This Sunday we feature the German-crafted Merkel RX Helix with straight-pull bolt. We shot the Helix a few years back during Media Day at the Range. One notable difference between the German Merkel and the Austrian Strasser, another straight-pull rifle, is the bolt travel. During cycling, the Merkel bolt stays completely inside the action (see video below at 00:30). By contrast the Strasser bolt moves pretty far back, outside the action. For some folks that makes the Helix better for fast follow-up shots. All we can say is that Merkles and Strassers BOTH cycle way faster than conventional bolt-action rifles.
Merkel RX Helix Range Report
One of the most innovative rifles we have ever shot was the Merkel RX Helix, a very impressive piece of rifle engineering. Merkel claims the RX Helix is the fastest-cycling centerfire bolt action in the world. We can’t confirm that claim, but the Helix certainly cycles faster than any other centerfire bolt-gun this Editor has ever tried. (Yes, a Fortner biathlon action can be worked more rapidly, but that’s a rimfire). Both Jason and I really liked Merkel’s RX Helix. It balances well, the action is smooth, the wood is gorgeous, and the overall design thinking that went into this German-engineered take-down rifle is very impressive. The Helix’s universal-sized action lets you shoot anything from a .222 Rem to a .300 Win Mag with the same gun. And — get this — you can really swap barrels (and change bolt heads) in a couple of minutes with no tools, employing a dead-simple bolt-release lever concealed under the push-button-released removable forearm. (Watch VIDEO BELOW to see Barrel Swap procedure).
Rotary 7-Lug Bolt
While the RX Helix is a straight-pull rifle, it retains the strength and safety of a rotary bolt head with seven locking lugs that seat in a barrel extension. Unlike a Blaser, the RX Helix has a fully-enclosed action housing. That’s an important safety feature. Moreover, since the RX Helix employs a closed action, the bolt body doesn’t travel outside that action. This means the shooter can maintain his cheekweld with an eye on the target as he cycles the bolt.
The RX Helix’s linear (back and forth) bolt-handle motion is transmitted to the bolt head through a 1:2 ratio “transmission” gearing system. This allows smooth and fast cycling without the rotational or tipping movement found on other straight-pull, bolt-action rifles, such as the Blaser.
The Merkel linear-movement action cycles exceptionally fast, which allows for faster follow-up shots — a good thing if you’re hunting dangerous game. The RX Helix features a manual cocking lever on the tang and a direct trigger system. And here’s good news for southpaws — though Merkel does not make a dedicated left-hand version, lefties can very easily use their right hand to work the bolt while maintaining cheekweld. That may sound awkward, but with practice, it’s actually pretty efficient.
Fast, Easy Disassembly and Barrel Exchanges
The video below shows how the Helix can be disassembled (for cleaning or transport) in a matter of seconds WITHOUT TOOLS. The forearm slips off with the push of a button. A short lever on the left side of the action holds the barrel. Simply rotate the lever and the barrel (with bolt head) slips off. That’s it — in 30 seconds the rifle is apart, and you don’t even need an allen wrench as with a Blaser.
The RX Helix has a universal action length that covers calibers from .222 Rem to .300 Win Mag. Changing calibers (or chamberings) takes less than a minute with the appropriate barrel, bolt-head and magazine. Weaver rails are integrated into the action, and iron sights with three-dot rear and one-dot front fiber-optic inserts are standard.
The RX Helix is available with a standard black finish as well as four levels of design — Arabesque, Wild Boar, Spirit, and Deluxe. An all-carbon-fiber version was also available either with or without a carbon-wrapped barrel. The RX Helix comes in a wide range of calibers including .222 Rem, .223 Rem, .243 Win, 6.5×55 SE, .270 Win, 7×64, .308 Win, .30-06 Sprg., 8×57 IS, 9.3×62, 7mm Rem Mag and .300 Win Mag. Barrel lengths vary according to caliber, and barrels, bolt-heads and magazines are available for caliber changes. EuroOptic sells the Merkel RX Helix, but most models are back-ordered.
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There an excellent YouTube channel, THLR.NO, that offers videos for long-range hunters and marksmen. The channel’s creator, Thomas Haugland, is a serious, knowledgeable shooter, who takes his rifles out into the field, in all conditions. The THLR.NO channel offers solid advice on scopes, reticles, wind-reading, field positions, and much more. Haugland’s team puts a wide variety of gear through serious field tests — every thing from suppressors to packs to the latest electro-optical hardware. In addition the THLR.NO channel provides good advice on stalking techniques and hunting skills. Here are some recent videos that can help any rifleman.
How to Shoot Better with a Hunting Rifle
This “must-watch” video has great practical advice for hunters. It illustrates proper hand-hold and head position, and shows how to stay steady when breaking the shot. Even competition shooters can learn a few things. One viewer notes: “This was very informative. The footage through the scope showing how one’s position moves the sight alignment was particularly helpful.”
How to Gauge Wind Speed and Hold Off Using Reticles
This field video shows how to observe natural indicators — trees and vegetation — to estimate wind velocity. Then it shows how to calculate hold-offs using the reticle hash-marks. Thomas shoots a fast-cycling Blaser R93 rifle with Norma 6XC ammunition.
If you like these three videos, there are hundreds more on the THLR.NO YouTube channel. In addition, there is an excellent long-format video, Longrange Shooting 2, available on DVD or Vimeo on Demand. This impressive outdoors video features Thomas Haugland and Ulf Lindroth. Here is a preview:
Believe it or not, this is the first stock Brett M. carved by hand. We’d say he did a darn good job!
AccurateShooter Forum member Brett M. from Minnesota (aka Spitfire_er) recently completed a handsome laminated maple gunstock. This beauty wasn’t produced with a stock duplicator. It was made the old-fashioned way — by hand. After laminating three sections, Brett carved the complete stock with hand tools. You can see the entire carving process, start to finish, in Brett’s time lapse video.
MUST-SEE time-lapse carving video. Every second is one minute in real time. This 15:54 video shows 15.9 hours of carving! Brett says the whole job took nearly 20 hours:
Handsome Maple Blank Was Lumber Yard Return!
Brett reports: “Here’s a stock I carved up over the past year or so. I found this wood as a return at a lumber yard about 7-8 years ago. I asked the guy in the yard about it and he said it had been returned because it had too much figure for the job the customer was working on. First thing I thought was “That would make a nice stock!” I finally got around to finishing it a couple months ago.
I fit it around a 1917 Enfield in .338 WM that I purchased a while back. I usually do all the work on the receiver and barrel, but this one was done up in an OK fashion already.
This stock was almost completely made using hand tools over the course of about a year. This is a piece of laminated 1x8x1″ maple that was glued together. After it sat for about eight years, I finally got around to carving it up. This stock design/shape was from my own ideas and was carved as I went along. It turned out pretty good.”
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To be honest, when we read the description of Trijicon’s new Ventus device, we thought it sounded like science fiction. This quad-collimated laser rangefinder/wind-reading gizmo seems like something Captain Kirk would use on Star Trek. According to Trijicon, the Ventus is “the world’s first advanced wind-mapping and range-detecting handheld device.” That’s right folks, this is a rangefinder that also “measures three-dimensional wind velocities at multiple distances out to 500 yards”. Combined with a claimed 5000-yard ranging ability (on reflective objects), Trijicon says its new Ventus gives “shooters and hunters previously unattainable data about their environment for long-range accuracy.”
The Ventus unit is designed with a Doppler LIDAR engine that can measure headwind, tailwind, crosswind and vertical wind components at six different distances, in any weather condition. The higher-end Ventus X Model also includes an onboard ballistics solver which communicates, via Bluetooth, with the Trijicon Ballistics App. This allows Ventus-X users to store shooter and target geographic locations, calculate ballistic solutions, and display wind maps.
The Ventus utilizes an advanced Doppler LIDAR engine and four collimated lasers sent out in a cone to measure wavelength interaction with dust particles at up to six different distances.
Four Collimated Lasers Read the Wind via Doppler LIDAR
How does the wind-reading work? Trijicon states: “Thanks to a fiber optic collimated laser capable of returns through dust, fog, sleet, and snow, the Ventus offers extreme, all-weather performance. Four collimated lasers [are] sent out in a cone to measure wavelength interaction with dust particles at up to six different distances. This technology allows the Ventus to calculate for head, tail, cross and vertical wind, giving shooters an incredibly accurate wind reading.”
Ventus X Model Includes Advanced Ballistics Solver
The Ventus comes in two models: Ventus and Ventus X. The basic Ventus handles ranging duties. The upgraded Ventus X adds a state-of-the-art, onboard ballistics solver. An onboard sensor suite captures all necessary data — range, wind, atmospheric temperature, stratospheric pressure, and incline angle — to provide a very advanced ballistic solution.
The Ventus X also communicates via Bluetooth to the advanced Trijicon Ballistic application, soon to be available for both iOS and Android. The Ballistic App stores shooter and target geographic locations, provides a ballistic solution, and displays a wind map overlay of readings.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. Midsouth — End of Year Clearance — Prices Drop Daily
Visit Midsouth Shooters right now for big year-end savings. You’ll find great deals on Leupold, Nikon, and Vortex optics, Hornady and RCBS tools, and major-brand bullets and brass (Berger, Hornady, Lapua, Norma, Sierra). Shown above are notable deals — but there are over 1000 products on close-out. We suggest you take your time. Use the Search and Sort functions to find deals by brand (e.g. “Berger”, “Lapua”, or “Leupold”). There are some GREAT deals to be had here! NOTE: The prices go down each day until the sale ends, but inventories are limited. If you wait too long, you may miss out.
2. EuroOptic — Vortex Year-End Scope Clearance
Vortex Optics riflescopes and spotting scopes offer excellent value with a truly outstanding warranty. Right now hunters and long-range shooters can save big with EuroOptic’s Year-End Clearance Sale. You’ll find Vortex Viper and Razor scopes are now deeply discounted at EuroOptic.com. You’ll find a wide range of models, zoom levels, and reticles available.
3. Brownells — End-of-Year Year Promo Codes — Big Savings
If you’re like us you might’ve gotten most of what we wanted for Christmas but you still have gift money to spend on toys. Head over to Brownells.com and use the Discount Codes listed above to save money and in some cases get FREE shipping to boot. For example, with CODE M8Y you get $20 off a $200+ order and shipping is free. Be sure to meet the minimums listed for each code to get the maximum savings possible.
4. Precision Reloading — All Berger Products 10% Off
With the new year coming, it’s a good time to stock up on bullets. Precision Reloading is now offering 10% OFF ALL Berger products. This sale covers both competition and hunting bullets as well as Berger loaded ammo. Berger bullets are proven winners for all forms of centerfire rifle competition and Berger hunting projectiles are also excellent. Visit Precision Reloading to get 10% Off All Berger bullets and loaded ammo. This sale may close very soon.
5. Amazon — Kowa TSN-501 Spotting Scope, $349.00
Without question, Kowa’s top-of-the-line Prominar series spotting scopes are some of the best spotters money can buy. Kowa also offers much more affordable spotters that deliver excellent optical “bang for the buck” in compact formats. Check out this Kowa TSN-501 50mm Angled Spotting Scope with Eyepiece. This unit features an ultra-compact design and impressive clarity for under $350.00 including 20-40X Zoom Eyepiece. The TSN-501’s small size and light weight make this unit very handy for hunters or for a prone shooter on the firing line who needs to watch mirage.
6. Bullet Central — Bix’N Andy TacSport Pro
Bix’N Andy triggers are favored by many top F-Class, benchrest, and long-range competitors for good reason. These trigger have a superb break and excellent adjustability. The TacSport PRO is one of the best triggers you can buy. Up until now it’s been tough to find but Bullet Central now has a supply of TacSport Pro Single-Stage and Two-Stage Triggers in stock. These typically sell out quickly, so grab now while they’re in stock.
7. Grafs — Big Holiday Sale Through 12/31/2019
Like many other vendors, Grafs.com had a big Black Friday Sale. But Graf’s has extended its discounts all the way through the end of the year — 11:59 pm on Wednesday, December 31st. Head over to Graf’s Extended Holiday Sale Page. Save on ammo, reloading tools, optics, and more. We noted the great prices on Lyman products and Nikon Scopes (Nikon close-out sale). You can also get FREE Hazmat with powder/primers purchase of $150.00 or more.
8. Grizzly — Bald Eagle Range and Rifle Case Clearance
Bald Eagle range bags and rifle cases offer high quality at very reasonable prices. Sadly, Grizzly is closing these items out so here’s your last chance to grab a Bald Eagle bag or case before they’re all gone. We use the range bags to transport our spotting scopes and they work great for that task — these come in 15″ and 20″ sizes in various colors. The excellent Bald Eagle Rifle cases also come in multiple sizes and colors — but some styles/colors are disappearing quickly, so don’t delay.
9. Palmetto State Armory — Taurus G2c 9mm Pistol, $179.99
This is a good little compact carry gun at a great price. Palmetto State Armory has the black-on-black Taurus 9mm G2c for just $179.99. But it gets even better — with Taurus Factory Rebate your net cost is just $154.99! That’s one of the lowest prices we’ve ever seen for a big name, reliable 9mm handgun. NOTE: Taurus Rebate Offer expires at 11:59 pm 12/31/19.
10. Midsouth — Pachmayr Shock Shield Gel Recoil Pad, $12.54
The new Pachmayr Shock Shield gel-filled slip-On Recoil Pad is a simple, handy solution for reducing the felt recoil of your rifles. The one-size design stretches to fit the vast majority of conventional rifle and shotgun buttstocks. WATCH VIDEO to see how the Shock Shield goes on in seconds.
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There’s a nice article in the Western Powders Blog that any varminter will enjoy. In this hare-raising tale, gunwriter Jim Waddell explains how he used a self-loading Savage A17 rifle to take care of a serious jack-rabbit problem on a rancho in California. “[My friends] purchased a huge amount of acreage that had some existing alfalfa fields and [surrounding sagebrush]. Sagebrush is home to jack rabbits. Lots of jack rabbits. The previous owner of this property didn’t do any varmint or predator control[.] The ink wasn’t dry on the escrow papers before [my friends] started asking for help shooting rabbits. A problem in taking these critters is it has to be done at night when they come out to feed as they lay low in the bush during the daylight hours.”
Savage A17 Comes to the Rescue
Initially Waddell and some friends took on the jack-rabbit hordes using Ruger 10/22s and a .44 Magnum Marlin lever gun. Neither option was ideal. The .44 Magnum just couldn’t keep up the desired shooting pace (it took too long to reload) ant the .22 LRs were too anemic. So Waddell decided to give the more potent 17 HMR a try. He acquired a Savage A17 and went back for a second bunny-busting session. He came away convinced that the 17 HMR cartridge in the modern semi-auto Savage works great for small varmint control.
Waddell writes: “I wanted more than a .22 after seeing the problems my pals had with their [10/22] bullets not anchoring the rabbits. Armed with my new Savage A17 it was time to head back to the alfalfa fields. This time my hunting partner was Dan, my son-in-law from Seattle. We hunted for four nights. Each night was either raining, windy or both. My question about whether or not rabbits would be out in the weather was answered immediately. They were everywhere. As miserable as the weather was, we got all the shooting we wanted and that Savage rifle was up to the task. We got so many rabbits it was impossible to count.” CLICK HERE for the full account of Waddell’s jack-rabbit adventures on the California rancho. It’s worth a read. Here is a sample:
Wabbits, Wabbits Everywhere — Even Running Right at You
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a sea of rabbits as far as the lights would shine and when the light beams hit the bunnies, they became confused and as often as not, would run right at the lights so a good percentage of our shots were literally in spitting distance. It was also a new experience shooting at targets that are running TOWARD you. Most of us who’ve done much hunting for game or varmints have experienced moving targets but how many of those targets are coming at you?
“If the hunter does his part, the .270 will not let him down” — Jack O’Connor.
Classic hunting rifles never go out of style. We thought our readers would enjoy this very special high-grade Jack O’Connor Tribute rifle in .270 Winchester. This unique Model 70 was a SHOT Show featured rifle back in 2013. It was auctioned off with the proceeds benefiting hunting and shooting sports. Jack O’Connor, a legendary outdoorsman and hunting writer, would have been proud. In his 1964 classic work The Rifle Book, O’Connor wrote: “I like a handgun. I hold a shotgun in high regard; but rifles — well, I love the darn things…”
Winchester Repeating Arms declared that this 2013 SHOT Show Winchester Model 70 would be the last-ever Jack O’Connor Tribute rifle. The stock for this rifle is AAA grade Claro Walnut with Ebony forearm tip and shadowline cheekpiece. The rifle’s metalwork has been hand-engraved by the artisans at Baron Engraving. The rifle features a featherweight contour, free-floating barrel with target crown. Interestingly, the Leupold 4X Mountaineer riflescope mounted on this rifle is an original 1950s-era Mountaineer from the vaults of Leupold & Stevens.
Click each image to see larger version with detail.
“A good sporting stock should enable the shooter to get a shot off quickly and accurately, and it should also be a thing of beauty. Many fine sporting stocks are handsome but of little aid in accurate shooting. Many others that hold and shoot well are homely and clumsy.
The very best sporter stock design results in a stock with handsome, graceful lines and one which also enables the man behind it to do his best work.” — Jack O’Connor, The Big Game Rifle (1952).
About Jack 0’Connor “Dean of Outdoor Writers”
Jack O’Connor, sheep hunting, and the Model 70 Winchester in .270 are linked in our collective subconscious. In 1939, O’Connor was appointed new guns editor for Outdoor Life, and in 1941, he took over the Arms and Ammunition column. In those days, Coues deer and desert sheep were his passions, and a lot of rifles came and went through his hands. By the end of 1946, O’Connor had hunted enough North American sheep to complete three grand slams.
By 1954, he thought he had his ultimate rifle, a custom Model 70 in .270 Winchester that he had taken to Wyoming for elk, to India for blackbuck, and to Iran for red sheep and ibex. He liked the rifle so much, he called it his No. 1 and set out to build a second to give his favorite a break from testing new bullets and developing loads.
Sporting Classics offers a collection of great Jack O’Connor stories from the pages of Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, Petersen’s Hunting and other popular magazines of his day. This 440-page book, entitled Classic O’Connor: 45 Worldwide Hunting Stories, is a sequel of sorts to Sporting Classics’ popular compendium, The Lost Classics of Jack O’Connor.
In this collection, Jack O’Connor recounts his worldwide hunting adventures, during which he pursued everything from ducks to grizzlies, pheasants to kudu. Classic O’Connor presents several of the author’s greatest gun stories and a large selection of never-before-published photographs of the celebrated sportsman and his family on hunting adventures around the world. The book is illustrated with 40+ drawings by acclaimed artist Ron Van Gilder. This excellent O’Connor collection is available on Amazon in hardcover or paperback, starting at $38.99 (used) or $59.98 (new).
The Hunting Rifle by Jack O’Connor
Another O’Connor title worth reading is The Hunting Rifle, still considered one of the definitive works on selecting a hunting rifle and cartridge. One owner of The Hunting Rifle explains:
“It would benefit every hunter to take the time and read this book. It offers a corrective to the spirit of things that have gripped the hunting scene lately. Today, if one reads a hunting magazine, [one is] offered the view that you need the fastest and loudest cartridges, rifles with special finishes and the most expensive of anything. Ole Jack reminds us that many have killed game with ‘lesser’ guns for a very long time, and that these new gimmicks will not make you a more lethal hunter.”
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Field Test by Colton Reid, AccurateShooter Hunting Editor
As a solo backcountry hunter, I try to carry as little weight as possible. Each step is a reminder to bring only the most essential/effective equipment. Each item in my pack must earn its precious backpack real estate. That’s why I favor gear that serves multiple purposes — and binoculars are no exception. In a previous optics review, I field-tested Zeiss Victory RF 10×42 ranging binoculars and the results were beyond expectation — they are outstanding. However, such superior, upper-eschelon ranging optics from Zeiss cost over $3000.00. And Leica Geovid HD-B 3000 ranging binoculars cost around $2500.00.
For those looking for a more affordable option, there are several mid-range binoculars with integrated ranging capability. One popular choice is the Vortex Fury HD 5000 10×42 LRF Binoculars. Priced at around $1200 on Amazon, the Fury HD 5000 is half the price of some European LRF Binoculars. Yet the Fury HD 5000 LRF Binos still combine two optical systems (magnification and laser ranging) into one that is more valuable than the sum of the parts.
Vortex Fury HD 5000 Look and Feel
The Fury binoculars are compact and relatively light — a modest 2 pounds. They are covered by a rubber armor exterior that feels sturdy enough to survive some hard falls, but is also comfortable to hold. The compact size did offer a challenge in determining how best to place my thumbs (see top photo). The rangefinder controls (Measure, Menu) are easy to access and are distinguishable by the braille-like bumps that cover them. Considering that these buttons are going to be located and pressed without looking at the top of the binoculars each time, it was perhaps a poor design choice to place the raised Vortex logo adjacent to the controls. But after a little practice I was able to quickly locate the measure button when ranging in the field.
The eye cups are comfortable and offer four discrete eye relief positions. The focus and diopter knobs are large and easy to turn but also provide resistance to rotation. Resistance is useful for maintaining the previous positional setting.
Vortex Fury 5000 — Rangefinding Performance
The Vortex Fury’s rangefinder function, along with its menu, is simple and intuitive. In my humble opinion, simple is better. The display is a red LED projection in the right optic. As noted in another review, the red display can be difficult to distinguish against a tan/brown image, so I used max brightness at all times to ensure display visibility. The display menu covers the core items: distance (line of sight or angle compensated), measurement units (yards/meters), brightness, and the ability to display either the strongest “Best” signal or the “Last Result” to help range objects behind trees or brush. The rangefinder also enables scan mode (continuous ranging) that updates displayed distance every three-quarters of a second as you sweep over the terrain.
In the field, rangefinder performance was good. I could consistently range objects at distances out to around 1500 yards. Beyond that, the rangefinder struggled with hills, trees, and brush. Ranging Longer distances required a rock or something more reflective. I will likely never shoot targets at or beyond 1500 yards, but the ability to range objects at those distances is extremely useful when scouting in the field. I routinely use my rangefinder to measure the distance to my next vantage point or staging area for a stalk, which can be over a mile away.
Optics — How Good is the Glass?
I should first note that it is difficult to quantitatively compare optical systems without objective data from sophisticated scientific measurement systems used in optics labs. Consequently, I must rely on a qualitative comparison with a known reference. In this case I compared the Fury HD against my tried and true Swarovski Habicht porro-prism binoculars.
With that disclaimer, I would rate the Vortex Fury optics as good to very good. In ample daylight, the Fury and Habicht binoculars were comparable. The main difference being that the Fury required a more precise adjustment of the focus knob in order to capture a crisp image. In low light, the Habichts had the advantage. The Fury images appeared slightly darker than the Habichts and the image sharpness in the Fury seemed to degrade more quickly with the fading light.
That may be partially linked to lower light transmission but also to the more sensitive focus knob of the Fury. With that sensitivity it could be difficult to tell which knob position yielded the best image. That being said, I was still able to spot deer with the Furys in low light (see image). What is more, I didn’t have to switch between my binoculars and a rangefinder to determine distance or suffer the reorientation of a different magnification and field of view. That is a huge benefit!
The Verdict
Overall, I was happy with the Vortex Fury’s performance. Both the optics and rangefinder were what I would consider mid-range in terms of performance. But for a street price of about $1200.00, that is a good value. Yes you can do better, but you’ll have to pay more than twice as much. Considering my recommendation is always to buy the best optics you can afford, the Vortex Fury HD 5000 would be a good choice for serious hunters on a budget. These are solidly made. Vortex states the aluminum alloy body is nitrogen-purged, and O-ring sealed to provide a waterproof, fogproof and shockproof product.
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SIG Sauer has released the new Cross Rifle, a “crossover” rifle for hunting, competition, and long-range shooting. The Cross bolt-action rifle, built for precision, will be offered in .308 Winchester and 6.5mm Creedmoor with .277 SIG Fury Hybrid to follow. The design features a one-piece receiver with free-floating modular handguard and side-folding adjustable stock. Choose Black or First Lite Camo finish.
The Cross has some interesting design features:
— Two-stage Match Trigger adjusts from 2.5-4 lbs.
— Interchangeable flattop system that fits 0-MOA or +20-MOA rails.
— 3-Lug Bolt with 60° throw and interchangeable bolt handle. AI Mags.
— Light-weight 16″ barrel .308 Win version weighs just 6.2 pounds.
SIG designed the Cross series rifles for both hunters and PRS/NRL shooters: “Hunting rifles are typically focused on less weight, and accuracy is secondary. Precision rifles are designed for extreme accuracy, with no weight limitations. What was missing from the market was a true crossover. Our engineers took the best of both worlds and developed the CROSS featuring the characteristics of a hunting rifle, with the accuracy of a precision rifle”, said SIG Executive VP Tom Taylor.
Our hunting Editor Colton Reid, has been looking for a modular light-weight hunting rig with a folding stock for easy carry. SIG’s new Cross rifle could fit the bill. In .308 Win with 16″ barrel, the rifle weighs just 6.2 pounds (without optics), and is just 25″ overall with stock folded. That’s short enough to fit easily in a small day-pack. We’ll see if we can get one of these new Cross rifles for testing.
MSRP is $1779 and Gun Is Made in USA
The SIG Cross rifle retails for $1779.00, so it qualifies for PRS Factory Class. (We expect “street price” to be about $1550). SIG’s Tom Taylor noted that this is truly an “All-American” rifle: “Everything about the Cross from concept to completion… comes directly from our U.S. operations here in New Hampshire.” The Cross rifle was designed and built entirely at SIG Sauer’s New Hampshire facilities.
Factory Product Description
The CROSS Precision Bolt-Action Hunting Rifle is a lightweight precision rifle with a push button, foldable SIG precision stock, a one-piece aluminum receiver that eliminates the need for bedding the action, and AI magazines for creating the most accurate precision hunting platform.
The CROSS features a stainless-steel barrel with a free-float M-LOK handguard, a 2-stage match-grade trigger externally adjustable from 2.5 – 4 lbs., ambi-safety, a three-lug bolt design with a 60-degree throw and interchangeable bolt handle. The precision stock is spring-loaded for one-handed operation and can be fully adjusted in the field for length of pull and comb height with no tools. The rifle has a full-length replaceable Picatinny rail that allows for direct optics mounts, 20 MOA, and O MOA. The CROSS is available in 6.5 Creedmoor, 308 WIN, and the soon-to-be-released .277 SIG Fury Hybrid.
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Shooting Industry Magazine reveals scores of new products in its December 2019 issue, which you can read for free online. The 2020 New Product Showcase is a focal point of Shooting Industry’s December issue — with 88 brands represented. View the entire line-up of New-for-2020 products HERE: New Product Showcase.
Here are 10 Cool New Products our Editors spotted in the Shooting Industry New Product Showcase:
The CZ 457 Varmint Precision Chassis pairs CZ’s heavy-barreled 457 action with an aluminum chassis of the company’s own design. Equipped with an adjustable Luth-AR stock, AR-style grip, QD sling sockets, and M-LOK slots, proper fit and customization are made easy. Available in .22 LR with a 16.5″ or 24″ barrel, the CZ 457 Varmint Precision Chassis is threaded for use with rimfire suppressors.
The new 1 to 10-power scope from Konus boasts a class-leading 10X zoom system with a 1 MOA dot reticle. The 1-10x24mm riflescope features 30mm tube, fully multi-coated optics, dual color illumination, glass-etched reticle, removable zoom lever,adjustable locking turrets, and flip-up covers. The 1-10X Konus is waterproof, shockproof, and fog-proof.
Christensen Arms unveiled a Steel-Barreled Modern Precision Rifle. Heavier than Christensen’s signature carbon fiber offerings, the steel-barreled Modern Precision Rifle weighs 8.4 and 9.6 lbs depending on barrel contour/length. The folding chassis features a carbon fiber comb, free-floating carbon fiber handguard, flat match-grade trigger, AR-style grip and a 20 MOA rail.
Target Factory is introducing a new target design, the Flip-R-Spin Target. This indoor/outdoor range and retail consumer target is actually a “3 in 1” target, as it can be deployed in several configurations: on the ground, vertical spinning or horizontal spinning target. With its unique 3D 2.5″ diameter “Target Ball” concept, it always self-resets.
Springfield Armory’s Hellcat is a micro-compact 9mm carry pistol. New for 2020 is a Hellcat Optical Sight Pistol (OSP) configuration. The Hellcat OSP features a removable cover plate to allow direct mounting of a Red Dot optics to the slide. Capacity is 11+1 — best in class. The U-Dot sight system is made of high visibility tritium and a luminescent front sight paired with a tactical rack U-notch rear. A high-hand beavertail and undercut triggerguard situate the pistol low in the hand.
The new 6X RangeTracker 1800 from German Precision Optics (GPO) incorporates state-of-the-art optical and electronic technology in a compact laser rangefinder built for long-range rifle hunting (up to 1,800 yards). It offers angle correction, Hyperscan (three readings per second), and an outside temperature reading in Fahrenheit or Celsius. The OLED system allows up to 25% more light to get through the optical system, ideal low-light situations.
Texan air rifles from AirForce Airguns now feature a carbon fiber tank and valve system — capable of energy levels of 750 ft. lbs. with a 520gr projectile. The carbon fiber tank holds 3,625 psi or 250 BAR of air. The power increase allows users to hunt larger game by delivering a heavy projectile to the target with up to 750 ft/lbs of energy.
The Firearms Guide 10th Edition is a comprehensive guns and ammo reference guide, available online or on a flash drive. Published since 2009, this Guide offers gun prices, gun schematics, blueprints, and manual. Guns are cross-referenced with the ammunition database. Guns and ammo are presented with prices, tech specifications, features, ballistic information and high-resolution color pictures.
The Modular Drive Technologies (MDT) ACC chassis is now available for the CZ 457 rimfire action, making it a great option for rimfire cross-training or NRL22 competitino. The MDT ACC offers a customizable steel weight system allowing over nine pounds to be added to the buttstock and/or fore-end. The ACC Chassis comes with a SRS-X Elite buttstock with adjustable LOP. A full ARCA rail runs the entire length of the 17.75″ fore-end. This stock can accept variety of pistol grips.
The new Otis Long Term Gun Storage Kit provides what you need to protect and store a firearm for an extended period of time corrosion-free. The kit includes Rust Stopper Rust Prevention Gun Storage Bags (pistol and rifle/shotgun), microfiber towels, chamber flags, an all purpose receiver brush, Shooter’s Choice MC-7 bore cleaner (2-oz. bottle), FP-10 Lubricant Elite (4-oz. bottle) and Rust Prevent (6-oz. aerosol).
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Curious about suppressors (aka “silencers”, “moderators”, or “cans”)? Below you’ll find an informative NSSF Infographic that covers the history, legal status, design, and operation of modern-day suppressors.
Here’s a cool video showing how suppressors work. This video features see-through rifle suppressors filmed with ultra-high-speed (110,000 frame per second) cameras. When played back in super-slow-motion, you can see the flame propagate through the suppressor and the bullet move through each baffle before it exists the muzzle. Check it out!
See Through Suppressor in Super Slow Motion (110,000 fps) — Click Arrow to Watch:
Suppressor Facts — What You Need to Know
In this infographic, the NSSF provides the history, specifications, benefits and uses of firearm suppressors. Don’t suppress your knowledge!
Suppressors reduce gunfire sound levels by using baffles that contain expanding gasses exiting a firearm’s muzzle when ammo is discharged. Suppressors are similar to car mufflers that were, in fact, developed in parallel by the same inventor in the early 1900s. Well-designed suppressors typically reduce the gun sound levels by 30-35 decibels (dB). Suppressors are becoming more popular even though it still takes many months to get approved. In fact, the number of suppressors registered with the ATF grew by over 1 million from 2011 to 2017. That’s a 355% increase.
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Mc3™ Stocks is running a big Cyber Monday Sale. Now through December 3, 2019 at 11:59 pm Mc3 stocks are available for 25% OFF. All Mc3 stocks come from the factory with precision inletting and aluminum pillars for a precise, drop-in fit. Mc3 stocks combine field-proven McMillan designs with advanced materials to deliver a custom feel in a very affordable package. Visit www.MC3STOCKS.com and use promo code CYBER25 at checkout to receive 25% OFF.
Use Promo Code: CYBER25 | Sale ends Tuesday, December 3rd at 11:59 pm MST
Mc3 Stocks are designed, engineered, and manufactured by McMillan to deliver perfect fit plus outstanding performance for the price. Mc3 stocks are constructed from a state-of-the-art proprietary polymer blend called Zenolite, resulting in a stronger, stiffer stock. These stocks are modeled after some of McMillan’s best-selling stocks and compatible with most Remington 700 models.
For example, the Mc3 Tradition Stock is available for short- and long-action Remington 700 rifles. The Mc3 Tradition Stock weighs 2.8-3 lbs., includes a one-inch McMillan recoil pad by Pachmayr, two front sling studs, one rear sling stud, and new finish options: Tan, Olive, Carbon Fiber Black, Painted FDE Transition, Painted Sonoran Transition, and Painted Woodland Transition. This stock is also competitively priced between $269.00 and $319.00.
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Rotary 7-Lug Bolt
Handsome Maple Blank Was Lumber Yard Return!
