Powder Valley Special Sales

Bryan from Powder Valley notified us of two new specials, one an exclusive for our readers. First, Powder Valley is offering 8-pound jugs of Ramshot TAC for just $77.95. TAC is a high density ball powder that works well in the .223 Remington and varmint cartridges. Supplies are limited at this price, which works out to $9.74 per pound, so place your orders soon.

Hornady 5-Pack Special: For a limited time only, you can save 5% on Hornady bullets when buying in Master Pack (5 box) quantities (100 count boxes only). Mention 6mmbr.com or AccurateShooter.com and receive an additional 5% off. That’s a total of 10% off for visitors to the 6mmBR.com | AccurateShooter.com website. For more info, call Powder Valley at (800) 227-4299.

DogTown Varmint Bullets–$8.99/100

MidwayUSA’s very affordable “DogTown” bullets have been popular with varminters who may load thousands of rounds for an extended varminting holiday. These are made by a major bullet manufacturer under special contract for MidwayUSA. Now though May 31, 2007, 20-cal and 224-cal “DogTown” bullets are on sale. The 34gr HP 20s (item 984804), 50gr Soft Point 22s (item 834645), and 55gr Soft Point 22s (item 817539) are just $8.99 per hundred. That’s a steal. Here’s what some of MidwayUSA’s customers have said about the 34gr 20-cal “DogTown” bullets:

“Tried them for the 1st time in my Savage 204. Five shots into a quarter inch. Three shots into one small hole. I have not gotten groups this small with any other brand of bullet. And [the DogTowns are] at a reduced price too!”
— R. Vernon, Idaho (3/20/07)

“Outstanding bullet! Using W748 … this bullet will perform hands down. Shooting a Kimber .204 with a 12 twist I kept three shots you could cover with a nickel at a 100 yards[.] Also great consistancy in weight values as well, nothing more than 2/10ths of a grain between each bullet. I’m also using the Redding Comp dies and seating them just off the lands.”
— P. Jones, Texas (4/9/07)

Low-Cost 6.5 Grendel Ammo

The 6.5 Grendel is derived from the 6PPC necked up to 6.5mm. Popularized by Alexander Arms, the 6.5 Grendel is optimized for the AR15 platform. Fired through a dedicated 6.5mm upper, the 6.5 Grendel lets AR shooters employ a heavier bullet with excellent ballistics and downrange energy. For quite some time, Alexander Arms has offered loaded 6.5 Grendel ammo built with premium Lapua brass and bullets. That is great stuff, but a bit pricey at $24.99 per box. Now Grendel shooters have an alternative. Alexander Arms now sells low-cost 6.5 Grendel Ammunition made by Wolf. Priced at just $9.97 per box of 20, the Wolf ammo is loaded with a 123gr softpoint bullet that packs enough punch for deer-hunters. The round, which runs about 2600 fps, is also well-suited for target and varmint use. Wolf 6.5 Grendel ammo is also available from MidwayUSA for $11.99 per box of 20, item 449268. To learn more about the 6.5 Grendel, read our 6.5 Grendel Cartridge Guide, or visit 65Grendel.com.

Berger 105 VLDs on Sale at MidwayUSA

Berger’s 6mm 105gr VLD bullet has set multiple world records, including Terry Brady’s 0.860″ 600-yard IBS 5-shot record group. Berger has recently acquired new dies for the 105 VLD which should make the bullet more dimensionally consistent than ever before. Be aware, however, that since the new 105s are produced on a new die, the diameter is somewhat smaller and you may have to adjust your load. Through April 30th, MidwayUSA has Berger 105 VLDs on sale, for $19.99 per 100, item 195087. Midway isn’t able to pull specific lot numbers, but 105s made on the new die are Berger lot number 559 or higher.

Eric Stecker of Berger Bullets tells us: “We use certified gauges and indicating micrometers to measure the OD. The new die produces bullets that are .2431 to .2432 at the pressure ring and .2430 at a point half way up the bearing surface. A measurement taken on the bearing surface close to the ogive will be .2429. The taper on these bullets is straight which we believe is good as this taper may line things up nicely in the bore.

Here is the important part: They are two things that happen during this type of change: 1. Due to the EDM and polish process no die maker can make the ogive portion of the die exactly the same. This produces a slight change in where the bullet will touch the rifling based on your seater die setting. The change could go either way (in or out). 2. Since the diameter of the bullet is smaller than what the previous die created the portion of the bullet that engages the rifling is moved back.

To make these bullets shoot well, treat them as an entirely new bullet and work up a load adjusting seating depth and neck tension. The nice thing is that once you get this dialed in you will be set for a while as we are dedicating this particular die to making nothing but 105 gr. These bullets are not undersized based on a .2430 groove diameter however they are smaller than previous lots. Dial them in as you would any new item and you will be happy with the results.”

Eley Tenex Ultimate EPS on Sale

Eley Tenex Ultimate EPS is, in the opinion of many, the best 22LR ammo ever made. Red-label Ultimate EPS is the 22LR ammo with which Joe Friedrich recently shot a perfect 2500 and set a pending ARA 4-target record of 9700. This editor personally saw Joe shoot a 5-shot group at 50 yards that was one elongated hole about 0.300″ edge to edge. Lapua, RWS and Wolf also produce outstanding rimfire ammo, but if you’re looking for the pinnacle of rimfire accuracy, you owe it to yourself to try a couple boxes of Ultimate EPS. Through the end of April, MidwayUSA has Tenex Ultimate EPS on sale for $12.99 per box, item 126879.

If you need a particular batch of Eley ammo, Bob Collins of C&S Accuracy sells Eley products by specific lot number. If you’re curious about how lot differences can affect rimfire accuracy, read this ELEY AMMO ARTICLE by Bob Collins. Here’s a sample: “Eley uses a system where the first three letters are for grade, year, and crimp. For example, with UFW prefix, U is Ultimate, F is 2001, and W is the crimp machine. The next four numbers are for loading machine and Lot number. Thus, for ammo marked UFW4375, 4 is the four machine and the 375 is the Lot number. The fps is printed underneath, e.g. 1055 fps. This fps on the label is an average of 50 shots from one of the six test guns at the Eley factory; these guns have 26 inch barrels with the chronograph three feet in front of the barrel. There are 4 different machines that load Eley Ultimate and Match EPS. I have found that these machines are very specific to which gunsmith chambers and fine-tunes your rifle. Depending on barrel twist, length, and the gunsmith who put the gun together, you will find at least three Lots of ammo that will shoot under different conditions without turning the tuner. Each machine has subtle differences, so that different machine lots of Ultimate can chamber and give the best accuracy.” If you have questions, call Bob at (478) 472-7176. He truly has a wealth of information to share.