Father’s Day is Sunday, June 21, 2019, so now’s the time to shop for a great gift for the “Old Man”. If your father enjoys the shooting sports and hunting, here are some recommended items. There are a couple items for home use as well. All selections cost less than $100.00. If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you can get two-day shipping in most areas of the country.
TEN Great Father’s Day Gifts for Dad Under $100.00
Protect Dad’s hearing — Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic Muffs These high-tech muffs provide NRR 22 dB sound protection with the ability to still hear conversations and range commands. These muffs offer Headphone Functionality via external audio jack, so Dad can listen to music. These are the #1 selling electronic muffs on Amazon.
Teslong Digital Borescopes are “game-changers”, hugely popular with our Forum members. These Teslong borescopes display clear, sharp digital images on your mobile device. Shown here is the latest rigid version. Get the Rigid Borescope for $79.99, or flexible cable model for $49.99.
It’s hard to find quality tactical gun cases that fit long match rifles. This Savior Gun Case (55″ model) can hold two rifles up to about 54″ OAL. Multiple colors and five lengths are available: 36″, 42″, 46″, 51″, 55″. This is a great choice for PRS. The big 55″ case is $94.99 at Amazon while the 51″ version is $89.99.
We’ve used Bog-Pod shooting supports on varmint hunts. They’re great for down-angle shots from a ridge or kneeling shots to get above terrain obstacles. Bog-Pods adjust from 17″ to 39″.
Lyman’s cast-irong Ideal compact press works great as a second, lighter-duty press. It also is a good choice for loading at the range. It can easily be mounted to a bench with C-Clamps. This cast-iron press is stronger than other presses in its price class. The Lyman Ideal costs $92.73 at Amazon.
This Columbia Bahama II guide shirt is durable and comfortable. More importantly it provides UPF 30 protection from the sun’s damaging rays. The added cape over the shoulder area provides extra protection for shooters in the prone position. This is offered in 17 colors in breathable nylon. This is popular for fishing, sailing, hiking and other outdoors sports.
Walkie-Talkies are “must-have” items for long-range shooting. The 22-CH Motorola T100 Two-Way Radio is an Amazon Favorite in FRS/GMRS Handheld Radios. This is a 2-Radio set for under $30.00.
This is brand new-for-2020 Edition of The Wind Book, the best wind resource in print for competitive shooters. The Wind Book analyzes key aspects of wind reading — vectors, cycles, vertical elements, and mirage. You may want to grab this for Dad before it sells out: $22.99 at Amazon.
Plano’s AirGlide case is a unique, top-loading rifle case. Ideal for benchrest guns with wide forearms, the AirGlide case puts no side-pressure on scopes. We like the ease of loading. This fits rifles with barrel up to about 28″ max.
This cleverly-designed Shotshell thermos will make Dad smile. Styled just like a 12ga shotgun shell, the Stansport Thermo Bottle holds 25 oz. of hot or cold liquids.
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Gage Pin Die System Product Review by F-Class John
Consistent neck tension is often considered key to precision reloading. Neck tension (or interference as it’s more accurately known) helps ensure that the bullet is held with a known amount of pressure ensuring a consistent release each time. The more common expansion method employs expander mandrels. However, there is another lesser-known but very effective method — using GAGE PINS. This article reviews a unique Porter’s Precision Products Reloading Die designed to work with high-quality Gage Pins.
Gage Pins, long-time tool of machinists, are used to measure the size of a bored hole. They come in a variety of sizes and classes. In the reloading world, most people use ZZ Gage Pins that are sized .0005″ apart and are accurate to .0002″. The nice thing about Gage Pins is that you can order them in either a + or – size which means their accuracy errors on one side or the other so by ordering sets of + and – you can effectively make half-sizes. It’s this flexibility and great range of sizes that make Gage Pins so attractive.
For all the good that Gage Pins can do, until now there has not been a handy way to use them in a reloading press. Some folks tried using a bullet puller to hold the Gage Pin. But on many presses, this can be inconvenient because of long handles or unusual height requirements. As a result, I have mostly resorted to using conventional expander mandrels.
But now I have started using precision Gage Pins, thanks to a special new Gage Pin die system from Porter’s Precision Products in Texas. Not long ago I received a video from a friend showing someone using a custom die specifically made for holding Gage Pins. It turns out that Porter’s Precision Products out of Texas makes a custom Gage Pin Die product that consists of a die body, collet, and die cap. Porter’s Precision also sell a wide range of Gage Pins that have been nicely tapered to prevent damage to brass.
Using the Porter’s Precision Gauge Pin Die for Expanding Necks
Using the Porter’s Precision Gage Pin die is pretty straight forward with one caveat. The instructions are very clear that the collet must be inserted at an angle into the threaded cap to help ensure it tightens correctly otherwise damage to the collet may occur. Once you do this a couple times it becomes very simple and shouldn’t be a concern, especially since there’s rarely a ready to actually remove the collet unless you’re changing from one caliber range to another.
With the cap and collet now threaded onto the die body, choose the Gage Pin you want to use, insert it into the collet and tighten the cap down. Once the pin is where you want it, use a set of wrenches to firmly tighten the cap down and you’re ready to go. Thread the die in your press and simply adjust the height to ensure the Gage Pin is being inserted fully into the neck of your brass. You want to make sure the entire neck is being expanded without damaging the rim by pushing it to far up inside the die.
General Thoughts — Gage Pins vs. Expander Mandrels
The actual use of Gage Pins on case neck doesn’t vary from expander mandrels. They both accomplish the same goal and which tool you choose really comes down to personal preference. Where Gage Pins really shine is in their durability and the vast selection of sizes/diameters/tolerances. You can even find long-wearing, reduced friction carbide Gage Pins, but they do cost more.
For me, using the Porter’s Precision Die allowed smooth operation and Porter’s Gage Pins are really well-made. This makes expanding a dream even without any lube in the necks (although I still recommend lube when using a steel Gage Pin, as opposed to carbide). If you’ve been in the market for a way to help expand your necks with enhanced consistency, give Gage Pins a try using the Porter’s Precision Gage Pin Die.
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Sightron’s Latest and Greatest Long Range Scope Field Test and Review by James Mock
When I was writing for Precision Shooting Magazine I appreciated those vendors who would trust me to test their products. One such person was Alan Orr of Sightron. Alan was willing to send his scopes to me for testing and I found them to be some of the best values. I have shot Sightron’s SII 36X BR, the Sightron SIII 10-50x60mm Long Range (30mm tube). Recently I tested latest and greatest (in my opinion) high-magnification Sightron — the SVSS ED 10-50x60mm with MOA-H reticle. This unit boasts ED Glass and has a fat 34mm main tube.
Sightron’s SIII 10-50x60mm riflescope (30mm tube) is a fine value at $1050-$1190 street price. That popular 10X-50X LR optic (PHOTO HERE) delivers great performance for the price. However, long range shooters wanted more and Sightron has delivered with the new-generation SVSS ED 10-50x60mm ZS MOA-H optic (34mm tube). This impressive new scope features higher-grade ED (Extra Low-Dispersion) glass and many great features. These features include illuminated reticle, zero stop, and FAST parallax adjustments with coarse and fine adjustments. Also, there is a locking windage turret for the models NOT fitted with zero stop. I tested the Zero-Stop (ZS) version.
This new scope has exactly what I look for in a scope since most of my shooting is at 600 yards. This boasts Sightron’s proprietary “Exact Track” and a 7-layer lens coatings. One feature that is drawing rave reviews is the new parallax side focus control. This employs BOTH a coarse and a fine adjustment, as found on premium spotting scopes. This seems like a minor point, but it allows one to fine-tune the parallax with little effort. This, along with the fast-focus eye piece, enables one to get a crystal clear and sharp image quickly. The 1/8 MOA clicks are positive and the clicks are very audible.
Review in a Nutshell — This scope is amazing and I have used some of the best scopes to be found. It is as good or better than some scopes costing $1200-$1500 more. What does a Sightron 10-50X SVSS ED cost? If you shop around aggressively you can find the basic (non-illuminated) version for under $2000 (See footnote*). I know that seems like a lot of money and it is, but this product represents true value, as it performs with scopes costing $1000 more.
With its large 60mm objective lens with ED glass and the 7-layer coating, this scope has the brightest image of any that I have tested at high power settings. (Of course there are premium scopes that I have not yet tested that may equal or exceed this one.) A person must choose a scope best suited for the type of shooting planned. For long range benchrest competition, I don’t think that there are many optics that exceed the quality of this riflescope (especially for the cost).
The test scope has 1/8 MOA adjustments and illuminated MOA-H reticle. The MOA-H has hash marks that subtend 2 MOA at 24X; therefore the hash marks are 1 MOA apart at 48X. Since this scope is so bright and clear, I tend to leave it at 48X for most of my shooting. During very bright conditions, the depth of field can be increased with an aperture ring that can be purchased from Sightron. The illuminated reticle has 11 brightness settings. The above picture displays a high brightness level. Personally, I don’t envision using illumination during my shooting sessions.
This reticle is a little “busy” for many shooters who use the scope at close range. But for longer range, it seems ideal for my old eyes. If you wish, you can order a 10-50X SVSS ED with a 1/10th-MOA target dot reticle, non-illuminated. You’ll save money with that more basic version, model #27008.
Competing with New Sightron Scope at 300 Yards
I shot the scope in its maiden match at 300 yards. Spotting my 6mm bullet holes was easy, even in Louisiana’s famous mirage. I shot the entire match at 48X. The scope tracked perfectly during the match and the 1/8 MOA adjustments were spot on. At this 48X power, the MOA hash marks serve as a great aid in determining how far one needs to adjust his aim. The set-up for the match is shown in the photo above. The scope performed excellent even in tough conditions — it was hot, windy, and mirage was very bad. Today really tested my ability to battle the conditions with this new scope. The sun was bright; the ground was wet; and the wind was blowing; and it was hot. I shot the four score targets with a 49/50, a 50/50, another 49, and finished with a 48.
What Things Could Be Better
What, if anything, are things I dislike about this scope? Most reviews that I have seen object to the 42-ounce weight, but with my benchrest rifle, this is not a problem for me. Another complaint that I have seen is the indicator line for the elevation turret. This scope has a Zero Stop and that stop obscures the indicator line. I added a line with a pencil and the problem is solved.
Tester Was So Impressed He Bought this Sightron SVSS ED
I have tested many premium scopes in the past and have chosen to purchase two of them after testing. This is one of the two I bought. If you are in the market for a $2000-$2500 (street price) scope that will compare favorably with $3500 scopes, this may be the one for you.
This is a quality scope in every way and there are few things with which to find fault. The reticle seems too busy for me, but many long range shooters use the tree-shaped series of dots that are 1 MOA apart at 48X and 2 MOA at 24X. Part of my problem is 76-year-old eyes that need cataract surgery. One cannot fault a scope for this problem.
I can recommend this scope for the long range shooter without reservation. If your type of shooting can tolerate the weight and the cost, I believe that you will find this scope to your liking. Good shooting — James Mock
Here is a European video review of the Sightron SVSS 10-50x60mm with ED Glass:
* There are TWO different Sightron SVSS 10-60X scopes. The basic model (#27008), non-illuminated without Zero Stop, can be found for under $2000, but typically retails for around $2300. As tested in this review, the Zero Stop Model with illuminated MOA-H Reticle (#27011) is about $2450 street price.
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Legacy Sports Int’l has just introduced a new bolt-action rimfire rifle — the Howa M1100. This new rifle will be available in three chamberings: .22 LR, .22 WMR, and .17 HMR. The rifle has a smooth action and comes with a “SUB-MOA” accuracy guarantee — something rare for a rimfire.
With a stock that somewhat resembles a SAKO S20 in terms of grip angle and ergonomics, we think the Howa M1100 could be a good PRS trainer or NRL22 competition rifle. The .17 HMR version should be a good carry-around varmint rig for ground squirrels and other small critters. We hope to get our hands on an M1100 for testing this summer.
SAKO S20 Centerfire Rifle for Comparison
The product description states: “The HOWA rimfire bolt action comes with an oversized tactical bolt handle, an 18″ threaded and capped barrel, and two detachable mags. All are housed into a tough synthetic Tactical / Varmint style stock with a beavertail fore-end with options of OD or Black finish.” There is also an extra-cost camo option — the whole M1100 rifle (stock and barreled action) is finished in Kratos Camo hydrodip. With the threaded barrel, the M1100 is suppressor-ready.
Legacy Sports Int’l will also be offering a Howa M1100 scoped package. This comes completes with rings and a Nikko Stirling 3.5-10×44 Gamepro Scope.
Howa M1100s come with a Lifetime Warranty and a SUB-MOA guarantee. That is 3 shots at 100 yards with “premium factory ammunition”. At least that’s what the guarantee page states. We expect that Howa might want to modify that for its rimfire rifles. But in any case, right now Legacy Sports Int’l says the M1100 rifle is guaranteed to be sub-MOA at 100 yards*. It will be interesting to see if that really can be achieved.
The Howa M1100 MSRP ranges from $478 to $589 depending on the package, with scoped models costing more. We expect “street price” for the basic models to be about $425.00.
* From website: Legacy Sports Int’l guarantees all Howa rifles to deliver SUB MOA Performance of 1 inch or less at 100 yards with Premium Factory Ammunition. Legacy Sports International requires an original receipt, and that the firearm be registered with Legacy Sports International. All Howa rifles purchased in the U.S. on or after January 1, 2017 are covered by this offer.
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A decade-and-a-half ago, our friend Robert Whitley created the 6mmAR, a wildcat based on the 6.5 Grendel necked down to 6mm. The great thing about the 6mmAR cartridge is that is offers superb accuracy with high-BC 6mm bullets, while working in AR15-platform rifles. The 6mmAR feeds and functions using 6.8 SPC or 6.5 Grendel AR magazines. We provided a full report on the 6mmAR way back in 2006.
Hornady Introduces the 6mm ARC Cartridge for AR15 Platform
Now Hornady, with no apparent credit to Whitley’s 6mmAR, has announced a copycat cartridge, which it calls the 6mm ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge). Hornady will offer loaded 6mm ARC ammunition and also cartridge brass. In addition Hornady will produce reloading dies, shell plates, modified case, and other accessories. SEE 6mm ARC SAAMI Specification.
Hornady states: “Hornady® is proud to introduce the new 6mm ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge). Recently tested, selected and fielded by a specialized group within the U.S. Department of Defense for its multipurpose combat rifle program, the 6mm ARC is a truly versatile cartridge that maximizes the potential of the AR-15 platform.” Hornady Ballistician Jayden Quinlan adds: “We subsequently modeled and tested a variety of designs in different calibers until we were able to produce the most flexible cartridge possible within the limits of the AR-15 system. The 6mm ARC does much of what larger cartridges can and everything that smaller cartridges can’t.”
NOTE: The rim diameter (0.441) and thickness of the 6mm ARC appear to be identical to the 6.5 Grendel as illustrated on page 40 of the SAAMI Industry Standards. From all we can tell, in other dimensions as well, this is a very close copy of Robert Whitley’s 6mmAR, a 6-6.5 Grendel wildcat. For example, 6mm ARC case length is 1.49″ vs. 1.51″ for 6mmAR. The Guns&Ammo report on the 6mm ARC states: “The 6mm ARC is based on the 6.5 Grendel. Hornady started by necking down the cartridge to 6mm and then pulled the shoulder back closer to the case head .030-inch. … Hornady also set maximum chamber pressure low at 52,000 pounds PSI. This slows extraction and makes it much less violent, prolonging the bolt’s life.”
There is an extensive discussion of the 6mm ARC on the Gun University website. You’ll find dimensions and performance numbers for the new cartridge along with videos showing the 6mm ARC cartridge tested in a Barrett AR-type REC7 DI rifle. Read Gun University Story HERE.
More Velocity Than a .223 Rem, Less Weight and Recoil Than a .308 Win
Hornady says the 6mm ARC “delivers substantially better ballistics than the [.223 Rem] and offers a much lighter gun/ammo system with 30% less weight than the AR-10/308 Win system. This new cartridge delivers less felt recoil than larger short-action-based cartridges, yet takes full advantage of modern, heavy-for-caliber 6mm bullets that provide excellent accuracy and ballistic performance at extended range.”
You can see a ballistic comparison between 6mm ARC, .223 Remington, and .308 Winchester in this Hornady chart:
Notably, a large number of AR gun-makers have committed to producing rifles or uppers chambered for the 6mm ARC. Some of these are: Adams Arms, Barrett, Brownells, Christensen Arms, GAP, Howa, Mossberg, Noveske, Odin Works, Radical Firearms, and Wilson Combat. In addition Geissele and CMC Triggers are listed as suppliers on Hornady’s 6mm ARC webpage.
The Proven Lapua Brass Alternative — 6mmAR and 6mmAR Turbo
If you want 6mm ARC performance in your AR15 with superior case life and consistency, consider doing the 6mmAR or 6mmAR Turbo instead. These are proven designs with winning records in high power competition. Redding produces dies, and complete uppers (with proper Grendel-sized bolt face) are available from 6mmAR.com.
Superior Accuracy with Impressive Ballistics
Robert explained to us: “Lapua’s Grendel brass is of exceptional quality, very hard at the back, with a well-annealed neck area, and it has a small primer pocket and small flash hole. When you start with this kind of brass, you have all the ingredients of great accuracy. Necked down to 6mm, it is like a long-bodied 6 PPC, that feeds and shoots well out of an AR-15. This gives you a case that can handle high pressures, with the accuracy pedigree of the 6PPC. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
To create the 6mmAR simply neck-down parent Lapua 6.5 Grendel brass, which has small primer pocket and small flash hole. Case capacity is 36.0 grains of water, filled to over-flowing. (For comparison the 6mm PPC holds about 32.5 grains). To prepare cases, simply run the 6.5 Grendel brass through a Redding 6mmAR full-length sizing die. The FL die’s internal neck diameter (0.267″) is spec’d to deliver about .004″ tension on the bullet–just right for a gas gun. Redding’s 6mmAR dies were built to Whitley’s specs and closely match the actual dimensions of the Lapua brass. This video from Robert Whitley shows how to form 6mmAR cases from Lapua 6.5 Grendel brass.
Velocities: With the recommended medium-burn-rate powders, bullets in the 85- to 90-grain range can be pushed to the 2800 to 2850 fps range. In most 6mmAR rifles, the 105- to 107-grain bullets can be driven to velocities of 2700 to 2750 fps in a 24″ or longer barrel. More speed is possible, but don’t count on it with the average barrel. If you want more speed the 6mmAR Turbo offers additional case capacity. This allows the 6mmAR Turbo to drive the heavier 6mm bullets at velocities close to 6mmBR Norma cartridge levels.
Magazines: The correct magazines are the key to a reliable, competition-worthy system. For best results with the 6mmAR or 6mmAR Turbo, use special 6.8 SPC mags or Alexander Arms Grendel mags. Those specialized mags will provide better reliability than standard .223 Rem/5.56 mags for the AR15.
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In a preceding story, we revealed the 6mm ARC cartridge from Hornady. This is VERY similar to the 6mmAR cartridge based on the 6.5 Grendel, which was developed by Robert Whitley a decade and a half ago. Hornady developed the 6mm ARC is cooperation with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), and now the first run of 6mm ARC black rifles is heading to DOD testers. Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Inc. (“Barrett”) has announced that it has partnered with Hornady to chamber the REC7 rifle series in the new 6mm ARC offering. The first production run of these rifles has been delivered to the U.S. DOD, fulfilling a contract that was awarded to Barrett late last year. READ MORE HERE.
Barrett states: “The combination of the proven REC7 DI gas system and the potent 6mm ARC cartridge creates a product that is consistently accurate and easy to shoot. Carrying 24 rounds in the magazine, the 108 gr. ELD Match bullets leave the 18″ Proof Research match grade stainless steel or carbon fiber barrel at over 2630 fps. This easily gives the rifle supersonic capabilities past 1000 yards.”
In this video Ryan Cleckner (Former U.S. Army Ranger) tests the Barrett REC7 chambered in 6mm ARC:
Memorial Day Weekend Edition — Some Sales End Monday Night!!
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. Brownells — Memorial Day Super Sale, up to 56% Off
Over the past few weeks we’ve featured a number of complete reloading kits but many folks really just need a strong, versatile, and reliable single-stage press. If that’s what you’re looking for, Natches has the Rock Chucker Supreme for only $149.99. Excellent deal — this press sells for up to $190.00 elsewhere. Rock Chuckers can be used for a multitude of reloading tasks. These strong presses have legendary durability and RCBS backs the Rock Chucker with a great warranty.
3. Action Target — 15% Off ALL Steel Targets
Action Target sells some of the best reactive targets you can buy. They have a full range of steel targets, from ground targets as shown above to dueling trees, gongs, spinners, falling plates, large torso targets — you name it. Right now ALL Action Target Steel Targets are 15% Off. Go to ActionTarget.com and use Code MEMORIAL15 during checkout. Action Target also sells a wide variety of printed paper targets but the discount applies to steel only.
4. Bruno’s — $75 Off BAT Actions, 10% Off McMillan Stocks
Bruno Shooters Supply is offering great savings on premier products. Right now BAT Actions (rarely discounted) are $75 Off while McMillan Stocks are 10% Off. If you’ve got an F-Class, Benchrest, or ELR project in the works, you may want to jump on these offers. Plus right now Bruno’s is offering Free Shipping on Krieger Barrels and/or Free Shipping on orders over $119.95 (restrictions apply).
At $20.61 you can’t go wrong with this Caldwell Steady Rest, even if you use it just for pistols, or sighting in hunting rifles. Use the front section by itself as a pistol rest, or connect both units for rifle use. We’ve used this for pistols and it worked very well — the design provides a nice handrest. Lightweight yet stable, the Caldwell Steady Rest is easy to store, easy to transport, and ultra-affordable.
6. Sportsmans Warehouse — Liberty Flag Safe, $699.99
In uncertain times keeping your guns and other possesions safe is more critical than ever. When it comes to safes, Liberty is one of the best in its price range and we found this Liberty Flag Safe on sale. These are well made safes that will stand the test of time and this one actually features a digital keypad and a subtle but cool flag design on the front. Keep in mind the sale price is for in-store pick up only.
7. Remington — 15% OFF Site-Wide
Here’s a deal you don’t see very often. The Remington Store is running a massive sale on everything on their site. Check out the Remington 15% off site wide and get discounts parts, accessories, rifle cases, gun care products and more. This is a good deal on merchandise that rarely goes on sale.
Here’s a good ultra-compact carry pistol that is reliable, accurate and backed by a rock-solid warranty. The Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm shield. This single-stack 9mm has a 7+1 capacity and weighs just 19 ounces unloaded. DAO pull-weight is 6.5 pounds. If you’re looking for something larger check out the Smith & Wesson M&P EZ 9mm which features a full size grip and accessory rail.
Here’s a great deal on rugged binoculars — just $187.97 on Amazon. With 10x magnification and a wide 300 foot field of view the Steiner 10×25 Military-Marine binoculars provide fast and easy focus.. With these binoculars you set the focus with the diopters. Then everything from 20 yards to infinity is sharp. You can also grab the 8×30 model for only $249.99 — that’s the model used by our Editor.
10. Optics Planet — 10% Off All Wheeler Engineering Tools
Wheeler Engineering makes a wide selection of cleverly-designed, firearms-focused tools. For AR owners, Wheeler tools solve problems everyone faces, making cleaning and maintenance tasks easier to perform. Right now Optics Planet is offering 10% off all Wheeler Tools. We’ve highlighted some great AR-platform Wheeler tools, but there are many other Wheeler products on sale also.
11. Amazon — Reusable Silica Gel Desiccant, $12.79
To protect your valuable firearms from corrosion, it’s important to avoid moisture build-up inside your gunsafe. It’s smart to have a Goldenrod, but you’ll also want something to absorb moisture. These reusable Silica gel desiccant cans do a great job of keeping moisture levels under control. NOTE: You can “re-condition” this canister easily. Simply put the cannister in your oven to dry out moisture and then return it to the safe. With regular drying cycles, these canisters will function for a very long time.
12. Amazon– Magnetic Charging Cables, 4-pack $22.99
Do you own countless electronics along with tablets or phones to run them all? If you’re like us, keeping your Labradar and Shotmarker charged plus other accessories requires a myriad of cables. Simplify your life by getting a set of Magnetic Charging Cables. The beauty of using this system is that you only need one cord to charge your Apple, micro-USB, and USB-C devices plus an added benefit is that you aren’t wearing out the charging ports. This Amazon’s Choice kit has four cables (1′,3′,6′,6′) plus multiple tips. We produced a video showing how these Charging Cords work. Check it out:
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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 under $40, it is a good value.
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. Picking up spent brass is as easy as pushing a mop. The Brass Retriever can pick up rifle and pistol brass quickly and efficiently. The Brass Retriever works anywhere, even on grass and gravel. 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, as you can see from the videos, 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. It comes with a wire form that attaches to a bucket for easy emptying. I normally just use my fingers to spread wires and give a shake to allow the contents to fall out. Again not perfect but when used within its design capabilities, it does pretty well. I would buy again.” — Jeff M.
“It’s not perfect. But neither is using a broom or picking it up by hand. Sure, a 9mm might drop out while you’re picking up a .45 ACP. But you roll back over the 9mm and pick it up again. I now pick up my brass in a fraction of the time it used to take me and I stand upright while doing it. I should add the disclaimer that I’ve only used it to pick up handgun brass and it’s picked up everything from .22 LR to .44 Magnum. I have not tried it with rifle brass.” — Johnny C.
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.
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The 41st Edition of the Blue Book of Gun Values will be released later this month. Purchase this popular price guide through Blue Book Publications for $49.95. Or you can from order from Amazon for a few dollars more. The Blue Book of Gun Values by S.P. Fjestad is the leading gun valuation resource. There are now over 1.8 million copies in circulation worldwide. This book continues to be the “Bible” for buyers, sellers, collectors, and connoisseurs in the firearms industry. This 41st Edition is dedicated to long-time author and publisher S.P. Fjestad, who passed away in 2019.
Blue Book of Gun Values, 41st Edition, May 2020
The 41st Edition contains 2,512 pages covering nearly 1,900 manufacturers/trademarks, with almost 30,000 gun model descriptions, and over 180,000 values, with new-for-2020 data!
Review by Tom Gresham, Gun Talk Radio Host
“At some point, every gun owner asks the question, ‘What’s it worth?’ The leading reference for decades has been the Blue Book of Gun Values. Whether you are a seller, a buyer, a shopper, or just curious, this constantly-updated gold mine of research is your friend.”
Features of the new Blue Book of Gun Values:
· Includes the new 2020 makes and models, with many new handguns and rifles, and important pricing updates.
· 2,512 Pages covering nearly 1,900 manufacturers and trademarks, with almost 30,000 gun model descriptions. 60 NEW manufacturers/trademarks have been added.
· 180,000+ up-to-date values are provided — most complete resource in print.
· Important pricing updates on major trademark current, antique, and discontinued models, including Colt, Winchester, Smith & Wesson, and Ruger.
· An 80-page color Photo Percentage Grading System (PPGS) which makes firearms grading even easier and more accurate.
· More information, more values, more illustrations, and more history than any other gun price guide on the market.
Some have smaller stature. Ladies, on average, have smaller torsos and shorter arms than men. Junior shooters are also smaller than adults. For all these types of competitors, particularly ladies and juniors, McMillan Fiberglass Stocks has created the new A-10 stock. This new stock is shorter, lighter, and more compact than other popular McMillan stocks, such as the A-5 and A-6. It has a modified, more-forward grip, and the LOP adjusts down to 12 inches.
The A-10 incorporates features of McMillan’s popular tactical stocks but in a more compact format to match the ergonomic needs of smaller-frame shooters. The new A-10 is a well-balanced tactical design that combines a thinner forearm like the A3-5, a butt hook similar to the A-5, and the sleek lines of the A-6.
The vertical grip is positioned further forward than other A-series stocks, which allows for a more relaxed 90-degree trigger finger placement and shorter trigger reach — perfect for shooters with smaller hands. The grip also features a small shelf to assist in consistent hand placement and reduce fatigue. To further accommodate smaller-frame shooters, the adjustable buttstock can deliver a length-of-pull as short as 12 inches. An adjustable cheek-riser ensures optimal head alignment.
Britainy McMillan, McMillan V.P. of Operations, revealed how the A-10 was developed:
“We consulted many of the top shooters in the country throughout the R&D process of the A-10, including Regina Milkovich, one of the top competitors in PRS competition. We wanted to know what the pros would like to see in a precision stock, and the result is the A-10.
We feel this is the optimal rifle platform not only for women and other small-stature shooters, but especially for the youth shooter. The overall design, coupled with full adjustability in length-of-pull and cheek piece height, provides a stock that younger shooters can ‘grow with and not grow out of.’ We also went with the A-10 designation because this is a totally new stock in the McMillan lineup.”
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For this Sunday GunDay feature, we’re presenting a new, made-in-USA rifle system for rimfire competitors. If you’re a Palma shooter and want to shoot rimfire with a rifle with identical ergonomics and “feel” as your centerfire tubegun, Gary Eliseo’s new Universal Match Rimfire Rifle (UMRR) is your logical choice. Or if you are looking for a high-quality bolt-action chassis rifle for NRL22 (rimfire tactical) competition, this is a great option. Running a smooth Tikka T1x action, the UMRR offers match-grade performance at an attractive price — $1699.00 for Sport-Target model (without sights or scope).
Gary Eliseo, head honcho of Competition Machine in Arizona, explained the features of his new UMRR: “Our newest addition to our rifle series, the Universal Match Rimfire Rifle system has all the features of its big brother the Universal Match Rifle System (UMRS) and will accept all the same accessories and attachments. The rimfire UMRR is identical in size to the centerfire version so it’s possible to have your centerfire and rimfire rifles set up exactly alike.” That’s ideal for guys who compete in both centerfire and smallbore matches, and likewise it is ideal for cross-training using lower-cost rimfire ammo.
The UMRR is built around the excellent Tikka T1x platform. Gary notes: “We have accurized and tuned the T1x to give the best possible performance from factory barrel and trigger. The UMRR can also be customized with a high-end match barrel and trigger. By just changing the attachments, the UMRR can be used in multiple shooting disciplines like NRL22 and NRA rimfire competitions.”
Centerfire Accesories Work on UMRR
All the centerfire Universal Match Rifle attachments will fit the UMRR — handstop, rear balance weights, Picatinny rail, ARCA accessory rail, rear bag-rider, bipod mount, and front bag riding attachments. This easy adaptability makes the UMRR a true multi-discipline system for smallbore matches, NRL22 competition, and cross-training.
Sport-Target UMRR Shows Excellent Accuracy with Factory Barrel
Eliseo confirms that the Sport-Target UMRR with factory Tikka barrel and trigger is easily capable of sub-MOA precision. Check out those five-shot groups shot at 50 yards. The smallest group (.210″) works out to 0.40 MOA, while the largest group (0.39″) is 0.74 MOA. Remember this is with Tikka factory barrel!
The UMRR can be easily configured to NRL or NRA rimfire competitions by just changing the attachments. The UMRR is built on the excellent Tikka T1x barreled action that’s been accurized and bonded into the UMRR chassis system. Gary says the UMRR feeds .22 LR rounds flawlessly from the Tikka 10-round magazine. The UMRR is currently available in two basic configurations, both of which can be customized to your specifications.
Two Versions — Sport-Target and Match-Target
The Sport-Target version of the UMRR uses the factory 20″ Tikka barrel with threaded muzzle. Gary can tune the excellent Tikka T1x trigger down to a pull weight of around one pound, though for tactical work he says you may want to leave it stock. Gary tells us the Sport-Target is a great choice as an XTC/LR prone trainer or NRL22 competition rifle. And the price is very reasonable — $1699.00 (before optics).
Match Target UMRR with Benchmark Custom Barrel
The Match-Target version comes with a top-of-the-line Benchmark match barrel and Eley match chamber with the muzzle configured for your application to accept a front sight, tuner, or suppressor. There are several aftermarket single- or two-stage match triggers available.
Tikka T1x — Quality Rimfire Technology from Finland
Gary Eliseo’s impressive UMRR is based on the smooth, reliable Tikka T1x rimfire action shown below. Note the nice craftsmanship of action, bolt, mag system, and trigger group. There is an extensive review of the T1x (.17 HMR version) on Britain’s GunMart.net website.
Gary Eliseo of Competition Machine. Here is UMRR designer Gary Eliseo at the 2017 Berger SW Nationals. Gary is a talented rifle marksman who competes in both smallbore and high power disciplines.
Story tip from ELR Researcher. We welcome reader submissions.
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The Firearms Guide 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 manuals. 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 Firearms Guide also includes a wide selection of printable targets.
The 11th Edition of the Firearms Guide has just been released. If you’d like to have instant access to 15,000+ gun schematics and descriptions of 77,000 types of guns and ammo from 1,300 manufacturers, then check this out. The basic annual subscription is on sale right now for just $29.95. If you only need the info for a month or two, get a monthly membership at $7.95 per month, and cancel any time.
You can also get a Flash Drive add-on that lets you access the database even without a web connection. The 1-year Online Edition PLUS Firearms Guide 11th Ed. Flash Drive for Mac & Windows is $59.95. CLICK HERE. This lets you directly access the data from laptops and most tablets with a USB port — no WiFi connection needed.
You may be familiar with the Firearms Guide when it was distributed as a DVD. Now the 11th Edition is a fully interactive, subscription-based online database of firearms and ammo, which is also the most complete guide to global gun values on the web. The amount of imagery is amazing — there are tens of thousands of photos and over 8000 schematics, which help you work on a firearm or identify key components/parts. The Firearms Guide permits detailed searches of antique and modern guns and side by side comparisons. Guns are cross-referenced with the ammunition database.
Database Includes Printable Targets: This resource even includes printable targets. You’ll find practice targets, sight-in targets, silhouette targets, special shapes and, yes, even Zombie targets.
Guns and ammo are presented with prices, specifications, features, ballistics, and up to 12 high-rez color pictures. NOTE: The Ammo information includes bullet BCs and velocities. GUN VALUES are provided for dealers and gun collectors. You can access thousands of printable and zoom-able GUN SCHEMATICS (diagrams or exploded views) with parts lists and blueprints for professional gunsmiths. Here’s an example of the schematics:
The online database’s comprehensive search capability lets you search by gun caliber, manufacturer, and key features (e.g. “.223 Rem, Colt, folding stock”). There are 14 different search criteria — allowing you to find the exact gun you want in seconds. Shown below are typical profiles of listed products:
If you are a gun collector, or just an information junkie, you’ll find the Firearms Guide to be an invaluable resource. The scope is truly worldwide, with coverage of gun makers in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, South America, South Africa, and Asia as well as North America.
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Specialized Tool for .22 LR Brass
