Are you looking to shave POUNDS from your hunting rig or varmint rifle? There is a new option for folks looking for a weight-saving, carbon fiber-wrapped barrel. You’ve probably heard about Proof Research. That’s a good company that crafts good products. But now Proof Research has some competition — Helix 6 Precision in Washington State.
Helix 6 Precision crafts button-rifled, carbon-wrapped barrels in both conventional and “pre-fit” configurations. Pre-fits are offered for Savage rifles as well as the Ruger Precision Rifle (RPR) series. These pre-fit barrels are not cheap. A 6.5 Creedmoor RPR pre-fit costs $995.00, while the Savage pre-fits are also just under a grand. The conventional barrel blanks cost $895.00 in .224, .243, .264, .284, and .308 calibers. The larger .338 caliber barrels run $945.00.
While Helix 6 barrels do offer significant weight savings, the founders of Helix 6 say low mass wasn’t the number one design goal: “Accuracy was paramount and weight reduction was secondary. We’ve taken the industry’s most advanced carbon fiber engineering and pushed the technology further with our proprietary … carbon fiber process.”
The founders of Helix 6 Precision say they build some of the best carbon/steel hybrid barrels on the market: “Our unique carbon fiber-layup design dampens barrel harmonics for better accuracy. Each barrel is cut from a 416R stainless steel core, and carbon fiber-wrapped using the Helix 6 Precision’s advanced process. This creates match-grade accuracy barrels with high heat dispersion that are 30% lighter than a steel barrel of the same contour. The bores are … hand-lapped for precision accuracy.” Helix 6 claims its barrels are “lighter, stronger, and faster cooling than anything else available on the market.”
Myth vs. Reality — What Carbon Can and Cannot Do
Carbon fiber is formed using thin strands of carbon bonded together with a plastic polymer resin. The resulting material is very strong and light weight. There’s a reason Formula 1 cars are crafted with carbon-fiber composites. But is a carbon-wrapped barrel the right option for you? Here are some factors to consider:
Weight Savings — There’s no doubt that a carbon-wrapped barrel will weigh less than an unfluted stainless steel barrel with identical length and contour (outside diameters). Helix 6 claims a 30% weight reduction compared to a conventional stainless steel barrel. That’s significant.
Accuracy — Carbon-wrapped barrels are NOT commonly being used for F-Class or Benchrest competition. However, Proof Research carbon-wrapped barrels have performed well in PRS competitions in the hands of top shooters. So, we can conclude that carbon accuracy is good enough for the PRS/NRL tactical game, at least at the local club level.
Heat Dispersion — Carbon-wrapped barrel-makers claim their hybrid design disperses heat better than an all-steel barrel. Some independent testers disagree, saying: “hold on now — the carbon actually acts as an insulator, so more heat is retained in the barrel”. The jury is still out. One thing that is true is that the carbon barrels seem to generate less mirage from barrel heat. Ask yourself, “if less heat is coming OFF the barrel, where is that heat retained?” But the reduced mirage could be a function of the black woven surface which may release heat differently than polished steel.
Standard, Pre-Fit, and Custom Barrel Options
Helix 6 Precision barrels are available as pre-fit barrels for both Savage and the Ruger Precision Rifle in many popular long-range cartridges. Barrel blanks are sold in five calibers from .224 to .338. Helix 6 can also thread and chamber a barrel for any precision rifle. Helix 6 Precision also builds one-off barrels to fit individual needs.
Here’s a cool new product offering from Field & Cave Outfitters (FNC). For years, FNC has offered very high-quality steel targets made from tough AR550 and AR500 armor steel. New for 2019, Field & Cave is offering 10″-diameter steel Gongs with printed designs. Multiple design options are offered including an IBS-type 600-yard blue/white bullseye, 4-bullseye red/white pattern, and a version with seven (7) crosses with diamond centers, based on AccurateShooter’s popular load development target.
These cool new 10″ printed gongs are all reasonably priced. The cost is $22.99 with 3/8″-thick AR500 armor steel, or $31.99 with heavier, 1/2″-thick AR550 armor steel. And for just $2.00 more per plate, you can get printing on BOTH front and back sides of the gong.
Field & Cave Outfitters can also print a custom design with the name of a range, or a specialized graphic. This could include the title of a match or sanctioning organization and be awarded as a TROPHY. We love the idea of a Gong Trophy — an Steel Gong is WAY more useful than a wood plaque that will just gather dust in the closet. We predict Gong Trophies will become popular with shooters and match directors alike.
How long does the printed pattern last? Well that depends on how many hits you make and the calibers you shoot. FNC’s Travis Frazer explains: “Sure, you’re gonna shoot the printed designs and paint over them eventually, but we aren’t charging much for the printing service, either — just $3.00 for one side, $5.00 for both. Compare our printed prices to others without it, and I think you’ll agree.”
Pricing for Customized Trophy Gongs
Travis tells us: “We’re also offering printed gongs as trophies for match directors. Pricing will be about $50 per LOT for the artwork and about $5.00 each to print, plus the price of the gong itself. It should be about the same or less than what guys pay for plaques or trophies, and in my opinion, much cooler and more useful. Contact us through the website for more details.”
Peterson now offers 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win, and .300 Norma Mag loaded ammo.
Peterson Cartridge, a leading USA-based cartridge brass maker, is expanding its product line. Peterson recently announced that it will produce loaded ammunition. This new Peterson Precision Ammunition, of course, features Peterson brass, along with bullets from Berger, Hornady, and Sierra. There will be four (4) ammo types initially: 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win Match, and .300 Norma Mag. (NOTE: We’ve also seen a photo labeled “7mm” so perhaps a .284 Win is on its way, or maybe a 7mm SAUM?)
The ammo is reasonably priced. For example, the 6.5 Creedmoor ammo costs $35.00 for 20 cartridges, or $1.75 per round. Here are the product specs for the four cartridge types currently offered. You can access Full DROP CHARTS by clicking each photo below.
This ammo is all assembled in the USA, using Peterson brass and American components: “The entire manufacturing process, from creating the brass to loading the full rounds of precision ammunition takes place in our manufacturing facility located in Warrendale, Pennsylvania. Peterson Cartridge is dedicated to producing the best American-Made ammunition possible.”
Peterson Cartridge
761 Commonwealth Drive, Suite 201
Warrendale, PA 15086
Phone: (724) 940-7552
Email: info@petersoncartridge.com
Peterson ammo tip from EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
You can benefit from these precision mandrels, trust us…
Controlling cartridge neck tension is a critical aspect of accurate reloading. A very small change in the amount of grip on the bullet can actually have a noticeable effect on accuracy (and group size). You can tune neck tension with different size bushings used with FL-sizing or neck-sizing dies. You can also adjust neck “grip” by annealing your brass, or turning your necks for reduced neck-wall thickness.
But perhaps the most precise way to tune neck grip on the bullet is to use Precision Expander Mandrels. Many top shooters size their case necks down pretty far with a full-length sizing die then use a precision neck mandrel as a final step. This expands the neck back to the precisely-desired neck diameter. Because you are working from the “inside out”, variances in neck-wall thickness become less important. This also ensures you have a perfectly-round internal neck geometry for seating your bullet. (Yes, unfortunately some neck bushings are not perfectly round inside.)
For guys who want ultra-precise control over neck tension (and “grip” on the bullet), 21st Century Shooting now offers Precision Expander Mandrels in .0005 (one-half thousandth) increments. These will be available for most popular match calibers including: .224, 6mm, .25, 6.5mm, .270, 7mm, .308, and .338 calibers. These mandrels cost $17.99 each, or you can get a complete set of nine mandrels in .0005 increments (for one caliber) for $144.99. Listed below are the nine 6mm mandrels:
John Perkins, owner of 21st Century tells us: “Finally! We have our expander mandrels up and ready to order on our website here: http://www.xxicsi.com/expander-mandrels.html.” This is a big deal. James Crofts, past National F-TR Champion, says “WooHoo — great news!”
To get best results with these precision mandrels, John recommends using the 21st Century Expander Die Body, part #904. Watch video for set-up tips:
John adds: “We are still in the midst of turning all of these so some calibers will ship when they are completed. Should have them all done by end of next week or so! Thanks for your patience while we got these set up and in process!”
SHOT Show Special Episode on May 8, 2019
If you watch just one episode of Shooting USA TV this year, it should be this week’s SHOT Show Special. Tonight, May 8, 2019, enjoy a full hour of SHOT Show coverage at 9:00 pm Eastern and Pacific, 8:00 PM Central. Jim Scoutten’s team works hard every January, bringing you highlights from the gun industry’s largest trade show. Jim, son John Scoutten, and other staffers prowled the 12 miles of aisles in the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas, visiting many of the 1,600+ exhibitors. This episode provides a “first look” at the new guns, optics, and gear introduced for 2019. Click HERE to learn more about this week’s 2019 SHOT Show episode.
2019 SHOT Show Highlights: Ruger Precision Rimfire, Hornady 300 PRC, JP MR-19, Kestrel HUD, Manners Stocks, Savage MSR-10, Volquartsen Ultralite, Walter Q5 Match, and much more.
Shooting USA Hour AIR TIMES
Shooting USA’s SHOT Show Special will air for a full hour on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 on the Outdoor Channel. Here are the air times, but you should check your local schedule. Look for Shooting USA TV on the Outdoor Channel.
Wednesday Night Schedule:
Eastern Time – 9:00 PM
Central Time – 8:00 PM
Mountain Time – Check Listings
Pacific Time – 9:00 PM
Here are some of the 50+ new products featured on the SHOT Show Special:
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every 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.
If you enjoy hunting small varmints (such as ground squirrels), or plinking out to 200 yards, you really should get a 17 HMR. This little rimfire cartridge is very effective on small varmints and is much flatter shooting than a .22 LR. What 17 HMR to buy? Well if you’re on a tight budget, consider the Rossi RB17. This handy bolt gun boasts a nicely designed stock, a 5-round magazine, 21″ barrel, plus scope bases attached to the action. And you can get one for under $140! Right now the RB17 is just $135.99 at Gensec Armament and $136.48 at Guns Midwest. (Compare More Vendors).
2. Krieger Barrels — Discounted Overstock Barrels
Krieger barrels have a strong tradition of being at the top of leaderboards year after year. But like any good barrel company they often need to be ordered months ahead of time. A little-known secret is that Krieger maintains a supply of Krieger overstock barrels that are priced to move and available right now. These are absolutely first-run quality, but just represent excess volume in particular contours and calibers. We’ve ordered Krieger overstock barrels and have never been disappointed — especially when the barrel shows up a week later.
3. Grizzly Industrial — Bald Eagle Slingshot Rest, $129.97
Maybe you’re just getting into F-Class or just need a good stable front rest to shoot from and don’t want to spend a ton of money on one. Don’t worry because Grizzly now has the Bald Eagle BE1129 aluminum slingshot rest for an amazingly low $129.97 Closeout price. Just add your favorite front bag and you’re ready to go with a competition quality elevation adjustable rest. They also have the Bald Eagle BE1209 – Big Fifty Rest on sale now for $205.00, nearly 50% off. With a much wider span and cast-iron legs, the Big Fifty is designed for larger guns up to .50 caliber. Either way, these rests are a great value.
4. Bullet Central — Buy BAT Action + Bix’N Andy Trigger, Save $50
BAT actions are certainly some of the finest actions on the market. Likewise, Bix’n Andy triggers are some of the very best triggers. However, it’s rare to see either of them on sale. For a limited time, Bullet Central is offering a $50 DISCOUNT with the purchase of a Bat action plus a Bix’n Andy trigger. This is about as good a deal as you’ll find on either product. If a new gun build is in your future this is a good time to pick up a premium action and trigger and save some bucks in the process.
5. Amazon — Caldwell Stable Table Lite, $109.99
Here’s a great product for varmint hunters, and shooters who test their rifles in locations without fixed benches. Yes there are other portable benches, but these may weigh over 120 pounds and cost hundreds of dollars. The Caldwell Caldwell Stable Table Lite is a affordable, transportable option. The stable table weighs under 30 pounds and costs about $110.00. That makes it very viable as a movable varmint bench. This weatherproof folding table folds flat and is only about 8″ thick when packed up.
Photos don’t do this product justice, guys. You should really watch the video to see how the Stable Table Lite works. The video shows how the table deploys easily and how you can swing the seat to either side. Any shooter looking for a light-weight, affordable, easily-transported shooting table should definitely consider this product.
6. Taurus G2c 9mm — $184.99 with Factory Rebate
This is a good little gun at a great price. Taurus is running a factory rebate through the end of May 2019. Palmetto State Armory has the OD Green-frame Taurus G2c 9mm for just $209.99 with FREE shipping. But the Taurus $25 Factory Rebate lowers your price to just $184.99 for this G2c. Or, if you like basic black, you can get a black-framed G2c for $174.99 after rebate. Despite its small size, the G2c has a 12-round magazine. We like the fact it has a left-side manual safety (unlike the Glock).
Are you checking your headspace to ensure you’re pushing your shoulders back the correct amount? If you’re aren’t using a tool like the Hornady Headspace Gauge with 5 bushings then you are just guessing and you’ll never know for sure. Using one of the headspace gauges is one of the best ways to control your full-length sizing and thereby improve the consistency of your handloads.
Right now CostCo is offering the Cannon CS72 Executive Series 72-Gun Safe for just $749.99 DELIVERED! That’s a great price for a HUGE safe with 43.8 cubic feet of internal space. This 649-pound behemoth measures 59″H x 45″W x 28″D and weight 696 pounds (over 1/3 of a ton!). This is built strong with 1″ thick composite door, six 1″-diameter locking bolts, and 60-minute fire rating. NOTE: The $749.99 price includes “Standard shipping via common carrier” to the lower 48 states. This is a great value. You could easily pay $1600 or more for a safe this size from a local vendor.
9. Amazon — Caldwell Front and Rear Bag Set (Unfilled), $20.16
This is a functional, “field expedient” system that’s easy to haul around and only costs $20.16. Varminters can keep these bags in a vehicle for deployment any time. Act quick — this is a special sale price at Amazon.com. This unfilled bag combo sells for up to $33.00 elsewhere. This inexpensive system works surprisingly well, particularly with “standard” rifles with narrow fore-ends. Rather than sand, you can fill with rice or media to make the bags lighter. This system features a heavy-duty clip and D-Ring for linking the two bags for easy carry. Caldwell DeadShot bags are crafted from durable, water-resistant 600 denier polyester. Bag dimensions (filled) are: FRONT 11″ x 8.5″ X 6″; REAR 5″ x 5″ x 4.5″.
These targets were set at one mile (1760 yards). Travis Frazer (with rifle) and friend Curtis went a combined 5 for 5 at this distance.
They say that “Everything is Bigger in Texas”. Well that’s apparently true, at least when it comes to steel targets — really BIG steel targets. Our friends at Field & Cave Outfitters (FCO), based in Mesquite, Texas, recently delivered a trailer-load of super-sized steel targets to a large ranch. The Field & Cave team placed a total of 117 steel targets on 34 frames at distances from 25 yards to 1760 yards (one statute mile).
It took Field & Cave Outfitters a big trailer to haul 117 steel targets.
Naturally, after setting the targets up (on 34 frames), Travis Frazer and buddy Curtis Attaway tested the steel — with considerable success. In fact, Travis and Curtis managed to go five-for-five with the One Mile targets. That’s mighty impressive when you consider neither man had ever shot past 1200 yards before. Travis provides a yardage-by-yardage account of his Steel Shooting Adventure below. Enjoy!
Along with the jumbo-sized targets for Extreme Long Range (ELR), Field & Cave Outfitters supplied numerous smaller gongs and plates for shorter distances, starting at 25 yards.
Building a Rifle Shooter’s Paradise and Ringing Steel at One Mile
Friend and gunsmith Johnathon Stigall of Crimson Accuracy introduced me to a customer looking to build a private range on his very expansive ranch. Curtis Attaway, a fellow shooting nut, served as facilitator for the ranch owners who ordered a vast array — 117 steel targets and 34 frames to be set up from 25 yards to a full mile. The largest was a 63″-diameter round gong cut from 3/8″ A46100 armor to serve as a One Milliradian-sized target at one mile. (Meaning the diameter of the target equals 1 Mil at 1 Mile.)
“What do you get the guy that has everything — several sections of land, a range out to one mile? Lots of steel, naturally. We delivered 117 steel targets and 34 frames!” — Travis Frazer
After about eight weeks of production time, we delivered and set up the targets in late April 2019. Upon arrival at the property, Curtis and I met the ranch manager and two hands. Luckily we had a tractor, truck, trailer, and mobile power — all the tools necessary to get things done. We worked from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm and only managed to get the long-range rifle targets set. We put steel at 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 750, 1000, 1100, 1320 (3/4 mile), 1450, 1600, and 1760 yards (1 mile). All the targets were accessible from the same elevated shooting position on the side of a hill.
Shooting Steel from 200 Yards to One Mile
Luckily, after the work was done there was still some daylight left. Optical conditions were near perfect and the wind, while still pretty stiff, had come around to straight out of 6 O’Clock. Curtis brought his 6.5×55 Swede and 28 Nosler. I brought my 6.5×47 Lapua hunting rifle. We took turns shooting — Curtis was prone on his UTV trailer, I was lying in the bed of my truck. We started at 200 yards, each shooting a single round at a steel torso silhouette. We continued taking one shot per distance, making adjustments to what our ballistic APPs suggested, based on the observed impacts on the targets. We continued scoring first-round hits until we reached one thousand yards. After a few shots, getting centered at 1K, we continued on, hitting more than we missed.
I ran out of elevation trying to engage the 1450-yard target. I needed 67 MOA of “up” and only had 60. After three shots and zero hits with varying amounts of hold-over on a Full Scale IPSC torso, I called it quits with the little 47.
Meanwhile, Curtis put a 195gr Berger out of his 28 Nosler on a half-inch-thick AR550 torso at 200 yards to confirm his zero and stress-test the steel. Both passed with flying colors. After that, it was straight to 1100 yards where he scored a first-shot hit, then followed it up with a second shot about two inches to the right. He continued to walk it out, scoring a first round hit at 1320 then 1600. We couldn’t see the hit at 1600 because a tree line obscured the lower third of the 58″ diameter gong. We only knew he hit it because of the glorious ring!
Knowing that he hit it low, Curtis dialed up to one mile, but ran out of travel three minutes short. He backed the power down to 24X so his reticle would subtend properly, held the three minutes and let one fly. He was rewarded with a first-, second-, and third-round hits — the third being almost perfectly centered on the 63-incher. He let me get behind the trigger and told me where to hold. I hit the 63″ gong on the first try, so I decided to give the smaller, half-Mil 37″ target a shot.
That two and a half-second flight time seemed like an eternity. I had resigned to the fact that I missed… but then I saw the 37″ plate swing with the impact. Incredible! The impact was centered horizontally, about 10″ below the top edge (see top photo). That Crimson Accuracy-smithed 28 Nosler made two newbies look like old pros at ELR. The ranch manager watching through the spotting scope couldn’t believe what he was seeing. What he didn’t know is that neither could we!
Hornady has a new line of A-Tip bullets, fitted with precision aluminum tips. These machined, aluminum tips resemble the plastic tips used in many other bullets, but Hornady says its aluminum tips are longer and more uniform than typical plastic tips. Also aluminum tips will not deform during flight:
“We wanted to incorporate aluminum tips in a full line of match bullets for years because we can make longer tips than we can with polymer materials,” said Joe Thielen, Assistant Director of Engineering. “This longer tip is a key component that helps move the center of gravity of the bullet rearward, thus enhancing in-flight stability and reducing dispersion.”
Hornady claims the new A-Tip bullets have more consistent bullet-to-bullet Ballistic Coefficients (BCs) than conventional fully-jacketed bullets or plastic-tipped bullets. Hornady’s new A-Tip bullets are pricey. Expect to pay from $75 to $85 per 100-ct box of 6mm, 6.5mm, and .30-Cal A-Tips. These bullets should be available by late June 2019 from Graf & Sons, Midsouth Shooters Supply, and other vendors.
There are currently five A-Tip bullet types in three calibers: 6mm (.243), 6.5mm (.264), and .308 (7.62mm). These have impressive claimed G1/G7 BCs for their respective sizes and weights. Here are the A-Tip Bullets that can be pre-ordered now for expected delivery in late June:
A special A-Tip bullet seating stem (shown above) is required for optimal bullet seating. A-Tip bullet BC values have been measured at Mach 2.25 and corrected back to ICAO Standard Atmosphere (sea level, 59° F, 29.92 inHg, 0% humidity). For Mach 2.0 and Mach 1.75 BCs, go to hornady.com/BC.
A Different Kind of Packaging
Hornady delivers A-Tip bullets in lot-specific 100-count sequences. Unlike most bullets, these new A-Tips are NOT bulk-washed (presumably so as not to dent/chip the tips. Hornady provides a polishing bag.
Here’s what Hornady explains:
“Right off the press, the projectiles are sequentially packed, for ultimate lot consistent performance, ensuring your projectiles are truly YOURS every step of the way. Think of it like shooting with clones of your load every time (100 in each box)! Minimal handling throughout the process means there’s less of a chance of YOUR bullet being marred, scuffed, or altered, which is why each box is packaged with a Polishing Bag for you to give the final buff to your beautiful new projectiles!”
Berger Match Solids are now government-endorsed. The U.S. military has selected Berger’s .375 caliber ELR Match Solid Bullet for the Extreme Sniper Strike Operations (ESSO) program (Phase 2). The ESSO program is a U.S. government project to develop a high performance, extreme long-range sniper weapon system built on a bolt-action, magazine-fed platform.
For ESSO, .375-cal Berger solids are loaded into the .375 EnABELR (Engineered by Applied Ballistics for Extreme Long Range) cartridge. This was designed to offer .375 CheyTac performance in a slightly shorter package that mag-feeds well.
Bryan Litz, Berger’s Chief Ballistician said: “The .375 caliber Berger ELR Match Solid Bullets were optimized for use in the ESSO project, which requires high performance and reliability over many rounds in adverse conditions. In addition to meeting the needs of our US military, the Berger Match Solids provide proven, match winning performance for the ELR competition shooter as well.”
ELR Match Solid Bullets drive state-of-the-art ESSO weapon systems. The EnABELR is designed to reliably engage targets at distances out to 2500 meters.
Table 1 below presents basic load data for the .375 EnABELR. Considering the Berger .375 Cal 379gr and 407gr solid bullets were developed in conjunction with the EnABELR case, load data is provided to achieve certain landmark velocities with these bullets, for a range of suitable powders. According to Applied Ballistics, with a 30″ barrel, “the .375 EnABELR can safely push the Berger 379gr Solid to 2900 fps, and the Berger 407gr Solid to 2800 fps.”
Table 1 — .375 EnABLER Load Data
Table 2 — .375 EnABELR Comparative Velocities
Applied Ballistics notes that: “These are conservative, baseline velocities. Higher velocities are possible but the above performance is safely achievable well within pressure limits of the cartridge. Note the performance of the .375 EnABELR is driven by the high BC Berger Solid bullets. If the .375 CheyTac were loaded with the same bullets, the performance would be about the same. ”
About Berger Bullets
Berger manufactures precision projectiles and match-grade ammunition for Target, Hunting and Tactical applications in Mesa, AZ. Berger is part of the Capstone Precision Group, the exclusive U.S. distributor for Berger, Lapua, Vihtavuori and SK-Rimfire products. For more information, visit Bergerbullets.com.
Keeping your barrel cool has many important benefits — it will definitely enhance barrel life and can help maintain accuracy over the course of long shooting sessions. Now there is a new way to quickly dissipate heat from your rifle barrel — Barrel Blizzard
The makers of BarrelCool have created a new dual-fan barrel cooling device, called the Barrel Blizzard. Each powerful fan moves 30 cubic feet of air per minute — that’s serious cooling power. This unit is powered by a common USB-style battery. The housing mounts easily to the barrel, and the twin fans can each be adjusted 360° to various angles (You can even use one to cool the gun and the second to cool the operator on a hot day). This should be available very soon at the introductory price of $74.99
Reduce Barrel Cooling Time from 45 Minutes to 10 Minutes
How well does the Barrel Blizzard work? The makers tell us: “Repeated tests show that the Barrel Blizzard cuts barrel cool-down times significantly. What might take 45 minutes, can often be reduced to less than 10 minutes. And if you combine the new Barrel Blizzard with BarrelCool, the in-chamber fan, you can get a hot barrel down to near-ambient temperature in approximately 5 minutes.”
Barrel Cool-Down Times for Barrel Blizzard Alone and Blizzard + BarrelCool
We think this product will definitely be popular with varmint shooters in the summer months. Those guys may shoot hundreds of rounds in a day. Many serious varminters bring along a couple spare rifles, so that they can swap rigs when one barrel heats up. With the Barrel Blizzard they may be able to keep shooting with minimal wait time, and no rifle change-outs. Byron Sumoba, one of the designers, notes: “With a rechargeable 2600 mAh battery. We are getting about 2.5 hours of continuous use out of a battery pack.”
Who can benefit from this product? The makers say this is “For the shooter wanting to drastically reduce their load development time at the range… or the varmint hunter looking to cool that barrel down and increase barrel life.”
Barrel Blizzard Can Also Cut Mirage
This system can also cut mirage, by reducing the hot air rising from your barrel. If a mirage band is not enough on hot days, you can just rotate one of the fans to send the flow down the barrel towards the muzzle. This will help reduce mirage coming off the barrel.
