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October 14th, 2007
 Lock, Stock, and Barrel has a great deal right now on 8-lb jugs of Accurate 2230 and RamShot X-Terminator — you can buy 8 lbs. of either powder for just $99.45. That’s $20-$25 off regular prices. And, get this — if you buy 16 or more pounds of powder, Lock, Stock and Barrel will pay the hazmat charge (typically $20.00).
Acccurate 2230 is a double-base (high-energy), ball powder originally designed for use in the .223 Remington, it performs well with light bullets in a variety of small-caliber cartridges, including the .223 Rem, 22BR and 20 PPC. It it Dan Dowling’s favorite powder for use in the 6BR with 58gr V-Max. A 6BR using 2230 powder can push the littl3 58s close to 3700 fps.
RamShot X-Terminator is also a double-base, spherical (ball) powder. On burn rate charts, it is ranked as slightly slower than Benchmark and very close to H322, Accurate 2230, and Winchester 748 powders. Ramshot says X-Terminator is designed for the high volume, .223 varmint hunter who demands a “clean-burning powder that meters smoothly.”
October 7th, 2007
Natchez Shooters Supply, is now offering a wide selection of quality Zeiss Conquest scopes at deeply discounted prices. The Zeiss Conquest 6-20×50 scope is one of our favorite 1″-diameter optics for target shooting and varminting. Natchez is now selling the 6.5-20 Conquest with lower (hunting) turrets at $669.99. That’s a great deal–over $200.00 less than most retailers charge. Zeiss Conquests have clear, sharp optics and very positive windage and elevation adjustments. Contact Natchez soon — availability of discounted scopes is limited.
October 2nd, 2007
Lee reloading products have always represented good “bang for the buck”. The Lee Classic Cast “O”-style press is no exception–it works as well as some other presses costing twice as much. This is a well-designed unit with a strong, cast-iron frame. The Lee Classic has two nice features you won’t find on a RockChucker. First, the ram is drilled in the center and fitted with a plastic drop tube so spent primers drop right out the bottom (where you position your trash can). Second, the handle adjusts for length. This allows you to change the leverage to suit your task.
Now through October 31, 2007, you can purchase the Lee Classic Cast Press for just $66.99 at MidwayUSA, item 317831. Natchez Shooters Supply also offers the Lee Classic for $69.99, item LEE90998. CLICK HERE to read comments from actual Lee Classic owners. Here are some highlights:
“It has a large, heavy-duty 1-1/8″ diameter ram that has been drilled out for spent primers … and a long clear plastic hose attached to it so you can route it to a trash can. [This is] a VERY well thought-out way to collect ALL primers to your trash can when you’re decapping.” –D. Oldham
“Fit and finish are impeccable. The spent primer disposal system is simple and neat. There is no spring or flexing of any kind. There is virtually no play in the ram, which is a good tight fit in the frame. Operation is totally smooth.” –R. Smith
“Access to the cartridge is a little better than the RCBS because you don’t have the priming fixture in the line of sight between you and your work.” –L. Dickison
“I like…the position of the ram at priming. The Lee seats the primer with the ram at the bottom of the stroke vs. the RC II, which seats in the middle of the stroke. Priming at the bottom of the stroke gives you a much better ‘feel’ of the primer seating.” –M. Gallagher
“Totally outclasses any other press in its price range. Runs with presses in the $100-$120 range.”–W. Rose
October 1st, 2007
 Here’s a nice promotion for varmint hunters and .223 Rem shooters. If you purchase a 500-ct box of Midsouth Shooters’ new “Varmint Nightmare X-Treme” bullets, Midsouth will give you a handsome, khaki cap for free. Midsouth’s new Varmint Nightmare X-Treme bullets are crafted by a “secret” premium bullet manufacturer and then packaged by Midsouth to keep prices low. These .224-diameter (22-caliber) flat-base, soft-point bullets cost $34.74 per 500-count box. (That works out to $6.95 per hundred). These are available in either 50 or 55 grain weights. The 50-grainers have a 0.193 BC, while the 55-grainers have a 0.220 BC. These are bulk bullets, so 500 is the minimum quantity.
September 26th, 2007
Would you like a custom Stiller Precision Predator or Tactical action for $600-$625? That’s $100.00 off normal retail. Then hook up with a group of SnipersHide Forum regulars who have organized a group purchase. Jerry Stiller explains: “For a group buy, the action price will be $625 for the Predator and $650 for the TAC. If we get to 25 actions the price will be $600 and $625, respectively.” CLICK HERE to read the notice on SnipersHide.com. AccurateShooter Forum member Coleridge reports: “I signed up yesterday. That’s a great price. Cheaper than blueprinting a Rem 700, and it’s much better action.”
Orders are being handled by Randy Cain of R&D Precision. You need to contact Randy and send in a deposit before October 15. Randy says there are over 25 orders already. Randy writes: “Here is the deal. Send me an email with your request to stillergroupbuy [@] roadrunner.com. I will keep a running total of orders. You need to follow up your email with a note with your address, screen name, and phone number and what you want. Be specific as to short action, long action .223 .308 boltface and the options you want. NOTE, a $200 deposit is required. Send your deposit to the address on my website. I will take checks or Money Orders only. Once I receive your deposit I will email you an invoice. Make funds payable to ‘Randy Cain’. You will not get on the list until I have your deposit.” Randy also requests that, if you have not done so already, you register as a member of the SnipersHide Forum. This will assist in communication.
Here is technical info, plus available options with pricing. Note these actions all have magazine cut-outs:
PREDATOR Action:
0.130 extended magazine cut-out, 6-48 screws, matte finish stainless steel, armoloy bolt, sako extractor, curved handle with screw on knob, “Predator” on side, right or left handed, .185″ lug pinned, ground and hard. |
OPTIONS:
Long or Short, No Charge
223, 308 or mag boltface, No Charge
.3″ thick lug, +$10 extra charge
Std picatinney rail, +$35 extra charge
20 moa picatinney rail, +$50 extra charge
Timney internal coated trigger, $100 charge
Bottom metal, 7075 aluminum, Wyatt box, spring, follower and screws, $170 |
TAC30 and TAC300 Actions:
Standard magazine cut-out, 8-40 screws, black oxide finish stainless steel, armoloy bolt, sako extractor, curved handle with screw on tactical knob, TAC30 or TAC300 name on side, right or left handed, .185 lug pinned, ground and hard. |
OPTIONS:
Long or Short action length, No Charge
223, 308 or mag boltface, No Charge
.3 thick lug, +$10 extra charge
Std picatinney rail, +$35 extra charge
20 moa picatinney rail, +$50 extra charge
Timney internal coated trigger, $100 charge
Bottom metal, 7075 aluminum hard anodized black, Remington box, spring, follower and screws, $170 |
September 13th, 2007
When Speedy closed up shop at SG&Y in Texas and headed off to Colorado to teach gunsmithing, he had quite a few of the superbly-crafted BRX stocks in inventory. Built by Robertson Composites in Canada, these BRX models are truly some of the nicest fiberglass stocks you can buy. The geometry is correct, sidewalls are straight and the flats are uniform without center seams. The external finish is top-notch, a high-gloss gelcoat without flaws and voids.
CLICK for Stock Info and BIG PHOTOS
Jerry Stiller acquired Speedy’s inventory of Robertson BRX stocks and they are now for sale. Price is $375 partially inletted with fitted buttplate, plus shipping. Jerry has a dozen or more, in various colors, most with a marble two-tone design. If you want one, don’t delay–these are selling fast. Call (972) 429-5000. You can see details in the photos below, originally taken by Speedy. (These colors may no longer be available.)
September 6th, 2007
Real Battlestar? Well, not quite, but you have to admit the metal stock shown below does bear a passing resemblance to the spaceship of TV fame (above). And it’s certainly massive enough to handle some heavy artillery. In truth, this is Butch Keen’s all-aluminum Heavy Gun Benchrest stock, now for sale in our AccurateShooter Classifieds.
Butch notes: “[This stock] comes complete with Barrel Block. Block and channel will accept 1.350″-diameter straight barrel. Inletted for Remington 700 right-hand long action. $700.00 plus shipping in CONUS (Cont’l U.S.).” That’s a great price for a stock of this kind. A custom barrel block by itself, installed, can cost a couple hundred or more. Butch added: “The stock was an earlier model made by Springman Rifles (Eric & Wes Springman). I don’t use the stock anymore due to the fact that I don’t shoot very much 1000-yard Heavy Gun class. The stock is built from a solid piece of aluminum except for: front rails on either side of the foreend, trigger guard, and the barrel block. The stock’s empty weight is 34.5 pounds. The OAL of the stock is 36″, foreend width (with rails) is 6″, and the butt stock width is 2″. The stock, fully loaded with barrel, action, and scope will run at least 50 pounds. This provides a very stable, nice tracking, heavy gun configuration for competition or long range varmint shooting.” If you’re interested, contact Butch via email: keenvisionvideo [at] comcast [dot] net.
September 1st, 2007
If you are thinking about building a .338 Lapua Magnum ultra-long range rifle, consider this special opportunity. OK Weber has two (2), very special RPA Engineering Quadlock single-shot actions designed expressly for the .338 Lapua Magnum. As far as we know these are the only two such actions available in North America. The massive 10.5″-long, 4.5-pound actions are built of hardened chrome-moly, with a black matte finish. They feature a short-throw 4-lug bolt, integrated recoil lug, and Belleville washer stack (instead of coil spring) for super-short lock time. The actions are similar in appearance to the $2500 RPA 50 BMG action shown below, though smaller in scale.
Otto Weber has priced the 338 magnum Quadlocks at $1200.00 including RPA trigger, but NO trigger guard. You can either order an RPA guard or use after-market bottom metal. These super-stiff actions would be ideal starting point for a .338 Lapua Magnum custom project. There are only two left. Call Otto Weber right away at (541) 747-0458 to order.
August 29th, 2007
If you are looking for a great little rimfire, bolt-action squirrel gun for under $400.00, check out the Ruger 77 on sale at CDNN Investments for just $399.00 (Item RUG 07030). It is chambered in 17 Mach 2, a 1″ OAL round that pushes a 17gr plastic-tipped, jacketed bullet at about 2100 fps. The Ruger features a handy 10-round rotary mag, a 20″ heavy barrel, and a nice gray laminated stock. The rifle even comes with free 1″ rings that fit the top of the dovetailed receiver. As of 8/29/2007, CDNN had 38 of these 17m2s in stock.
 Why the Mach 2 rather than a 17 HMR? First, the 17 Mach 2 has more than enough “punch” for small varmints (ground squirrels and crows) out to 130 yards or so. Second, 17 Mach 2 ammo is currently much cheaper than 17 HMR. While most 17 HMR ammo costs at least $8.50 per box (and sometimes much more), you can get 17 Mach 2 ammo from a variety of sources for as little as $3.79 per 50-round box.
We’ve done a lot of testing with the 17 Mach 2 in both factory and custom rifles. What we’ve seen is that factory rifles will often shoot 1/2 MOA or better at 50 yards and 1 to 1.5 inches at 100 yards–provided the ammo is good. Typically, however, you’ll get one “flyer” out of five, but that’s usually caused by variations in the ammo (excessive runout, or a bad crimp, or flawed bullet tip). Even in a fully-accurized, custom 17 Mach 2 rifle, a single round with .010″ runout can expand a 1/4 MOA group into 1 MOA. Still, for a carry-around varmint rifle that’s excellent accuracy. We wouldn’t hesitate to go on a “Squirrel Safari” with this little Ruger. The trajectory is much flatter than a 22LR, the ammo is relatively inexpensive now, and the accuracy is more than adequate for the task.
August 28th, 2007
The Tipton 14-piece Bore Brush set is now just $6.99 at MidwayUSA, marked down from $15.79. This kit, MidwayUSA item 761025, is great if you have a large selection of firearms with many different calibers. In our regular gear review section, we’ve recommended the MidwayUSA Multi-Caliber Jag Kit. It offers 12 different jags, and is very useful when you want to switch between a tight-fitting patch and a loose-fitting patch (use the .22 jag on a 6mm bore for a looser fit). The new Tipton Brush kit offers the same kind of utlility and convenience at a price that is hard to beat. At a gunstore you could easily spend $7.00 on just four or five brushes. At the sale price (good through 9/30/07), buy two Brush Kits — one for your loading room and one for your range kit.
The Kit includes brushes for 17, 22, 243, 25, 6.5mm, 270, 7mm, 30, 8mm, 338, 375, 416 and 45 calibers. Brushes are made from premium phosphor bronze for long life and cleaning power. All brushes have standard 8 x 32 male threads except the 17 caliber brush which has 5 x 40 male threads. The brush kit comes in a durable, hinged plastic box with marked slots.
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