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January 9th, 2015
This is a grim tale. A man almost lost the use of his right hand, and did suffer terrible injuries to his fingers. All because he picked the wrong bottle of powder off the shelf.
Similar Labels, Disasterous Consequences
The shooter, Denny K., was assembling some rounds for his brand new 7mm-08 Savage hunting rifle. He thought he was loading with Hodgdon Varget. Instead he had filled his powder measure with Hodgdon TiteGroup, a fast-burning pistol powder. The labels are similar, so the mistake is understandable. But the results were devastating. Here’s what 41 grains of TiteGroup can do in a 7mm-08:
Posting on the Firing Line, in a thread entitled “Lucky to Be Alive”, Denny writes:
“This is the hardest post to post. I know if I had read it a week ago my comment would have been: ‘You have no business reloading’. I had everything perfect, except pouring the wrong powder in the powder measure. I type this slowly with my left hand, embarrassed but … possibly saving someone else a tragedy or, like me, a long drive to the Emergency Room and surgery to save my finger.”
CLICK HERE for bigger, more graphic photo of injury.
The Still-Sealed Bottle of Varget
Denny did not initially comprehend exactly why the kaboom happened. He thought maybe his new Savage rifle was at fault. Then, on his return home, he discovered something…
Denny wrote: “The seven-hour period it took to go to ER, transport to Trauma Center and surgery made me think it was a Savage rifle issue. Brand new rifle, new brass, triple-checked loading data. The next day I was humbled when I realized the Varget powder was still sealed.
I knew what powder to use. I thought [Varget] was what I used. Not until the following day did I realize the Varget was still sealed.”
At that point, Denny realized what caused the accident — “operator error”. He knew he had to warn others about using the wrong powder: “I knew I needed to share my mistake, even though it is embarrassing, just to remind people. I’ve been reloading for 30 years…”
Editor’s Comment: Denny was not a novice reloader. His experience demonstrates that this kind of mistake can be made by any hand-loader, even one with decades of experience. Be safe guys, take your time when you load your ammo. Remove powders from measures after your loading sessions (pistol powders can look very similar to rifle powders). And by all means CHECK the LABEL on the jug. As the TiteGroup label says: “A little goes a long way.”
It’s not a bad idea to separate your pistol powders from your rifle powders, or perhaps even load for pistol in a separate part of your workshop.
January 8th, 2015
Steve Johnson, editor of The Firearm Blog (TFB), has launched a new website featuring innovative gun-related technology and products: the TFB Patent Blog. Steve explains: “I have wanted to have a sub-blog showcasing all the new gun and gun-related patent applications issued by the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office (USTPO). Finally my dream is a reality. I hope the [TFB Patent Blog] will be a useful feature for hardcore enthusiasts, industry engineers, and small gun business owners.”
The TFB Patent Blog will offer comprehensive coverage of new, gun-related inventions, complete with links to official patent documents: “We will be featuring all the new patents issued, as well as new patent applications, as soon as they are published by the USTPO (or as soon as we notice they have been published). We are also embedding the patent document itself (click the red button at the bottom of the patent post to see the embedded patent) as well as offering a download link in case you want to download an offline PDF copy.”
| Here Are Interesting Products Now Featured on the TFB Patent Blog: |
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TFB Contributing Editor Nathaniel F. will oversee the TFB Patent Blog. One of his primary tasks will be to match patents and patent applications with the product inventors and the organizations owning the patent. This is not always obvious. If you find a featured patent on the TFB Patent Blog that was not labeled correctly, or was credited to the wrong organization, please send email to: nathaniel.f [at] staff.thefirearmblog.com.
January 5th, 2015
This week’s episode of Shooting USA TV, the first of the new year, is definitely worth watching. The lead story focuses on the 35th Annual Bianchi Cup — the richest and most prestigious match in the handgun shooting sports. Competitors shoot four stages over a three-day period, and everyone aims for that perfect score: 1,920. Watch this episode on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 to see the world’s best handgunners in action.
Photo courtesy NRABlog.com
The Legendary Lee Enfield
This week, Shooting USA also features the Lee Enfield MK III, also known as the SMLE for “Short Magazine Lee Enfield”. Introduced in 1907, the SMLE was the primary British infantry weapon during WWI. The Lee Enfield’s speed of cycling, versatility, and reliability made it one of the great 20th-Century battle rifles. “I’ve never read a disparaging word by a WWI British soldier against his Enfield,” says Firearms Historian Garry James. “His government [gave] him a really good firearm.”
Julie Golob Talks About Carry Handguns
In the Pro Tip segment of the January 7th broadcast, Smith & Wesson Pro shooter Julie Golob offers advice for first-time gun buyers. Julie reviews various options among revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. She discusses factors to consider: weight, balance, firepower, ease of use and concealability.
January 4th, 2015
The 2014 F-Class National Championships were held in Phoenix this past October. It was a well-attended match with nearly 170 competitors from around the nation. In a tight battle, James Crofts (1574-59X) edged past champion Derek Rodgers (1573-65X) by a single point in the F-TR division. In F-Open, Emil Kovan (1587-83X) shot well to beat Danny Biggs (1585-83X) by a two-point margin. Both Kovan and Biggs racked up 83 Xs — that’s mighty impressive shooting. Overall, conditions were generally good (if hot), and many new records were set. The course of fire was 160 shots, all at 1000 yards.
An excellent, detailed day-by-day report on the F-Class Nationals appears in the January edition of Shooting Sports USA, just released. Prepared by past National F-Open Champion Larry Bartholome (aka “LBart” in our Forum), this article provides unique insights by one of the leading competitors in the game. Larry may be a senior citizen but he can still shoot. In fact, Larry observes that age is no barrier to success in the F-Open division: “In the ten-year history of F-Class, the F-Open discipline has been won four times by senior or grand senior shooters. John Brewer was 73 when he won in 2004. In 2007 Bob Bock won as a 65-year-old senior in Raton, NM. Jim Murphy was a 65-year-old senior when he won in lodie, WI. Finally, Larry Bartholome won in 2013 at Raton at the age of 73, even though he felt like 103. All of these senior/grand senior champions are members of Team Berger, and still shoot.”
Another highlight of the 2014 F-Class Nationals was the performance of Team Long Shots. Team members pleased the crowd by shooting in their Halloween costumes on October 31st. The colorful costumes (Snow White and the four dwarfs) didn’t seem to hurt their performance. In fact it may have brought the Long Shots some luck. All four marksmen went through the match without dropping a single point. This gave Team Longshots an 800-42X score at the end of the day to secure the team win, setting a new team record in the process. Larry Bartholome writes: “This is the first-ever 800-point team score in the history of F-Class.”
You can read the FREE eZine version of Shooting Sports USA online. Along with Larry’s F-Class article, this January edition includes coverage of various state and regional shooting championships, plus a field test of the new Match-Grade .30-06 Springfield Ammunition from Creedmoor Sports. This is excellent stuff, produced with premium Lapua brass and Lapua Scenar bullets. Tester Art Merrill reported this ammo was very straight, and demonstrated excellent accuracy on target. If you shoot Garand matches, you may want to get your hands on this high-quality ammo. See the test results below.
New Creedmoor Sports .30-06 Ammo Reviewed:
January 3rd, 2015
Many of us would like to outfit one (or more) of our rifles with a suppressor, but the cost and red tape involved can be daunting. Some states prohibit private individuals from owning suppressors. However, most U.S. states DO allow suppressor ownership. That’s the good news. On the other hand, suppressors are not inexpensive and the process of obtaining governmental approval is time-consuming. Then there is the cost of the tax stamp itself — $200.00 for each silencer you own.
Nonetheless, suppressors are fun, and they serve an important function. Along with protecting your hearing, suppressors can tame recoil and dramatically reduce muzzle flash. Noise reduction of up to 35 decibels is possible with a .223 Rem. When shooting any firearm, you should still wear hearing protection of course, but suppressors can help reduce the risk of permanent hearing damage.
Benefits of a Suppressor — Why Suppressors Make Sense:
Is It Legal For You To Own A Silencer?
The vast majority of the 50 states permit citizens to own silencers. Currently, the following states allow private ownership of suppressors: AL, AR, AK, AZ, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MI, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NV, NH, NM, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV, and WY. Even if you live in one of these states, you should verify that owning a suppressor is legal in your city/county.
If you live in a state where suppressor ownership is legal, and you can legally own a firearm, then you can buy a suppressor. However, you need to obtain ATF permission and pay a tax.
If you are interested in getting a suppressor, thankfully there is a source that can help you select the right product, and fill out all the paperwork required. The Silencer Shop specializes in sound moderators for pistols, rimfire rifles, centerfire rifles, and yes, even shotguns. The Silencer Shop maintains a large selection of suppressors for sale, and the shop can guide you through the NFA permitting process from start to finish.
How to Buy a Silencer, Part One:
Based on hundreds of successful applications for its customers, the Silencer Shop has streamlined the National Firearms Act (NFA) Registration process for suppressor ownership. Having submitted more silencer NFA Forms than any other dealer, these guys know the ropes: “We’re at the leading edge of making the NFA process as fast and easy as possible. From our famous ‘Black Packets’ to the latest electronic submissions and Silencer Shop Direct, we have a history of innovation in this area”. The Silencer Shop also works with knowledgeable attorneys who can help you set up an NFA trust to own suppressors and other NFA items. CLICK HERE to Learn How to Register a Suppressor to a Trust.
January 2nd, 2015
Scheduled to open in spring 2015, the CMP’s new Talladega Marksmanship Park will be one of the largest, most elaborate public shooting ranges in the nation. State-of-the-art electronic targets will be utilized for both competition and practice, with groups and scoring viewable via electronic monitors. Sporting Clays, Trap, and 5-Stand venues will offer fully automated clay target-launching systems utlizing swipe card technology. For more info, visit the Talladega Marksmanship Park website.
CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park
Plans were approved in March 2012 by the CMP Board of Directors for a 500-acre marksmanship park located two miles from the Talladega International Motor Speedway in Talladega County, Alabama. The new CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park will feature a 600-yard rifle range with 50 electronic firing points, 100 yard multi-purpose range with 40 electronic firing points, 50 yard pistol range with 25 electronic firing points, 50 foot pistol qualification range, 15 action pistol bays, trap field with 5 stand overlay with automated trap machines, and 15 station sporting clays field with automated trap machines. The facility address is: 4387 Turner Mill Road, Talladega, Alabama.
Park Usage Fees:
| Range (Centerfire/Rimfire)
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1/2 Day (4 hr) Adult
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1/2 Day Junior (age 10-17)
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All Day (8 hr) Adult
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All Day Junior (age 10-17)
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| 100-yard Electronic Targets |
$15 |
$8 |
$25 |
$13 |
| 50-yard Electronic Targets |
$15 |
$8 |
$25 |
$13 |
| 50-Foot Paper Targets |
$10 |
$5 |
$20 |
$10 |
| 200, 300, 600-yard Electronic Targets |
$20 |
$10 |
$35 |
$18 |
| 10-Day Pass (10 visits All Day or Half Day) |
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$200 |
$100 |
| Note: All juniors (age 10-17) must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Both the junior and responsible adult must successfully complete the CMP Marksmanship Park Safety class prior to participating in live fire on park property. |
January 1st, 2015
Happy New Year to all our readers worldwide, and especially the 26,500+ members of the AccurateShooter Forum. We hope 2015 brings you happiness in your lives and success in your endeavors. And we wish for small groups, good scores, and successful hunts in the New Year.
Download free wallpapers from goodfon.com.
We hope that, in 2015, you’ll enjoy your precision rifles, spending “quality time” at the range with good friends. We upgraded our site this year, acquiring new high-speed dedicated servers. We hope you’ll continue to enjoy our feature articles, our Daily Bulletin, our match reports, and our Free Forum Classifieds. The formula seems to be working — our audience is bigger than ever and it just keeps growing, with over 150,000+ unique users visiting the site every week.
Forum Membership Grows 13% in 2014
Our Shooters’ Forum grew significantly in 2014. Membership grew by 13% as ranks swelled to over 26,500 members! More people are successfully buying and selling in our FREE Forum Classifieds section than ever before. Remember, user donations help make our Free Classifieds possible.
Daily Bulletin Is a Big Hit
The AccurateShooter Daily Bulletin has become a “must read” for anyone interested in serious rifle accuracy. In the Bulletin you’ll find money-saving sale notices, timely match reports, and a host of reloading and accurizing tips. The Bulletin has become THE source for exclusive “scoops” on new products and new shooting technologies. Eric Stecker of Berger Bullets says: “You guys have become the ‘USA Today’ of the precision shooting market.” 365 days a year we offer a unique combination of shooting tips, gear reviews, industry news, and highlighted bargains and special sales.
We need your support. For over 10 years the site has relied largely on volunteer efforts by dedicated shooters. But as the site grows, serving a larger audience, we need the assistance of professional gunsmiths, writers, and video editors. Those guys don’t work for glory alone.
Consider this — what do you pay for a movie ticket these days? Probably $8.50 or more for 90 minutes of escapism. For a buck a month ($12 a year) you can help this site provide a YEAR’s worth of info, tests, and shooting news that you won’t find anywhere else.
 In the past quarter about 120 site users have donated. We thank all those who have generously contributed. But that still leaves tens of thousands of users who access the site regularly without contributing. In fact, though our readership grew significantly in 2014, we received $3000.00 less in donations than during 2013.
Here’s our proposal. First, if you have used our FREE Classifieds to successfully sell your rifles or shooting gear, consider sending in a dollar or two from your sale proceeds. Second, for those who use the site regularly, consider donating One Dollar a Month. That’s less than the price of a cup of coffee.
How to Contribute
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Jeff Williams
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December 31st, 2014
 Report by Anette Wachter, 30CalGal.com
The ball is rolling to challenge the I-594 bill that passed in Washington state last November. This is perhaps the strictest gun control law out there. Why? Because it is like the Health Care Law. There are too many pages of undefined crap that they said they would figure out after it goes in to law.
Our local Second Amendment Foundation with Alan Gottlieb has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Tacoma, WA. The language in the new law is unclear to even law enforcement and the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL). Have you gone to DOL’s website about this recently? There is no advice and the site just pushes you to your local law enforcement or the ATF. Local law enforcement officials do not want to enforce this law and do not know how to do so. And the ATF, a federal organization, is unclear [as to the impact of the law] as well.
The law will not be overturned so don’t get your hopes up. But they have to define it. It is so confusing. We need to get the ridiculous parts about transfers undone. So many people and agencies are affected by this unclear language.
 I just had dinner last night with Brian Judy of the NRA and Adina Hicks of the Protect Our Gun Rights Washington group. There will be an organized rally in Olympia on January 15th starting at 9:00 am. That’s on a weekday when the Legislature is again in session. Visits to Legislators start at 11:00. I will be there and I will go to the office of my district’s Representative. We need your support! If you are in Washington please join us out there.
Please call your legislator ahead of time and make an appointment to see them after the rally that day. The Washington Firearms Leadership and Activism Group (WAFLAG), Protect Our Gun Rights Washington, and the Gun Rights Coalition will host the event. Both the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep & Bear Arms and the Second Amendment Foundation are sponsoring the event also. Please read more details and the entire article by Dave Workman of TheGunMag.com HERE.
December 26th, 2014
East Coast buried in a winter whiteout? No problem — grab your snow shovel and go shooting. Here’s how hardy Forum Member Nick (aka “ChevyTruck 83″) coped with winter’s fury back in December 2012. Never underestimate the resourcefulness of a dedicated AccurateShooter Forum member….
 We admire the fortitude of Forum Member Nick who braved wintry December weather to enjoy a day at the range in his native Pennsylvania. A little snow on the ground couldn’t stop this intrepid shooter, who brought snow shovel and arctic gear to his range session. Folks, here’s a true “hardcore” fan of shooting! Despite the “relentless snow”, Nick reports that “at least it wasn’t windy”. Nick shot a variety of long guns, including his .22LR rimfires, a .223 Rem, and a .308. Not daunted by the cold, Rick said it was fun to “play like a kid once in a while.” That’s the spirit!
Nick reports: “There was no wind to speak of — just relentless snow. I’ll tell you what — it’s awesome to get out and play like a kid once in a while.”
Nick’s foray into the winter wonderland really puts things in perspective for “fair-weather” shooters. After viewing Nick’s Forum thread about his snowy range session, fellow Forum member DennisH observed: “I will never complain about our super hot sugar cane fields in south Louisiana ever again! We can hold matches 12 months a year. I have NEVER had, owned, or used a snow shovel.”
December 26th, 2014
During the Christmas season we get together with our families and enjoy the fellowship of our relatives and dear friends. For many, this holiday is a time to pause and look inwards — to examine how we can improve our relations with loved ones, and lead happier, more fulfilling lives together. To that end, consider the message of a Native-American parable, the Tale of Two Wolves.
The Tale of Two Wolves
An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.”
“One is evil: he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego.
The other is good: he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.
This same fight is going on inside you — and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”
The old chief answered . . .
“The one you feed.”
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