Jim Borden, the very knowledgeable owner of Borden Accuracy, provided an interesting historical insight about barrel fitting and the term “blueprinting”. Jim has posted on his Borden Accuracy Facebook page an explanation of the term “blueprinting” as it originally was used with respect to barrel/shoulder/lug fitting.
Barrel/Shoulder Fit and Blue-Printing
Jim told us: “Something often overlooked on barrel installation is the shoulder fit. Many are so overly obsessed with doing a crank-on fit of threads that the shoulder contact is overlooked. Full, solid barrel shoulder to recoil lug or action face is critical to optimum accuracy and precision.
Many years ago part of the ‘blueprinting’ of an action was the use of Prussian blue to ‘blueprint’ lug fit, thread fit, and barrel shoulder fit. It was a colloquial expression that had nothing to do referring to a blueprint or drawing of the action.” Bet you didn’t know that!
About the photo below, Jim noted: “the fuzzy look on the threads is a liberal coating of Never-Seez thread lubricant.”
Look carefully to see the Prussian Blue applied to the barrel shoulder, plus Never Seez on threads.
Some years ago, Forum Member Jeff R. (“aJR”) from Australia crafted a slick, handsome cartridge holder to use with his heavy Benchrest Gun. This is a simple, elegant design that would be relatively easy to build in a home workshop. Composed of two blocks of wood with parallel metal arms, the unit adjusts for height and block angle. Jeff tells us: “This is my new cartridge dispenser I knocked up in the shed. I wanted to get the record rounds up next to the action and this is adjustable for just about any gun/port configuration, right or left.” The cartridge caddy has ten round holes (for record shots) in the top wood block, stacked in two rows. The base piece has five holes for sighters, with the holes cut at an angle for easy access.
For the blocks, Jeff used “Jarrah” wood, a deep, red hardwood native to West Australia. Jeff says he did not stain the wood–what you see is the natural color, just sprayed with acrylic lacquer. A similar wood available in the USA is Satiné, also known as “Bloodwood”.
By the way, Jeff’s 1000-yard rifle shown in the top photo is worth mentioning in its own right. The gun shot a large 30-cal magnum wildcat cartridge and 17 years ago set many Australian BR records. The rifle features a tensioned barrel system, custom Magnum drop-port action, and a metal/composite stock. Click HERE for more info. There’s even a YouTube Video showing Jeff shooting his big boomer at 1000-yard match at Brisbane QRA.
Product Review by F-Class John
Case preparation is critical for precision reloading. One must trim cases, debur/chamfer case mouths, clean necks, spruce up primer pockets and do other important tasks. Complete case prep can involve many separate processes, each requiring its own tools. With each of those tools comes additional cost as well as the need for more storage and bench space. To make case prep easier, faster, and more convenient Lyman created the Case Prep Xpress (#ad). The Case Prep Xpress, introduced a few years back, combines up to five prep stages into one well-built, stable, versatile unit. Watch this video to see the machine in action:
The Case Prep Xpress features five (5) independently-turning spindles all with the common 8/32 thread. This allows you to attach multiple tools supplied with the unit PLUS many other screw-on prep tools. For our testing we started out using a variety of the 12 included tools and found they cover the majority of case prep tasks. Lyman supplies deburr and chamfer tools, pocket uniformers, reamers and cleaners, as well as an assortment of neck brushes.
The deburr and chamfer tools worked really well, creating beautiful bevels all while leaving a nice flat edge across the top of the neck which is critical for accuracy and brass life. We found the primer pocket cleaning tool did a good job, but for truly clean pockets we recommend using the primer pocket uniforming tool, which very efficiently removes even hard residues.
The benefit of having interchangeable heads is that you can add your own accessories. We like to use a bore brush with bronze wool wrapped around it for use inside our necks. This worked perfectly once we screwed it in. In fact, we couldn’t think of any 8/32-threaded accessory that wouldn’t work well on this machine. Another great design feature is how all the accessories are oriented straight up. This allows for perfect visual alignment of your cases onto the tools which is critical — especially when performing cutting operations such as primer pocket uniforming.
Along with the five power stations there are six female-threaded storage spots on the sides where tools can be placed to ensure they don’t get lost. We like this feature since there will be more than five accessories you want to use and having them easily available is a great feature. You can keep 11 tools right on the machine (5 on top, 6 on the sides). That way you don’t have to dig through storage bins.
The Case Prep Xpress has a removable front bin to hold brass shavings, and there are two circular trays on either side of the bin. In front is a long tray that holds the provided brush. This makes it relatively easy to clean off brass shavings and other debris from case prep processes.
SUMMARY — Versatile Case Prep Xpress Is A Good Value
For the money, Lyman’s Case Prep Xpress is tough to beat. It performs multiple tasks well while being stable and easy-to-use. Yes there are some multi-spindle prep centers that offer variable or fast/slow RPM spindles while the Lyman’s spindles are all fixed RPM. (See, e.g. the RCBS Brass Boss). However those other systems don’t include all the convenient on-board storage of the Case Prep Xpress, and are typically more expensive. The Lyman Case Prep Xpress sells for about $180-$199 “street price”. It’s currently on sale for $174.99 on Amazon (#ad). This makes the Lyman Case Prep Xpress a good value — it offers great versatility while saving space and saving money compared to buying five or more separate, powered tools.
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One Shooters’ Forum member asked: “What makes an AR accurate? What parts on an AR can really affect accuracy — such as free-floating handguards, barrels, bolts, bolt carriers?” He wanted an honest, well-informed answer, not just sales pitches. Robert Whitley posted a very detailed answer to this question, based on his experience building/testing scores of AR-platform rifles. Robert operated AR-X Enterprises, which produced match-grade uppers for High Power competitors, tactical shooters, and varminters.
Building an Accurate AR — What is Most Important
by Robert Whitley
There are a lot of things that can be done to an AR to enhance consistent accuracy, and I use the words “consistent accuracy” because consistency is a part of it (i.e. plenty of guns will give a couple great 5-shot groups, but won’t do a very good 10- or 20-shot groups, and some guns will shoot great one day and not so good on others).
Here are 14 key things we think are important to accuracy.
1. Great Barrel: You’ll want a premium match-grade barrel, well-machined with a good crown and a match-type chambering, true to the bore and well cut. The extension threads must also be cut true to the bore, with everything true and in proper alignment.
2. Rigid Upper: A rigid, heavy-walled upper receiver aids accuracy. The typical AR upper receiver was made for a lightweight carry rifle and they stripped all the metal they could off it to make it light to carry (which is advantageous for the military). The net result are upper receivers that are so thin you can flex them with your bare hands. These flexible uppers are “strong enough” for general use, but they are not ideal for accuracy. Accuracy improves with a more rigid upper receiver.
3. True Receiver Face: We’ve found that truing the receiver face is valuable. Some may argue this point but it is always best to keep everything related to the barrel and the bore in complete alignment with the bore (i.e. barrel extension, bolt, upper receiver, carrier, etc.).
4. Barrel Extension: You should Loctite or glue the barrel extension into the upper receiver. This holds it in place all the way front to back in the upper receiver. Otherwise if there is any play (and there typically is) it just hangs on the face of the upper receiver completely dependent on the face of the upper receiver as the sole source of support for the barrel as opposed to being made more an integral part of the upper receiver by being glued-in.
5. Gas Block: You want a gas block that does not impose pointed stress on the barrel. Clamp-on types that grab all the way around the barrel are excellent. The blocks that are pinned on with tapered pins that wedge against the barrel or the slip on type of block with set screws that push up from underneath (or directly on the barrel) can deform the bore inside of the barrel and can wreck the accuracy of an otherwise great barrel.
6. Free-Float Handguard: A rigid, free-float handguard (and I emphasize the word rigid) really makes a difference. There are many types of free-float handguards and a free-float handguard is, in and of itself, a huge improvement over a non-free-float set up, but best is a rigid set-up. Some of the ones on the market are small diameter, thin and/or flexible and if you are shooting off any type of rest, bipod, front bag, etc., a rigid fore-end is best since ARs want to jump, bounce and twist when you let a shot go, as the carrier starts to begin its cycle before the bullet exits the bore.
7. Barrel Contour: You want some meat on the barrel. Between the upper receiver and the gas block don’t go real thin with a barrel (we like 1″ diameter if it’s workable weight-wise). When you touch off a round and the bullet passes the gas port, the gas system immediately starts pressuring up with a gas impulse that provides vibrations and stress on the barrel, especially between the gas block back to the receiver. A heavier barrel here dampens that. Staying a little heavier with barrel contour through the gas block area and out to the muzzle is good for the same reasons. ARs have a lot going on when you touch off a round and the gas system pressures up and the carrier starts moving (all before the bullet exits the bore) so the more things are made heavier and rigid to counteract that the better — within reason (I’m not advocating a 12-lb barrel).
8. Gas Tube Routing Clearance: You want a gas tube that runs freely through the barrel nut, through the front of the upper receiver, and through the gas key in the carrier. Ensure the gas tube is not impinged by any of them, so that it does not load the carrier in a stressed orientation. You don’t want the gas tube bound up so that when the gas tube pressures up it immediately wants to transmit more force and impulse to the barrel than would normally occur. We sometimes spend a lot of time moving the gas block with gas tube on and off new build uppers and tweaking gas tubes to get proper clearance and alignment. Most gas tubes do need a little “tweaking” to get them right — factory tubes may work OK but they typically do not function optimally without hand-fitting.
9. Gas Port Tuning: You want to avoid over-porting the gas port. Being over-gassed makes the gas system pressure up earlier and more aggressively. This causes more impulse, and increases forces and vibration affecting the top end and the barrel. Tune the gas port to give the amount of pressure needed to function properly and adequately but no more.
10. Front/Back Bolt Play: If accuracy is the game, don’t leave a lot of front/back bolt play (keep it .003″ but no more than .005″). We’ve seen factory rifles run .012″ to .015″ play, which is OK if you need to leave room for dirt and grime in a military application. However, that amount of play is not ideal for a high-accuracy AR build. A lot of front/back bolt play allows rounds to be hammered into the chamber and actually re-formed in a non-consistent way, as they are loaded into the chamber.
11. Component Quality: Use good parts from a reputable source and be wary of “gun show specials”. All parts are NOT the same. Some are good, some are not so good, and some aftermarket parts are simply bad. Don’t be afraid to use mil-spec-type carriers; by and large they are excellent for an accuracy build. Also, remember that just because a carrier says “National Match” or something else on it does not necessarily mean it’s any better. Be wary of chrome-plated parts as the chrome plating can change the parts dimensionally and can also make it hard to do hand-fitting for fit and function.
12. Upper to Lower Fit: A good upper/lower fit is helpful. For quick and dirty fit enhancement, an Accu-Wedge in the rear helps a lot. The ultimate solution is to bed the upper to a specific lower so that the upper and lower, when together, are more like one integral unit. For the upper receivers we produce, we try to get the specs as close as we can, but still fit the various lowers in the market place.
13. Muzzle Attachments: Don’t screw up the muzzle (literally). Leave as much metal on the barrel at the muzzle as you can. People like to thread the muzzle for a flash hider, suppressor, muzzle brake, or some other attachment, but if you really want accuracy, leave as much metal as you can there. And, if you have something that screws on, set it up so that it can be put on and have it stay there without putting a lot of torque and stress on it right where the bullet exits the bore. If you are going to thread the end of the barrel, make it concentric with the bore and make sure what you screw on there is as well. For all muzzle attachments, also ensure that the holes through which the bullet passes through are dead true to the bore. Many aftermarket screw-on things are not so good that way. Anything that vents gas should vent symmetrically (i.e. if it vents left, it should vent equally right, and likewise, if it vents up, it should vent down equally). Uneven venting of gas can wreck accuracy.
14. Quality Ammunition: Ammo is a whole story by itself, but loads that are too hot typically shoot poorly in an AR-15. If you want accuracy out of an AR-15, avoid overly hot loads. Shown below are test groups shot with four (4) different uppers, all with moderate loads. These four uppers all pretty much had the same features and things done to them as explained in this article, and they all shot great.
This deluxe, roll-out Rush Creek Creations 42-0000 69″ x 16″ gun cleaning mat (with pockets), is available from Amazon for $69.84 (#ad).
We normally use a gun cradle when cleaning or adjusting our rifles. But there are situations, such as when working on a barreled action, when it’s nice to use a pad that lies flat. Many work pads are too small — they’re nothing more than oversize mouse pads. Here are three gun pads that are big enough to work well with rifles and/or barreled actions.
DryMate Gun Cleaning Pad
The Drymate Gun Cleaning Pad is a full 59″ x 16″. That’s nearly five FEET from end to end — longer than most rifles, so you have plenty of surface area for working. Conveniently, this product can be washed with soap and water. It is offered in Green and Charcoal Gray colors. We prefer the Green version because the color makes it a bit easier to see small black and gray parts such as screws and springs.
Boyt Harness Counter Pad
The 48″ x 12″ Boyt Harness Counter Pad was originally designed more for display purposes than for serious work sessions, but we like this product. It is useful if you want to lay your gun on a bench to make small adjustments. The Boyt Counter Pad, $27.99 at MidwayUSA, is nice and big, a full four feet from end to end. The back side is canvas while the top-size is a quilted cotton fabric. This product has received high praise from buyers. Here are actual owner reviews:
Worth every penny. I bought three of them because I want to have at least one always around. I use one for a shooting bench or tailgate mat and another for my primary gun cleaning workbench mat. Awesome for both purposes. This one was perfect for my array of needs. — Joe D.
This mat is great for cleaning guns and keeping your surfaces clear of oil or solvent. The mat has plenty of space for a rifle or handgun and the padding is thick enough[.] I would definitely buy again and have recommended this to my friends and family. — Safety Guy
I bring this to the rifle range with me every time, to rest my rifle on the table without worrying about scratches. It fits nicely in my soft rifle case. One side is a tough canvas material that doesn’t show scratches, and the other side is a soft fleece material that protects the finish of your gun. — MACPSU
Hoppes Gun Cleaning Pad
The Hoppes Gun Cleaning Pad is 36″ wide x 12″. That’s big enough for many barreled actions (unless you have a really long barrel). This pad has a non-slip nylon backing, and Hoppes claims that the “Soft acrylic material absorbs 8 times its weight in fluids.” This Hoppes Cleaning Pad is very affordable. It costs just $12.66 at Amazon (#ad).
Every serious shooter needs to know the muzzle velocity (MV) for his load, so he can run ballistics solvers. And very consistent MV with low Extreme Spread (ES) and Standard Deviation SD is vital for consistent long-range shooting. You need good components and reloading techniques for low ES/SD. You want a good, reliable, and consistent chronograph to record your muzzle velocity — there are many good types now, including the compact Garmin Xero C1 and the handy Magnetospeed units which attach to your rifle.
Today we feature a new 55-minute video from Bryan Litz of Applied Ballistics. In this video Bryan explains how to measure muzzle velocity with various chronograph types and then explains some methods for optimizing your ES/SD. Bryan explains: “Muzzle velocity is an important variable for long range shooters. This video covers some key concepts for beginners and also goes into some advanced topics that are not normally encountered to keep it interesting for experienced shooters as well.”
This video from the manufacturer explains how to use the excellent Garmin Xero C1 radar chronograph. This popular new unit has proven to be user-friendly and very reliable. The ultra-compact size makes it easy to transport and deploy at the range.
Get a Good Ballistics App — Consider the NEW AB Quantum App
Once you have recorded your muzzle velocity successfully you can use the MV data with your known bullet BC and range altitude to plot the trajectory of bullet flight. This will tell you the correct scope elevation setting for the distance of your target. We recommend getting a good Ballistics App for your mobile device so you can run ballistics at the range.
Definitely check out the impressive new AB Quantum App from Applied Ballistics. Consumers can now download the AB Quantum App for either iOS (Apple) or Android devices. There is a free basic version, as well as an Elite subscription, which unlocks many more features for just $2.99/month or $19.99/year (see chart below). For more information visit AppliedBallisticsllc.com/ab-quantum.
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.
⏺️ Buy good FFP or SFP ZeroTech scopes and get FREE binoculars
ZeroTech makes quality scopes for hunting, PRS/NRL, and general shooting. Currently when you purchase ZeroTech Thrive or Vengeance scopes you can receive a FREE set of ZeroTech Thrive HD binoculars. These 30mm-tube ZeroTech scopes are offered in both FFP and SFP versions with MIL or MOA clicks. There are a variety of reticle types, both illuminated and non-illuminated. Magnification and objective size options include 3-12x44mm, 4-16x50mm, 4-20x50mm, 4-24x50mm, 6-24x50mm, and 5-25x56mm. The FREE ZeroTech Thrive binoculars have retail values from $170 to $230.
2. Midsouth — White River Large Rifle Primers, $79.99
⏺️ Large rifle primers IN STOCK at affordable price
It’s been hard to find large rifle primers at an affordable price lately. If you’ve been waiting for the price of large rifle primers to come down here’s your chance. We found these American-made White River Large Rifle Primers on sale for just $79.99/1000 at Midsouth. These are made to tight tolerances and report from shooters and handloaders have been quite positive.
3. CDNN Sports — Walther P22 Target, $249.55
⏺️ Very good .22 LR Target/Training pistol plus 200 rds FREE Ammo
All shooters should have a quality .22 LR rimfire pistol with a good trigger, ergonomic grip, and excellent accuracy. With the Walther P22 Target Model, you can get all those things for just $249.55 at CDNN Sports, a great deal. Plus you get 200 rds (4 boxes) of FREE Federal .22 LR ammo — a $40 value. The P22 Target pistol is a very nice rimfire handgun with a 5″ barrel plus a forward ported compensator. The ergonomic grip has interchangeable backstraps.
4. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Universal Bullet Seater, $59.99
⏺️ One affordable seater serves multiple calibers
Are you tired of buying another expensive seating die every time you try a new cartridge type? With the unique Frankford Arsenal Universal Bullet Seating Die you can have one die that loads multiple cartridge types. This clever bullet-seating system includes 3 different stems and 9 sleeves allowing you to seat .224 to .338-caliber bullets with this one multi-caliber tool. Forum members using this system have praised it. NOTE: the universal seating die comes with the .308-caliber sleeve pre-installed.
5. Graf & Sons — Caldwell Bipod Sale
⏺️ Good bipods offered at very attractive prices ($33-$52)
Bipods are useful for varminters, hunters, and tactical shooters. If you need a durable, adjustable bipod at a great price, consider Caldwell Bipods now on sale at Graf & Sons starting at just $33.14. The aluminum design adds minimal weight and deploys quickly, with legs that spring out to the shooting position with the touch of a button. The Caldwell bipod legs are notched for easy indexing to a specific height.
6. Creedmoor Sports — Custom Shooting Mat Sale, $104.95
⏺️ Very high-quality shooting mat now on sale — 30+ colors
A quality shooting mat provides vital comfort and stability when shooting prone. One of the best mats on the market is the Creedmoor Custom Mat, now $104.95 on sale at Creedmoor Sports. This features durable 1000 denier Cordura Nylon with textured non-slip pads for elbow placement. Interior jute padding in the mat provides ample protection for the shooter in all positions. There are many color choices so you can pick an unique color that’s easy to spot on the firing line.
7. Amazon — Caldwell Rock Front Rest, $72.22
⏺️ Low-priced reliable rest that’s good for sighting-in and varmint work
Need a good basic front rest to sight-in a hunting rifle or do load development? Here’s a solid, functional front rifle rest at a great price. The Caldwell The Rock Deluxe Shooting Rest (#ad) adjusts for windage and elevation and is solid and stable. Save with a low $72.22 Amazon sale price. This Caldwell Rest will more than suffice for testing a hunting rifle or basic bench-work. NOTE: REST ONLY — rear bag NOT included.
8. MidwayUSA — Wheeler Gunsmithing Tool Sale
⏺️ Large variety of specialized gun maintenance tools at good prices
When it comes to firearm maintenance it pays to have the right tools or you could damage your parts. Wheeler offers a good line of specialized Wheeler gunsmithing tools. Chose among a wide assortment of firearm tools including barrel vise kits, screwdriver sets, armorer’s kits, scope mounting devices and more. You’ll see a wide range of Wheeler tool sets on sale now at MidwayUSA.
9. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Wet Tumbler, $78.74
⏺️ Very good smaller tumbler that is efficient and effective
Wet tumbling efficiently cleans cartridge brass inside and out. One of the best modestly-priced wet tumblers is the Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler Lite. (#ad) When combined with stainless steel cleaning pins, this rotary tumbler can work faster than ultrasonic or vibratory tumbling methods. The media pins easily penetrate inside cases to deliver serious cleaning power. This 3.3-liter tumbler is ideal for cleaning small batches of brass and easily fits on any reloading bench.
10. Amazon — Lyman BrassSmith Funnel with Inserts, $31.99
⏺️ Very useful kit we use — avoids powder spills
Having a good powder funnel really helps precision reloading. The Lyman Products Brass Smith Pro Powder Funnel System (#ad) is a great little system. Unlike plastic powder funnels, the aluminum DIE cast body and CNC-turned aluminum caliber-specific inserts are static-free to eliminate powder cling. The precision fit to your case necks eliminates spilled powder. The kit includes six laser-marked, caliber-specific aluminum inserts to fit calibers 22 to 338: .22, .243/6mm, .25/6.5mm, .270/7mm, .30, and .338. The inserts can be quickly and easily interchanged when changing cartridge types.
BONUS: Get $100, $50, or $25 Rebate with Savage Rifle Purchase
Savage Sleigh Full of Savings — Purchase any A or B series Savage rifle and receive $50 Manufacturer’s REBATE. Or purchase any Rascal, 93, 93R17 and MKII and qualify for a $25 REBATE. These qualifying rifles (Promotion #R13262) must be purchased between 12/1/2024 through 12/31/2024. DEADLINE for Mail-In-Rebate (MIR) or online submission is 1/31/2025. CLICK HERE for Rebate Application Form.
There is also a $100 Rebate for Savage Impulse hunting rifles, Promotion #R13373. Purchase any Impulse rifle and receive a $100 Manufacturers REBATE. The Impulse Rifle must be purchased between 11/1/2024 through 12/31/2024, with 1/31/2025 rebate submission deadline. CLICK HERE for Impulse Rebate Form.
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New Product Showcase Part ONE
Shooting Industry’s December 2024 issue has the first installment of the 2025 New Product Showcase — featuring new (or recently introduced) products from dozens of companies including FN America, Gemtech, H&K, Hornady, Kimber, MDT, Remington, Ruger, Savage, Smith & Wesson, Taurus, Trijicon, Vudoo Gun Works and more. You can see all these new products in a mobile-friendly format that works with cell phones.
Or, CLICK HERE to see the full December 2024 issue in printable PDF format. The New Product Showcase is on pages 52-67, with a Shot Show Preview on pages 48-51.
Below we feature our Top Six Picks among the many new products featured this month in Shooting Industry magazine. There are dozens of other new (or recently introduced) products in Shooting Industry’s Part 1 2025 Product feature, found in the current December 2024 issue. CLICK HERE to see ALL the featured new products.
Pick Six — Top New-for-2025 Shooting Products, Guns and Gear
MDT Sporting Goods — New CRBN Ultra-Lightweight Stock
The new MDT CRBN Rifle Stock is a lightweight carbon fiber stock with an internal mini-chassis weighing a mere 27 ounces — that’s light! Crafted from foam-filled carbon fiber, the MDT CRBN Rifle Stock is both incredibly lightweight and durable. The CRBN Stock features a full-length ARCA rail, adjustable comb height, adjustable length-of-pull, M-LOK slots, QD attachment points, thumb shelves, and a 20-degree grip angle. A V-Bedding block ensures a precise fit between the stock and action, and the barrel channel can accommodate a 1.2″ profile barrel.
Savage New Revel Rimfire Lever-Action Rifles
Savage Arms will offer the Revel Classic and Revel DLX rimfire lever-action rifles in .22 LR, .22 WMR, and .17 HMR chamberings. These are take-down rifles with simple disassembly for cleaning and maintenance. The Revels feature a nice, satin-finish walnut wood stock plus a large lever loop for rapid cycling. These new rimfire lever guns start at $439.00 MSRP for the Revel Classic and $539.00 for the Revel DLX. The .22 LR Revel Classic is available now while the .22 WMR and .17 WMR versions will be available in early spring 2025, as will all Revel DLX models.
Kimber CDS9 Metal-frame Compact Pistol
If you want a compact carry pistol but are not a fan of Glock-style polymer frames, you may favor Kimber’s new CDS9 (Covert Double Stack 9mm) pistol. This high-capacity, optics-ready compact handgun features all-metal frame with accessory rail for light or laser. The grip is available with a high-contrast red and black finish.
The CDS9 has an ambidextrous safety and slide release plus a reversible mag release. The CDS9 TFS version comes with a threaded barrel for suppressor, compensator or muzzle brake. The new MDT ships with a 13-round or 15-round magazine plus a 10-round flush magazine is offered for areas where high-capacity magazines are not allowed. Watch the video above for field test.
CenterPoint Optics has some new products that deliver decent glass and advanced internal electronics at an ultra-low price. The CPNV01 Night Vision Monocular boasts day and night vision modes, 6X optical zoom and 8X digital zoom, plus day and night vision modes with a 2″ display. You can record stills and video to a micro SD card. Priced at just $129.99, this could be a nice unit for hunters.
CenterPoint also has a decent laser rangefinder at a super low price. Costing just $129.99, the CPLRF6221K laser rangefinder measures distances up to 1,100 yards and features 6X magnification. The unit has scan mode with continuous distance readings to help track moving targets. The unit, with 22mm objective, also has a built-in inclinometer.
Silencer Central
Meat-Eater Suppressor
Silencer Central has worked with Banish to develop a new 30-caliber “Meat Eater” suppressor rated for cartridges up to .300 RUM. Designed for hunting, the maker claims this suppressor can reduce sound levels by 32 decibels and reduce recoil by up to 40% via its integrated “anchor brake”. Quite light-weight, the Meat-Eater suppressor weighs 10.3 oz., and measures 5.85″ long. It employs an industry-standard hub mount.
Vudoo Gun Works
Precision Rifle Bag
The impressive Vudoo Precision Rifle Bag has many notable features including thick foam padding on all sides, 3 Zippered mesh pockets, removable scope cover, muzzle cover with bungee, Velcro interior walls, and cleaning rod sleeve. The fully customizable compartments keep gear organized, while thick, high-density padding shields your firearm from the toughest conditions.
All these features make for a really great gun case, but it is very pricey at $225.00!
Discover more products ShootingIndustry.com. Dealers and retailers can subscribe to the magazine and get weekly emails with the latest industry news and new product info. And everyone can access regular news items via the Shooting Industry Facebook page.
In our Shooter’s Forum there is a popular thread, Let’s See Those Hunting Rifles. This long-running thread features dozens of interesting hunting rifles of all varieties — from rimfires to big magnums. In that thread we found the focus of today’s story, a .221 Fireball. Now that we are in the thick of winter, with Christmas just two weeks away, we showcase this .221 Rem Fireball rifle from Norway. This rig belong to Thomas Haugland, aka “Roe” on our Forum. An avid backcountry hunter, Thomas also happens to be one of the best gun-content video producers on YouTube — check out Haugland’s THLR.NO YouTube Channel.
We’ll begin with two of Haugland’s remarkable videos — worth watching just for the stunning scenery. Thomas skis through the Norwegian Arctic backcountry, then successfully uses his suppressed, white-camouflaged .221 Fireball rifle to bag a Ptarmigan bird — bringing home a well-earned winter dinner.
NOTE: This is the short preview version. Watch the full hunt in second video.
The 7-minute video below shows the full ski hunt. The Ptarmigans are spotted at 4:30 time mark and Thomas takes the shot at 5:36. Great video — you feel like you are there in Norway’s white wilderness. The images above (including top photo) are pulled from this video.
About the .221 Fireball Cartridge
The .221 Remington Fireball cartridge was developed by Remington in 1963 for the XP-100 bolt action pistol. Today the cartridge remains popular with hunters/varminters, both in the original version, and with wildcats such as the .20 Vartarg and .17 Fireball. Lapua started making superb .221 Rem Fireball cartridge brass starting in 2014. However, according to Lapua: “This case is no longer in active production.” On 12/8/2024, we checked many leading vendors including Graf’s, MidwayUSA, and Powder Valley, but could not find new .221 Rem Lapua brass. Lapua notes: “Fireball brass has… seen a dramatic surge in popularity, due in large part to the efforts of wildcatters working with this versatile case. Whether used in its original form, or necked into one of the many cases that it serves as a parent for, the Lapua .221 Fireball brass is a sure winner[.]”
Haugland .221 Fireball with New Carbon Stock and Walther Barrel
Shown above is Haugland’s same .221 Rem Fireball from the videos, but with a new camo stock and new barrel. (The previous stock was painted white). Originally a Remington 700 Light Varmint, this was rebarreled to .221 Fireball with Lothar Walther 1:12″ barrel. Thomas admits he “Goofed a little on the barrel profile, so it is a tad heavier than I wanted.” The stock is a carbon-fiber Gunwerks ClymR and on top is a Leupold 3-18x44mm MK5 HD with Gunwerks RH1 reticle. Only the action and the trigger is left from the original rifle.
With the 1:12″ twist, this rifle is restricted to 55gr maximum bullet weight. Thomas posted: “Shoots well with Vihtavuori N130 and Norma N200 powders, not so good with RL7.” Due to lack of light in far-Northern Norway in winter (see photo above), Roe has not hunted with this rifle much since rebarreling, but as you can see, it’s very accurate — look at that group. Thomas says the gun shoots much better with the new barrel: “With the factory barrel (which I believe was 1:14″-twist) it didn’t shoot better than 1 MOA at 100 yards. Now it approaches half-MOA for three shots (see photo).”
And Thomas was successful with this rig as “reborn” with new stock and barrel. Here’s the gun and a Ptarmigan he shot in the Norwegian snow-covered backcountry.
If you like that Gunwerks ClymR carbon stock, here’s a Gunwerks video showcasing the ClymR Rifle System. A complete Gunwerks ClymR rifle with Titanium action and scope was a shocking $9734.99, so we can understand why Thomas went with the stock alone, paired with a older Rem 700 action.
To shoot tight groups and high scores from the bench, or in prone F-Open competition, a quality front rest is essential. And a good rest is also very valuable when zeroing rifles, testing loads, and shooting varmints from a portable bench. Today’s Saturday video showcase includes multiple video reviews of some of the best front rests on the market — great products from SEB, Rodzilla, 21st Century, Lenzi, and Sinclair Int’l. In addition, the lead-off video from F-Class John covers some of the less expensive rests as well as SEB Joy-Pod coaxial bipods.
Review of Many Popular Front Rests from $250 to $2200
If you are shopping for a front rest, definitely watch this comprehensive 42-minute video from start to finish. This is probably the most informative video about premium shooting rests available on YouTube. Top F-Class shooter and video-maker F-Class John covers a wide selection of front rests, with some observations about coaxial bipods as well. John covers the impressive new SEB NEO-X, the easy-to-transport SEB Mini-X, the excellent Rodzilla Rest, the innovative 21st Century Hybrid Rest, the sleek Italian Lenzi Rest. And at the end of the video John reviews the very affordable Caldwell Fire Control Rest ($220.93 on Amazon), explaining how it can be a decent choice for shooters on a limited budget.
NEW SEB NEO-X — Set-Up in the Field
Still in its final prototype stage, the innovative SEB NEO-X raises the bar for transportable coaxial front rests. An innovative design with hinged legs allows the 20-lb NEO-X to be transported in a small case. Once the legs are extended however, the NEO-X has proven to be very stable. And this new coaxial rest offers very precise, easy-to-use controls. A swivel head speeds up deployment, as the allows you to quickly align the rest top to the target. Users have confirmed the NEO-X works great and is very stable. In the video above ace F-Class shooter Erik Cortina (below) shows how to quickly deploy the NEO-X in the field.
Rodzilla T-Rex — High Quality, Big Footprint, Advanced Features
The impressive Rodzilla T-Rex front rest offers outstanding stability with smooth, precise performance. Designer/builder Rod Brakhage (the Rod in Rodzilla) started from the ground up to create a user-friendly, match-ready, modular front rest on the market. The T-Rex weighs just over 21 pounds, and the T-Rex has a large footprint, rivaling the largest rests on the market. That provides exceptional stability, even with heavy-recoiling rifles.
The T-Rex boasts an adjustable joystick that extends from 15.5″ to 21″ in length. With this adjustability, no matter what your stock length or design, you can find a comfortable position without having to stretch uncomfortably. Rodzilla delivers the T-Rex in a custom-designed hard carry case that fits it perfectly and still has room for additional feet and accessories. The T-Rex can be ordered with excellent Sand Feet. Along with the T-Rex, Rodzilla now offers the excellent Raptor Front Rest, a lighter rest designed for easy air travel and portability without sacrificing features or stability.
21st Century Hybrid-X Front Rest
Lateral Control Arm, Vertical Elevation Knob
The innovative 21st Century Hybrid-X front rest offers the “best of both worlds”. It allows precise lateral movement (for wind holds) with no elevation change. The entire center section of the rest rotates as one unit for fast, perfect horizontal alignment to target. Then adjust vertical precisely with the rotary knob on the outboard end of the control rod. Our Daily Bulletin Hybrid-X article has a full description with multiple photos of this unique rest. See additional Hybrid-X Video.
Sinclair Int’l Competition Front Rest — Sturdy and Stable Design
The Sinclair Int’l Competition Rest is a classic heavy and very stable rest that works great on the bench. Weighing 30+ pounds, with a 1″-thick steel base, this rest has a very low center of gravity and is ultra-stable. Currently priced at $579.99, the Sinclair Competition Rest is less than half the cost of the more exotic front rests.
Horizontal (windage) movement is controlled with a large rear knob which uses dual sets of twin tapered roller bearings for a non-binding windage operation. Nearly four feet of windage adjustment is offered at 100 yards. Elevation changes are made with the large wheel. With its mass and low COG, this Sinclair Rest is very stable. And because of its ability to hold elevation shot to shot, this rest has been popular with long-range benchrest competitors who often shoot quick strings of 5 or 10 shots.
SEB Mini-X and SEB Mini — Transportable Joystick Tripod Rests
The original SEB Mini was an innovative collapsible tripod rest with a coaxial top. On its introduction the SEB Mini became immediately popular with varminters, F-TR shooters, and anyone who wanted an affordable, easy-to-transport front rest that offered easy, precise and rapid adjustment of windage and elevation with the Joystick. Building on the success of the original SEB Mini, the SEB Mini-X offers an improved head design, and new adjustable “ankle” units on all three legs. This makes it easier to level the Mini-X on uneven ground. The Mini-X has proven very successful in competition, winning major F-Open matches. Folding into a very compact package, it is easy to transport in airline luggage. Yet it offers a very stable shooting platform with precise, effortless joystick control of elevation and windage.
Barrel/Shoulder Fit and Blue-Printing
5. Gas Block: You want a gas block that does not impose pointed stress on the barrel. Clamp-on types that grab all the way around the barrel are excellent. The blocks that are pinned on with tapered pins that wedge against the barrel or the slip on type of block with set screws that push up from underneath (or directly on the barrel) can deform the bore inside of the barrel and can wreck the accuracy of an otherwise great barrel.
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About the .221 Fireball Cartridge
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