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January 11th, 2011
Every serious shooter should have some kind of anti-cant device fitted to his or her rifle. When you tilt your rifle to one side or the other, even a little bit, this will alter your point of impact. Unless the direction and angle of tilt (or cant) is exactly the same for each shot, canting your rifle will open up your groups. READ MORE about rifle canting.
New Anti-Cant System from Flatline Ops
Flatline Ops has developed a smart, scope-mounted leveling device with a fold-out bubble level. Flatline’s Accu/Level™, crafted from black-anodized 6061-T6 aluminum, clamps around the scope tube. Models are available for all common tube sizes: 1″, 30mm, and 34mm. There is also a Leupold MKIV version which clamps to the scope rail so it functions as a scope ring as well as a leveling device. All Accu/Level™ models can be fitted with an optional vertical Strong Arm™ accessory. The 6061-T6 aluminum Strong Arm has a dovetail for mounting an Angle-Degree-Indicator (ADI), which allows the shooter to make quick “true range” corrections for up-angle and down-angle shots. An Angle-Cosine-Indicator (ACI) also fits the dovetail.
As a combined unit, the Accu/Level™ (fitted with Strong Arm and ADI) is a great set-up for the tactical shooter or long-range hunter. The bubble level kicks out to the left for easy visibility (see Video above). The ADI is held in plain view on the left, under the bubble level. Of course the whole system can be reversed for left-handed shooters. On LongRangeHunting.com, Jim See explains how the Accu/Level works in the field and how he employed the ACI during a hunt. CLICK HERE for Accu/Level™ Field Test.
Good System — But Not Inexpensive
We like the combined Level + ADI system that Flatline Ops has developed. It is sturdy and well-designed. Our only concern is cost. The 30mm Accu/Level™ costs $139.99 and the Strong Arm (for ADI mounting) is $58.99. So you’ve got two hundred bucks invested before adding the $110.00 ADI. The whole set-up runs about $310.00. That’s a significant chunk of change that could be invested in your scope instead.
More Affordable Anti-Cant Alternatives
If you don’t need to make angled shots, you can get a simple rail-mounted B-Square bubble level from Brownell’s for $14.95. Mounting Solutions Plus offers a $29.95 tube-mounted anti-cant device with bubble level on top. If you prefer the bubble level on the side (for easier viewing) U.S. Optics makes a sturdy, rail-mount bubble level for $76.00. A hinged version, with inward-folding level, is $95.00.
January 10th, 2011
 X-Treme Shooting Products will roll out a new series of Titanium-bodied receivers at SHOT Show 2011 in Las Vegas. These new repeater actions will come in three (3) sizes: Short Action (SA), Long Action (LA), and .338 Lapua Magnum. The Short Action and Long Action versions have a Rem 700 footprint so that they should fit any stock with Rem 700 inletting. The .338 version has been designed to fit the Accuracy International AICS CIP (large) chassis system — providing a perfect “drop-in” solution for tactical shooters looking to upgrade to the .338 LM.
Exclusive American-Made Titanium Custom Actions
X-Treme Shooting is currently the only US-based company offering custom Titanium actions for the general public. X-Treme Shooting’s new Ti actions feature a body CNC-milled from titanium billet, fitted with a conventional steel bolt. Even with the steel bolt, all the Titanium actions are significantly lighter than equivalent chrome-moly or stainless steel actions. The Titanium Short Action should be nearly 1/2-pound lighter than a steel action, while the Ti Long Action should be 10 oz. lighter than steel. The .338 LM action will be “much lighter than steel” according to Tom Myers of X-Treme Shooting.
At SHOT Show, X-Treme Shooting will display the first production runs of titanium Short Actions and Long Actions. These will be priced at $1350.00. Price has not yet been set for the bigger .338 actions. All these actions are constructed as repeaters with bottom cut-outs for internal magazines. The Short Action and Long Action will work with standard Remington bottom metal. In the second half of 2011, X-Treme Shooting may offer solid-bottom versions of these actions for benchrest use.
 Benefits of Titanium Construction
Why Titanium? In addition to being much lighter than steel (by volume), Titanium is extremely strong, and very corrosion-resistant. That is why it is used for critical parts in jet airplanes and spacecraft. Titanium is as strong as steel, but 45% lighter. It is 60% heavier than aluminum, but twice as strong. Titanium has the highest strength to weight ratio of any common metal. Titanium does requires special milling tools and techniques for production. However, it is otherwise a near-perfect material for rifle actions because it is light, strong, and corrosion-resistant.
Future Solid-Bottom Receivers and 17-4 Stainless Actions
Weight-conscious benchrest shooters have wanted a benchrest-grade Titanium action for some time. Shedding a half a pound is huge when you’re trying to build a Light Varmint at 10.5 pounds including scope and rings. In response to this demand, X-Treme Shooting hopes to offer solid-bottom Titanium actions for benchrest use. Look for these to appear in the second half of 2011. In addition, X-Treme Shooting plans to offer a line of custom actions made from super-high-quality 17-4 stainless.
CLICK HERE for X-Treme Shooting Titanium Action Brochure (PDF).
To learn more about these new Titanium actions, or to order, call (513) 313-3464 or email ctmyers [at] x-tremeshooting.com. View other X-Treme Shooting products at X-TremeShooting.com.
Disclosure: X-Treme Shooting Products Advertises with AccurateShooter.com
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January 10th, 2011
 Starrett, maker of precision measuring tools, has released a very cool digital magnifier. The Starrett KineScope can be hooked up to your laptop or home computer to provide close-up views of gun parts, tool edges, bullet tips, sear surfaces — any small object you want to see in great detail. The KineScope offers 40x to 140x magnification, adjustable with a simple slider on the device. The KineScope connects to your computer’s USB port and VLink imaging software is included. Output resolution is 640×480 pixels.
The KineScope is basically a miniature digital video camera, with precision optics and built-in LED lighting. To use, simply place the KineScope over the object and view the image on your computer monitor. You can capture still images, video, even time-lapse sequences. The video below show how you can easily take precise measurements (including circular diameters). You can also draw lines or annotate the captured images with labels or time stamps. LINK: Kinescope Product Brochure (PDF).
KineScope for Measuring Benchrest Group Sizes?
With the ability to measure circles, the KineScope could be the ultimate group-size measuring instrument. Will benchrest scorers use such a device some day? It certainly would be more precise than the plastic scoring templates commonly used today. With 140X magnification on tap, the KineScope gives scorers the ability to measure shot holes with extreme precision. However, that precision doesn’t come cheap. Starrett’s KineScope retails for a whopping $831.25. (Source: Manson Tool & Supply.)
Credit Research Assistant Edlongrange for finding the Starrett KineScope.
January 9th, 2011
Marlin will produce a new line of affordable bolt-action, rimfire rifles in 2011. Dubbed the Marlin XT Series, the new rifles will be offered in 17 HMR, .22 LR, and .22 WMR, all with a variety of barrel and stock configurations. We’re pleased to see the XT line fitted with Marlin’s signature Micro-Groove barrels which have proven quite accurate in Marlin’s rimfire lever guns. Sorry, no prices have yet been announced, but XT rifles will be priced competitively in the “affordable” market segment.
The good news is that Marlin has fitted a new adjustable XT Pro-Fire® trigger system in the entire XT line. This trigger is user-adjustable from 3 pounds to 6 pounds pull weight, with “virtually zero creep” according to Marlin. A 3-lb pull is acceptable on this kind of rifle. The bad news, in our opinion, is that Marlin has fitted its triggers with a Glock-style “trigger safety” insert that must be pulled back before the trigger can be engaged. The “trigger safety” may please Marlin’s lawyers, but we have found such devices annoying at best, and unreliable at worst. In fairness to Marlin, perhaps it has executed the trigger-shoe safety system in a better fashion than some other manufacturers. Let’s hope so.
17 HMR Version Available with Laminated Thumbhole Stock
Among the many XT offerings, we think the Model XT-17VLB may be the best option for serious varminters. Chambered for the accurate, 2500 fps 17 HMR cartridge, this rifle features a handsome, ergonomic thumbhole stock. The added effective range of the 17 HMR gives the varminter more options in the field. As with other XTs, the receiver comes drilled, tapped and grooved for mounting scopes.
Two New XT Youth Models
Among the new XT offering are two new XT Youth Rifles — the first Marlin rifles designed specifically for younger shooters. The XT Youth rifles feature a shorter length of pull, shorter trigger reach, smaller pistol grip and a raised comb, making it easier for young shooters to maintain the proper sight picture.
January 9th, 2011
 If you want to learn about the latest new guns and shooting accessories for 2011, log on to ShootingIndustry.com and check out the FREE January 2011 Digital Edition of Shooting Industry Magazine. The special January SHOT Show edition is packed with new products. The New Product Showcase spotlights hundreds of new product offerings from manufacturers across the industry. Firearms, ammunition, optics and accessories are included.
SHOT Show Guide and Exhibitors’ Map
The January edition of Shooting Industry Magazine also provides invaluable info for SHOT Show attendees. You’ll find planning tips, last-minute updates, and the official SHOT Show Exhibitors Guide complete with floor map of the convention center.
Last but not least, the January issue of Shooting Industry Magazine includes an up-to-date list of manufacturers’ promotions, sweepstakes, rebates, and dealer incentives.
January 7th, 2011
 New from Sierra Bullets for 2011 are two new heavyweight bullets. The first, the much-awaited 180gr 7mm MatchKing, boasts an impressive 0.660 G1 Ballistic Coefficient. This should be great for
F-Classers. Sierra explains: “In response to requests from top level F-Class shooters, Sierra has designed an all-new MatchKing to provide a higher weight/higher B.C. alternative in our 7mm line. This bullet’s 12-caliber secant ogive and lengthened boat tail make it the perfect choice for the discerning 7mm long range shooter. Sierra recommends at least a 1:8″ twist barrel to stabilize this bullet.”
This new MatchKing will compete with Berger’s vaunted 180gr 7mm VLD. It will be interesting to see how the two 180s perform head to head. If you are shooting a 7mm at long range, you should definitely try out the new .284-caliber Sierra MK (provided your barrel has a suitable twist rate).
A New 225-grain, .338 Bullet for Game-Hunting
The second new bullet from Sierra is a 225gr, soft-point, flat-base Pro-Hunter in .338 caliber. Sierra’s goal with this new bullet was to provide a lower-recoiling .338 projectile that still offers plenty of hitting power. Sierra tells us: “The newest member of our Pro-Hunter line is the .338-caliber 225gr SPT Pro-Hunter. The flat-based design and lighter weight of this projectile make it a great choice for medium and large game. This is a perfect choice for those hunters seeking a reduced recoil alternative where a heavier bullet is not required.”
January 7th, 2011
Lyman has introduced a handy new multi-function Case Prep Tool. Most serious reloaders employ a variety of tools to chamfer and de-burr case mouths, and to clean and uniform primer pockets. As you may need four or five separate tools to do all these tasks, keeping track of all those gadgets can be a challenge. The Lyman Case Prep Multi-Tool makes life simpler. The Multi-Tool comes with six matching tool-heads, all of which conveniently store inside the orange-anodized aluminum handle.
Lyman’s new double-ended Case Prep Multi-Tool is a smart design. It holds tools on both ends, and the orange handle unscrews in the middle to provide secure storage for all necessary case prep fittings: Outside Deburring Tool, VLD Inside Deburring Tool, Large & Small Primer Pocket Cleaners, and Large & Small Primer Pocket Reamers. Both ends of the handle are threaded, allowing two heads to be mounted at the same time.
COMMENT: Priced at $24.95 MSRP, the Lyman Case Prep Multi-tool is a good value, considering what it would cost to buy a full set of case prep tools one by one. However, we wish some of the tool heads had better cutting edges out of the box. For the Multi-tool heads (as with most Lyman cutting tools), you’ll benefit by honing the cutting edges with a good whetstone or blade sharpener.
January 4th, 2011
JBM Ballistics (JBM), based in Las Cruces, NM, has provided free online ballistics info for the past 15 years. JBM Ballistics’ sophisticated algorithms deliver extremely reliable ballistics solutions. To complement its software, JBM plans to introduce a new hardware product: the BallistiComp.
Laster this year, JBM will unveil its new BallistiComp, a portable handheld ballistics computer that measures atmospheric temperature and pressure. Once your load data (Bullet BC, Velocity) is entered, the BallistiComp provides instantaneous drop and windage corrections for your load and shooting conditions. Calculated parameters include drop, windage, coriolis, drift and lead, plus terminal information including velocity, energy, time of flight and danger space. All of these parameters are displayed on an LCD display with backlight. Small enough to fit in your pocket, the BallistiComp is packaged in a rugged, watertight Lexan® case, measuring about 3″x5″x1″.
Why Not “An App for That”
Why would JBM produce dedicated hardware when there are good Ballistics Apps that can run on an Apple or Droid smartphone? Battery life is one reason. The single 9-volt battery should last for months (by contrast some smartphones need to be charged every DAY). Importantly, no connection to cell towers or the internet is needed. You could use this unit anywhere on the globe. Lastly, JBM wanted something that was inherently rugged and reliable. Smartphone touch screens are notoriously fragile.
How It Works
Using an 8-button keypad, you enter your firearm, ammunition and zero parameters into the system memory. BallistiComp then calculates the bullet drop and windage correction at the current atmospheric conditions, latitude and altitude (or calculated pressure altitude). BallistiComp continually measures the air temperature and pressure and provides constantly updated drop and drift numbers.
Product Availability
JBM has not yet disclosed a launch date or a suggested price for the new BallistiComp. However, you can download an Operators Manual to learn more about the BallistiComp. JBM cautions: “The manual is just a draft and may change during beta testing”.
CLICK HERE for BallistiComp Operators Manual (Beta Version) (PDF)
Credit Forum Member Edlongrange for sourcing this article.
January 3rd, 2011
Ruger has just introduced a new 9mm carry pistol. Very light (17 oz.), very thin (0.9″), Ruger’s LC9 is the bigger brother to the company’s successful LCP pocket 380acp. According to Ruger CEO Michael Fifer, consumer demand inspired this new pistol: “Customers repeatedly requested a lightweight, compact 9mm pistol. Frankly, they wanted an LCP chambered in 9mm.”
Ruger LC9 Press Release
 The LC9™ [is] a lightweight, compact 9mm pistol for discreet carry by law abiding citizens, or a full-power, no-compromise backup for off-duty law enforcement officers. This highly requested pistol was developed through Ruger’s Voice of the Customer program….
The LC9 has a 3.12″ barrel, is 6.0″ long and 4.5″ tall, making for a very compact 9mm pistol. The LC9 is impressively narrow at a mere .90″ wide, and weighs only 17.1 ounces with an empty magazine. Featuring a black polymer (glass-filled nylon) frame and blued alloy steel slide and barrel, the lightweight, full-featured Ruger LC9 offers the versatility and capability of the popular 9mm cartridge in a highly compact, reliable, and user-friendly pistol.
LC9 Design Features
The LC9 is a double-action-only, hammer-fired, locked-breech pistol with external extractor, and single-sided manual safety. The Ruger LC9’s polymer frame and steel slide feature smooth “melted” edges. One seven-round, single-column magazine is provided with each LC9 pistol, with an optional finger grip extension. Yes there is a nanny-state mag disconnect, and a California-approved loaded chamber indicator. Sights are low-profile with one dot in front, two in the rear.
January 1st, 2011
 Here is great news for high-power shooters, tactical competitors, and hunters. Lapua will be producing .260 Remington brass starting in 2011. The official announcement will be made at SHOT Show 2011 in Las Vegas, and brass should start arriving in early spring. With Lapua’s introduction of .260 Rem brass, precision shooters now have a “no-brainer” first choice for cartridge brass in this popular chambering. No longer will you have to sort and cull (and re-sort) Rem-brand .260 brass. And you won’t have to fool around necking-up .243 brass or necking down .308 brass, with the problems that come with case-reforming operations.
The .260 Rem offers ballistics similar to the 6.5×55 with a cartridge size that fits short actions. For long range, the .260 Rem works great with 120gr to 142gr bullets, making it highly suitable for both hunting and target shooting. Here is what Lapua says about its new brass:
The .260 Rem was used to stunning effect at Camp Perry to win the 2010 Championships setting an incredible new national record in the process. .260 shooters have hammered their way into the winner’s circles of a wide variety of competitive disciplines, a real testament to the capability of this outstanding cartridge.
The .260 isn’t just a target round. It has also shown itself to be a fine performer in the field for medium game. Effectively duplicating the ballistic performance of the time-honored 6.5×55, the .260 has already developed a well-earned reputation for dependable stopping power on deer, antelope and similar game. Given the tremendous selection of bullets for every conceivable application, the 260 is an extraordinarily versatile cartridge. With such a solid history already established in such a short time, Lapua is proud to add the .260 to our line of premier components for the handloader.
[Editor’s Comment: I shot the .260 Rem extensively for 3 years, testing many powder/bullet/primer combinations. I tried both Remington-brand brass (very inconsistent), and necked-up Lapua and Norma .243 brass. If you want a reliable, accurate “go-to” load for the new Lapua .260 brass, I recommend Lapua 123gr Scenars with Hodgdon H4350 powder, running at about 2950 fps. Both Fed 210M and CCI large rifle primers work well. If you run the ballistics, you’ll find you give up little or nothing shooting the 123s vs. the 140gr class bullets because you can achieve significantly higher velocities with the lighter bullets, when using most powders. If you simply MUST shoot the 140s, try Reloder 17 to get higher velocities.]
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