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March 29th, 2008
As shooters seek less expensive ways to shoot, rimfire competition of all types is becoming more popular. Silhouette shooting is fun because you get to knock down small steel targets, just like in a shooting gallery at a County Fair. But don’t let anyone suggest Silhouette is easy. All shots are taken from the standing position. If you haven’t tried that recently, you’ll find that your crosshairs will be dancing all around the target.
At an official match, you’ll shoot at least 40 shots, ten each at four sets of 1/5th size standard High Power Rifle Silhouette targets. The smallest targets, the chickens, are set at 40 yards, Pigs are at 60 yards, Turkeys are at 77 yards, and Rams are at 100 yards. (Alternatively, metric distances are used.) Though the rams are the largest targets, hitting them is far from easy, given the ballistics of 22 rimfire ammo. At 100 yards, a little bit of wind will blow you off the target.
Two classes of rifles are used in Rimfire Silhouette: Standard and Hunter Class. Standard rifles can weigh up to 10 pounds, 2 oz. (with sights) and have no restriction on trigger pull weight. The fore-end shall not exceed 2 1/4″ wide, and 2 1/4″ deep measured from the centerline of the bore. Bull barrels are common, and the gun of choice is the Anschutz 54.18 MS (Metallic Silhouette) or 1808 (thumbhole version of the 54.18). A 54.18, if you can find one, will set you back $1200.00 – $1700 depending on condition. The 54:18 is in limited production and even good used models are hard to find.
Hunter Class rifles must have a more conventional “sporter-style” stock, typically with a narrow fore-end. A high comb is used to provide a good cheek weld. Hunter Class Rifles are limited to 8.5 pounds (with scope), and the trigger pull weight shall not be less than 2 pounds. No bull barrels are allowed — you must use a conventional tapered hunting barrel. Among production rifles, the Anschutz 1712 is the rifle to beat. These guns are very accurate out of the box, and come with an outstanding two-stage trigger that breaks cleanly right at two pounds. Kimber and CZ also make factory silhouette rifles for the Hunter Class. Though not on a par with the Anschutz 1712, the Kimber and CZ are viable options for novices or shooters on a tight budget.
Many top silhouette shooters like Mark Pharr will shoot the lighter Hunter rifle in both classes. Pharr and others have found that accurized Hunter Class guns can be competitive even against the heavier guns. While a stock Anschutz 1712 Hunter is impressive, many competitors will hot-rod their gun, putting a 1710 or 1712 action in a Mark Pharr-designed stock. They will then add a match barrel from Lilja, Shilen or other top barrel maker. Shown below is an Anschutz 1712 action in Pharr stock.
If you want to learn more about rimfire silhouette, visit SteelChickens.com. To order a Mark Pharr stock (built by Robertson Composites), contact Chickens Shooting Supply.
CLICK HERE for Summary of Rimfire Silhouette Rifle Rules.
March 27th, 2008
 The SPOT Satellite Messenger is a unique safety product that can benefit hunters and anyone who ventures a long way from “civilization.” These days, many of us carry cellphones. These come in very handy if you have a vehicle break-down or sustain an injury close to a population center. However, your cell phone won’t do you much good when you’re way out in the boonies. Consider this… over 50% of the U.S.A. does NOT have cell-phone coverage. SPOT has no such limitations. In fact, SPOT works around the world, even on the oceans.
The SPOT device is new and there’s nothing else really like it on the market. With the touch of a button, it can send a distress signal to authorities. The message will include your true position within a few feet, based on GPS coordinates. SPOT sends your GPS coordinates to a GEOS Emergency Response Center every 5 minutes, allowing you to keep moving if necessary. Emergency responders are then updated with your last known location.
CLICK HERE for SPOT Video with “Survivor Man” Les Stroud
Unlike a traditional GPS device which only receives a satellite signal indicating your location, SPOT utilizes dual satellite networks to receive your location as well as transmit it along with pre-programmed messages to the recipients of your choice. Backed by one of the world’s leading mobile satellite companies, the SPOT satellite network is currently employed by over 50,000 governmental and industrial clients, and averages a greater than 99% message success rate.
Non-Emergency Help Option
If you have a problem but do NOT want to call the authorities (yet), SPOT offers an “Ask for Help” function that transmits your help request and position to your friends and family. A “Check-In” function lets contacts know where you are and that you’re okay. We think that’s a great feature for anyone who regularly travels in the backcountry. Apparently Cabela’s Customers agreed… the SPOT earned a Gold Medal in Cabela’s Annual Buyers’ Choice Awards.
Price? — Under $150.00 but Subscription Required
The SPOT unit typically retails for $129.99 to $150.00 ($169.99 MSRP). In addition, to use the service, you must pay a subscription fee of $99 per year or $9.99 per month. The Progress Tracking feature costs an extra $49.99 per year.
March 19th, 2008
Here’s a useful item that can provide secure storage for valuable tools, outdoor gear, and shooting accessories. In a pinch, it can also augment the storage capacity of your gun safe, though we recommend a conventional gun safe with UL-rated locking mechanism for long-term firearms storage.
The Better Built® 48″ Steel Job Site Safe is now on sale at Lowe’s for $259.00, marked down from $288.00. Offering 17.5 cubic feet of storage space, the Site Safe (Lowe’s item # 195894) will hold tools, barrel, tripods etc. up to 48″ in length. It is 25″ high, 24″ front to back, and is built of powder-coated 14 gauge steel. The design includes recessed lift handles to assist in installation. In the front are two lock ports which can be secured with padlocks.
Note, this Job Site Safe does not qualify as a Residential Security Container, so it won’t pass muster in some states as a qualifying gun safe. However, this unit can be very handy in your garage or workshop to secure expensive tools and other equipment. Also, its low, horizontal design allows it to fit in places where a conventional, vertical style safe will not fit. Better Built® also offers 36″-wide (item 37224145), and 60″-wide (item 37224142) Site Safes, but these products are not currently sold at Lowe’s.
March 18th, 2008
Sinclair International recently introduced a “stretched” version of it’s popular aluminum rifle cleaning cradle. Priced at $49.85, this “long-wheelbase” 03-2600 design fits lengthy prone and Highpower stocks. This cradle is complete with legs, standard 14” tie bars, and rubber-lined saddles #CC190 (rear) and #CC120 (front) for varmint and prone rifles with large rear grips. Sinclair notes: “We recommend this cradle for stocks with forends up to 2.625” and rear grips from 1.75” to 2.35”. Some stocks that will fit this cradle include most Masterclass Highpower and prone stocks and some heavy varmint/target type stocks.” If you need a cradle for long-range BR and F-Class stocks with wider fore-arms, Sinclair offers cradle model 03-2400, which has a #CC130 front saddle that fits fore-arms up to 3.25″ in width.
Front and rear rubber-edged stock saddles of various widths can be ordered seperately for $13.65. These can be easily swapped in and out of the basic Sinclair rifle cradle to fit different stock configuations. For example, the #CC180 front saddle has a curved profile to fit the round handguard or float tube on AR-style rifles.
 
March 15th, 2008
Competitive Edge Gunworks, based in Missouri, has created an interesting new stock design. Featuring a 5″ wide fore-arm and a 2.5″-wide butt section, the new stock is designed to work for BOTH Light Gun and Heavy Gun competition. The Heavy Gun version can be fitted with plates to increase weight, and to track more precisely with a mechanical rear rest. The Light Gun version can make weight at 16.5 pounds, and you can order a narrower rear dimension if your club does not allow 2.5″-wide flats in the rear. (A 2.5″-wide rear flat should be legal under current F-Class, NBRSA, and IBS rules.) Since some clubs or events may still limit the front fore-arm to 3″ for Light Gun class, you can also order the stock with a 3″-wide forearm. However, if the 5-incher is legal at your club–that’s what you want to run. It’s makes the gun signficantly more stable, and really reduces torque effects (with big calibers) compared to a 3-incher.
Larry Crow of Competitive Edge designed the “combo stock.” He believed that long-range benchrest shooters could benefit if their Light Guns and Heavy Guns were configured as similar as possible. This way, for both LG and HG, the bolt is in the same position, length of pull is the same, and the scope is in the same position. You can also use the same front rest for both guns. With consistent dimensions and ergonomics, the shooter can concentrate on reading the conditions, and not worry so much about gun-handling.
 
The Competitive Edge stock is available in both a 3″ forearm version, and the bigger 5″-wide combo version. Price for a 3″-wide forearm stock starts at $395.00, while the 5″ x 2.5″ combo stock starts at $495.00. Fancy laminates are available on request at extra cost. For more info, contact Competitive Edge Gunworks at 1-660-731-5124.
March 6th, 2008
Our report on the new M2008 custom action from Badger Ordnance created quite a stir. Badger’s Marty Bordson says his phone has been ringing off the hook. We provided details of the action in our March 1st Daily Bulletin. Marty told us that he’s recently tested a prototype action, placed in an Accuracy Int’l Chassis. Here’s a video of that test session:
We spoke to Marty today, and he wanted to explain a couple of points, addressing questions he’s received from callers. First, the bolt uses an M16 style extractor. Second, the Picatinny rail will be longer than the one shown in the prototype. The rail is attached to the action via four screws and two pins.
 Marty said: “We originally considered milling the rail as an integral part of the receiver, but this way, the customer has a choice of flat or angled rail. And if you change your scope and need more elevation, you can change the rail to fit your new requirements.”
Many folks had questions about the extended “abutments” for the action screws. Marty explained that the abutments provide enhanced thread contact for the action screws. Marty noted that some factory actions have only four or five threads in actual contact with the action screws.
March 5th, 2008
Butch Lambert of ShadeTree Engineering sent us these photos of his new barrel tuner for centerfire Benchrest guns. Developed with the aid of Shelley Davidson, the new tuner weighs 6.4 ounces and should work for both Heavy Varmint and Light Varmint Rifle. A special barrel contour has been developed so that even a 10.5-pound-class rifle can make weight with the tuner installed.
Butch tells us: “We were given a two-week delivery date by the CNC shop and an additional week for the laser engraving. Shilen and Bartlein barrels have agreed to to do a barrel contour of our design to be able to make weight with a 6.4 ounce tuner. Esten Spears, a Florida-based vibration engineer, did the basic design work and Varmint Al did the FEA analysis to prove the design. Ten prototypes are out there and the initial tests are looking real good. Esten’s studies have shown that the beyond the muzzle tuner will move the node out to the muzzle. Conversely, weights behind the muzzle will change the harmonics, but not move the node out to where it needs to be. The weights behind the muzzle need constant attention, much the same as changing your powder tune. We have found that the weight beyond the muzzle tuner has a much wider range of tune and takes very little tweeking during the day.”
March 1st, 2008
At SHOT Show, Martin (Marty) Bordson of Badger Ordnance, previewed the new Badger M2008 Tactical action. A slab-sided, flat-bottomed, “fat bolt” action, the new Badger action resembles an Accuracy International receiver externally, but it shares some Remington features internally. The M2008 will initially be available for .308 bolt face calibers, and it is designed to work with any Remington detachable-style magazine.
The new action features TWO (2) integral recoil lugs in the front, plus two raised “abutments” for the action screws. This should provide a very rigid, solid action. We’re not sure why two recoil lugs are necessary, but perhaps this reflects Badger’s “extra heavy duty” design bias. The purpose of the abutments is to provide more thread contact for the action screws. The new action also features a Picatinny rail on top. The rail is attached with four screws and two pins. Badger considered making the rail integral with the action, but having it separate allows the customer to change from a flat rail to an angled rail with built-in elevation. This way if you change your scopes and need more elevation you can swap in a different rail. The M2008 fits standard Remington triggers and will fit all stocks that can be inletted for a Remington.
CLICK HERE to WATCH PRODUCT VIDEO
CLICK HERE for Video showing firing of prototype M2008 action in an Accuracy Int’l Chassis.
Marty said the new action should be available in summer 2008 and the current “projected price” is “under $1000.00″ including rail. FYI, Badger Ordnance, which marked its 25th year in business in 2007, recently moved to a new facility. Here’s the latest contact info:
Badger Ordnance
BadgerOrdnance.com
1141 Swift Street
N. Kansas City, MO 64116
phone: (816) 421-4956
e-mail: info [at] badgerordnance.com
February 17th, 2008
The 17 HMR rimfire round has been a huge success since its introduction. Millions of rounds have been sold, the major rifle-makers all offer 17HMR rifles, and varminters worldwide have embraced this innovative, high-velocity rimfire cartridge.
However, as 17 HMR costs climb steadily upward, many shooters are considering switching back to the 17 HMR’s little brother, the 17 Mach 2. Based on a 22 Stinger case necked down to 17 caliber, the 17 Mach 2 runs about 450 fps slower than the 17 HMR. However, the 17 Mach 2 still offers much-enhanced performance compared to a 22LR (See Chart.)
Ten Cents a Round vs. 26 Cents a Round
The big factor favoring the 17 Mach 2 is PRICE. You can shoot the 17 Mach 2 for $0.10 per round compared to $0.26 for the 17HMR. The Mach 2 is less than half the cost of 17HMR. Here is a chart showing current pricing of the 17 HMR vs. the 17 Mach 2.
| Cartridge |
Brand |
Bullet |
Price/box |
Vendor |
| 17 HMR |
CCI |
17gr Speer TNT |
$12.14 |
MidwayUSA |
| 17 HMR |
CCI |
20gr SpirePt |
$13.79 |
MidwayUSA |
| 17 HMR |
Hornady |
17gr V-Max |
$12.79 |
MidwayUSA |
| 17 HMR |
Hornady |
20gr XTP |
$12.99 |
MidwayUSA |
| 17 Mach 2 |
Eley |
17gr V-Max |
$4.89 |
MidwayUSA |
| 17 Mach 2 |
Hornady |
17gr V-Max |
$5.79 |
Midsouth |
| 17 Mach 2 |
Rem |
17gr V-Max |
$3.99 |
Natchez |
17 HMR Average Price = $12.93 (26 cents per round)
17 Mach 2 Average Price = $4.89 (10 cents per round)
We’ve done extensive testing with the 17 Mach 2 in a Hall-actioned benchrest rig built by Stan Ware of SGR Custom Rifles. With ammo sorted for length and concentricity (using a Nielson Brothers concentricity gauge), our little 17 Mach 2 has demonstrated remarkable accuracy–with many 1/4″ groups at 50 yards. Still, even with sorted ammo, don’t expect the 17 Mach 2 to run with the best (i.e. $14/box) 22LR match ammo. Typically, with the 17 Mach 2, you’ll get one shot out of five landing unpredictably out of the group. There are many reasons for this — excessive run-out, flawed bullet tips, bad crimps, even shaved jackets.
Our studies suggest that 17 Mach 2 ammo would be more consistent, and more accurate, if it was loaded to a lower muzzle velocity with the bullet seated longer. Crimping needs to be more uniform. We’d also like to see Hornady chamber the 20gr XTP bullet offered in the 17 HMR. Still, the 17 Mach 2 round has much to offer the varminter and club-level paper puncher. It runs 1000 fps faster than a 22LR, and bucks the wind much better than a 22LR at 100 yards. At $4.00 to $5.00 a box, it is less than half the cost of 17 HMR, and one-third the cost of the super-premium 22LR.
We let three top 22LR benchrest shooters try our 17 Mach 2 recently. To a man, they agreed this round is “fun to shoot” and “offers great promise”. If the ammo-makers can improve quality control, this round may, some day, have a place in target competition, particularly with the highest-grade 22LR ammo now topping $20.00/box (for new Lapua X-ACT ammo).
Here are ONE HUNDRED-Yard Groups Shot with Eley 17 Mach 2 Ammo. Note HUGE Effect of Concentricity Sorting. Top target shows 0.006″ Run-out ammo. Bottom Target displays 0.001″ Run-out ammo.
February 10th, 2008
Cooper Firearms is well-known for the quality and accuracy of its varmint, rimfire, and hunting rifles. At SHOT Show, Cooper’s Rob Behr was on hand to show us some of Cooper’s featured offerings, including a Montana Varminter chambered in 20 VarTarg, the TRP-3 rimfire benchrest gun, and the NEW model 52 big game repeater. New for 2008, the model 52 repeater is sized for the 30-06 class of cartridges and will be available in both basic and deluxe versions, starting at about $1600.00. The 20 VarTarg is based on the .221 Fireball case necked to .204. It is a very accurate and efficient cartridge as Rob explains in the video.
CLICK HERE to WATCH VIDEO
In addition to the 20 VarTarg Montana Varminter, Rob showed us the impressive TRP-3 rimfire benchrest rifle. Outfitted with a proper benchrest-style stock, this little rifle has proven to be a capable competitor, setting records in South Dakota rimfire matches. With an MSRP of $1298 (without scope), the TRP-3 is half the cost of a typical full-custom rimfire benchrest rig.
Built on the 57M action, the TRP-3 is a competitive, introductory rimfire BR rifle at a reasonable cost. The 8-lb., TRP-3 features a .875 straight-taper, 1:16″ twist, stainless steel barrel. The proprietary, competition stock from Bell and Carlson has a wide, flat forearm, with parallel geometry front and rear for excellent tracking in the bags. The TRP-3 is guaranteed to shoot 1/4″ or better groups at 50 yards with Lapua Midas ammunition.
POSTSCRIPT: Here’s an interesting side note — while this editor was visiting Cooper’s booth, a gunshop owner from Georgia came by the booth. He pulled Rob aside, shook his hand and said: “I just wanted to say, of all the companies at this show, Cooper is one of the few that still gives a darn about quality and accuracy. You guys build ‘em right and deliver what you promise.” That’s quite an endorsement.
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