AccurateShooter.com is more about rifles than pistols. But we know that the majority of our regular readers own handguns, and many also have concealed carry (CCW) permits. And with the prospect of social unrest following the election, we expect more reader than ever will be “packing” a sidearm. Accordingly, we’ve found a great resource for CCW holders that can help you select a holster. On the Shooting Illustrated website you’ll find a detailed review of 30 different holster types. Each holster is illustrated, with pros and cons explained. These are all EDC holsters, meaning those designed for “Every Day Carry”.
Shooting Illustrated calls this article “HolsterPallooza” and it really does provide a ton of helpful information. Most other holster reviews on the web may feature a half-dozen holsters at the most. In this Holsterpallooza article you can see 30 holsters, with a wide variety of materials, designs, and applications. There are small molded IWB holsters for CCW, conventional on the belt holsters, leather shoulder holster rigs, and even ankle holsters. This is a great place to start if you are in the market for a holster.
Here’s sample of the many holster options reviewed, an innovative hybrid IWB holster constructed with leather over Kydex. That gives you the “best of both worlds” — the secure fit/retention of a molded Kydex shell, with an attractive leather exterior.
Shooting Illustrated explains: “As the interface between your gun and your body, the holster is a vital component of your carry rig. In many cases, the circumstances of your daily life will determine the method of carry you choose. This, in turn, will determine what type of holster you need, which may end up determining the handgun you carry. Therefore, choosing the method and type of holster may be as, or even more important than, choosing a firearm.”
MORE Reviews — Hickok 45 Reviews 15 CCW Holsters:
If you want to see even MORE holsters for “Every Day Carry” (EDC), check out this video from Hickok 45. This popular YouTube host looks at 15 different IWB holsters from a number of manufacturers. Hickok 45 examines many hybrid holsters that combine Kydex or plastic with leather for increased comfort. He has his favorites… and they might not be what you’d expect. NOTE: As this video has been watched over 900,000 times, you may also want to read the viewer comments. There are many helpful suggestions from CCW holders who carry daily.
Here’s some good news for owners of long-action rifles that want to convert to a modular chassis system. MDT now offers the ORYX Chassis System for three popular long action platforms: Remington 700 LA CIP, and the Savage LA CIP, and Ruger American LA. These chassis systems start at $549.99 at MDTtac.com. Four colors (for polymer components) are offered: Black, Flat Dark Earth (FDE), Olive Drab Green (ODG), and Gray. Shown below is the Remington Long Action version in FDE.
The ORYX is an aluminum chassis built to bring factory rifles closer to a precision setup. The action is bedded on a V-block and the barrel is free-floated. The buttstock adjusts for both length of pull and cheek height, allowing the shooter to customize the rifle ergonomics to suit his preferences. And the ORYX takes AR-15 compatible grips, allowing the owner to easily customize his rig.
The ORYX chassis accepts AICS pattern magazines and AR15 pattern grips, carries M-LOK on the underside of the forend for bipods and accessories, and includes an integrated barricade stop for positional shooting. These long action ORYX chassis systems are offered in Black, Flat Dark Earth, Olive Drab Green, and Gray.
The ORYX LA chassis systems with long action inlets cover most chamberings used in factory field and hunting rifles. The ORYX is built for the shooter who wants bedded, free-floated accuracy and a stock with good ergonomics, without moving to a custom action.
The ORYX chassis systems for the Ruger American LA RH, Remington 700 LA CIP RH, and Savage LA CIP RH are currently available (as of 9/22/26) through MDT dealers and at MDTtac.com.
Whether you should from the bench, or from prone, it’s great to have your cartridges in a convenient, easy-to-reach position. This article explains how you can build your own height-adjustable ammo caddy for a very low price (likely under $10.00). Credit Martin Tardif for this great Do-It-Yourself (DIY) project. Martin’s flex-arm caddy design works great for F-Open competitors as well as anyone who shoots with a pedestal front rest, either on the ground or from a bench. The ammo caddy attaches, via a flexible arm, to your front rest. The flexy arm allows you to position your ammunition close to your rifle’s feeding port. That makes it easy to grab cartridges and load them into the chamber without shifting your shooting position.
Kudos to Martin Tardif for his clever use of inexpensive materials when he crafted this ammo-caddy a few seasons back. The total cost of the whole project, according to Martin, was just $8.00! (With inflation, materials could run a bit more these days, but the project would still be very inexpensive.)
Martin Explains How to Build the Ammo Caddy
Here are some pics of my DIY P.L.A.B. (Port Level Ammo Block). I cannibalized the goose neck from a Craftsman bendy-style utility light and bought a 3.5″x 1″ Acetal disk on eBay. I then drilled out the disk to accept twenty .284 Winchester rounds and screwed the disk to the bendy arm. The arm, by itself, wasn’t sturdy enough to support my fully loaded ammo block, so I inserted a 1/8″-diameter steel rod cut to length into the arm before I screwed it to the disk. On this Bald Eagle rest, I wasn’t using the windage adjustment cable. That allowed me to secure the bottom end of the arm to the unused 5/16″ x 18 bolt hole for the cable. [Editor’s Note: For other pedestal rest types/brands you may need to drill a hole for the base of the flexy arm.]
Killough Shooting Sports (KSS), the Texas-based retailer serving precision rimfire, benchrest, and competitive pistol shooters, has a new and improved online store at KilloughShootingSports.com. The new site has been designed around how serious shooters actually shop: by discipline, by rifle, and by the specific grade of ammunition they are looking for. The new site has faster page loading, faster check-out, and more payment and shipping options.
“Our customers know exactly what they want, and they want to get to it quickly,” said Michael Atkinson, KSS Sales and Marketing Director. “Whether that is a case of ELEY Tenex, a rimfire barrel or a front rest for the next benchrest match, the new site gets them there in fewer clicks, and it gives us a far better platform for looking after them once they have ordered.” KSS is the home of ELEY, the British manufacturer of world championship and Olympic-winning .22LR ammunition. ELEY’s US customer ammunition testing is carried out at Whidden Gunworks.
Same day dispatch and delivery direct to the match
Every order placed before 2:00 pm Central is dispatched from the KSS warehouse in Brownsville, Texas, the same day.
Delivery Direct to Shooting Match Locations
KSS also offers a unique service — free shipping to competitions. Competitors can pre-order their ammunition through the store and have it delivered directly to the match, eliminating the need to travel with ammunition cases.
The Full ELEY Ammo Selection including ELEY X-Shot
KSS is an online source for the complete ELEY .22 LR range, from recreational and training grade ammo through to Match, X-Shot, and Tenex.
Full Product Line at Killough Shooting Sports Store
Actions | Barrels | Stocks | Rests | Scope Mounts | Targets | Ammo
Along with .22 LR rimfire ammunition, the KSS store has ELEY 9mm and .38 Super competition ammunition, actions, stocks, rimfire rifle barrels, scope mounts, deluxe front rests, plus targets and cleaning supplies. Products come from leading manufacturers including Benchmark Barrels and Burris.
The new website gives KSS a more reliable checkout, faster page loading, enhanced mobile functionality, and modern payment and shipping options. For more info, visit KilloughShootingSports.com
Hornady recently added TWO new A-Tip® Match bullets to its High-BC A-Tip lineup for competitive shooters. First is a very impressive 6mm (.243 Cal) 120-grainer, and second is a slick, new .30-Caliber 177-grainer. Both these new A-Tips offer very good consistency and high-BC ratings for their size/weight. The 120gr 6mm A-Tip can work in many disciplines, while the 177gr .30 Cal A-Tip was optimized for the PRS Tactical Division. Videos showing both new bullet types are included below, and you can click on these links for more information:
The new 6mm 120gr A-Tip Match bullet delivers an exceptional ballistic coefficient of 0.675 G1 BC and a 0.340 G7 BC, making it the highest-BC big brand 6mm bullet currently on the market. For comparison, the 6mm Berger 120gr Long Range Hybrid Target Bullet has a 0.328 G7 ballistic coefficient (BC). Designed for shooters seeking max aerodynamic efficiency and outstanding long-range performance, Hornady’s mew 120gr A-Tip brings impressive capability to the 6mm category. Optimal barrel twist rate is 1:7″ inches.
.30 Cal 177gr A-Tip Match, 0.565 G1 BC, 0.285 G7 BC
The other new A-Tip is Hornady’s .30 Cal. 177gr A-Tip Match. This boasts good ballistic coefficients for its size — a 0.565 G1 BC, and a 0.285 G7 BC. Purpose-built with the competitive shooter in mind, the new 177gr A-Tip is optimized for PRS Tactical Division, combining the consistency and precision of A-Tip technology with a weight/ballistic profile well suited to PRS Tactical competition.
Design Features of Hornady A-Tip Bullets
Precision-Machined Aluminum Tips: Longer than standard polymer tips, the aluminum design shifts the center of gravity forward. This provides enhanced in-flight stability, resulting in higher BC and claimed reduced drag variability. Drag Variability Reduction Technology (DVRT): These A-Tip bullets have a refined flat meplat on the tip to increase drag uniformity and shrink long-range group sizes. Sequential Packaging: Bullets come straight off the press consecutively into individual slots and are not bulk-tumbled, ensuring ultimate lot-to-lot consistency (each box includes a polishing bag)
Bix’n Andy Savage TacSport Pro X and Savage Dakota Triggers
Article based on review by Les Voth
In 2012 benchrest shooter Chris Harris, owner of BulletCentral.com, brought Austrian gunsmith and engineer Andy Atzl’s Bix’n Andy triggers to America. Since then, their collaborative innovation has not slowed or stopped. Well known to the benchrest world, the Bix’N Andy Remington 700 Competition trigger with its frictionless ball trigger design, has broken records and surpassed previous trigger designs what came before The mechanism that replaced friction designs has gained favor among their shooters who have Bix’N Andy triggers on their rifles
Seeking to go beyond providing triggers for Remington 700s, Rem 700 clones, Tikkas, Sakos, and Barnards, BulletCentral.com now offers atop-quality, drop-in Bix’n Andy replacement triggers for the Savage 110 line of rifles. As these popular Savage rifles are offered in many configurations, including competition rifles, hunting rigs, and varmint rifles, it made sense to offer a top-quality Bix’N Andy trigger for Savage rifles.
Bix’N Andy Savage Trigger Review — UltimateReloader.com
In my association with Bullet Central, as their trigger repair and warranty guy, I’ve already seen these new Bix’N Andy Savage triggers installed on competition single shots, prairie dog rifles, truck guns, deer/hog hunting rifles, and varmint rifles. The appreciation shown by their new owners, for having access to the same technology as the most expensive ELR, PRS, F-Class rifles is great to witness.
Installation in Savage Action is Fast and Easy
Changing the trigger on a Savage 110 is as simple as removing the stock, pulling one pin to remove the stock trigger, and putting the new trigger in its place with the return of the pin.
Savage Tacsport Pro X (3.5 oz to 2.2 lbs) | Savage Dakota (1 lb. to 4.4 lbs.)
The Savage TacSport Pro X trigger has a pull force weight range from 3.5 ounces to 2.2 pounds, and the Dakota model starts at one pound and goes up to 4.4 pounds. With the TacSport Pro X model you can change the shoe, from curved, to straight, to the Gator grip shoe, without disassembling the trigger.
When using a Bix’n Andy Savage trigger for the first time, you’ll instantly sense how it precise and smooth it feels. Because you are not trying to “overcome” something with the trigger force it is set at. You’ll note that the movement feels smoother than a friction-based trigger (with the same pull weight).
When you set a trigger to your desired pull force, whether it is under 10 ounces, or over two pounds, the Bix’n Andy trigger will feel lighter than the others because of its inner mechanism. You are not trying to “overcome” you are “setting off” the trigger, if that’s how to describe it.
Also, when some triggers release the cocking piece, they stop at a wall. Bix’n Andy triggers do not. They follow through with slight over-travel, so the rifle is not upset during that time the bullet has not yet exited the barrel. This is a feature that the Bix’n Andy Savage TacSport triggers and also the Dakota share with the original Benchrest triggers from the same company.
Benefits of Trigger Replacement in Savage Rifles
Why would you replace the stock trigger on a Savage 110? Well, it’s like Chuck said on Friday when he came to pick up a truckload of prairie dog pills – “If yer gonna git serious about shooting prairie dogs, yer gonna change triggers!” Who’s Chuck? He’s a retired Vietnam vet/volunteer NRA Range Officer. When asked how many prairie dogs he shot on his last trip, he said “…about 400.”
That many trigger pulls demand a trigger that works, one that doesn’t distract you from the job at hand, and one that allows you to shoot little targets a long ways away.
Larry Medler has come up with a smart little invention — a simple, inexpensive Empty Chamber Indicator for rimfire rifles. It is made from a section of plastic “weed-wacker” line and a wooden ball from a hobby shop. Larry says he was inspired by Juniors who used something similar for their 17-Caliber Air Rifles.
How to Make the Empty Chamber Indicator
Construction Method: First, drill a 7/64″ diameter hole all the way through the 1″-diameter wooden ball. Then enlarge half of that 1″-long hole using a 13/64” diameter drill. Next insert an 8″ piece of heavy duty (0.095″ diameter) weed wacker line through the ball, leaving about 2″ on the side with the bigger-diameter hole. Then, with the short end of the line, fold over the last half-inch so the line is doubled-over on itself. Then slide the line into the ball, stuffing the doubled-over section through the 13/64″ (large) hole. Finally, pull the longer end of the line until the doubled-over section is flush with the outside of the ball. This gives you a sturdy line attachment without messy adhesives. When the assembly’s complete, hold the ECI by the tail and dip the ball in yellow paint. If you’re making more than one ECI, you can drill horizontal holes in a spare block of wood and use that as a drying rack.
At a Rimfire Sporter match like this, all shooters must have an Empty Chamber Indicator.
The Empty Chamber Indicator for Smallbore Rifles
Larry explains: “At all Highpower rifle matches, silhouette matches, and other shooting events I have attended, Open Bore Indicators (OBI), or what are now called Empty Chamber Indicators (ECI) have been mandatory. The NRA’s yellow ECI for Highpower rifles is easy to use and has been well-received by the shooters. However, I had not seen a truly workable ECI for 22 rimfire rifles — until I visited Michigan’s Washtenaw Sportsman’s Club where I saw juniors using ECIs for their 17 Caliber Air Rifles. Someone at the club made the empty chamber indicators by attaching an 8″ piece of weed wacker line to a 1″-diameter wooden ball, painted bright yellow. I now make similar ECIs for the 22 rimfire silhouette matches I run.”
Caldwell Brass Retriever
Tired of bending over or kneeling down to retrieve your fired cartridge brass? For older shooters (including this Editor) getting down on the ground to pick up brass is tough on the lower back and knees. Here’s a product that makes brass retrieval quick, easy, and pain-free. The Caldwell Brass Retriever works quite well with a little practice, once you apply the correct pressure. While it won’t always grab every fired case, it will capture nearly all, and that can really make the job go much faster.
One owner praises this as a “very good tool” that is “a lot easier on my back.” While it can work on grass, gravel, and hard-packed earth, the unit works best on smooth, hard surfaces. Currently priced at $49.99 at MidwayUSA, it is an affordable tool.
Caldwell states: “Spend less time bending over and picking up brass at the range and more time shooting. The Caldwell® Brass Retriever picks up brass, saving your back and time. The Brass Retriever can pick up rifle and pistol brass quickly and efficiently. The retriever comes complete with a roll cage separator that allows you to dump the collected brass into a bucket quickly. It is collapsible as well, making it convenient to transport. The retriever’s handle expands from 28″ up to 57″ tall.”
Brass Retriever Owner Reviews
Here are Amazon reviews from actual purchasers. It’s clear the device is not perfect and can miss a case or two. However, the Brass Retriever does grab the vast majority of brass on the ground, sized .223 Rem or larger diameter. This will save time and reduces stress on your back and joints:
“This thing … does a terrific job of collecting the brass from a standing posture quickly and efficiently. It helps to have the cases on a smooth surface like concrete or dirt without a lot of vegetation. But we used it on open desert yesterday and it collected nearly every case with a single pass. It’s now a permanent piece of gear in the stuff we take when target or ground squirrel shooting.” — Hans H.
“This WILL save your back. The only drawback is you can’t overload it with brass. After couple dozen pieces (or less) it will start dropping brass while you’re attempting to collect others. That’s the limitation (one of them). There is a short learning curve (15 min.) in which you’ll learn how much brass is too much And how you need to orientate the wires to pick up the brass. It doesn’t do as well on gravel or high grass as it does on a smooth, firm surface. Even with its limitations, it’s a keeper. Just empty every dozen or so pieces and it works very well.” — Jeff M.
Specialized Tool for .22 LR Brass
NOTE: The Caldwell Brass Retriever is designed primarily to recover reloadable rifle and pistol brass, with case diameters as fat as .223 Rem or larger. Some people state it can be used for smaller .22 LR cartridges too, but there is a much better product for that.
The UniqueTek Rimfire Brass Wizard is optimized for picking up .22 LR rimfire cases. It has a smaller basket with wires spaced closer together. It can also pick up pistol and rifle cartridge brass but will hold fewer cases than the original Brass Wizard or the Caldwell Brass Retriever. The Brass Wizard “Rimfire” The Brass Wizard “Rimfire” comes standard with the telescoping handle and includes a”Dumper” accessory.
Federal Ammunition has introduced a new type of firearm cover, the Federal Fit Coil Rifle Cover. The Federal Fit Coil Rifle Cover features a roll-up design that lets shooters adjust cover length to the firearm. A key feature is an internal retracting elastic band that allows easy insertion but also adapts the cover to the actual rifle length from muzzle to buttpad.
Federal’s new rifle cover is “suppressor-ready”, meaning the muzzle area inside the cover has heat-resistant lining. Sizes include medium for firearms of 34 to 44 inches in length, large for 39 to 49 inches, and XL for 44 to 54 inches. All sizes are equipped with a quick-grab handle.
“With a roll-up design that lets shooters adjust case length to the firearm, our Federal Fit Coil Rifle Cover is a suppressor-ready rifle case that is ready for anything,” explains Jake Jacobs, Federal’s Accessories Product Director. “It has a heat-resistant lining in the muzzle area and a quick-grab handle. With suppressors being so wildly popular these days, having the gear needed to protect them properly and conveniently is an absolute necessity.”
Many leading shooting sports vendors are running sales for the 4th of July, with some sales extending through the 5th, 6th, or 7th of July. With some vendors, you’ll find sitewide discounts plus significant additional savings on select products. In addition some sellers are now offering FREE Shipping or FREE Hazmat (with a minimum order).
Here are TEN notable 4th of July Independence Week Sales Events from leading online retailers. With 7/4/2026 marking the 250th Anniversary of the founding of our nation, many vendors are running really significant summer promotions. This is a great time to save on guns, reloading supplies, ammo and more.
Brownells — 12% Off Products with Code FREEDOM12
Creedmoor Sports — 10% Off Products with Code USA250
Precision Reloading — 10% Off $99+ Orders with Code FOURTH
Bullet Central — Big Savings on Actions, Stocks, Barrels & More
Peterson Cartridge — Save 25% on Cosmetic Seconds Brass
Midsouth — FREE Shipping $99+ and Free Hazmat $250+
Sportsman’s Warehouse — 10% OFF All Ammo Plus Gear Sales
Powder Valley — Major Red, White, Blue & Green RCBS Sale
Graf & Sons — FREE Hazmat ($250+) Promotion and Specials
MidwayUSA — FREE Shipping on $100+ Orders (Plus Discounts)
