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April 14th, 2011
Thinking of combining rifle and pistol powder in a blended duplex load? Well think again. If you want to keep all your fingers, stick with factory powders and established loads at safe pressures. Here’s what can happen with a duplex load composed of both rifle and pistol powders. This catastrophic kaboom of an AR rifle took place at the Phoenix (AZ) Rod & Gun Club (PRGC) range. The photos, first posted on the ArizonaShooting.com forum, show how the AR blew up, ruining the bolt carrier, splitting the upper receiver, blowing out the Cavalry Arms polymer lower, and actually detaching the barrel.
Another shooter, who was nearby when the Kaboom occurred, reported: “I was standing 10 feet behind [the shooter], loading mags. The shot was no different than any other shots. I only looked up because the RO was yelling for assistance.”
Obstructed Barrel? Probably Not: “The target showed four hits — the fourth round Kaboomed the rifle. [If there was an obstructed barrel only three holes should be on the target.] A piece of the exploded cartridge is still in the chamber of the barrel. The barrel extension split into three major pieces with smaller pieces cutting the left inside forearm.”
Suspected Cause? “It was a combination of rifle and pistol powder. The rest of the batch was pulled and there were apparently 3-4 other rounds with mixed loads.” It has been reported that these were commercial .223 Rem reloads.
What Happened to the Operator? “The shooter is fine. He got whacked in the face with the charging handle, giving him a fat lip. Minor cuts on his face. His wrist got fragged with carbon fiber/free float tube remains, which were embedded in his skin for a few weeks.”
Parts Ruined: Upper receiver, Cav Arms MK2 polymer lower receiver, Bolt Carrier Group (total loss), forearm, barrel, gas tube, gas block, muzzle brake, mag release, bolt release, custom trigger and take-down pins. Also charging handle is bent and trigger group sustained some damage.
April 11th, 2011
Competition Shooting Stuff (CSS), run by Gary Eliseo, is now producing a specialized tubegun chassis for the new CG INCH action sold by X-Treme Shooting Products. The CG INCH action is an innovative single-shot action with three lugs in the rear.
Gary Eliseo tells us: “The new CG INCH is a very robust triple-lug action designed by Robert Chombart. The CG INCH’s unique rear lug design allows the loading port to be much closer to the shooter than with a rem-style action. The port is about 1.5″ further back. With the CG INCH’s rear three-lug design, the bolt throw is shorter than a front lug action so the bolt handle is no further to the rear when the bolt is open. This design makes loading from the shoulder much more convenient.” Another nice feature of the CG INCH is that no separate recoil lug is required with the CSS Kit. The rear of the action is milled perfectly square and this acts as the recoil stop once the action is assembled into the CG1 chassis. Gary says the only downside to the CG INCH action is that the three-lug bolt does require a bit more effort to lift and cock than bolts in most two-lug actions.
Order Now for Delivery in 6-8 Weeks
Eliseo has finished his first run of CG1 Chassis Kits, but they are all pre-sold. He will commence another run soon, which should be available in 6-8 weeks. Get your order in soon if you want a kit from the next run. The price is $850.00 with choice of 150 powder-coat colors. Anodized or Cerakote finish is $75.00 extra. For more information, visit CompetitionShootingStuff.com or call CSS at 714-630-5734.
April 4th, 2011
X-Treme Shooting Products has announced that its new line of Titanium actions is in full production, with short and long receivers ready to ship. The .338 receivers should be ready by the time of the NRA Annual meeting in late April. X-Treme Shooting is currently the only manufacturer of Titanium rifle receivers in the USA. Titanium construction offers significant weight savings, without compromising durability. On a long-action build, using a Titanium action could save up to 10 ounces. The short and long Titanium receivers both have a Rem 700 footprint, but with enhancements for improved function and accuracy. These are custom-grade actions, “absolutely true and dimensionally correct.”
 Benefits of Titanium Construction
Why Titanium? In addition to being much lighter than steel (by volume), Titanium is extremely strong, and very corrosion-resistant. That is why it is used for critical parts in jet airplanes and spacecraft. Titanium is as strong as steel, but 45% lighter. It is 60% heavier than aluminum, but twice as strong. Titanium has the highest strength to weight ratio of any common metal. Titanium does requires special milling tools and techniques for production. However, it is otherwise a highly-desirable material for rifle actions because it is light, strong, and corrosion-resistant.
New CG INCH Action Available
X-Treme Shooting sells a variety of other precision products, including the CG X-Treme Mod22 two-stage trigger, the Centra Goliath Front Sight, and the CG INCH target action from Australia shown below. The new INCH action, designed by Robert Chombart, are offered with either .308 or .223 bolt faces, for $1075.00. This is an excellent action for F-Class and Fullbore shooters. Call for finish options and other details.
For more information or to place an order, email ctmyers [at] x-tremeshooting.com, or call (513) 313-3464, or visit X-TremeShooting.com.
March 23rd, 2011
The Blaser R93 is a unique rifle, employing a patented straight-pull bolt with radial locking system. Using a pivoting short-throw bolt handle, the bolt slides straight forward and back to feed and eject ammunition. It’s simple and fast. The Blaser R93 was designed as a modular system. This means the bolt can be changed from right-pull to left-pull in seconds, and barrels can be exchanged quickly and easily. This makes the R93 extremely versatile — invest in one action and stock and you can shoot a multitude of chamberings. Factory barrels in 28 different calibers are offered. A Blaser barrel can be switched in less than a minute, using a simple T-handle wrench (see Video below).
While most Blasers sold in America are hunting rifles with conventional-style stocks, Blaser also makes a model for CISM 300m competition, a tactical model, and long-range target model (LRS-2). These all feature an aluminum receiver block, synthetic sub-chassis with cantilevered fore-end, and larger-capacity magazine. The rear section of the stock has an adjustable cheekpiece and butt-plate. Shown in the video below is a Blaser R93 LRS-2 fitted with bipod and muzzle brake. Note the very low recoil of the 6mmBR cartridge when the braked gun is fired. Along with the 6BR chambering, the LRS-2 is offered in .223 Rem, 6.5×55, .308 Win, 300 Win Mag, and .338 Lapua Magnum.
One of the Blaser’s best features is the speed with which the bolt can be cycled. Just pull the bolt-handle back to open the action and eject the brass, then slide the bolt handle forward to close the bolt. Compared to a conventional bolt, the Blaser requires minimal hand movement. Once you get the hang of it, you can cycle the gun extremely fast. The video below show a hunter practicing with a .308. Watch how quickly the bolt cycles–and this shooter could probably shoot even faster if he maintained his cheek-weld.
March 22nd, 2011
 The 5th Annual Brownells Gunsmith Career Fair will feature some of the biggest names in the gun trade. These experts will share their knowledge to help budding gunsmiths learn new skills and grow their businesses. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) representatives will also be on hand to answer questions. The Gunsmith Career Fair runs April 15 and 16, 2011, at the Downtown Marriott Hotel in Des Moines, Iowa. The event is FREE to gunsmiths and exhibitors.
Wide Range of Scheduled Seminars
Seminars range from advancing your career in the gunsmithing profession to starting or expanding a gunsmithing business. View the full seminar schedule at gunsmithcareerfair.com. Scheduled Seminars are listed below:
Seminar Title and Seminar Leader
- Am I Gunsmithing or Manufacturing — ATF Technology Branch (4/15)
- Alternative Careers in the Industry — Bill Gravatt, Sinclair Int’l (4/15)
- Essential Components of a Business Plan — Tom Shay (4/15)
- Creating Your Niche in Life — Doug Turnbull (4/15)
- Marking Variances & When are They Required — ATF Technology Branch (4/15)
- Finding Your Specialty in the Industry — Sharon Dressel (4/15)
- Small Businesses Don’t Die; They Commit Suicide — Tom Shay (4/15)
- Responsible, Professional Gunsmith Opportunities (Keynote Address) — Ron Power (4/15)
- Professional Techniques on Gunsmithing Guns — Ron Power (4/16)
- Creating a Great Customer Experience — Bart Miller (4/16)
- Understanding Ballistics — Paul Dressel (4/16)
- Communicating with the Public — Reid Coffield (4/16)
It’s Not Too Late to Register
There’s still time to register to attend or exhibit, just go to gunsmithcareerfair.com or call 641-623-5401 and ask for Stacy or Jill. Attendees and exhibitors are urged to book hotel rooms and flights early.
March 11th, 2011
Shooters who convert factory actions to run 6BRs, 6PPCs or other high-pressure cartridges should consider having the firing pin bushed. These modern cartridges like to run at high pressures. When running stout loads, you can get cratering caused by primer flow around the firing pin hole in the bolt face. The reason is a little complicated, but basically the larger the hole, the less hydraulic pressure is required to crater the primer. A limited amount of cratering is normally not a big issue, but you can reduce the problem significantly by having a smith fit a bushing in the firing pin hole. In addition to reduced cratering, bushing the firing pin often produces more consistent ignition.
This is a highly recommended procedure that our editors have had done to their own rifles. Greg Tannel (Gre-Tan Rifles) is an expert at this procedure, and his turnaround time is fast — usually 2-3 days (shop time). Current price for a bushing job, which includes turning the firing pin to .062″, is $82.00 including USPS Priority Mail return shipping.
If you have a factory rifle, a bushed firing pin is the way to go if you are shooting the high-pressure cartridges such as 6PPC, 6BR, 6-6.5×47 and 6.5×47. This is one of the most cost-effective and beneficial upgrades you can do to your factory rifle. For more info on the Firing Pin Bushing process, visit GreTanRifles.com, or email greg [at] gretanrifles.com. (After clicking the link for GreTanRifles.com, Click on “Services” > “Shop Services” > “Bolt Work”, and you’ll see a listing for “Bush Firing Pin Hole & Turn Pin”. Select “View Details”.)
 Firing Pin Hole Bushing by Greg Tannel
Work Done: Bush firing pin hole and turn pin.
Functions: Fixes your cratering and piercing problems.
Price: $75.00 + $7.00 return shipping
Total Price: $82.00
Actions for which Bushing is Offered: Remington, Winchester, Savage, Sako, Kimber, Cooper, Nesika, Stiller, Bat, Kelbly, Lawton, Surgeon, Borden, Wichita, Hall, CZ, Ruger, Mauser, Howa, Weatherby, Dakota, Pacific Tool, Phoenix, RPA Quadlite, and Defiant bolt action rifle or pistol. Note: There may be extra tooling charges for case-hardened style bolts (Mauser, CZ, and similar) .
Actions for which Bushing is NOT Available: ARs, Accuracy International, Desert Tactical Arms, Big Horn, Rim fires, Falling block, Break open, Lever, Pump rifles.
How to send your bolt in to be bushed:
You can send your bolt snail mail, priority mail, UPS, Fed-Ex. What ever you prefer. Please include your name, phone number, and return shipping address. Turn around is normally 1 to 3 days shop time (plus shipping time). We usually do them the day that we get them in. Total cost is $82.00 for one bolt or $157.00 for two (this includes return shipping, priority mail.) Three or more will be sent back to you UPS and we will have to calculate extra shipping. We can overnight them at your expense. Check, money order, or credit card is fine with us.
February 17th, 2011
The Tikka T3 is a popular hunting rifle worldwide. The T3 Sporter, a new variant of the T3, is used for match shooting in Europe. On this side of the Atlantic, there has been growing interest among tactical shooters in the T3 because it offers a strong, rigid receiver, smooth-running bolt, and highly functional detachable box magazine. At least two tactical stock suppliers, Manners Composite Stocks and KRG, are offering high-end tactical stocks for T3 actions. Shown below is KRG’s new Whiskey 3 Modular Chassis (W3C) for the Tikka T3. We’ll be testing a Tikka T3 project rifle fitted in the W3C Chassis later this year.
JARD Triggers for Tikka T3
Tikka T3s are very nice rifles out of the box, but the T3’s trigger pull weight is a bit on the heavy side for match shooting. JARD now offers drop-in trigger kits for the Tikka T3, as well as complete Tikka T3 replacement trigger assemblies. With the $110.00 trigger upgrade kit, you can get your T3 trigger down to a crisp, 1.0 pound pull. JARD’s full Tikka trigger assembly, priced at $132.00, can be set for pull weights as low as 12 ounces. The full trigger assembly not only gives you a nice, light pull, but it also offers Over-Travel and Sear Engagement adjustability not provided by the factory trigger. For more info, or to order, visit www.JARDinc.com or call (712) 324-7409.
Story suggested by Boyd Allen.
February 17th, 2011
If you have a model 70 or a modern Winchester bolt-action that needs re-stocking, here is a great opportunity to pick up an inletted factory stock for peanuts. Gunsmiths who build customs on model 70 action should also take notice. CDNN Investments has acquired a huge quantity of Winchester factory stocks of all shapes and sizes, wood, laminate, and synthetic. CDNN is selling them off at “fire-sale” prices. For example, a Sporter Walnut Featherweight Blem stock for a post-64 action is just $39.99 including buttpad and swivel studs. A black, checkered, synthetic stock for a post-64 action (with heavy barrel) is just $49.99, including pad and studs. And if you need something fancy for a modern Long Action Winchester, a Grade II/III walnut Sporter stock, checkered, with recoil pad and swivel studs, is $149.99. That’s still cheaper than many uninletted walnut blanks.
These and other stock bargains are contained in CDNN’s latest 2010-6 catalog, on page 138 (shown above). You can view the new CDNN catalog online, or download the catalog as a PDF file.
CLICK HERE for Direct Download of CDNN Catalog 2010-6 (41.3 megabyte PDF).
February 14th, 2011
Barry O. (aka “TheBlueEyedBear”) is a long-time AccuateShooter Forum member and friend of the site. Each year he manages to acquire another good-looking, great shooting rifle. In 2009 he took delivery of an amazing 4000 fps 300 WSM varminter, and for 2010 he put together a fantastic 6mm Super LR long-range varminter on a BAT SV action. Barry actually sourced many of the components for his new rifle through our AccurateShooter Forum Free Classifieds. CLICK HERE to read all about Barry’s new BAT-Actioned varmint rifle, the latest in our popular Gun of the Week Series.
CLICK Photo to Read Full Story
The Richard Franklin walnut LowRider stock (above) for Barry’s new rifle came from fellow Forum member “Preacher”, who also did most of the metal work. The gun is chambered as a 6mm Super LR. This is a 30°, long-necked wildcat based on the .243 Winchester parent case. The 6mm Super LR was developed by Robert Whitley, who wanted something similar to the 6XC, but with “more boiler room” to push the 115s comfortably at 2950-3050 fps.
The 6mm Super LR wildcat is easy to make. Robert Whitley figured out how to reform domestic .243 Win brass with one simple pass through a Redding 6mm Super LR full-length sizing die. Robert has commissioned these dies from Redding. He’s got them in stock right now. Call Robert at (215) 348-8789 to order. You can learn more about the 6mm Super LR on Whitley’s www.6mmAR.com website.
February 10th, 2011
 The New Gene Clark A2 Upper Receiver
Here is your chance to own an AR15 A2 upper receiver hand-built by the man who has crafted more championship service rifles than any other armorer in history. For the past 25 years Gene Clark has been building rifles for the USA’s dominant military shooting team. His AR rifles have been used to set nearly every current national Service Rifle record. Creedmoor Sports has commissioned Gene to build a limited number of .223 Rem upper receivers, no more than fifteen per month. The first units are due to arrive 2/28/2011.
CLICK HERE to Pre-Order Gene Clark A2 Upper.
Dennis Demille of Creedmoor Sports tells us: “Each receiver will be built to Gene Clark’s stringent specs. Barrels will be chambered using a long-throat reamer designed by Gene himself and currently being used by every member of his team. This improves the accuracy of the heavier 80gr bullets without any negative effect on the lighter bullets.” Only the best components will be used in the Gene Clark uppers:
- Bushmaster upper receiver
- Free Floated barrel/hand guards
- Krieger 1-7.7″ twist barrel w/flash suppressor
- Double-pinned ¼ x ¼ minute rear sight
- 72 t.p.i. windage screw giving you 10 clicks per revolution windage
- Armalite clamp-style front sight
- .062″ ramped front sight post with jam screw under post
Dennis adds: “The Clark-built A2 Uppers, Item# GC-A2, will be priced at $1,215.00, and sold exclusively through Creedmoor Sports. If you’re unfamiliar with the name Gene Clark give us a call at 800-273-3366 and ask for Dennis DeMille. Without approval (pending), there are things in his resume we are not allowed to mention in print. Call to reserve yours now.”
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