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May 2nd, 2007
At my club’s recent 7-gun shoot (see report below), this editor had a chance to try out a high-end Air Rifle shooting .177 Pellets. I came away very impressed. Dead-quiet and very accurate, a match-grade air rifle allows one to train in the backyard, or even indoors with a bullet trap. If you’re looking for a great deal on a premium-grade air rifle, the Civilian Marksmanship Program offers the Anschütz Model 8002. This is a full-size club rifle fitted with the superb, fully-adjustable Anschütz 9003 trigger and Anschütz 6834 sight set. The ambidextrous stock (for both right- and left-handed shooters), boasts an adjustable cheekpiece and butt-plate. The CMP logo is engraved on the right side of each stock. The rifle is supplied with normal accessories including air cylinder, additional carrier bolts (longer), refill adapter, 5 Allen wrenches, extra set of O-rings, barrel weight, instruction booklet, and original test group. The large compressed-air cylinder allows 300 shots of .177 pellets per charge.
If you are looking for a high-quality, ultra-quiet short-range training rifle, the $1195.00 CMP model 8002 is hard to beat. You should easily pay nearly as much just for equivalent sights, trigger and stock. Sales are available to CMP clubs and individuals who belong to CMP clubs (must provide membership card or have card on file). If you don’t have your CMP card yet, it is relatively easy to qualify by shooting a match at a CMP-affiliated club.
RESOURCES:
Air Gun Shooting — A Primer, from AirGun Express
Air Rifle Basics and Competition, from NRAHQ.org
Official 10 meter Air Rifle Targets, from Pistoleer.com
April 25th, 2007
The big news at the recent NBRSA 600-yard Nationals was Don Nielson’s dominant performance, which included a new 1.776″ 10-shot NBRSA-record group. From a hardware perspective, however, the major story was the 40X ED March scope used by Lou Murdica. With this new, ultra-sharp scope with ED (low dispersion) glass, Lou was able to see his 6mm and 6.5mm bullet holes clearly most of the time, and that helped him aim his shots more precisely. Lou finished third overall, second in two-gun score, and posted the Light Gun high score, with a 50-3X, 1.745″ target.
Until now, ED or low dispersion glass was only available in premium camera lenses or top of the line spotting scopes. This is a significant enhancement for benchrest scopes. “ED” or “LD” stands for low dispersion glass–this lessens chromatic aberration, which can cause an image to look fuzzy. All things being equal, low-dispersion lenses transmit a sharper image because different colors (wavelengths) don’t separate as they pass through the glass.
We have looked through various scopes at 6mm bullet holes at 600 yards. With a Leupold 8-25x LRT you can sometimes (in perfect conditions) see holes in the white but they are fuzzy and indistinct. With 36X Weavers or Sightrons, you have more magnification but most examples don’t have the sharpness to pick out 6mm holes consistently at 600. With a 12-42x Nightforce at max power you can see 6mm holes in the white when conditions are good, but it’s pretty difficult otherwise. With the March, Lou reports: “I could easily see 6mm bullet holes in the white or the blue in the mornings. At mid-day holes in the white were still really sharp, but shots in the blue were getting harder to see. At the end of the day when the mirage was bad, I could still see holes, but you needed to wait for the conditions to clear a bit.” Lou added: “On the March the image is bright and sharp all the way to the edge. It’s really noticeably better at the edges than other scopes.”
If all March 40X ED scopes perform as well as Lou’s, then this is a major advancement that may change the way the 600-yard game is played. If the March scope lets you see your bullet holes reliably, in all but the worst mirage conditions, then that really does give a “competitive advantage” over other scopes. We can expect some 600-yard competitors will trade in their Nightforces for March EDs. Lou tells us “many, many top short-range BR shooters are going with the March–Tony Boyer, Billy Stevens, Mike Ratigan–you name it.” But in short-range BR, it is not the resolving power that has driven sales of the March–it is the tracking reliability. Lou explained “In short-range BR, maintaining shot to shot Point of Impact (POI) is do or die. That’s why guys ‘lock up’ Sightrons and Leupolds. But with the March the POI stays constant. And when you do spin the knobs, you get totally repeatable tracking. I was clicking throughout the 600-yard match–even in the middle of a group. When I came back to my original zero it was always dead-on.” Lou noted: “Since I’ve been using the March, my shooting has improved dramatically. I’ve been up at the top and winning more than ever. Even at 300 yards the March makes a big difference. At the 300-yard Nationals Eric Stanton and I were the only two guys who used the scopes and we cleaned house with those things. I finished second overall and Eric finished first.”
The March scope, built by Koto Precision of Japan, is a 40-power, non-zoom, side-focus design, with 1/8-MOA clicks and 72 MOA of total elevation. Weighing 21.2 ounces, it has a 30mm tube, 52mm front objective, and a 1.3mm exit pupil. In the USA, March scopes are sold exclusively by Kelblys. Price is $2100.00 with a choice of four reticles. For more info, click HERE for the March data sheet.
April 23rd, 2007
 The Bullet Test Tube (BTT), an innovative product from Ballistic Technology, allows hunters to test the terminal performance of hunting bullets. This $69.95 unit contains a re-usable wax-like compound that simulates how a bullet penetrates and expands when shot into a game animal. With the BTT, you can measure the wound channel volume (with water), then split the medium in half to measure the wound channel’s length and width. To re-use the BTT, simply melt the core material in a crock-pot or large pan and pour it into a new cardboard tube. Click the screenshot below to watch a QuickTime Video that demonstrates the whole process.
To learn more about the Bullet Test Tube, read this Product FAQ or this Test Tube Review from Handloader Magazine. The Bullet Test Tube has earned the NRA Publications 2007 Golden Bullseye Award and Field & Stream’s 2006 “Best of the Best” Accessories Award.
April 22nd, 2007
Regular readers of this website will know that we are big fans of Wipe-Out™ from SharpShoot-R™ Precision Products. Wipe-Out™ really works, and can save countless hours of cleaning, plus reduce wear and tear on your barrels. (Click HERE for related article.) The only shortcoming of Wipe-Out™ foam cleaner is that you’ll need to wait an hour or more to get the best cleaning results. This editor’s barrels like two applications of Wipe-Out with four hours total dwell time. Terry Paul, inventor of Wipe-Out™, has come up with a solution for shooters who want the benefits of Wipe-Out™ without the extended wait time.
 Terry’s new Patch-Out™ product is a non-petroleum-based liquid solvent that is effective on carbon and copper fouling. It does the job with just 15-25 minutes of soak time in the barrel. Unlike many other solvents, it does not leave a gummy residue in your barrel, and it doesn’t have to be “neutralized” after use.
Patch-Out™, as the name indicates, is applied with wet cotton patches. You can also use a brush, but you’ll probably find that you’ll get excellent results with only minimal brushing. After applying Patch-Out™, and letting it soak for 15-25 minutes, just use a dry patch. Because Patch-Out™ has a rust inhibitor, you don’t need to follow up with oil. Patch-Out™ is also safe to leave in your barrel overnight, just like Wipe-Out™. There is some evidence that, if you use a non-petroleum-based solvent such as Patch-Out™ and no oil, you can shoot more rounds through your barrel before a stubborn carbon ring will form just ahead of the throat. This is because that carbon ring is actually created, in part, from the “burn-off” of petroleum-based solvents and lubes. Patch-Out™ will be available from major suppliers including Brownells, MidwayUSA, and Midsouth Shooters Supply.
April 22nd, 2007
 Many readers have asked where they can find a high-quality, extremely light-weight hunting stock suitable for a “walk-around” varminter. One impressive option is Tom Manners’ Carbon Fiber MCS-UL (UltraLight). Weighing just 1.55 pounds, the Manners’ UltraLight is built to Benchrest standards. Despite its minimal weight, the stock is strong and very rigid–because it is basically a seamless shell. The only cuts in the shell are for the action pillars and bolt handle. Both the 1.75″-wide fore-arm and pistol grip area have a molded-in textured surface for better grip.
The MCS-UL is priced at $495 (before options), and is currently available only with a Rem 700 inlet. This will fit Rem 700 actions or clones such as the Lawton 7000 and Stiller Predator. Available finishes include clear-coat or polyurethane paint in black, gray, or olive. If you want to “show off” that handsome carbon shell, go with the clear-coat. For more details, contact Manners Composite Stocks, (816) 210-8108.
April 20th, 2007
 Reader Richard H. just tested his new CED M2 Chronograph, one of the first units in the country. This is an all-new design with many upgrades over the previous CED Millenium model. Clock speed was boosted to 48 mHz, expanding the measurable velocity range to 7,000 fps. Memory storage has been expanded 500%. You can now have up to 500 speed readings per string (and as many as 500 strings). CED claims: “Expanded digital chip design now gives the CED M2 the ability of reading velocities at much lower light levels. On clear days, this means the ability to chronograph from early morning till almost sunset.” If this claim is true, the CED M2 would definitely out-perform rival PACT and Shooting Chrony designs in marginal light conditions.
We’ve found that, with most chronographs, the biggest problems are confusing controls and keypad sequences that are hard to remember. CED has addressed that with the new machine. The $199.00 CED M2 Chronograph features single function string removal (something we wish the Shooting Chrony had), and the M2 offers “one touch” calculation of the average of the three highest velocities in a string. Another major (and much appreciated) improvement is the addition of a USB interface. That offers simple “plug and play” compatibility with laptops and home PCs. USB connectivity will make it much easier to download Chrono data into the updated CED Data Collector software. For more info, contact Competitive Edge Dynamics, CEDHK.com, (610) 366-9752. Right now the CED M2 is back-ordered, but a new shipment is arriving in 2 weeks and M2s should be available by mid-May at Brownells and MidwayUSA.com.
Richard tells us: “I’ve been frustrated for a long time with my inability to get my extreme spreads below 30-50 fps and have wondered if my bargain-basement Chrony F-1 might be part of the problem. Well, after I got my Denver Instruments MXX-123 last month, the powder scale was no longer a credible culprit, so I went shopping for a new chrono. This is what I found. Initial results (only three 5-shot groups so far) suggest that ES with the CED M2 is only half of what the Chrony measured. In the Chrony’s defense though, it is surprisely good for something that costs less than half as much (also more convenient and more portable).” If anyone in the Sacramento, CA area has an Oehler Chrono, Richard would like to do a 3-way comparision test with the CED, Oehler, and Shooting Chrony. We’d all be interested in the results. Contact Mailbox@6mmBR.com and we’ll put you in touch with Richard.
April 19th, 2007
 RCBS has a new, very affordable Vernier Ball Micrometer. This tool measures accurately to .0001″ and is ideal for determining case neck-wall thickness. Ball diameter is 0.185″. If you turn your case-necks, you’ll need a tool like this to set up your cutter and gauge the consistency of your results. And for those who shoot no-turn brass, a Ball Mic allows you to sort cases by neck-wall thickness. Cabela’s has the best price we’ve found on the RCBS tool–just $41.99. To order, please click on the Cabela’s.com link and type “216307” into the product search field at the top of the page.
April 14th, 2007
There has been much interest in the new Savage Precision Target Action with 6-oz. AccuTrigger. However, this new design has three action screws (rather than two) and the hole spacing is different than before. This means stocks have to be specifically inletted for the new design (or modified).
Sharp Shooter Supply (SSS) has stocks in inventory fully inletted for the new action, including a new laminated thumbhole benchrest design shown above. SSS has a wide variety of colors available including the attractive new “Natural” in three shades of brown. SSS Stocks cost $299.00, 100% inletted, pillar-bedded, and ready to finish.
Bill Shehane of D&B Supply, ScopeUsOut.com also reports: “I’ve been busy making new patterns for the new Savage 3-screw target action. We now have the ST-1000, Tracker II, MBR Tracker, ST-BR (photo below), the Lee Six Thumbhole and the Varmint Benchrest patterns with the drop-in inletting for the 3-screw Savage Action.”
April 12th, 2007
 The Davidson Star-D tripod is a solid, all-metal rig that is sturdy enough to be used for movie cameras. Star-Ds feature convenient rotary cam (collet) leg height adjustments and all-metal tilt and pan controls that lock solidly. The center post is clamped with a big locking ring that adjusts for tension. The rugged, machined-aluminum Star-D tripods are no longer in production but you can find good “previously-owned” models for sale on eBay. This tripod is ideal for use with a chronograph or spotting scope (for viewing in sitting or standing positions). Right now there are three nice Star-Ds on Ebay, items 170099554007, 230114024777, and 230114022708. If these units sell out, watch for the newer Star-Ds with all-silver heads and cam-locked legs. You can often pick them up for under $25.00. Look for the latest versions, as shown in the picture.
April 11th, 2007
Summer’s approaching and temperatures are starting to heat up. For all-day sessions at the range, it’s a good idea to wear a hat that shades your ears and neck from the sun. At the 2006 F-Class Nationals, we noticed that many of the top competitors, including winner Eric Bair and runner-up Alan Warner, sported wide-brimmed hats. Alan even wore his hat while shooting.
Cabela’s sells excellent brimmed hats that feature 50+ UPF sun protection ratings and moisture-wicking sweatbands. These are similar to boonie hats, but are more comfortable, better ventilated, and have a slightly broader and stiffer brim. The Yellowstone Breezer Hat, our favorite, has a mesh top, and is on sale right now for $19.88, item OG-951124. A DeLuxe Breezer Hat, with fully-vented top, is $29.95.
Cabela’s RiverGuide Series hats, shown below, are also on sale for just $19.88. The San Juan Packable Hat (item OG-951125), available in Sage (green-gray) or Natural tan is soft, well-ventilated, and packable. There is also a canvas version (item OG-951126) with a foam crown insert so it floats–great if you use the hat when boating or fishing. To order any of these summer hats, click this Cabela’s LINK and type in the item number.
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