Creedmoor Sports has recently expanded and updated the Creedmoor Sports InfoZone. This web resource contains valuable information about reloading, rifle maintenance, marksmanship skills, and gunsmithing. In addition, the InfoZone has Competition Reports, numerous Gear Reviews, and general Shooting Sports News.
For this Saturday Showcase, you’ll find five InfoZone Videos hosted by Bill Gravatt, President of Creedmoor Sports. There are over 85 other videos on the Creedmoor Sports YouTube Channel. Bill Gravatt is an expert on reloading processes and gear. He developed many of the popular tools for Sinclair Int’l, and now he directs operations for Creedmoor Sports.
Reloading Procedures with Bill Gravatt
Here are five helpful videos Bill Gravatt created for the Creedmoor Sports InfoZone. These videos cover a variety of essential processes for handloading. In addition Bill Shows how to find the exact twist rate in your rifle barrels.
How to Determine a Barrel Twist Rate
Bill Gravatt of Creedmoor Sports demonstrates an easy method to determine your barrel’s twist rate. Knowing the twist rate is essential to selecting suitable bullets for your discipline.
How to Seat Bullets with Inline Press
Many top Benchrest and F-Class shooters favor inline presses for bullet seating. With good hand dies (such as Wilson) and a inline Arbor press (such as a 21st Century), you can get great results with super seating depth consistency and very low run-out.
How to Trim Cases with L.E. Wilson Trimmer
There are many ways to trim cartridge brass. If you need to trim hundreds of cases it may pay to have a dedicated power trimmer. However, for most rifle shooters, a good hand trimmer will do the job very well. We regularly use a Wilson trimmer to trim our cases, as demonstrated in this video.
How to Clean Cartridge Cases
It is important to regularly clean cartridge brass. There are many different means. Wiping the outside with a solvent is a good start. For more thorough cleaning inside and out tumbling or wet-tumbling will do the job. After tumbling in media, you should always check the primer pockets and flash holes before loading.
How to Clean Reloading Dies
Cleaning your reloading dies is something that many who reload often neglect. In this 60-second Tech Tip, Bill Gravatt provides some tips on cleaning your reloading dies.
BONUS Video: How to Fine Tune Seating Depth
Now that you’ve learned Reloading Basics from the Creedmoor Sports videos, here’s a great video from our friend Keith Glasscock that will help you get optimal results when seating bullets. Keith is one of America’s greatest F-Class competitors, with multiple podium finishes at F-Class National Championships. With over 213,000 views, this is the most popular video Keith has created for his Winning in the Wind YouTube Channel.
About Creedmoor Sports — 45 Years of Service to Marksmen
For the past 45 years, since 1979, Creedmoor Sports has been supplying quality equipment and supplies to avid shooters in a wide variety of disciplines: Rimfire, F-Class, PRS/NRL, Silhouette, Service Rifle, Benchrest, and more. Specializing in competitive centerfire, smallbore, and air rifle accessories, as well as reloading components and tools, Creedmoor Sports seeks to provide its customers with the right gear to help them achieve their personal shooting goals.
Today is Good Friday and Easter will be celebrated Sunday, March 31, 2024. In connection with this Easter weekend, many companies are currently offering Easter-themed discounts and promotions. Here we list some of the top bargains and discounts you can get.
There is a good list of Easter Weekend Sales on the PewPewTactical.com website. You’ll find a selection of ammo bargains for .22 LR, 9mm Luger, .223 Rem/5.56, and Shotgun Ammunition.
Now through Monday, April 1st at 12:00 pm Central Time, you can get FREE Ground Shipping on all Creedmoor Sports purchases over $99.00. Use CODE EASTER24. NOTE: Certain exclusions apply.
Palmetto State Armory Easter Deals
Palmetto State Armory is running a pretty big Easter-themed sale. You’ll find complete AR-15 Blem lower starting at just $149.99, major discounts on S&W, SIG Sauer, and Taurus handguns, plus significant discounts on a wide variety of major-brand optics.
Brownells Discount Codes for March 2023
For the month of March, Brownells has three special discount codes. These codes can save you up to 15% on a major purchase:
$20 Off Orders $200+. Use Code MARCH20
$55 Off Orders $500+. Use Code MARCH50
$152 Off Orders $1000+. Use Code MARCH120
In addition, there are other current Brownells Discount Codes running which may be available for longer periods (no specific expiration date — may end soon).
10% OFF $150+. Use Code TTB10
$10 Off $100+. Use Code GIFT10
15% OFF Select Optics. Use Code OPTICS15
Can sustained rapid-fire shooting with no cool-down period wear out a quality barrel more quickly? The answer is “Yes” according to Forum member LCazador, who did an interesting comparison test with two .243 Winchester barrels. He started off with two, identical, match-grade HV taper stainless barrels. Both were NEW at the start of testing, and LCazador shot the same load through each: 95gr match bullets with 38 grains of Hodgdon Varget. After giving both barrels the same, gentle 20-round break-in, 300 rounds were then fired through each barrel — in very different ways. Barrel condition and wear were monitored with a borescope.
Barrel One — Slow Fire, Cool Down Periods, Cleaning Every 50 Rounds
At the end of the 300-round test, Barrel One looked brand new. There was none of the severe fire cracking found in Barrel Two. This barrel was shot no more than 10 times without a cool down and firing was done at a much slower pace. Cleaning for this barrel was done every 50 shots.
Barrel Two — Fast Firing, No Waiting, Cleaning Every 100 Rounds
The second barrel, which received hard use and minimal cleaning, was severely damaged with severe fire cracking at the leade and throat. As a result, the barrel had to be re-chambered. This barrel was shot 100 rounds at time without cleaning and was shot up to 20 times in succession without a cool down.
LESSON LEARNED — Heat Kills Barrel Life
Don’t let your barrel get too hot, and keep it clean. One afternoon can ruin a barrel!
Monitoring Barrel Wear with Borescope
Some folks worry too much about what their borescopes reveal — many barrels do not have to be “squeaky clean” to perform well. In fact some barrels run better after ten or more fouling shots. However, a borescope can be very helpful when your barrel starts losing accuracy for no apparent reason. Forum member FdShuster writes:
“A borescope is a positive way of backing up your suspicions when the rifle starts to throw an occasional (soon followed by more frequent) wild shot. Using the scope is also an excellent way to determine that the cause is barrel wear and not simply a need for a concentrated cleaning session to remove built up copper and more importantly, carbon fouling.
I’ve had a few barrels that gave every indication of being shot out. But I ‘scoped them out and found the cause to be nothing more than requiring a good cleaning. They then returned to their usual performance. There’s no guessing involved when you are able to get ‘up close and personal’ using the scope. The borescope also provides an excellent view of the all-important condition of the crown. My borescope is one of the most valuable investments I’ve ever made.”
PMA Tool offers lightweight yet sturdy cleaning cradles that are handy, affordable, and easy to transport. PMA’s popular single-gun cradle, priced at $99.95, is ideal for benchrest and F-Class rigs. It measures about 17″ in length and weighs about one pound. You can choose among 2.25″, 3″, 4″, 5″, and 6″-wide saddles (U-shaped padded supports) to match your forearm width.
PMA also offers an excellent double cradles for $149.95. These twin cradles have 2.5″, 3″, or 4″ saddles, or a combo of 3″ / 2.25″ front saddles. All these cradle types secure your rifle(s) in a muzzle-down position that allows easy cleaning and prevents solvents from running back into the action. The front saddles and all contact surfaces are covered by thick silicone rubber padding which grips the rifle securely yet protects the stock and components from scratches.
These cradles are most commonly sold with a 3″-wide front saddle for Benchrest and F-Open style stocks, or a 2.25″-wide front saddle for rifles with narrower fore-ends such as those found on F-TR, 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″ / 2.25″ front saddle configurations to accommodate different classes of benchrest rifles.
More and more folks are using Burris Signature Rings these days. These unique rings feature polymer inserts. That allows you to pre-load some elevation in your scope set-up, or you can center-up the windage. Additionally, the polymer inserts hold your scope securely without leaving marks on the tube. Lastly, some folks believe that Signature rings may offer advantages for benchrest competition. Rodney Wagner shot a world-record 600-yard group using Burris Signature Zee Rings (“Zee” denotes the Weaver-rail model). James O’Hara set multiple IBS 1000-yard records using Burris Signature Zee Rings. James will tell you he thinks “all his guns seem to shoot best with these rings”.
IBS World Record Set with Signature Zee Rings
Are Signature Zees good enough for competition? Absolutely. Some folks scoff at these Burris rings, given their modest price. A set of 1″-diameter Sig Zees cost $40.89 at Midsouth. But consider this, in 2013 Rodney Wagner shot the then-smallest 600-yard group in history, a 0.336″ 5-shot stunner, using Signature Zee Rings on his IBS Light Gun. It took five years for a smaller 600-yard group to be shot, a 0.311″ by bullet-maker Bart Sauter, using his IBS Heavy Gun. (See IBS 600-yard Records.) Here’s Rodney with his record-setting rifle, fitted with affordable Signature Zee 30mm rings.
Vendors Have Burris Signature Rings in Stock Now
Various models of Burris Signature Rings are available from many online vendors. NOTE: You may have to check with more than one seller to get the exact size, height, and model you prefer. But right now these vendors have pretty good selections of Signature Zees in stock now, including the popular 30mm High and 30mm Extra High models (each currently $56.36 at Midsouth). If you check all three sellers, you’ll probably find what you need.
From time to time, we all encounter a primer that doesn’t go off. It’s normal to attribute the problem to a bad primer. But sometimes there are other explanations. George S., one of our Forum members, experienced a couple failures to fire, but he learned that the issue was his priming TOOL, not his primers. Here’s what George told us. There’s a lesson to be learned:
“I had issues with CCI 450s when I had my first 6BR barreled. I had probably three or four out of 20 rounds that failed to fire. the primers were dented but didn’t fire. I called CCI since I had bought a case of them. The tech was decent enough but had the audacity to tell me I was not seating the primers all the way in the pocket. I proceeded to let him know I had been reloading longer than he had been alive and I knew how to seat a primer.
Turns out that I did and I didn’t! I was using the RCBS primer tool I had used for years and the primers felt just fine to me. I finally decided to check the tool and since I had a new one I took the seating pins out and measured them. The seating pin on the tool I had been using for years was shorter by a few thousandths! I then used the pin from the new primer tool and darned if the primers that didn’t seat down to the bottom of the cup.
I switched to a K&M primer tool for seating the CCI primers and have not had a problem since. It was the combination of harder cup and lack of proper seating. I did call the CCI tech back and apologized for being an idiot.”
Another Forum member witnessed a problem cause by misuse of a priming tool: “I did … see a failure to fire on a Rem 9 1/2 primer only a week ago. That was in the new Rem muzzleloader that uses a primed case to ignite the pellets. After watching the muzzleloader’s owner seat his primers, I believe that it was operator error not the primer. He was seating the primer and then squeezing the priming tool so hard that his hands hurt after a few. We got that corrected.”
This 600+ page resource covers rifles, shotguns, handguns, muzzleloaders, airguns, optics and more. We like the print edition, but there is also a Kindle eBook version for $19.99 on Amazon. Both paperback and Kindle versions provide hundreds of photos plus new product roundups, in-depth product tests, and scores of articles and stories. FYI, the upcoming Gun Digest 2025 (79th Edition) will be released in late August 2024. Pre-order price is $39.63.
There are dozens of photo-illustrated feature articles. Among the notable stories are a guide to the new Hornady 7 PRC cartridge, a detailed history of .45-70 Gov’t rifles (from 1878 to the present day), an extensive review of single-shot falling block rifles, and a feature on custom and engraved rifles.
Gun Digest 2024 Editor-in-Chief Phil Massaro has assembled a large team of respected industry authors for the new book, including Kristin Alberts, Joe Arterburn, Craig Boddington, Joe Coogan, Rick Hacker, Jay Leyendecker, Robert Sadowski, Ron Spomer, Patrick Sweeney, Wayne van Zwoll, and many more.
Gun Digest 2024 covers hunting, personal defense, target shooting, gunsmithing, and collecting. There are Updated Ballistics Tables, and the catalog section shows off the newest offerings in rifles, handguns, shotguns, muzzleloaders and air rifles. The new 78th Edition has a vast collection of gun histories, in-depth reviews, and new product roundups. Written by top gun writers, the feature stories cover every aspect of guns and shooting — hunting, personal defense, target practice, gun making, and collecting. In addition to this, the Gun Digest 2024 book includes gun field tests, ballistic tables and more.
Reports from the Field cover the newest firearms and accessories. A Testfire section brings readers up to date on product performance. And there are over 30 feature stories, including the Guns of Western Movies/TV, Rimfire Handguns, and Hunting rifles.
Other Good Books from Gun Digest Media
Gun Digest Media produces numerous other quality books for rifle, pistol, and shotgun owners. Here are four books we recommend. These are offered in both paperback and eBook versions:
The Gathering is a special event presented by Palmetto State Armory that allows gun writers and regular shooters to try out a variety of firearms and accessories. The Gathering 2024 runs March 22-23, 2024 in Clinton, SC. There will be live-fire demonstrations along with opportunities to try various products. Guns on display included firearms from SIG Sauer, Glock, Springfield Armory, Taurus and more.
The Gathering is a Firearm Range Day and Expo presented by Palmetto State Armory. The Gathering brings together the firearms community, media and public to showcase new and existing firearms, optics, and accessories. This year’s event is held at The Clinton House Plantation, a 2000-acre facility that houses 17 live-fire shooting bays, two clay courses, a 1000-yard range, and a mile-long range.
At The Gathering 2024, Silencer Central will have live-fire demonstrations suppressors. CEO of Silencer Central, Brandon Maddox notes: “We’ve reinvented the process of buying a silencer and are thrilled to showcase… our products at The Gathering[.]” Attendees will be able to purchase a silencer, have required ATF ID logged, generate their free NFA Gun Trust, and digitally sign their ATF application all at the event.
The pandemic-caused cancellation of the 2021 SHOT Show range day inspired Palmetto State Armory to launch its own Industry Range Day called The Gathering. The first Gathering was a big success in 2021. In 2022, PSA had its second Gathering which was even bigger and better — see the video above. And last year, the 2023 edition of The Gathering was held with great success. See the video below:
Peterson Cartridge Company (“Peterson”) has released a lengthy, authoritative guide to the 22 Creedmoor cartridge, a popular wildcat based on the 6.5 Creedmoor or 6mm Creedmoor necked down to .224 caliber. We think the .22 Creedmoor would be a great long-range varmint cartridge, similar to the .22-250 Rem, but with a more modern, efficient cartridge design. In addition, some PRS/NRL competitors may turn to the .22 Creedmoor because it has less recoil and is flatter-shooting than the 6mm Creedmoor. In addition, .224-caliber match bullets are typically less expensive than heavier 6mm and 6.5mm projectiles. Less recoil, and less cost — what’s not to like?*
Along with load data, this article has specific sections dedicated to: Primers, Rifling Twist Rates, and Reloading Supplies. If you are considering building a .22 Creedmoor, we recommend you download the full Peterson .22 Creedmoor article, which is available in PDF format.
Peterson states, “Since its inception in 2007… the 6.5 Creedmoor has seen some pretty meteoric growth in popularity. That growth continues as of this writing, as the cartridge has now gone mainstream with hunters and shooters alike. As the popularity of the 6.5 Creedmoor has increased, so has the number of wildcat cartridges based off of it. Some of those popular wildcat cartridges are the 6mm Creedmoor, the .25 Creedmoor, and now the .22 Creedmoor. This data sheet will cover the .22 Creedmoor.
To help our customers, and anyone else who shoots .22 Creedmoor, we decided to create this Data Sheet and distribute it. [In this LOAD DATA Document] you will find four (4) common bullets, and four (4) common rifle powders used when handloading the .22 Creedmoor cartridge. We then took the different bullet and powder combinations and loaded them up to the SAAMI Maximum Average Pressure (MAP) for the 6.5 Creedmoor and 6mm Creedmoor cartridges, which is 62,000 PSI. [O]ur goal was to provide a wide spectrum of bullet weights and the powders used with them.
All of the following data was gathered by our ballistician in our indoor ballistics lab located in our factory in Pennsylvania. Although we were able to gather pressure and velocity data in our lab, we have NOT tested these loads for accuracy. Again, these loads are just designed to give shooters information regarding what velocity, a given bullet and powder charge combination, will produce the SAAMI Maximum Average Pressure (MAP) of 62,000 psi.”
Sample 22 Creedmoor LOAD DATA
IMPORTANT — Pressures can vary significantly with different Cartridge Overall Lengths (COAL). In addition, ANY change to ANY load components — primers, bullets, brass, powder — can affect pressure. Always load conservatively. In addition, because of variances in bore dimensions, some barrels may show higher pressures than others. Again, always start with conservative loads, well below MAX pressures.
*Actually there IS a potential downside — reduced barrel life. We expect that a .22 Creedmoor running hot varmint loads would experience shorter useful barrel life compared to a 6.5 Creedmoor. This is based on what we’ve observed with .22-250 and .22-250 Ackley barrels compared to our 6.5 CM barrels.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.
1. Graf & Sons — Sightron Scope Sale — Save 20-22%
⏺ Big savings on Sightron Scopes for competition and hunting
Graf’s is running a major Sightron Scope Sale this month with 20-22% savings on many excellent optics. Get a 10-50x60mm SIII for $1179.99 or the amazing 5-40×56 SVIII ED for $2579.99, a $649.00 savings! Hunters can get the rugged 4-12x40mm S1 AO Scope for just $249.99 (20% off), and AR shooters will like the compact 1-6x24mm STAC AR1 scope for $399.99 (20% off). Note: Grab these bargains soon as sale inventory is limited.
2. Natchez — Frankford Arsenal SALE, up to 27% Off
⏺ Great prices on reloading kits, powder dispensers, tumblers and more
Frankford Arsenal makes some very effective and affordable products. Right now Frankford Arsenal products are on sale up to 27% off at Natchez. We recommend the Frankford Arsenal Essentials Reloading Kit ($299.99, $110 off), which has the excellent F-1 press, manual powder dispenser, priming tool, compact scale and more. We also recommend the Intelli-Dropper Powder Dispenser ($169.99, $60 off), the Case Prep Center ($114.99), and the Platinum Rotary Tumbler System ($149.99).
3. Midsouth — Hornady L-N-L Classis Reloading Kit, $389.99
⏺ Major $170 savings plus free Sonic Cleaner and 500 free bulleta
Right now Midsouth is offering Hornady’s L-N-L Classic Single Stage Press Reloading Kit for $389.99, a $170.00 discount. This Kit includes a nice press, manual powder dispenser, electronic scale, priming tool, powder trickler, chamfer/debur tool, case lube, shell block and more. As a special promo, this week Midsouth is including a FREE Sonic Cleaner, a $159.99 value. Plus, as an added bonus Hornady will provide 500 FREE Bullets with Kit purchase.
4. Creedmoor Sports — Starline Rifle Brass IN STOCK on SALE
⏺ Good American-made cartridge brass at attractive prices
Starline Brass is quality, American-made cartridge brass that offers good consistency and useful life at a much lower price than some other leading brands. If you shoot PRS/NRL matches or run a varmint rifle, Starline may meet your expectations. At Creedmoor Sports you can save on popular cartridge types such as 6mm Creedmoor — now $69.95 for 100 cases. You could pay $120 or more for other brands of brass.
5. Amazon — Pegboard Wall Organizer, $119.79
⏺ Very effective wall-mounted tool and parts storage solution
Here’s a great option for your reloading room or garage. There’s only so much space on the bench to store tools so why not take advantage of your wall space? The well-designed Ultrawall Pegboard Wall Organizer provides 48″ x 36″ of pegboard complete with buckets, hooks, and more ensuring that your tools and parts are organized, yet easy to access.
6. Amazon — RCBS Universal Priming Tool, $64.99
⏺ Recommended tool that adapts to multiple case rim sizes
The RCBS Universal Hand Primer tool can handle both large rim and small rim cases without any parts change. Leverage is good and the primer feeding tray is very reliable. This is a recommended tool for both beginning handloaders and expert-level reloaders. Another good feature of this tool is a patented safety gate that isolates the primer seating operation from the primer supply, lowering risk of tray detonation.
7. Amazon — 54″ Bulldog Rifle Case, $92.45`
⏺ Popular case for long-barreled F-Class, Palma, and Long Range rifles
Most rifle cases won’t fit long-barreled competition rifles. This oversize, 54″-long Bulldog 54″ Rifle Case does have the ability to hold long Palma, Benchrest, F-Class, and ELR rigs. This case has a tough 600 denier water-resistant outer shell with lockable zippers and handy large pockets for tools, ammo, and accessories (yes a Garmin GPS will fit in the outside pocket). Inside the case is a plush, heat-resistant quilted inner lining with adjustable Velcro tie downs.
8. Bullet Central — ThorroClean 20% OFF
⏺ Tests show this new cleaning product is very effective
Bullet Central has the advanced, new ThorroClean Bore Cleaning System. This cutting-edge cleaning product, developed in partnership with Iosso, is designed to provide shooters with a quick and thorough cleaning solution for their rifle bores. ThorroClean is engineered to completely eliminate copper and carbon fouling with no wear to the bore. NOTE: For a limited time you can get 20% OFF all ThorroCLean products at Bullet Central with code CLEAN20.
9. Amazon — BOG Switcheroo Tripod, $109.54
⏺ Multi-purpose lightweight tripod for rifles and optics
This BOG Adrenaline Switcheroo Tripod is a great choice as a rifle shooting support AND an optics platform. It can support your PRS rifle, and then adapt to support binoculars or spotting scope. Engineered for portability, this tripod can be used in the sitting, kneeling, and standing positions. The head rotates 360 degrees and has a handy v-shaped support. There is also a plain black BOG Switcheroo tripod version with the same features for just $88.04 on Amazon.
10. Amazon — BESTNULE Punch Kit, $29.99
⏺ Bargain price on very complete punch set for common pin sizes
All gun owners can use a quality set of precision punches for assembly and disassembly tasks. The impressive BESTNULE Punch Kit features 18 punches (both metal and plastic), plus hammer (with detachable head), bench block, and other components — all for just $29.99 at Amazon. The tools fit in a handy plastic carry case that holds hammer and pins securely.
Creedmoor Sports has recently expanded and updated the Creedmoor Sports InfoZone. This web resource contains valuable information about reloading, rifle maintenance, marksmanship skills, and gunsmithing. In addition, the InfoZone has Competition Reports, numerous Gear Reviews, and general Shooting Sports News.
Monitoring Barrel Wear with Borescope
More and more folks are using Burris Signature Rings these days. These unique rings feature polymer inserts. That allows you to pre-load some elevation in your scope set-up, or you can center-up the windage. Additionally, the polymer inserts hold your scope securely without leaving marks on the tube. Lastly, some folks believe that Signature rings may offer advantages for benchrest competition. Rodney Wagner shot a world-record 600-yard group using Burris Signature Zee Rings (“Zee” denotes the Weaver-rail model). James O’Hara set multiple IBS 1000-yard records using Burris Signature Zee Rings. James will tell you he thinks “all his guns seem to shoot best with these rings”.
