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February 9th, 2008
Tired of spending $25 or $30 on a box of bullets only to find they don’t shoot well in your barrel? Wouldn’t it be great if you could just buy 10 or 20 bullets and test them out before buying a large quantity? Now you can do just that.
Tom Reddin of Oklahoma has launched a new service, BulletSamples.com that should prove popular with both target shooters and hunters. Tom has acquired a large inventory of Berger, Hornady, Nosler, and Sierra bullets in 22 through 30 calibers. He stocks hundreds of different bullet types, including match bullets, varmint bullets, and game-hunting bullets. You can create your own “variety pack” with different brands, weights, and designs. You can “Mix and Match” brands, with pricing on a per-bullet basis. Bullets range in price from $0.24 to $0.50 (the bigger bullets typically cost more), with most bullets $0.35 or less. Here are examples:
22 Caliber:
60gr Hornady V-Max $0.25
75gr Berger VLD $0.33
77gr Sierra MatchKing $0.34
6mm:
55gr Nosler Ballistic Tip $0.34
75gr Hornady V-Max $0.30
105gr Berger VLD $0.35
30 Caliber:
155gr Berger VLD $0.43
175gr Sierra MatchKing $0.38
180gr Nosler Ballistic Tip $0.39
(Price is per 1 bullet, s/h extra)
There is a 75-bullet minimum order, but that could be composed of Berger VLDs, Sierra MatchKings, some Nosler Ballistic Tips, and a selection of Hornady V-Maxs and A-Maxs. Tom carries most of the popular match bullets in .224, .243 (6mm), .264 (6.5mm), .284 (7mm), and 30 caliber. For more info, call Tom at (405) 387-4541 or visit BulletSamples.com.
February 8th, 2008
Here at AccurateShooter.com we use Canon digital cameras for most of our photography. They are reliable, they take nice sharp images, and they come with many sophisticated features at a bargain price. The latest A-Series PowerShot IS cameras offer especially good “bang for the buck”, offering sharp lenses, good video capability, and built-in image stabilization.
Many readers may think they don’t need video capability, but once you start capturing video, you’ll see it has many important uses for a shooter. You can record your gun handling techniques while shooting. This will reveal flinching or poor follow-through, and you can see if you are maintaining the same body and head position with every shot. You can also use the video to record comments on range conditions and your load performance — it’s easier than writing down notes in a journal.
Right now, NewEgg.com is selling the Canon A 570IS for just $139.99. That’s a great deal, and for just $5.99 more you can get a 1 gigabyte memory card (highly recommended!). This camera features built-in image stabilization, 7.1 megapixels, and can shoot at up to 1600 ISO–allowing you to get good images even in very low light. Like most Canon digital cameras, the A 570IS has excellent auto white balance (so you don’t get those yellow- or green-tinted photos when shooting indoors), plus built-in sharpening, and color saturation. The A 570IS features a large LCD viewing screen, plus a regular view-finder. Conveniently, it uses easy-to-find AA batteries.
January 26th, 2008
Now through the end of January, 2008, MidwayUSA has cut prices on Barnes, Hornady, Lapua, and Speer bullets. Savings range from 8% to 23%. For Barnes, the sale applies to Varmint Grenade bullets in .22 and .243 (6mm) calibers. Discounts are offered on all Hornady V-Max (varmint) bullets in .17, .20, .22, and .243 (6mm) calibers. (A-Max are NOT on sale.) For Lapua, 6mm, 6.5mm, and 30-caliber Scenars are on sale, both naked and moly. (However, you should check pricing with other vendors on an item by item basis–the 105gr 6mm Scenars still seemed pretty pricey at $32.99/100.) Lastly, the popular Speer TNT bullets are marked down on all these calibers: .243, .257, .264, .277, .284, and .308. The 70gr 6mm TNT hollowpoint looks like a particularly good deal at $17.99/100. (Note: TNTs are very good bullets, but not the best choice for use in one of Richard Franklin’s ultra-high-velocity 300 WSM varminters. The relatively thin TNT jackets won’t hold up to the 3900+ fps speeds the Franklin 300 WSM varminters will deliver.)
Barnes
Save up to 23% |
Hornady
Save up to 8% |
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Lapua
Save up to 14% |
Speer
Save up to 10% |
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Before you place your order, be sure to check with Powder Valley (PV) and Midsouth Shooters Supply. Sometimes the standard price from PV or Midsouth will beat MidwayUSA’s sale price. But you have to compare item to item.
January 8th, 2008
Conventional, non-bushing full-length sizing dies can create exceptionally accurate ammo with very low run-out. For some applications, we actually prefer a non-bushing FL die over a bushing die — so long as the neck tension is correct. But many FL dies have an undersized neck diameter so you end up with excess neck tension, and you work the brass excessivly. Forster offers a simple, inexpensive solution — honing the neck diameter to whatever size you want.
If you purchase a Forster non-bushing, full-length sizing die, Forster will hone the neck dimension to your specs for just $10.00 extra. This way you can have a FL die that provides the optimal amount of tension for your particular load. Forster dies are relatively inexpensive so you can afford to have a couple of FL dies with necks honed to different dimensions — such as 0.266″ and 0.267″ for a no-turn 6mmBR.
Forster FL dies, necks honed to .265″, .266″, and .267″.
Steve Rasmussen of IowaHighPower.com gave this a try. In fact, he had three dies made — each with a different neck dimension. Here’s his report: “My original Forster 6BR FL die sized the necks down a lot, less than 0.260″, .256″ if I recall correctly. I sent my die in and asked if they could supply two more FL dies (for three total) to have the necks honed to 0.265″, 0.266″, and 0.267″. The cost was $10 for my supplied die and $38.50 plus $10.00 for each additional die. Return shipping was $11.00 via USPS Priority Mail.
The table below shows the neck diameter range of 10 sized cases using each die. Brass springback after sizing is running 1 to 1.3 thousandths. My loaded rounds are running 0.2697-0.2699 using Lapua I bought last year. So far the dies are working well. I sized 80 cases with the 0.266″ necked die. The shoulder is running 0.4582″ and 0.300″ up from the base is 0.4684". I spun 20 of ‘em and 16 had a runout of one thousandth (0.001) and the other 4 at 1.5 thousandths (0.0015).”
| Die Diameter |
Sized Brass |
Springback |
Neck Tension |
| 0.267 Die |
0.2683-0.2684 |
0.0013 |
0.0014 |
| 0.266 Die |
0.2672-0.2674 |
0.0013 |
0.0025 |
| 0.265 Die |
0.2659-0.2660 |
0.0010 |
0.0039 |
January 6th, 2008
Here’s a great deal for you “Factory Class” Shooters needing a 10-power competition scope. Natchez Shooters Supply currently has matte black Weaver T-10 scopes on sale for just $229.99, marked WAY down. The T-10 (item SN849811) features a 40mm front objective, front parallax adjustment, and target turrets. The reticle is a Fine-Crosshair with 1/8th-MOA Target Dot. As with other Weaver T-series scopes, the T10 ships with a screw-in sunshade plus screw-in metal lens caps. If you need a 10X target scope, you may want to jump on this deal. Other web vendors are selling new T-10s for as much as $375.00. (Note: For Hunter BR competition you are limited to 6-power optics).
January 5th, 2008
All 1.250″ or smaller diameter Shilen barrels (28″ or shorter) are just $236.40 at Bruno Shooters Supply. This is a very attractive deal–match-grade barrels from other makers can cost as much as $380. FYI, Jari Raudaskoski of Finland recently won a recent World Benchrest Championship (Two-Gun) with a Shilen barrel.
Bruno’s also has the best prices we’ve found for Lapua 6BR, 220 Russian, and 6.5-284 brass. Bruno’s also has attractive pricing on Leupold, NightForce, Sightron, and Weaver Scopes. Bruno’s also has the new, upgraded Sightron “BIG SKY” 36X competition scope (item SIT63020) for $451.05.
January 4th, 2008
MidwayUSA currently has a 12″ black-finished Goldenrod warming unit on sale for just $15.99 through the end of January. That’s a good deal. We’ve seen these priced elsewhere for $22.00 up to $35.00. The GoldenRod is an important accessory for your gunsafe that will help prevent rust and corrosion. GoldenRods are marketed as “dehumidifiers”, but that is a bit of a misnomer. The GoldenRod doesn’t absorb moisture like a desiccant per se. It works by maintaining a constant temperature inside your safe that raises the dew point and alters the relative humidity so that water vapor doesn’t condense on your firearms.
So much for the science lesson. The important thing to know is that the GoldenRod will help keep the contents of your safe warm and rust-free. If you keep your guns in rust-inhibiting storage sacks such as Bore-Stores, and use desiccant packs along with the GoldenRod, you won’t have to worry about rust forming on your firearms while being stored. (This assumes of course, you wiped them down to remove fingerprints and salts before storage). All GoldenRod dehumidifiers come with a detachable plug for easier mounting. This UL-listed model (item 762730) protects up to 100 cubic feet. It features a 10′ power cord and should be mounted horizontally at the bottom of an enclosure.
December 31st, 2007
If you’re looking for a great deal on a “pre-owned” precision rifle, 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. Unfortunately “The List” hasn’t been updated recently, so you may want to call Bob White directly to find out the latest offerings: (973) 663-5159; email: shootcnr [@] optonline.net.
You can find exceptional deals on “The List”, with complete custom-action BR rifles for as little as $1300.00, and Varmint Rifles starting at $500.00. Here are some representative samples (all subject to prior sale):
B10. 6PPC Light Varmint, Borden TPE R/R action w/ejector; Hart 3-groove bbl w/.262 nk, 800 rnds; Jewell 2-oz. trigger; includes Kelbly scope bases; Gunsmith: Borden Accuracy; 99% cond. Former owner J. Borden’s own rifle & very accurate. $2295.
B44. 6PPC HV & Cruiser, R/L Panda action, Lilja HV and Cruiser, and Spencer cruiser bbls all w/.262 nk, 1100 rnds, McMillan F-glass glue-in stock, Jewell 2 oz. trigger, Gunsmith Spencer. Choice components w/bbls to practice & compete. Exc. cond, $1798. w/1 bbl; $150. ea. add’l bbl.
V15. 223 Ackley Cooper, Mod 21 varminter; factory SS bbl, less than 400 rnds; factory wood stock; factory crisp 1½ lb trig; includes scope mnts, 85 loaded ctgs & 40 once fired cases; 98% cond. Great caliber-Great gun-Great deal. Also used Redding dies @ $40. $950. (New value $1200.)
V25. 22 BR Carry Varminter, Rem 700 action, Shilen SS match bbl 24″ cryoed #4 contour w/.247 nk, 400 rnds, factory wood stock w/pillar glassbedding, factory Rem 2-lb trigger, includes Leupold scope mnts and 100 loaded ctgs, Gunsmith: Kelbly, Inc, exc condition. This 7¾ lb beauty gives 4100 fps w/40 grain bullets, $795.
December 31st, 2007
The Leatherman Micra is a versatile, ultra-compact Multi-tool. Not much bigger than a Swiss Army Knife when folded, the Micra may be the ultimate “urban survival tool”. Closed, it is only 2.5″ long, and it weighs just 1.75 ounces. It has knife blade, scissors, nail file, ruler, bottle opener, and both regular screw-driver and flat Phillips heads. You get all that utility in a package that will fit on a keychain! (Be careful though–you can’t carry the Micra on an airplane as it’s not TSA-approved)
Right now the Leatherman Micra is on sale at Wideners.com for just $12.00. Or, if you buy two or more, they are just $9 EACH. That’s a great deal. NOTE: These are surplus items, but they are in “like new condition” according to Wideners. We’ve checked extensively around the web. REI sells new Leatherman Micras for $25.95, and the cheapest price we could find (other than Wideners) was $19.00 per unit.
Here is a user review from REI.com: “I put it on my keyring that I carry with me just about everywhere. One place it can’t go is on commercial airlines, since it includes a sharp blade. Probably my favorite tool is the Phillips screwdriver–it works better than most dedicated screwdrivers. The knife and scissors do a great job for light cutting work as well.”
December 28th, 2007
 The Forster Co-Ax® Press is the “Cadillac” of reloading presses. If you have any doubts as to how the Co-Ax works, just “ask the man who owns one.” Ace shooter Jerry Tierney has a Forster Co-Ax and he’s found that it produces ammo with less run-out than many other conventional “O”-style presses for threaded dies. The Co-Ax’s spring-loaded shell holder jaws float with the die, allowing cases to correctly center in the die. Dies also snap easily in and out of the jaws so you can change dies in just a couple of seconds. We also like the primer ejection system on the Co-Ax. Primers pass straight down into a cup — no more primers and carbon on the carpet.
If you need power for case sizing, the Co-Ax delivers three times the mechanical advantage of some conventional presses. The Co-Ax’s dual parallel guide-rod design also ensures that the ram movement is straight and smooth throughout the power stroke. With a center-mounted handle, the Co-Ax works equally well for both right- and left-handed reloaders.
Right now the Forster Co-Ax is on sale at both Midsouth Shooters Supply and MidwayUSA for $199.99. That is $23.00 off MidwayUSA’s regular price. MidwayUSA has Co-Ax units in stock (item 265719) and the price is good through 1/31/2008. Midsouth has the units on order for a January delivery.
The standard Co-Ax press accepts any standard 7/8″x14 reloading die, and requires no expensive shell-holders. The standard “S” jaw set fits all common calibers except except: 22 Hornet, 378 Wby., 45-70, 256 Win. Mag., 44 S&W, 416 Rigby, 416 Rem., 45-90 and 348 Win. These calibers can be used if you purchase the optional “LS” Jaws.
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