be about 100 fps faster than the 6.8 SPC. Given a 100-yard zero, the 6.5 Grendel will drop about 8.5″ at 300 yards, while the 6.8 SPC will drop 10.5″ at the same range. The 6.5 Grendel is probably a better choice for long-range targets, at least when loaded with a higher-BC bullet. A big difference is brass. You can get superb Lapua brass for the 6.5 Grendel. Not so for the 6.8 SPC, which really has never developed into a widely popular accuracy round.
7.62×51 NATO vs. .308 Winchester (Subtle differences)
Brownells Technician Caleb Savant talks about the .308 Winchester and 7.62x51mm NATO. Most shooters know that both rounds have the same external dimensions. In fact, the military 7.62×51 was developed from the civilian .308 Winchester. So… can they be used interchangeably? The 7.62×51 cartridge normally can be fired from any rifle chambered in .308 Winchester because the 7.62 is spec’d for a lower pressure than SAAMI max in the .308 Win. However, we have encountered some British and Austrian 7.62×51 NATO milsurp ammo that was VERY hot — more than a typical commercial .308 Win Load. Accordingly you should always be careful when shooting new 7.62×51 ammo in your rifles. Likewise you should be careful about shooting higher-pressure .308 Win in some 7.62 NATO rifles. The 7.62×51 NATO chamber is slightly longer, and the cartridge’s case is typically a bit thicker, so it will “flow” and expand into the extra space. NOTE: Some newer rifles with 7.62×51 NATO chambers ARE made to handle .308 Win ammo. Check the owner’s manual or contact your rifle’s manufacturer to find out for sure.
.44 Magnum vs. .45 Long Colt — Great Wheelgun Cartridges
Brownells Gun Tech Steve Ostrem does a quick compare-and-contrast of the .44 Magnum and .45 Long Colt — two of the most popular revolver cartriges. The .45 LC debuted in the 1870s, when the steel used in revolvers was much weaker than modern steel, so it’s typically loaded as a low-pressure cartridge. The .44 Magnum was developed in the 1950s specifically for hunting, and stronger modern gun steels meant revolvers could be built to handle its much greater pressures. Full-power commercial .44 Magnum ammunition tends to be easier to find. The .45 Colt you find at the gun store is loaded mildly so folks don’t blow up their vintage revolvers! BOTH cartridges are great for handloading because they have straight-wall cases and can handle a wide variety of powders and bullet weights. Dies, brass, and bullets are readily available for both. If you don’t handload but want a hunting revolver, .44 Magnum is the better choice, as there’s more FULL-power factory ammo available.
David Tubb Biography Video
