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June 15th, 2013
We know many of our readers own one or more SIG Sauer handguns. And now, for Father’s Day, SIG owners can get their prized guns upgraded at big savings (25% off). Now through June 19, 2013, the SIG Sauer Custom Shop is offering the popular SIG Action Enhancement Package for just $129.95 — that’s fifty bucks off the regular rate of $179.95. You can also get a factory Short Reset Trigger (SRT) for just $49.95, a 50% savings off the normal price. This Father’s Day Special is offered now through Thursday June 19, 2013. You need to call via telephone to take advantage of this deal. Have your serial number ready.
Terms and Conditions
Phone orders only. Offer applies to U.S. customers only and cannot be combined with any other offer. The sale ends June 19, 2013 at 12PM Eastern time. $55.00 return shipping/handling fee applies.
June 14th, 2013
 Thompson/Center Arms (T/C) has identified a condition that may cause the safety lever on certain ICON®, VENTURE™ and DIMENSION® rifles to bind, preventing the safety from becoming fully engaged. In this situation, closing the bolt may move the safety to the fire position. The rifle will not fire unless the trigger is pulled. Though there should be no risk of the gun going off by itself, T/C states: “Out of an abundance of caution, we are taking this action to recall the rifles so that the firearm can be inspected by our technicians to ensure that the safety lever functions as designed.”
This is a large-scale recall, not just a few rifles. This recall applies to all Icon, Venture, and Dimension rifles manufactured by Thompson/Center Arms prior to June 13, 2013. If you own a rifle affected by this recall, T/C recommends that you stop using the rifle and return it to T/C at once: “Because the safety of our customers is our utmost concern, we ask that you stop using your rifle until we have an opportunity to inspect the safety lever to ensure its proper function.”
To facilitate the inspection and repair, if necessary, of your rifle safety lever, contact Thompson/Center’s customer service department to receive instructions and a pre-paid shipping label for the return of your rifle to the factory. At no cost to the owner, T/C will repair the rifle and ship it back. For more information, visit www.tcarms.com. If you have any questions about this recall, contact Thompson/Center at (800) 713-0355.
June 13th, 2013
Do you own one or more AR-platform rifles? Need to fix and service critical components in the field? Then you should check out the new AR Platform Multitasker Tool sold by Brownells. This handy gadget has enough functions to keep MacGyver happy. It has hex wrenches for scope rings and LaRue mounts, front sight tool, a Castle Nut spanner wrench, a pin punch, and even a carbon scraper — something every AR owner can definitely use.
In addition to these gun-specific tools, the Multitasker includes a knife blade, pliers, and a magnetic bit driver with ten bits. The cleverly-designed tool folds up to fit in your pocket. For a further explanation of all the tool elements, and an explanation of how they work (with many good photos), see the Multitasker Review on Ar15news.com.
Brownells AR Platform Multitasker Tool Features:
- Non-slip G10 Scaled Grips (either matte black or tan)
- Billet Pliers (D2 tool steel — CNC milled)
- Carbon Scraper with Radiused Tip
- 3/8″ Hex for LaRue Mounts
- 1/2″ Hex for Scope Rings
- Magnetic Bit Driver (1/4″) with M16A2 FSP Adjuster
- Dual-Lug M4 Castle Nut Spanner Wrench
- Pin Punch (3/32″) with 8-32 male thread for Otis cleaning kit
- D2 3″-long Tool-Steel Knife Blade
- Combo Flat Screwdriver and Bottle Opener
- Pocket clip (removable)
- Kit with 10 Hex Bits for commonly used AR accessories
June 10th, 2013
You may recall that Forum member Rodney Wagner (aka “Eggman”) shot a 0.349″ (50-2x) group at 600 yards to set two IBS records. This is the smallest 600-yard group in history. With his BAT-actioned Dasher, Rodney put five shots inside a dime at six hundred yards. This is one of the most amazing feats of shooting ever. And now the gun is gone. It was stolen, along with a second benchrest rifle. The combined value of the two guns is over $11,000, but the record gun is priceless.
Rodney’s Record-Setting Rifle Stolen — We Need Your Help
Over the weekend, Rodney Wagner had two valuable benchrest rifles stolen from his truck. Yes, the BAT-actioned Dasher that shot the historic 0.349″ 5-shot group was stolen, along with a second long-range Benchrest Rifle. The theft took place at a motel in Hendersonville, NC.
We request the help of our readers in recovering these two rifles for Rodney. Help us get the word out — talk to your shooting friends, post this story on other forums, link to it on Facebook. Insurance, if any is available at all, will only cover a small part of the loss. But we all know that this isn’t all about the money. You can’t just write a check and buy a rifle that shoots an 0.349″ group at 600 yards. Ironically, the thieves probably have no idea of the special nature of the guns they stole.
Stolen Rifle One: IBS Record-Setting 17-lb benchrest rifle. The BAT B action has serial number B778. It has a white, gray, and black Shehane ST-1000 fiberglass stock, and a Brux 6mm barrel chambered for the 6mm Dasher. A March 10-60x52mm scope (with tactical knobs) is fitted in Burris Signature rings on top. The action is a Right bolt, Left Port, Right Eject.
Stolen Rifle Two: IBS 17-lb Benchrest Rifle. Borden Rimrock action has serial number BR0253. It has a red and black Shehane ST-1000 fiberglass stock, and Brux 6mm barrel fitted with a VAIS muzzle brake. A March 10-60x52mm scope with tactical knobs was on top. We are still looking for photos of this rifle. It appears very similar to the first rifle, but with a red and black stock and a Rimrock action.
It does NOT appear that thieves were specifically targeting the record-setting rifle. The Hendersonville Police told us that another theft was reported at about the same time in the same neighborhood. They called this “an ordinary crime of opportunity”.
Folks, please keep your eyes out for these two rifles. These are distinctive guns — not what you’d see everyday at a pawn shop (or even at most gun ranges). Please tell other folks in the firearms community to be on the look-out. Also, the thieves might try to unload the two March 10-60X Scopes separately. Look for March Serial Numbers X341 and X291. You can use this link to point people to this story: http://bit.ly/14PtT5o.
If you have any information, please contact officer Peter Laite of the Hendersonville (NC) Police Department. Call 828-697-3025 or email: plaite [at] cityofhendersonville.org
$1000.00 Reward Offered
AccurateShooter.com will provide a Five Hundred Dollar ($500.00) reward to any individual who returns the two guns in undamaged condition or provides information that leads directly to the recovery of the two guns in undamaged condition.
In addition, Rodney Wagner will pay a $500.00 reward if the two rifles are recovered intact and undamaged. This makes the total reward $1000.00. That’s $500 from AccurateShooter.com, and $500 from Rodney Wagner. |
May 23rd, 2013
 Need a premium cut-rifled barrel? Be prepared to wait six months or more. However, if you were a member of the NorCal Practical Precision Rifle Club (NCPPRC) you’d be sitting pretty right now. After receiving a boatload of new Bartleins (31 by our count), NPPRC’s Vu Pham announced on Facebook: “Our first batch of Bartlein Barrels has arrived!! This is less than 1/3 of our 2013 Club order!”
That’s an impressive supply of precious metal to be sure. Are those Bartleins worth their weight in gold? Not quite, but Vu and crew definitely have reason to celebrate. We hope all the folks at NCPPRC shoot lots of good scores with all those pretty new tubes. Yes, you could say we have “barrel envy” now.
May 20th, 2013
 From now on, California will require all new-model semi-automatic handguns to be manufactured with microstamping technology (aka “ballistic imprinting”). This requirement went into effect on May 17th, when the California Attorney General’s office declared that technical and patent barriers to the implementation of microstamping had been removed.
To make a firearm compliant, firearms manufacturers must now engrave a gun’s make, model, and serial number on two distinct parts of each gun, including the firing pin, so that, in theory, this data is imprinted on the cartridge casing when the pistol is fired. If the microstamp on the end of the firing pin wears out, then the gun is considered “unsafe” under California law, and the owner may not sell or transfer the gun.
Read California Dept. of Justice Certification of Microstamping Technology Notice
California’s microstamping law was enacted way back in 2007. However, by its terms, the law did not go into effect until the technology was mature and patent rights were resolved. With the State government claiming that microstamping is now practical, new gun models must have microstamping capability in order to be approved for civilian sale in California. This will, eventually serve as a de facto ban on new-model semi auto handguns in California. Brandon Combs, Executive Director of the Calguns Foundation, explains: “Manufacturers are not going to create a special run of firearms with all of these very burdensome manufacturing technologies just so they can comply and produce firearms for one market.” At present, as far as we can determine, no major gun-maker currently offers a microstamping-capable, semi-auto handgun for sale in the United States — not a single one.
Current “California-Approved” Semi-Auto Pistols Can Still Be Sold — For a Time
The “activation” of California’s microstamping requirement does NOT mean that semi-auto handguns currently on the California “approved” list can no longer be sold. The current inventory of “approved” handguns are “grandfathered”, so they may be sold so long as the manufacturers continue to pay annual handgun roster registration fees to the State of California. However, any new-model semi-auto pistol — even one with a minor design change from a previous version — will be blocked from sale in California unless it has the microstamping feature. If a manufacturer stops producing a particular handgun, replacing it with a newer, upgraded version, that newer model cannot be sold in California unless it is microstamp-capable. (We should add that the microstamp requirement does not apply to handguns sold to law enforcement agencies.)
What we can expect is that, in time, as handgun manufacturers replace old models with new models (or make modifications to existing models), fewer and fewer new semi-auto pistols will be offered for sale in California. If, for example, Glock updates its Glock 17, the new model could not be sold in California unless Glock outfits it with microstamping capability.
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NRA Plans Legal Challenge
NRA Attorney C.D. Michel says that microstamping is a flawed and impractical technology: “This is not going to help solve crimes. [Microstamping] is easily defeated… and can be used to lead police down false alleys.” Michel notes that criminals can easily defeat the microstamp by filing the tips of firing pins. Overall, Michel believes, microstamping will not reduce crime, but it will cut off the supply of handguns available to Californians. He stated the the NRA plans a legal challenge to the implementation of microstamping in California.
While there is virtually no “real world” evidence that microstamping has ever solved actual crimes, there are many important criticisms of the “ballistic imprinting” technology:
- Stamped casing can only be traced to the last registered owner, not to the person who used the gun when the casings were stamped. In the case of a stolen gun, as is the case for most firearms used in crime, the stamped case would not lead to the criminal.
- Criminals could collect discarded brass from a firing range and salt crime scenes with microstamped cases, thereby providing false evidence against innocent people and increasing the workload for investigators.
- Microstamping is easily defeated. Inexpensive files will remove microstamping. Firing pins are normally replaceable and can be changed with simple tools or without tools. Firing a large number of rounds will wear down the microstamp.
- Microstamping is an immature technology, and has not been subjected to sufficient independent testing. Transfer of microstamped marks to the cases is less reliable than proponents claim.
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May 13th, 2013
 Judge Glen E. Conrad, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, entered a final judgment upholding the validity of Ashbury International Group, Inc.’s patent on its modular rifle technology. The court also held that Cadex Defence, Inc. of Canada infringed that patent, and enjoined Cadex from future infringement. Ashbury was represented by the Troutman Sanders law firm, and D. Alan Nunley of Reston, Virginia. The official case title is: Ashbury International Group, Inc. v. Cadex Defence, Inc., Case No. 3:11cv79, filed on December 16, 2011, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia.
“The court held that Ashbury’s patent is valid, and potential infringers now know that Ashbury will protect its valuable intellectual property,” said Robert Angle, the head of Troutman Sanders’ Litigation Department in Virginia and a leading intellectual property litigator. “This case validates the significant investment Ashbury has made in its technological innovations.”
After entry of judgment, Ashbury CEO/President Morris Peterson declared: “We are very pleased with the final judgment, and feel confident that our intellectual property and [our] many innovative ideas … can in fact be protected, even in the hyper-competitive firearms industry. Our customers in the government, military, and sport shooting communities rely on Ashbury’s innovations. They deserve to have our best-engineered designs, particularly in life-critical applications.”
Virginia-based Ashbury Int’l Group is a DOD contractor, systems integrator, engineering, manufacturing and logistics company serving the government, military, and Spec-Ops communities in the USA and allied foreign nations. Among its products, Ashbury has designed fully integrated precision rifle platforms using the advanced SABER®-FORSST® modular stock chassis system for sporting, target competition and tactical shooting activities. Ashbury currently holds 16 US Patents relating to its advanced modular chassis system for precision bolt action rifle platforms, including the patent infringed by Cadex, U.S. Patent No. 7,802,392, and other patents pending.
About Troutman Sanders Law Firm
Troutman Sanders LLP is an international law firm with more than 600 lawyers and offices located throughout the United States and China. Founded in 1897, the law firm represents clients ranging from multinational corporations to individual entrepreneurs, federal and state agencies to foreign governments, and non-profit organizations to businesses representing virtually every sector and industry.
May 11th, 2013
 Want a great deal on a pre-owned precision rifle? Then visit Bob White’s Shooter’s Corner website and check out “The List”. Bob maintains a wide selection of used benchrest, varmint, and precision rifles. In fact, Bob offers the largest inventory of used benchrest rifles and equipment in the USA. Along with complete rifles, you’ll find accessories, rests, scopes, and reloading tools.
NOTE: “The List” was last updated in January 2013, but there are still plenty of great deals on hand.
Contact Bob White directly for the latest offerings or ask for his personal “hand picks” from his vast inventory: (973) 663-5159; email: shootcnr [@] optonline.net.
You can find exceptional deals on “The List”, with complete, custom-action Benchrest rifles for as little as $1300.00, and Varmint rifles starting at $500.00. Here are eight examples (listings subject to change without notice):
Benchrest Rifle: 6PPC Light Varmint
BAT “S” multi-flat action R/L R eject. Bartlein 23½” bbl, 1-14T, .262 neck. Bruno/McMillan f-glass glue-in stock with unique Burl figured wood-grain finish. Jewell 2 oz. trigger. Includes: Kelbly type scope bases. Gunsmith: L. Bruno. This rig is Brand New, UNFIRED. Get a new rig without the 6 month to 1 year wait. $3150.(cost to build new $3800.) 4036 ser #S306.
Benchrest Rifle: 6PPC and 25 BR LV or HV (five barrels)
6PPC + 25BR LV/HV. Stolle Teddy polished R/L action with Jewell 2 oz. trigger. 3 Hart and 2 Shilen barrels with .262 PPC neck. One barrel 808 rounds, two barrels less than 100 rounds each. McMillan f-glass glue-in stock. Gunsmiths: D. Scott and S. Goodling. Excellent condition. Hard to find R/L Teddy with FIVE low mileage barrels, .308 bolt-face. Detailed records on all barrels. $2599. Definite $4200+ value (may sell lower w/fewer bbls). 3509 ser #94313
Benchrest Rifle: 6PPC Light Varmint (Left bolt)
6PPC Light Varmint, Stolle Panda LB/RP action with Jewell 2 oz. trigger. Krieger 22” bbl, 1:14″ twist, .262 neck, less than 750 rounds. McMillan f-glass glue-in stock, yellow color. Very good condition. Bargain in an accurate Left Hand bench gun. An extra .223-size bolt available at additional charge. $1449. 4019 ser #0423.
Benchrest Rifle: Unlimited 6PPC + .308
6PPC/308 Unlimited/Heavy Bag Gun, Hart #4 R/R action with two bolts. Two Hart straight-contour 1:14″ twist barrels: (1) .308 1.350×27¼” (unfired) with .340 no-turn neck, plus (1) PPC 1.350×25½” with .264 neck (less than 300 rounds). Lee Six Benchrest Unlimited f-glass stock, glue-in and bolt-in with pillar glass-bedding. Hart 2 oz. trigger. Includes Unertl-posa scope bases and $200 all-aluminum fitted gun case. Gunsmith: B. White and R.W. Hart. Near excellent condition — a super buy in a multipurpose/caliber rig with super accuracy. $1899. Cost to build new $4000+. 3614 ser #W-917.
Long-Range Benchrest Rifle: 300 WSM Light Gun
30-Caliber WSM Light Gun Class. Polished Stolle Kodiak action R/R, with Jewell 2 oz. trigger. Shilen 28.5″, 1:10″-twist barrel, .343 neck. McMillan Tooley MBR f-glass stock, blue color. Includes: decelerator pad. Gunsmith: B. White. Like new. Less than 100 rounds on entire rig/competition ready. $2250. Cost to build new $3900. 4047 ser #98311.
Varmint Rifle: 6mm AR (6.5 Grendel necked to 6mm)
Custom Rem 700 BDL R/R action w/Sako extractor, Timney 2-lb trigger, machined steel trigger guard/floorplate. Douglas 24” sporter barrel, 1:12” twist less than 50 rounds. No-turn neck. H&S Precision f-glass stock (black) with aluminum bedding block. Includes Burris 1″ scope mounts, oversize recoil lug, lapped locking lugs, speed lock fire control, 50 cases and Redding dies. Excellent condition. One accurate shooter. $899. 3996 ser #G6337962.
Rimfire Rifle: .22 LR Cooper Showpiece
Mod 57M Cooper, factory SS 24” fluted LV barrel, 1:16″-twist, less than 500 rounds. Factory Montana varminter AAA+ walnut stock with full fiddleback. Factory 14 oz. trigger. Includes: Talley scope bases. Has Cooper extra charge options: Grade II engraving, Skeleton grip cap, Inlayed sling swivels, extra high-grade wood, fluted barrel. A one-of-a-kind piece in as new (99%) condition at great savings. $2850. Cooper’s new price is $4600. 4051 ser #7113.
Rimfire Rifle: Anschutz .22 Magnum
Anschutz Model 1720 D Meister Grade. Factory 23¼” bbl — bore-scoped excellent. Factory figured/checkered, walnut stock, factory trigger. Includes Leupold 1″ scope mounts, custom bore cleaning action tube, original shipping container w/instr manual and factory test group. One very handsome near-new (98% condition) piece. $899. 4033 ser #1450433.
May 8th, 2013
 The 35th Annual Bianchi Cup is happening soon. The 2013 MidwayUSA/NRA Bianchi Cup Championship will take place in Columbia, MO, May 22-25. This major event draws shooters from all over the world. Along with the USA, competitors have come from Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Netherlands, and Switzerland. Firearm categories include: Open Division, Metallic Sights, Service Pistol, and Revolver. In addition there be awards for the top shooters in specific classes: Law enforcement, Women, Junior, International, Newcomer, Senior, Grand Senior.
One of the favorites this year is Jessie Duff, shown below competing with one of her Bianchi Cup custom rigs. Jessie’s pistol sports special brackets to help align and steady the gun during the barricade shots.
CLICK for 2013 NRA Bianchi Cup Info Guide
Slick Modified 9mm Model 1911 for Jessie
If you’re curious about the hardware used by top shooters in other action pistol events, here is Jessie Duff’s new Taurus PT1911 9mm single-stack, set up for Open Division. Note the extended, tri-port compensator attached up-front, and the large cut-out on top of the forward part of the slide. That cut-out is for weight reduction and improved balance. Interestingly, the rear of the slide is milled flat where the rear sight would be on a conventional model 1911. Jessie relies on her Leupold DeltaPoint red dot sight to get on target, so the pistol doesn’t need front or rear iron sights.
May 3rd, 2013
At the NRA Show in Houston, Ashbury Precision Ordnance (“APO”) will spotlight the new long-action SABER-FORSST Sporter Chassis. For hunters and recreational shooters, the SABER Composite Series Sporter is a “drop in, torque down and shoot upgrade” for long-action rifles with 1.200″ to 1.300″ barrel shank diameters. The SABER Sporter chassis features adjustable shoulder stock and carbon-reinforced fore-end (with traditional sporter shaping and twin swivel studs). You can install your barreled action in the SABER Sporter chassis in minutes using simple tools. No gunsmithing or bedding is required. All metal surfaces are coated for durability.
 Rugged and Fully Adjustable
The SABER Sporter long-action chassis weighs just 5.25 lbs including the box mag, adjustable buttstock, Limbsaver® recoil pad, and ERGO® Sure Grip. This chassis offers full adjustability — length of pull (LOP), cheek-rest height, buttpad position, and even grip-to-trigger distance. APO says this is a very versatile stock, suitable for both hunting and field applications: “The Sporter is a comfortable, low-recoil rifle chassis impervious to all weather conditions and shoots comfortably off-hand, supported, or from a bipod”. APO’s SABER Sporter is offered in four colors for these action types: Rem700 SA and LA; McMillan G30 SA and LA; Surgeon RSR, 591, 1086, 1581.
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