Bench Barrels for Sound Attenuation
There’s something unusual about this range. Competitors are required to shoot through hoops. Vince Bottomley explains: “Competitors have to shoot with the rifle barrel inside a foam-lined plastic barrel, in an attempt to cut down on noise. This was a condition imposed by the local police but in practice, you don’t notice it as you are looking through a scope.” That looks pretty strange to us. Hopefully we won’t see these kind of restrictions imposed in the USA.
Here’s good news to report from the United Kingdom. The UK’s second 1000-yard benchrest facility just opened up in Scotland, near the town of Castle Douglas in the south of Scotland. Until now, Diggle was the only range running 1000-yard benchrest matches in all of the UK. With interest in long-range benchrest competition growing in the UK, it’s good to see a new 1K venue opening for business.
The new Ingleston Range in Castle Douglas is operated by the Galloway Small Arms Club. This club is affiliated with the United Kingdom Bench Rest Association (UKBRA), so any records established will be recognized by the UK governing body for benchrest shooting. Light Gun and Heavy Gun Classes are run according to American IBS rules. And, per UKBRA standards, there is also a third, Factory Rifle Class. Vince Bottomley reports: “The Range is located on a working farm and the GSAC members have worked tremendously hard to create a 1000-yard range from what is basically open countryside.”
Here’s the view looking downrange. What a beautiful place to shoot…
F-Class shooting (both F-Open and F-TR) is one of the fastest-growing forms of rifle competition. Each season many new shooters hit the line and attendance at the big matches increases every year. But if you’re new to the game, you may ask “Where can I shoot an F-Class match?”. Well, Forum member Rod V. (aka Nodak7mm) has compiled a useful list of 109 ranges around the USA where F-Class matches are held (plus 6 “possibles”). With venues from Alabama to Wyoming — you should find an F-Class program not too far from home. The list, in Excel spreadsheet format, provides range locations and weblinks (where available). Click the link below to download the F-Class Range List (.xls file):
Note — this list, now in its 19th Revision, is augmented regularly, but info is still being gathered. No claim is made that the list is comprehensive. But it still covers the the lion’s share of the important F-Class venues nationwide. If you know of a range that should be added to the list, please post the location on our F-Class Range List Forum thread. Rod will update the list as new range info is received. Rod writes: “Range information is wanted and welcomed. I would like your help on collecting specific info on Clubs/Ranges where known F-Class matches are held.” Here’s a partial sample from Rod’s list:
Ever heard of the Canadian Rangers, an element of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Reserve? Founded in 1947, the Rangers serve as the CAF’s eyes and ears in sparsely-settled northern and coastal areas of Canada. The Rangers cover the remote frontiers, performing public safety as well as security duties. For their entire history, the Canadian Rangers have always used a compact model of the Lee-Enfield No. 4. But that’s about to change…
Stirring Rapid-Fire Demonstration by Canadian Rangers
The Rangers have decided to replace their beloved (but antiquated) Lee-Enfields for something more advanced — the Tikka T3 Compact Tactical Rifle (CTR) in .308 Winchester.
Canadian Ranger Model Tikka Compact Tactical Rifle Features:
1. Barrel, Bolt, and Action made by Colt Canada under license from SAKO.
2. Larger bolt handle and enlarged trigger guard to accommodate gloved hands.
3. Protected front and rear iron sights.
4. Laminated stock in unique gray/orange or red colour with Ranger Crest.
5. Two-stage trigger with three-position safety.
The first 125 prototypes have been delivered to the Rangers for field testing. Feedback from the Rangers will be incorporated in the final production rifles. The contract calls for 6500+ production rifles to be delivered to the Rangers by end of 2018.
In addition to the rifle, the package will include a custom-molded Pelican hard transport case, plus a soft transport case (outfitted with sling and cleaning kit). Both hard case and soft case feature the Canadian Ranger Crest.
TekMat.com sells a wide selection of printed rubber mats used for gun cleaning and servicing. These mats are made from wetsuit-like neoprene sandwiched between fabric layers. One side of each mat is printed with an exploded diagram of a particular pistol, rifle, or shotgun. The 17″ x 11″ Handgun mats cost $13.99. Long Gun mats measure 36″x12″ and cost $24.99. Most mats are black, but some of the mats are offered in gray and/or Olive Drab.
The July 8th (Wednesday night) episode of Shooting USA features the 1874 Sharps rifle, a lever-action breech-loader favored by plains buffalo hunters. Christian Sharps patented his signature rifle design in 1848. The Sharps Model 1874 was an updated version, chambered for metallic cartridges. According to firearms historian/author Garry James, the Sharps rifle “came in all sorts of different calibers from .40 all the way up to .50, and jillions of different case lengths and styles and configurations”.
Sharps rifles have enjoyed a new-found notoriety, thanks to Hollywood. Tom Selleck starred as Matthew Quigley in the hit movie Quigley Down-Under. In a famous scene (watch below), Quigley used his 1874 Sharps to hit a wooden bucket at very long range*. In this movie clip, Selleck explains the 45-110 cartridge, the rifle’s double-set trigger, and the Vernier rear sight. (45-110 refers to .45 caliber and case capacity of 110 grains of black powder).
The Sharps rifles used in the movie were made by Shiloh Rifle company (Powder River Rifle Company). There were actually three (3) Sharps rifles made for the movie. One went to the NRA’s National Firearms Museum while another was raffled off to support NRA shooting programs. The headline photo shows the third rifle, Selleck’s favorite, which the actor retained for some years until deciding to sell it. This third rifle (with spare barrel and associated items) were sold at auction in 2008.
* Based on the way the movie is edited, we figure the bucket is placed at about 800 yards. A typical speed for a horse galloping is 35 mph, and the horse ran (with rider holding bucket) for 46.5 seconds (0.775 minutes). To calculate yardage, divide 35 by 60 to get miles per minute, times 0.775 for distance traveled over time. Then multiply by 1760, the number of yards in a mile. That gives us 795.66 yards.
The Yankee Lady, a restored B-17G Bomber, will wow the crowd at Camp Perry.
First Shot Ceremony at Camp Perry
The NRA National Rifle and Pistol Matches kick off Monday, July 6, 2014 at Camp Perry with the First Shot Ceremony. This will be a big affair, with pyrotechnics and a display of WWII military hardware. The celebration begins at 9:30 am, with music from the 122nd Army Band. The ceremony will formally start at 10:00 as First Shot Speaker, Congressman Robert Latta (Ohio), delivers his speech and fires the traditional first shot. Two WWII-era military aircraft will thunder overhead: Yankee Lady, a fully-restored B-17G bomber, and a U.S. Navy TBM Avenger torpedo bomber. On the Rodriguez Range, WWII vehicles, including a Sherman Tank, will roll in convoy.
Today, July 4th, we are celebrating a special birthday — the launching of a new nation that would become the world’s greatest exemplar of freedom and democracy. It is easy to lose sight of the challenges that faced our fore-fathers, and the continuing burdens we all share, as Americans, to maintain freedom at home and stand as an example to other peoples engaged in the struggle for democracy. It is more important than ever that we remember the ideals on which the nation was founded, and remember that our nation became great through the efforts and talents of a free citizenry.
It’s July 4th, that means fireworks displays. What better time to order up some gunpowder? We’re pleased to report that Midsouth Shooters Supply has received some big shipments from the major powder makers. In stock now at Midsouth are many of the most popular accuracy powders, including: Hodgdon 4198, Hodgdon 4831, IMR 4166, IMR 8208 XBR, Vithavuori N133, Accurate LT30 and LT32, Norma 203B, Alliant AR Comp, and many more. Sorry Midsouth doesn’t have Varget or H4350, but Midsouth has the vast majority of the propellants our benchrest and precision shooters favor.
H4198 and LT30 are great for the 30BR, AR Comp and CFE 223 are excellent for Service Rifle shooters, VV N133 is a top choice for the 6PPC, Norma 203B (nearly identical to Reloder 15) is great in the 6mmBR and Dasher, IMR 8208 XBR is very accurate in the .308 Win, and Hodgdon H4831 is an excellent choice for the .284 Winchester and 7mm WSM.
All these popular Powders (and many more) are in stock:
Our friend Vince Bottomley has reviewed the Leupold VX-6 7-42x56mm scope for Target Shooter Magazine, a UK-based webzine. Vince put Leupold’s new 7-42X through its paces, testing its suitability for F-Class competition. Vince liked the scope. The glass was bright and the clicks were repeatable. Point of impact did not change after zooming from 7X all the way out to 42X. Finding the view “crystal-clear and sharp” at 42X, Vince concluded that “the Leupold would be very shootable at max power.”
Interestingly, the vertical elevation clicks are 1/8 MOA while the horizontal clicks are 1/4 MOA.* Vince found that a bit confusing, but “all other controls — the side-focus [parallax], zoom-ring, and European-style ocular focus-ring are spot-on and moved with a reassuringly precise feel.”
Here are some highlights from Vince Bottomley’s review:
Initial reaction? It looks right – not as chunky as a Schmidt, not long and slim like the new Nightforce, just right in fact – like the March and the new SV 10-50 Sightron. In line with the new breed of high-end optics, it sports a 34mm body-tube but, weight-wise it’s bang on the money at 26.5 oz – the same as my 8-32 Sightron and lighter than the 28 oz. Nightforce Competition 15-55.
Are odd ounces that important? Yes they are – to weight-conscious F-TR shooters, who may be attracted by this scope as an alternative to the March 10-60X – which is even lighter at a tad under 25 ounces. Putting together an effective F-TR gun is all about making compromises – pick a 10-60 March over the 15-55 Nightforce and you can add an inch to your barrel!
With just 55 MOA of elevation adjustment, the VX-6 isn’t over-generous but of course, tapered scope-rails are now readily available for most rifles if you need more MOA. Windage is adequate at 45 MOA.
In conclusion, this is a very fine long-range target scope, which should definitely appeal to serious F-Class shooters and must be considered alongside the 10-60 March and 15-55 Nightforce Competition scopes. Also, the Leupold lifetime ‘no quibble’ guarantee is the best in the business – if you can’t make up your mind, this could be the deal-maker.
*Actually, the true click values are closer to 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch (rather than 1/8 MOA and 1/4 MOA). To calibrate the true click values, Vince took a baseline shot then wound on 20 MOA “up” vertical. His second shot impacted 19.875″ higher. One MOA is 1.047 inches, so 20 MOA should have measured 20.94″ inches. So his 20 MOA was off by about 1 inch, or 5%. This variance is not unusual, and it demonstrates why you should always verify your true scope values before shooting a match.
You can quickly access loads for Alliant powders via Alliant’s Online Reloader’s Guide. There you’ll find hundreds of recipes for rifle loads, pistol loads, and shotshell loads. While it’s handy to use the Alliant website when you have a live connection, you can also download the Alliant Reloaders’ Guide in PDF format for off-line viewing. That way you can archive the Guide on your computer, or keep the file on a mobile device for use in the field or workshop.
Alliant’s 116-page PDF Reloader’s Guide includes recipes for shotgun, pistol, and rifle. This guide includes important safety instructions, plus reloading data for most popular cartridges. The guide includes Alliant’s new Reloder 23, 26 and Power Pro powders. Most of the listed rifle loads are for Speer bullets, but there are also loads with Barnes, Berger, Hornady, Nosler and Sierra bullets.
Get FREE Print (Paper) Alliant Reloader’s Guide
You can also get a FREE PRINT VERSION of the 2015 Alliant Powder Reloader’s Guide. Just CLICK HERE and fill out your name and address. Allow 3-4 weeks for delivery.
First Shot Ceremony at Camp Perry
