|
|
December 24th, 2007
A slim, compact, falling block rifle belongs in every rifle enthusiast’s collection. Falling blocks, such as the Ruger No.1, look spectacular when fitted with premium highly-figured wood “furniture”. Check out this No. 1 with a gorgeous piece of Turkish Walnut crafted by stockmaker Paul Dressels.
 If you have been thinking about a falling block project, all you need is a nice stock blank and a barreled action. As for the latter, now’s the time to buy. Brownells currently has Ruger No. 1 barreled actions on sale for $527.57, marked down from $775.83. Barreled actions are available in four different calibers: .220 Swift, 22-250, .223 Remington, and .416 Rigby. Barrel lengths on the sale units are either 22″ or 24″. Of course you can always pull the barrel and substitute a custom match-grade barrel. The sale actions have a blued finish. FFL Required for Purchase.
The Ruger No. 1 is a single shot rifle, with Farquharson-style internal hammer falling block action. It was introduced in 1966. An underlever lowers the block allowing loading and cocks the rifle. Ruger No. 1 actions are rugged. Lenard Brownell once said: “There was never any question about the strength of the [No. 1] action….I never did manage to blow one apart.”
December 23rd, 2007
I needed a long allen wrench to remove an AR15 grip last week. Jason Baney told me that T-handle hex key sets are on sale right now at Harbor Frieght. Sure enough, I found them in the store, and purchased both a metric set and and English (SAE) set for just $3.99 each. To my surprise, each $3.99 set comes with a nice, powder-coated metal storage bracket with tool sizes clearly marked on the front. The handle tops are conveniently color-coded in bright primary colors, and key sizes are stamped in the handle.
The SAE Hex Key Set (item 37861-5VGA) contains 10 tools, 3/32″ to 3/8″. The Metric Hex Key Set (item 37862-5VGA) has 10 tools from 2mm to 10mm. The shanks are constructed from carbon steel.
Now I wouldn’t use these bargain tools to wrench a race-car engine, but for simple around-the-house tasks they are working fine. I really like fact that each tool size has a different color handle with the size stamped in the plastic. The mounting bracket is nicely made and clearly labeled. At $3.99 per set, it’s hard to beat this tool deal.
December 20th, 2007
We mentioned this item before in the Bulletin in September. Well now MidwayUSA has brought back the super-low price through the end of the year. Midway’s 69″ x 27″ Shooting Mat (item 169107) is now 50% off, marked down to $24.99. It has pads for your elbows, plus corner grommets so you can stake the mat down–a nice feature on those windy days. The mat rolls up into a nice, compact, 6″-diameter package. The Midway unit is not as thick as more expensive, deluxe shooting mats, but then it costs one-third the price. USER REVIEWS are quite positive for this product.
December 18th, 2007
Looking for the ultimate “stocking-stuffer” this Christmas? Here is a very clever new head-lamp that has been flying off the shelves this holiday season. The unit features five (5) bright LED bulbs and clips on to the brim of a cap, for hands-free illumination. Smart idea. This would be great to use both indoors (while reloading) and outdoors (for camping).
Here’s what one hunter had to say: “I found this light to be one of the best buys I have made in a long time. It is very easy to use, it always shines where you are looking and has a bright enough light to see for a long way. It is light and compact and is not prone to moving around like other clip on lights.” — L. Campbell, CA
If you read other User Reviews, the general consensus is that these LED brim lights are extremely useful and handy, and are a bargain. On the downside, users have noted that the clips that go over the brim can break easily. This seems to be a brand-specific problem. Some of these units have a more flexible high-quality polymer while others are made with a more brittle, cheaper plastic.
There are many different sources for these LED Brim Lights. You can even find a camo version with red lamps for stealth hunting. Price ranges from $3.99 to $21.99. The unit shown below costs $5.99 at Amazon.com.
For an extended review with better, larger photos, visit The-Gadgeteer.com.
December 15th, 2007
Here’s a good deal from Cabela’s, a 1-Day-Only special promotion. Herter’s FowlTech Blaze 3-in-1 Parka is on sale, today only, for $49.95–that’s $50 off normal retail. This parka has nice features for hunting–the warp-knit shell is quiet and soft, yet waterproof and breathable. And the shell has a low nap so it won’t pick up vegetation. The 3-in-1 Parka features a zip-out, heavy-weight 400-gram fleece liner jacket, zip front with storm flap, two large button-closed cargo pockets, detachable hood, and even a loop for your deer tag. We’d say this is a great deal for $49.95, while it lasts.
You should read the User Reviews. Purchasers of this coat gave it very high marks. They say it is rugged, but still very stealthy and quiet–an important factor for hunters. Buyers liked the zip-up collar and many handy pockets.
CLICK HERE for Cabela’s home page, then click the link for “One Shot Deals”. The Parka is the first item listed today.
December 14th, 2007
Here’s a sweet deal for you game hunters out there. SWFA is offering a FREE Garmin eTrex hand-held GPS with the purchase of a Burris Fullfield II scope. We’ve checked around the web and the Garmin eTrex, by itself, runs about $95.00. SWFA’s promo price on the Burris 3-9×40 Fullfield II Rifle Scope with GPS is $209.95, so that means your effective cost for the optic is just $115.00. Not bad for a scope with fully-coated lenses and the Burris No-BS “Forever” warranty.
SWFA is also offering a Garmin eTrex GPS with the purchase of a Burris 4.5-14×42 Fullfield II rifle scope. The package price for the 4.5-14×42 model and GPS is $339.95. Both Burris scopes (3-9 and 4.5-14) feature 1/4-MOA clicks and a Ballistic Plex reticle. This reticle design has vertical hash marks to help with holdover at long range.
The Garmin eTrex GPS is considered a rugged classic. It is compact and light weight at mere 5.3 ounces with batteries, with the buttons positioned on the side for easy, one handed operation. The casing is rugged and waterproof to IPX-7 standards. The eTrex will operate for about 15 hours on two AA batteries.
December 11th, 2007
 Here is an interesting product, currently on sale as a $19.99 “December Special” at Midsouth Shooters Supply. The Shooters Ridge Varminter Shooting Bag is a roomy gear bag fitted with a built-in rifle rest that retracts into the front pocket. The bag is built of rugged 1200-denier nylon, PVC-coated for rain resistance. It is big enough to hold ammo, muffs, binoculars, compact spotting scope and more. The bag also includes a padded shoulder strap.
While the integral rest is hardly a substitute for a good pedestal rest, this Varminter bag could be useful for the walk-around varminter or a shooter who might otherwise use a rucksack as a handy rest. At just $19.99, this product is a very good deal for a roomy range bag even without the integral rest feature. This bag regularly retails for $39.00 to $46.00 at other vendors including a lightweight shooting mat. (The $19.99 Bag sold by Midsouth, item 097-40484, does NOT include a mat). Here is a report from a Cabela’s customer: “There is plenty of room for gadgets and ammo, not to mention the fact that I have one less thing to carry when zeroing at 100 yards. I’m not sure that I would use this for any long range shooting or hunting but when sighting in my 243 WSSM it gave me the stability to produce consistent satisfactory 1/2″ groups with factory loads.”
To further sweeten the deal, Shooter’s Ridge is currently offering a FREE $24.99 Multi-tool, if you purchase $30.00 or more of Shooter’s Ridge Products.
CLICK HERE for MULTI-TOOL COUPON
December 8th, 2007
Now through 12/31, MidwayUSA has the Rock BR Competition Rifle Front Shooting Rest on sale for $139.99, marked down from $169.99 (item 348661). By now you’ve certainly see a few of these units at a range. They are far from the ultimate front rest system, but they do a surprisingly good job. The unit weighs 15.5 lbs and has a 15″ footprint, so it is plenty stable. Be aware that the front 3-lobe bag is rather thin, and, when adjusting windage, the head rotates rather than tracks straight from side to side. Some folks buy the rest and later upgrade the top with a Hoehn, Sinclair, or ShadeTree Engineering unit. But you should read the User Reviews. Most purchasers are quite happy with the unit “as is”. It’s a very good value for the money and much better than many rests you see at informal club-level matches.
If you plan to replace the top, you can also just buy the Rock BR 1000 base for $70.99 (item 532194), a great value. The BR 1000 base is very heavy, with an 18″ footproot, so it is stable and sturdy. NOTE: the rest has a 1 3/8″ diameter ram hole, while most custom rest tops have a 1″-diameter ram shaft. Accordingly, you may have to sleeve the base, OR fit a fatter ram to the rest top that you purchase. Butch Lambert of ShadeTree Engineering has done a few of these conversions, using the Rock base with his JoyStick top, and the combined system works quite well.
December 8th, 2007
We reported last week that Midsouth Shooters Supply is offering flat-rate shipping through the end of the year, on orders up to 50 lbs. total. Now Cabela’s has announced FREE SHIPPING through December 14th. With a $100 minimum purchase, Cabela’s offers FREE Shipping, for domestic destinations.
Cabela’s says “Offer Valid on All Items”, however, we called Cabela’s and we were told some “oversize” and “heavy items” might be excluded–so you should ask about the particular items you order. The promo is set to expire 12/14/2007. It might be extended. To be safe, however, get your order in before the 15th. If you’ve been asking Santa for some heavy or bulky items, here’s your opportunity to save big on shipping costs.
CLICK this LINK:
December 6th, 2007
Now that PACT offers an infrared Skyscreen option with its chronographs, we think the PACT is worthy of serious consideration. And now PACT is selling the PACT Professional XP chronograph (with IR kit) for $229.95, as a “Christmas Special”. That’s $40 off normal pricing and PACT throws in a FREE tripod to sweeten the deal.
Compared to other chronographs, the XP with infrared offers some very nice features:
Built-in Printer. (Every chrono should have one.)
PC interface lets you upload data to your computer. (Serial cable standard, but you can easily buy a serial to USB for use with laptops.)
Built-in ballistic computer. (The chrono has a bullet BC database and uses the BC, with your velocity data, to compute windage and elevation. Cool eh?)
With Infrared screen option, the PACT can be used indoors and is far less sensitive to tricky outdoor lighting.
Chron display unit has a nice big read-out with easy-to-use controls.
 We’ve heard many good things about the competitive CED chronograph with Infrared Screens. The CED also offers a computer interface, and the CED control unit is more compact than the PACT’s control center/printer. But we really like the printing capability of the PACT, and its built-in ballistic program (with bullet database) comes in very handy. Once you have your velocity and zero at 100 yards, the PACT will calculate your come-ups for other yardages. It can even give you windage corrections. With the PACT, once you know your muzzle velocity, you can immediately start shooting at all ranges–you don’t need to drive home to work out your come-ups on the PC, or carry around a PDA with Exbal installed.
In addition to the Pro XP chrono with IR Kit, PACT is now selling Pro XP with standard (visible light) emitters, for $199.95 as part of the “Christmas Special.” This $199.95 price also includes a free tripod. We definitely recommend spending the extra 30 bucks for infrared capability–it’s well worth it.
|
