What is the most popular pistol chambering in the USA? It is the 9mm Luger (aka 9x19mm Parabellum). And nothing else is very close. Four out of every 10 pistols made from 2010-2020 were 9mms. And the percentage of 9mm is on the rise. In the year 2010, 27.9% of all handguns produced were 9mms. But in the year 2019, 9mm pistols represented 56.8% of all handguns made in the USA. For the entire decade, 9mm pistols made up 42.8% of all pistols produced domestically (15,111,566 of 35,315,097).
Based on data collected by the ATF, we can compare production numbers for the entire decade 2010 through 2020. During this 10-year span 15,111,566 9mm pistols were produced. That’s roughly twice as many as the next largest category, .40 up to .50 caliber, with 7,661,896 produced. Americans also liked their .22-caliber handguns, with 4,605,411 “up to .22″ handguns produced.
According to Shooting Industry Magazine: “9mm pistols were the most prolifically produced caliber in the 2010s. Thanks to the ATF’s Annual Firearms Manufacturing & Export Report (AFMER) … we’re able to able to quantify the scope of [the 9mm caliber’s] dominance.”
Smith & Wesson is Now America’s Top 9mm Pistol Manufacturer
Among 9mm pistol producers, Smith & Wesson (S&W) tops the field, with the M&P line leading the way. In second place is SIG Sauer, followed by Ruger (3rd), and Glock (4th). Notably, Glock seems to have lost market share over the past decade. S&W produced nearly four times as many 9mm pistols as Glock.
This YouTube Video Compares the SIG P365 and the S&W Shield
SIG Sauer made a big jump in the last decade: “The second-largest 9mm producer, SIG Sauer grew at an impressive rate during the 2010s — no doubt led by its P320 Modular Handgun Series and high-capacity, micro-compact P365.” (Shooting Industry.) Notably, SIG Sauer also secured the U.S. Military contract for the M17/M18 9mm pistol.
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.
1. Amazon — Teslong Borescope w/ Monitor
⏺ Chose Rigid or Flexible model — every rifle shooter needs a good borescope
Seeing inside your barrel can provide clues to how well you’re cleaning and the bore’s overall health. One of the best tools we’ve found is the Teslong Rigid Borescope. This features a solid rod for easy use in barrels. It comes with an self-contained high-definition viewing monitor so no phones or pads are needed. In the 7/3/21 video below, Gavin Gear reviews a Teslong Rigid Borescope. This is a “must-see” video if you’re considering buying a borescope:
If you’re looking for something more portable and a bit more versatile, try the Teslong Flexible Borescope, $99.99 including monitor. This can also perform a variety of inspection duties for your home or business.
1. Bullet Central — Lapua .284 Win Brass In Stock
⏺ Ultra-High Quality .284 Win brass in very high demand
It’s been almost eight months since Lapua announced its all-new .284 Winchester brass. Now Lapua .284 brass is finally in stock and ready to ship. The best part is that there is currently no limit so if you need to replace your supply you can order enough to do so. NOTE: Bullet Central also has Lapua .308 Winchester and 6mm Creedmoor in stock currently.
3. Palmetto SA — AR15 Complete Stealth Lower (Blem), $149.99
⏺ GREAT deal on complete lower with full trigger group and adjustable stock
With changes to Federal law looming on the horizon, it may be wise to get your Black Rifle now. Here is a great deal on a complete lower with stock. The PSA AR-15 MOE Stealth Lowers include full trigger group, plus a nice adjustable. The price is just $149.99 simply because these lowers may have a small scratch or blemish on them somewhere. This is an outstanding bargain.
4. EuroOptics — Vortex Closeout Sale
⏺ Save hundreds on a wide variety of fine Vortex scopes
We like Vortex Optics products for good reason. Vortex delivers great optic value for the money and Vortex offers one of the best lifetime warranties in the business. EuroOptic.com is running Vortex Closeout Sale right you. You will find a wide variety of good scopes at very significant discounts. This is a great place to get a varmint scope or PRS FFP optic for under $500.00.
5. Brownells — Made In America Sale
⏺ Good values and use Coupon Codes for extras savings
Brownell’s is doing something great for the 4th of July. They’re running a huge Made in America sale featuring tons of US manufacturers at sale prices. Best of all is that you can enter to win a Daniel Defense MK18 plus use code FJ2 for Free Shipping on orders $200 or more, FJ3 for $30 PLUS Free Shipping or FJ4 to same $50 plus Free Shipping.
6. Amazon — Lyman Electronic Digital Pull Gauge, $47.99
⏺ Reliable, user-friendly Lyman Trigger Pull Guage is a top choice
Most of the better triggers have adjustable pull weight, but you need a precise, reliable tool to measure that pull weight during the adjustment process. The Lyman Electronic Digital Trigger Pull Gauge measures a wide range of pull weights and boasts an easy-to-read screen. This one gauge will let you set the triggers on everything you own — pistols, hunting rifles and even delicate benchrest triggers.
7. Amazon — Caldwell E-Max Electronic Bluetooth Plugs, $110.83
⏺ Electronic plugs are much lighter and more comfortable than big muffs
Caldwell E-Max Shadows are bluetooth-enabled, rechargeable electronic ear plugs that can integrate with your phone, play your music, AND protect your hearing. If you’re looking for something more versatile and sophisticated than than disposable foam, ear plugs, consider the Caldwell E-Max Shadows Electronic Plugs. These compact, easy-to-use NRR 23 ear channel inserts are comfortable and boast a pretty good 23 dB NRR. These E-Max Shadows ship with a carry case that doubles as a charger, so they’ll always be ready to go whenever you need them.
8. Amazon — XAegis Tactical Eyewear, $18.99
⏺ Very good deal for multi-lens Eye Protection
Having proper Eye Protection is absolutely critical when operating firearms. A great choice is the XAegis Tactical Eyewear 3 Lens Shooting Glasses. These come with three different interchangeable lenses (Clear, Yellow, Gray). You also get a transport case, lanyard, and cleaning cloth. Choose from three frame colors, each for $18.99: Black, Khaki, or Green. For under $20 these are hard to beat. It’s nice to have the color lens options for different shooting sports and different weather conditions.
9. Amazon — Mack’s Ear Plugs and Banded Plugs, $16.99/$9.99
⏺ Hi-Viz NRR 32 earplugs and handy banded plugs
You’ve bought the eye protection, now grab some ear protection, and stay safe. The Mack’s Hi Viz Soft Foam Shooting Earplugs are bright high-viz yellow/green so everyone knows you’re in compliance at the range. These plugs boast a very high 32 dB NRR. Get 50 pairs for $16.99. For hunting, and when watching matches behind the firing line, we like Mack’s NRR 22 Ear Band. This unit fits comfortably on the neck and can be put in place very rapidly. If you’re on a tighter budget, we recommend the comfortable Howard Leight MAX-1 orange NRR 33 plugs. You can get 50 pairs for $9.50 or 200 pairs for $19.99.
What is the most-used piece of equipment on this Editor’s reloading bench? No it’s not my Rock-Chucker press, my priming tool, or even my calipers. The one item in near-constant use is a small, folding magnifying glass. Mine folds into a square case and offers 4X viewing with an 8X bifocal insert. With this handy tool I can inspect case mouths for burrs, check primer pockets, inspect meplats, and look for flaws on bullet jackets. I also use the magnifier to see rifling marks on bullets seated into the rifling, or check my bolt for galling. The number of uses is nearly endless. I keep one magnifier at my reloading bench and another in my range kit.
Folding magnifiers are so handy yet inexpensive that you should own a couple spares (including one in the range box). I bought my magnifier in a book-store, but you can also find them on Amazon.com and FoldingMagnifier.com starting at under $2.00. To see inside cases and dies and view fine details, consider the 5X Meromore Folding Magnifier with a built-in, battery-powered LED light, plus a 11X high-magnification insert.
With a decent small magnifier, you can easily see any minute flaws in your barrel crowns. That’s important because crown damage can cause hard-to-diagnose accuracy issues. We’ve known guys who spend weeks tinkering with loads, when the real problem was a worn-out or damaged crown.
The slide-out iLumen8, shown at left in top photo, offers 3X power with built-in illumination. An “Amazon’s Choice” item, this palm-sized magnifier is $18.95 on Amazon.
Sako, and its subsidiary Tikka, make some of the finest hunting rifles you can buy. These offer smooth actions, and very good out-of-the-box accuracy for factory rifles. In addition, Sako and Tikka now offer high-tech carbon fiber stocks, along with Sako’s handsome wood stocks. With the three videos showcased today, you get a virtual tour of the Sako/Tikka production facilities in Finland.
In this informative video, the Canada in the Rough team tours the Sako/Tikka factory in Riihimäki, Finland. All aspects of the production process are covered — crafting actions, barrel-making, stock fitting and more. It was interesting to see the hammer-forging process for barrels, and the exacting measurements that are performed on the actions and bolt assemblies. If you have an interest in rifle production and the type of modern, computer-controlled machinery now being used, definitely watch this video.
Visit to SAKO/Tikka Carbon Fiber Stock Factory
This Sako-produced video shows how the company’s modern carbon-fiber stocks are produced. The stock production process is highly automated, to ensure that the finished stocks have very precise dimensions. These carbon Sakos are some of the nicest carbon-fiber stocks we’ve ever seen.
SAKO Factory Tour in Riihimäki Finland
In this segment, huntress and outdoor video host Mia Anstine tours the Sako manufacturing facility in Riihimäki, Finland. This video covers both firearms production and ammunition manufacturing. In a follow-up video Mia tests Sako rifles and Sako ammunition at a Finland range. Mia also reported on her Sako factory tour in the Beretta Blog. She notes: “Sako built its original manufacturing facility during World War I. To this day they still utilize the original buildings but have also grown over the years to include larger production areas and updated equipment.”
Canada in the Rough Video Tip from Boyd Allen — we welcome reader submissions
Editor’s NOTE: We generally recommend full-length sizing your cases. But there may be some situations where you may want to body-size your brass in one operation, and then neck-size the case as a final operation for reduced run-out. Or, perhaps you have a non-bushing FL sizing die and you want to modify the neck sizing. This article explains how to use a Lee Collet Die to size case-necks.
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. A collet squeezes the case neck against a precision mandrel for a perfect fit with minimum run-out. 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.”
Here’s a good video that explains how to use a Lee Collet Die to Neck-Size .243 Win brass:
UPDATE to LEE Collet Dies — Neck Protrusion Change
The Lee Precision website notes a small design change: “If you’re a long-time user of Lee Collet Neck Sizing Die you may notice we have modified the Collet so a small portion of the neck protrudes through the end of the Collet-sizing portion. This often-requested modification was implemented in 2019. This change allows the portion of the neck that protrudes above the Collet to remain in its fire-formed condition. This provides a natural flare to the case neck allowing easy and concentric seating of bullets. This is especially important when seating cast bullets or low-drag coated bullets.”
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.”
No Custom Lee Collet Dies For Now
In years past, Lee also offered Custom Collet Dies, made from two fired cases. Hopefully these will be available in the future. However, earlier this year, Lee announced it had suspended sale of most custom dies including Collet Dies: “March 17, 2021: Due to unprecedented order volume, we have suspended custom services for Collet Necksizing Dies, Full-Length Sizing Die Sets, Quick Trim Dies, Case Length Gauges, Factory Crimp Dies, and Bullet Molds until we are able to meet the required volume of our standard products.”
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 quadrents 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).
PMA Tool offers lightweight yet sturdy cleaning cradles that are handy, affordable, and easy to transport. PMA’s single-gun cradle, priced at $85.95, is ideal for benchrest rigs. It measures about 17″ in length and weighs about one pound. PMA now also offers a double cradle for $119.95 and a triple cleaning cradle for $225.95. All these cradle type secure your rifle(s) in a muzzle-down position that allows easy cleaning and prevents solvents from running back into the action. The front “saddle” and all contact surfaces are covered by thick silicone rubber padding which grips the rifle securely yet protects the stock and components from scratches. Various front saddle widths are offered: 2.5″, 3″, 4″, 5″ and 6″.
These cradles are most commonly sold with a 3″-wide front saddle for Benchrest and F-Open style stocks, or a 2.5″-wide front saddle for rifles with narrower fore-ends such as those found on Hunter Class and varmint stocks. In addition, you can get 4″-wide, 5″-wide, and even 6″-wide saddles for the big, long range benchrest rifles.
Double Rifle Cradle is a Smart, Versatile Design
PMA’s double rifle cleaning cradle was was designed from the ground up to work perfectly for two rifles side-by-side. Using the same tie bar and protective saddles found on the single cradel, PMA widened the base and created new uprights to support the saddles, making the cradle as narrow and light as possible, while retaining all the protective and non-slip features from our single unit.
This PMA Tool double cradle unit is available with twin 3″ front saddles, double 2.5″ front saddles or combination 3″ / 2.5″ front saddle configurations to accommodate different classes of benchrest rifles.
Hornady’s 6mm ARC cartridge will be featured on tomorrow’s Shooting USA broadcast. Optimized for the AR-15 platform, the 6mm ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge) was developed in response to a request from the Department of Defense, according to Hornady Marketing Director, Neil Davies: “The DOD guys wanted a platform built that would give them all of the advantages of the .308 [7.62×51] and try to get rid of some of the disadvantages, [such as the heavier] weight of the entire system. So they went from an AR-10 system to an AR-15 system. But they also wanted to engage targets, not just across the street or inside a room, but maybe across a valley.”
SHOW TIMES: This Shooting USA Episode airs Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific; 8:00 PM Central. If you miss the regular broadcast, you can stream the show at any time on Vimeo for $0.99 per episode.
In June 2020, Hornady introduced the 6mm ARC, a new SAAMI cartridge optimized for AR-platform rifles*. The new 6mm ARC is basically a 6.5 Grendel necked down to 6mm, with the shoulder moved back around .030″. That pushed-back shoulder does reduce case capacity (and velocity), but we assume Hornady did that to create a shorter, proprietary chamber so people could not simply neck-down Lapua 6.5 Grendel brass, as has been done for years with Robert Whitley’s outstanding 6mm AR wildcat.
What Is the 6mm ARC Cartridge? The 6mm ARC cartridge is a new SAAMI-spec cartridge based on the 6.5 Grendel case necked down for 6mm bullets, with the shoulder moved back 0.030. Yes it is designed to run in AR15-platform rifles. You’ll need a new barrel, bolt, and mags. If you already have an AR chambered in 6.5 Grendel, the ONLY thing you need to change is the barrel. Everything else — bolt, magazines, gas system – is compatible with 6mm ARC.
▶ Official SAAMI Cartridge (not wildcat)
▶ Fits standard AR15-platform rifles
▶ Fits Short/Mini action bolt rifles
▶ Efficient short, fat case design
▶ 30-degree case shoulder
What Do I Need To Shoot the 6mm ARC?
Faxon and Ballistic Advantage are already producing barrels, with more manufacturers sure to follow. All the other required components are already on the market for 6.5 Grendel rifles. Aero Precision already offers complete 6mm ARC uppers.
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.
1. Midsouth — Sierra MatchKing Bullets in Stock
⏺ Excellent .224, 7mm, and .308 Match Bullets IN STOCK now
2. Sportsman’s WHSE — Savage 64 FV-SR with FDE stock, $189.99
⏺ Reliable with surprising accuracy for such an inexpensive rifle
Would you like to campaign a sub-$200 rifle and beat guys with rimfire rigs costing TEN times as much? That’s actually possible in the NRL22 game with the budget-priced Savage Model 64 SV-SR. This comes with a threaded, 16.5″ button-rifled heavy barrel that offers suprisingly good accuracy. The rifle comes with a one-piece Picatinny scope rail. The muzzle is threaded to accept brakes and suppressors. This can both be a great first rifle for a junior shooter as well as a fun tactical comp rig for an adult. NOTE: Most Savage 64 FV-SRs have black stocks, but these Sportsman’s Warehouse rigs have tan (Flat Dark Earth) stocks.
⏺ Excellent FFP MOA-value Scope for Varminting or PRS/NRL
Are you into PRS/NRL, or just looking for a FFP scope for target shooting and varminting. Then here’s a killer deal. Right now you can save $600.00 (50%) on an excellent first focal plane 4.5-27x50mm Bushnell scope with a great reticle. Price is now just $549.99 with FREE shipping from MidwayUSA. The Bushnell Forge Rifle Scope boasts side parallax, locking zero stop, and high contrast lenses. Click values are 1/4 MOA. We really like the Deploy MOA reticle which has the “Christmas” tree wind-hold marks. Also if you prefer a Second Focal Plane optic, Palmetto State Armory has the Bushnell Forge 3-24x56mm SFP scope on sale for $499.00.
4. MidwayUSA — Texas Star AR500 Steel Target, $239.99
⏺ Cool Large Spinner Target like those used in Major Steel Tactical Matches
Here’s a great new product for fun, reactive shooting with pistols, rifles and shotguns. Birchwood Casey’s Texas Star Target is a rifle-rated mechanical target. Sturdily built, this target features FIVE 6″-diameter AR500 steel plates. The 4 foot high target will rotate (swing) when the plates are hit. The target moves on 2 industrial greaseable bearings. The target comes powder coated black on all metal components. The target breaks down for easy transport.
5. Midsouth — Fiocchi 9mm 115gr FMJ Ammo 50rds, $27.99
⏺ Good 9mm pistol ammo at a decent price (finally!)
Finally we are starting to see popular ammo coming down in price. This quality Fiocchi 115gr 9mm ammo is $27.99 for 50rds at Midsouth. That works out to $0.56 per round. Grab this while you can. If the Fiocchi sells out at Midsouth, Palmetto State Armory has 100-round boxes of Armscor 9mm ammo for $59.99. That’s 60 cents per round — still a lot better than you’ll find at most vendors.
6. Amazon — Stack-On Security Cabinet, $142.00
⏺ Additional Secure Storage to complement heavy Gun Safe
This Stack-on Steel Security Cabinet holds 8 rifles or shotguns up to 52 inch tall. Includes a removable steel shelf. Foam padded bottom and barrel rests, plust removable steel Shelf. NOTE, this arrives in a flat box and must be assembled, but that’s pretty easy. The unit includes pre-drilled mounting holes in the bottom and back to allow attachment to floor or wall. The 3-Point locking system has a a double-bitted, key coded lock. Adjustable shelves are included. NOTE: This is NOT a heavy, thick-walled gun safe. But it can provide security in a work room or RV.
7. Midsouth — Lyman Tac-Mat Shooting Mat, $55.33.
⏺ Thick padded mat offers better comfort
Comfort counts when you’re on the ground for hours. We like this Lyman Tac-Mat 71″ x 36″ shooting mat. It has more padding than most mats on the market, providing better comfort. This is a good deal. This same Lyman shooting mat is $87.64 on Amazon.
8. Creedmoor Sports — Radians Ear Muffs on Sale
⏺ Comfortable Radians Muffs, choose basic or electronic
Creedmoor Sports has been running a sale on all Radians products, including ear protection. You can get the basic, low profile NRR 21 Lowset Muffs for just $13.45 or upgrade to the NRR 23 R3200 Dual-Mic Electronic Muffs for $32.25. Electronic muffs allow you to hear range commands better. NOTE: If you want something even more advanced, check out the Radians R3700 Quad Mic Muffs with Bluetooth. With these you can receive phone calls or listen to music.
⏺ Quality name-brand shooting eyewear — buy multiples at this price
Every shooter needs eye protection EVERY TIME you go to the shooting range. Right now Midsouth has the good Radians clear Lens Outback Shooting Glasses for just $5.88. These ANSI Z87.1 Radians Shooting Glasses provide 99.99.9% UVA/UVB protection with the coated lenses. These offer excellent wrap-around protection and are fairly light and comfortable. A handy neck cord is included. With this low $5.88 price, you can buy 3 or 4 sets and keep spares in your vehicles, so you always have protective eyewear for yourself and your friends.
10. Amazon — SnapSafe In-Wall Safe $209.99
Most readers probably have a nice big safe for long guns and other bulky items. But it would be nice to have a hidden secondary safe that fits in a wall. This SnapSafe In-Wall Safe can hold cash, valuables, passports, and a handgun or two. This In-Wall Safe fits between two wall studs. It sits flush, so it can easily be hidden by artwork. There is even a special “false bottom” that provides a secret hiding spot for cash, keys, and credit cards. On sale for $209.99 on Amazon, this in-wall safe is offered to Sportsman’s Guide Buyer’s Club Members for $189.99, a $20 savings.
When Bigger IS Better — The New .416 Colossus ELR Cartridge
John Pierce, founder of Pierce Engineering revealed an impressive new cartridge developed for the ELR (Extreme Long Range) game — the .416 Colossus. This has achieved 3300 fps shooting the Badlands Precision 525gr solid copper projectile (BC: 1.20 G1, .614 G7). Above is a “big rig” designed to shoot this cartridge. This rifle boasts a custom Eliseo chassis with 20X Pierce Engineering action and Krieger barrel. John Pierce noted: “Big thanks to Gary Eliseo for building this special chassis. Pete Contacos owns and tested the rifle and cartridge. He is ecstatic to say the least.”
John Pierce reported on Facebook: “After a long two years of development and waiting to see what results could be achieved, we are very pleased. The Colossus cartridge, designed by Mark Fox and myself, is showing great [results].”
The cartridge boasts impressive velocities. John reports: “Over 3300 fps shooting the Badlands Precision 525gr .416-caliber projectiles. Zero bolt-lift issues from RCC (Robertson Cartridge Co.) brass. [We have] 25 firings on one test piece and still good to go. Big thanks to Dan Warner [at Warner Tool] for making the special, awesome dies.”
More Capacity and Higher Efficiency than .416 Barrett and .416 Warner
One Facebook commenter wanted to know how the .416 Colossus compared to other big .416-caliber cartridges created for the ELR game: “Can you or Mark share the increase in powder capacity over a standard .416 Barrett and over a .416 Warner?” John replied: “I would rather not elaborate on details of cartridge just yet…however it has a bit more capacity and higher efficiency using a large magnum primer.”
Pete Contacos, the rifle’s owner, posted: “I would like to thank everyone who made this possible: John Pierce, Mark Fox, Gary Eliseo, Jeff at RRC Brass, Jason At Badlands Bullets, Dan Warner for dies. This is an AMAZING rifle made possible by all of the above People. THANK YOU ALL… looking forward to seeing you all at the matches this year.”
Gary Eliseo (Competition Machine) is making a similar big chassis for John Pierce. Gary posted: “Yours is almost finished”, to which John replied: “Thank you for the beautiful chassis, exciting to get my Big Red.” Gary has told us that this big new chassis is a scaled-up version of the Competition Machine UMR system. The large Pierce 20X action is epoxied in the chassis, which accepts a Rem-compatible trigger.
About RCC Brass — CNC Machined Quality
RCC manufactures brass cartridges on CNC lathes and mills starting with C272 solid bar stock. RCC reloading brass cartridges are manufactured to SAAMI, CIP, or customer specifications (yes custom cartridge and wildcats can be made). The brass does not use a conventional draw process. This allows the brass to be stronger, according to RCC:
“We machine all our cases on CNC lathes and mills and our case weight, case volume, and our case concentricity are the best available in the industry. We do not anneal the case head as it is hammer-forged to a high tensile strength which gives us the same hardness for each case. Since we use CNC equipment to manufacture our, case weight is nearly identical, the case volume is too, and our case concentricity is held to a 0.001”.
Since we are not held back by the limitations of a [traditional] draw system, we are able to use higher strength alloys to manufacture cartridges. Our C272 brass alloy has a much higher tensile strength and tighter molecular grain structure than C260 brass, without losing the needed elasticity. Test results have been very positive as we’ve had reports of increased in velocity and energy and lower shot deviations versus C260 drawn brass.
We manufacture high-quality reloading brass cartridges for vintage, obsolete, hard to find, and wildcat calibers. All cartridges are made to SAAMI, CIP, or tolerances provided to us. Our unique process allows us to manufacture over 1,500 different cartridges at tolerances up to 0.0005”. We manufacture reloading brass cartridges for any firearm.
We custom fit brass to the chamber of your firearm. Our custom fit program will give you the headspace and chamber dimensions best suited for your firearm. Customers can send us fire-formed brass, a chamber cast, or the firearm for the custom cartridge. We do Wildcats too. Send us a reamer drawing, or a dimensioned drawing and we will manufacture your wildcat cartridge. There is a one time set-up fee for all wildcats and a 100 piece minimum order. We do Custom Headstamps too. We use our CNC mills to engrave headstamps. We are able to do text and some graphics too.”
Father’s Day is Sunday, June 20, 2021, so now’s the time to shop for a great gift for the “Old Man”. If your father enjoys the shooting sports and hunting, here are some recommended items. There are a couple items for home use as well. All selections cost less than $100.00. If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you can get two-day shipping in most areas of the country.
TEN Great Father’s Day Gifts for Dad Under $100.00
Protect Dad’s hearing — Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic Muffs These high-tech muffs provide NRR 22 dB sound protection with the ability to still hear conversations and range commands. These muffs offer Headphone Functionality via external audio jack, so Dad can listen to music. We recommend using muffs over plugs for maximum hearing protection.
Teslong Digital Borescopes are “game-changers”, hugely popular with our Forum members. These Teslong borescopes display clear, sharp digital images on your mobile device. Shown here is the latest rigid version. Get the Rigid Borescope for $69.98, or flexible cable model for $45.98.
It’s hard to find quality tactical gun cases that fit long match rifles. This Savior Gun Case (55″ model) can hold two rifles up to about 54″ OAL. Multiple colors and five lengths are available: 36″, 42″, 46″, 51″, 55″. This is a great choice for PRS. The 51″ case is $94.12 at Amazon while the 46″ version is $84.99.
Are you looking for a secondary press to handle basic tasks such as decapping? We’ve used this inexpensive Lee Breech Lock Challenger press for many functions. It is sturdy and has a convenient primer ejection tube. This is a great value for $99.99 on Amazon, including one Breech Lock quick change bushing.
Does your father enjoy golf and hunting? Here is a economical Laser Rangefinder rated for 650 yards. The Gogogo Rangefinder features easy controls and an ergonomic grip. It also has a “flagpole” range locking feature that’s great for golfers. An Amazon’s Choice for rangefinders, this unit is on sale for $99.99 at Amazon.
This Columbia Bahama II guide shirt is durable and comfortable. More importantly it provides UPF 30 protection from the sun’s damaging rays. The added cape over the shoulder area provides extra protection for shooters in the prone position. This is offered in 17 colors in breathable nylon. This is popular for fishing, sailing, hiking and other outdoors sports.
Walkie-Talkies are “must-have” items for long-range shooting. The 22-CH Motorola T100 Two-Way Radio is an Amazon Favorite in FRS/GMRS Handheld Radios. This is a 2-Radio set for under $30.00.
The latest 2020 Edition of The Wind Book, is the best wind resource in print for competitive shooters. The Wind Book analyzes key aspects of wind reading — vectors, cycles, vertical elements, and mirage. This excellent resource is now $19.48 at Amazon.
The Corque Gun Cleaning Kit boasts 12 jags, 9 bronze brushes, 9 mops, nylon brushes, 100 patches, oil bottles, plus 6 brass rods and other gear. This even comes with a mat and gloves. NOTE: we recommend one-piece rods for rifles.
This cleverly-designed Shotshell thermos will make Dad smile. Styled just like a 12ga shotgun shell, the Stansport Thermo Bottle holds 25 oz. of hot or cold liquids. Current price is about $29 for Black or Green, or $41 for red.
Based on data collected by the ATF, we can compare production numbers for the entire decade 2010 through 2020. During this 10-year span 15,111,566 9mm pistols were produced. That’s roughly twice as many as the next largest category, .40 up to .50 caliber, with 7,661,896 produced. Americans also liked their .22-caliber handguns, with 4,605,411 “up to .22″ handguns produced. 
What is the most-used piece of equipment on this Editor’s reloading bench? No it’s not my Rock-Chucker press, my priming tool, or even my calipers. The one item in near-constant use is a small, folding magnifying glass. Mine folds into a square case and offers 4X viewing with an 8X bifocal insert. With this handy tool I can inspect case mouths for burrs, check primer pockets, inspect meplats, and look for flaws on bullet jackets. I also use the magnifier to see rifling marks on bullets seated into the rifling, or check my bolt for galling. The number of uses is nearly endless. I keep one magnifier at my reloading bench and another in my range kit.
TIP ONE — Adjusting Tension
TIP TWO — Polish and Tune for Easy Case Removal
