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September 22nd, 2013
 It’s crunch time in Calfornia. Golden State gun owners need to band together and urge Governor Jerry Brown to veto extremely radical anti-gun measures that were recently passed by the California State Legislature. Along party-line votes, California legislators approved a series of bills that will severely restrict Californians’ Second Amendment rights, and curtail hunting statewide.
These bills will do everything from banning ALL semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines (even flush-mount mags in hunting rifles) to outlawing the use of traditional lead ammunition in hunting, the first such statewide ban in the nation. The anti-gun package of legislation was approved over the opposition of law-abiding gun-owners, hunting and shooting sports organizations, as well as many business and labor leaders. NSSF urges all sportsmen, gun owners and retailers to contact Gov. Brown and urge him to veto these these anti-gun/anti-hunting bills. For more info, See the NSSF Legislative Alert.
- AB 711 (Rendon) Hunting: nonlead ammunition
- SB 374 (Steinberg) Firearms: assault weapons
- AB 48 (Skinner) Firearms: ammunition: sales
- AB 169 (Dickinson) Unsafe handguns
- AB 180 (Bonta) Registration and licensing of firearms: City of Oakland
- SB 567 (Jackson) Firearms: shotguns
September 21st, 2013
Lapua has done extensive field testing of its bullets, using sophisticated Doppler radar equipment. Employing radar, Lapua has logged actual observed trajectories with a variety of bullet and cartridge types. And Lapua has just released updated radar data for Scenar-L bullets used with 6.5×47 Lapua, 6.5×55 Swede, and .308 Winchester chamberings. You’ll find this new data incorporated into Lapua’s product description tables for these three cartridge types.
 You will also find both G1 and G7 BCs for the new line of Scenar-L Bullets in Lapua’s updated Components Table. Ballistic coefficients are based on Doppler radar data and calculated by Quick Target Unlimited Lapua Edition.
To find the BC for a particular bullet, go to the Components Table, select the caliber (on the left) and then look for the G1 or G7 value on the right for particular bullets. For example, the BCs for the new 136gr 6.5mm Scenar-L are 0.545 (G1) and 0.274 (G7).
If you are looking for the most precise trajectory predictions, nothing beats real-world testing like this. Bullet BCs can be calculated, “on paper”, from bullet size, weight, and shape. However, in the ‘real world’ the actual aerodynamic drag forces acting on the bullet change with velocity and other variables. Therefore, a bullet’s BC is NOT actually constant at every point in its flight path. Doppler radar allows Lapua to observe the actual drop of bullets at multiple points along their trajectory.
How much more precise are Doppler-radar-based trajectory predictions than typical drop charts based on modeled BCs? Consider this… when you plug the radar-based numbers for a .338 Lapua Magnum into Lapua’s ballistics software, the error in elevation is less than 2.5 cm (1″) at 1,500 meters. By contrast, the error based on a traditional G1 BC model could be over 1 meter (i.e. more than 40 inches).
Free Lapua Ballistics Software for Android OS Devices
If you want to use Lapua’s Doppler Radar data for your own ballistics calculations — there’s a App for that. Lapua’s Quick Target Unlimited (QTU) software for Android OS can be downloaded for free from the Android Market. Predicted trajectories for this software are based on precise Doppler radar ballistic measurements of Lapua bullets, making this program much more accurate than other ballistic programs for mobile phones. Note, however, the Doppler Radar data is offered ONLY for Lapua-made bullets. This App does NOT include radar data for Berger, Sierra or other brands of bullets.
Product tip from EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
September 19th, 2013
 The AccurateShooter.com Shooters’ Forum hit another membership milestone. We’ve surpassed 22,500 registered members. Now we hope to reach 25,000 members in the next few months. If you have considered joining our Forum, but haven’t done so yet, there’s no better time than now. As a Forum member, you’ll be part of an active community of serious shooters. You can get valuable advice on shooting and reloading from top shooters such as National Champions Larry Bartholome, Sam Hall, and Derek Rodgers. As well, many top tool-makers and barrel-makers visit the Forum regularly, such as Dave Kiff (PT&G), Frank Green (Bartlein Barrels), and John Perkins (21st Century Shooting).
If you haven’t sampled our Forum yet, cruise over to Forum.AccurateShooter.com and check it out. You’ll find a wealth of information shared by thousands of knowledgeable members, including many National Champions and record-holders. The boards are tightly moderated to prevent the ego battles common to some other internet forums. Our Shooters’ Forum maintains a high “signal to noise ratio”, with courteous and respectful exchange of ideas. To join the Forum, simply click the “Register” link and follow the prompts. There is no fee to join.
FREE Classifieds for Forum Members
Along with our informational Forum areas, we offer FREE CLASSIFIEDS for all registered forum members. You’ll find some great values in the Classifieds, and we provide a feedback system for buyers and sellers. Published feedback helps you buy and sell with greater confidence.
September 17th, 2013
Registration for the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s 2014 SHOT Show is now open for attendees. (Media and Exhibitor registration will open in the coming weeks.) The 2014 SHOT Show will be held January 14 through 17 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Sands Convention Center. While registering, attendees can easily add State of the Industry Dinner tickets, enroll in SHOT Show University and sign up for other educational offerings. CLICK HERE for Registration Page.
 Improved WI-FI at SHOT Show Venue
The Sands Expo & Convention Center recently completed installation of a new $1.6 million wireless LAN (WLAN) that Sands executives say will deliver seamless Wi-Fi coverage throughout the Sands Expo and Convention Center’s 2.2 million square feet of flexible exhibition and meeting space. That’s a good thing for media folks, but we can envision thousands of people bumping into each other as they walk around with eyes focused on their digital devices, sending “tweets” and scanning Facebook pages.
September 17th, 2013
 National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF Day) takes place on Saturday, September 28th. The annual celebration serves as a reminder that conservation succeeds because of leadership and funding from hunters, shooters and anglers. National, regional, state and local organizations will run thousands of “open house” hunting- and fishing-related events around the country. Events will include Fishing Derbys, Hunting Expos, Wing-shooting tournaments, and much more. An estimated four million Americans will participate. For information on NHF Day, visit www.nhfday.org. To find an NHF Day event near you, click the link below.
National Hunting and Fishing Day Events (Listed by State)
September 14th, 2013
 Criterion Barrels, producer of high-quality, button-rifled barrels (with a heritage of barrel-making from Krieger barrels) has opened a large new production facility in Germantown, Wisconsin. Over the past year, Criterion has hired many new skilled technicians to work in the new 72,000 square-foot facility, and new high-tech machinery is on its way.
Criterion reports: “To successfully meet with the recent industry-wide surge in demand, we have increased our production levels with the intent of fulfilling orders in the timeliest possible manner. To meet these manufacturing goals while simultaneously fulfilling our commitment to produce of some of the finest quality rifle barrels available, Criterion has successfully relocated its operations to a new 72,000 square-foot production facility. The phased transition from our Richfield workspace to the now fully-operational Germantown building was completed in November of last year.
Criterion has increased the number of its production personnel by more than 75% over the course of the last year… The purchase of new machinery will also serve to complete orders in a more efficient manner, allowing for improved material handling and reduced turnaround times[.] [R]est assured that Criterion Barrels, Inc. will continue to make all possible efforts toward streamlining and expanding our production potential while retaining the level of quality and precision that our customers have come to expect from our barrels.”
September 13th, 2013
 The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has awarded the Remington Defense Division of Remington Arms Company, LLC (“Remington”) – a $79.7 million dollar Firm Fixed-Priced contract to provide up to 5,150 Precision Sniper Rifles (“PSR”) and 4.6 million rounds of precision ammunition. This is a major business win for Remington Defense, which already captured the U.S. Army’s $28M contract for 3,600 XM2010 enhanced sniper rifle systems. The value of the PSR and XM2010 contracts combined approaches $108,000,000 — that’s some serious money.
The PSR is a modular sniper system with the ability to shoot multiple calibers with barrels of various lengths. It will be delivered as a complete package, with multiple barrels, magazines, muzzle brakes, and suppressors. Remington Defense will utilize two other FGI companies in the production process. Barnes Bullets will produce ammunition and Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC) will manufacture muzzle brakes and suppressors.
The rifles delivered to USSOCOM will be very similar to the Remington Modular Sniper Rifle (MSR) Remington originally developed for the PSR contract competition. The MSR featured a beefy titanium receiver with the ability to handle multiple chamberings up to .338 Lapua Magnum. The MSR was designed from the ground up as a switch-barrel rig, with a floating handguard, and folding, adjustable buttstock. The whole system is modular. By exchanging bolt-face, barrel, and magazine, the gun can switch from .308 Win (7.62×51), to 300 Win Mag, to .338 Norma Mag, and to .338 Lapua Mag.
“We are proud to provide our military Special Operations Forces with top-of-the-line technology,” said George Kollitides II, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Group and Remington Arms. “This award not only represents a new era in precision sniper systems, but also proves that an American manufacturing company can … provide best in class weapons, ammunition, and suppressors to our troops defending freedom around the globe.”
September 11th, 2013
Yesterday (August 10th), the California Assembly, on a 44-31 vote, approved SB 374, which bans the sale (or transfer) of ALL semi-automatic centerfire rifles that can accept a detachable magazine of any kind (no matter what the capacity). Californians who possess such rifles would be required to register them with the State, for a fee, prior to January 1, 2015. Since SB 374 has already passed the California State Senate, this bill, after conforming amendments in the Senate, is expected to go to Governor Jerry Brown for signature within a few weeks.
The scope of SB 374 is sweeping. It bans all self-loading centerfire rifles capable of using a detachable magazine, regardless of magazine capacity (or placement). The operative language of SB 374 with respect to magazines is an awkward double-negative. But the intent is clear — if a semi-auto centerfire rifle can accept a detachable magazine AT ALL, it is banned:
SECTION 1. Section 30515 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
30515. (a) Notwithstanding Section 30510, “assault weapon” also means any of the following:
(1) A semiautomatic centerfire rifle that does not have a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept no more than 10 rounds.
The way we interpret this, a semi-automatic with ANY kind of detachable magazine (even a one-rounder) would be banned. This would outlaw a wide variety of commonly-used hunting rifles fitted with flush-mounted 3-, and 4-round ‘pop-out’ magazines. This would outlaw the classic Remington 750 deer rifle, for example. It would outlaw M1 Garands which have an 8-round en bloc clip. And if you already own an M1 Garand, you would have to register it with the state government. (Under other legislation in the works in Sacramento, all ‘bullet button’ ARs would also be banned.)
Other observers read SB 374 the way we do — that it bans any and all centerfire rifles that can take a detachable magazine (of any capacity). Ammoland states that SB 374 will “eliminate the future sale, purchase, manufacture, importation and possession of semi-automatic rifles that can accept detachable magazines. No more mini-14s, no more ARs, no more M1s, and say goodbye to your Remington 750 for deer hunting. [T]he goal is clear – if it is a rifle and has a detachable magazine, then forget about owning one.”
California Legislative Counsel’s Digest
SB 374, as amended, Steinberg. Firearms: assault weapons.
Existing law regulates the sale, carrying, and control of firearms, including assault weapons, and requires assault weapons to be registered with the Department of Justice. Violation of these provisions is a crime. Existing law defines a semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and other specified features and a semiautomatic weapon that has a fixed magazine with a capacity to accept 10 or more rounds as an assault weapon.
This bill would, instead, classify a semiautomatic centerfire rifle that does not have a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept no more than 10 rounds as an assault weapon. The bill would require a person who, between Jan. 1, 2001, and Dec. 31, 2013, inclusive, lawfully possessed an assault weapon that does not have a fixed magazine, including those weapons with an ammunition feeding device that can be removed readily from the firearm with the use of a tool, and who, on or after Januarry 1, 2014, possesses that firearm, to register the firearm by July 1, 2015. By expanding the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
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September 11th, 2013
 Colorado voters have sent a message that has caused a stir around the country. In the first-ever state recall election in Colorado history, two anti-gun politicians were sent packing. Colorado State Senate President John Morse was turned out of office on a 51-49% vote, while fellow Democrat State Senator Angela Giron was removed from office on a 56-44% tally.
The L.A. Times reports: “In an unprecedented backlash, two state lawmakers who helped stiffen Colorado’s gun laws were ousted Tuesday in a recall that turned into a nationally watched referendum on gun control.” Two new Republican-party Senators, Colorado Springs Councilman Bernie Herpin and Pueblo police officer George Rivera, were elected to replace Morse and Giron, respectively.
Senate President Morse lead the charge for new gun control laws, enacted in Colorado earlier this year without a single Republican vote. Critics attacked the legislation, saying it was fast-tracked through Colorado’s Democratic-controlled Legislature with insufficient public debate. Recall sponsors also faulted Morse and Giron for failing to listen to constituents’ concerns about Second Amendment rights.
CLICK HERE for Colorado Recall Election Photo Gallery.
The Shooting Wire reports:
“Both races were described by many in the mainstream media as a national litmus test on gun rights versus new regulations. If that’s the case, it may also prove that all politics are, indeed, local. Despite being outspent by more than 7 to 1, pro-gun advocates turned out more voters than their opposition. But Colorado residents told reporters that when it came down to it, the millions spent by either side wouldn’t matter. This recall was designed to send a simple message to elected officials.’If I don’t listen to my boss and do what he wants,’ one Colorado Springs voter told reporters, ‘I get fired. Why should our elected officials be any different?’.”
September 10th, 2013
Story based on report by Kyle Jillson in NRABlog
A few days ago we reported that the percentage of females involved in target shooting (pistol, rifle, shotgun) is growing significantly. Well, here’s proof. This past weekend, approximately 600 ladies participated in a Women On Target shooting clinic — that’s quite a turn-out. On September 7, the Oklahoma City Gun Club (OKCGC) hosted its 14th Annual Women’s Clinic in Arcadia, OK. At the clinic, 600 lady shooters learned pistol, rifle, and shotgun marksmanship skills and firearms safety procedures. More than 100 volunteers provided hands-on instruction. Remarkably, the event was sold out for months and the OKCGC actually had to turn away hundreds more interested women. All firearms and ammunition were provided by generous sponsors including the NRA Foundation, Benelli, DPMS Panther Arms, Glock, and Smith & Wesson.
“Since Women On Target’s formation, the Oklahoma City Gun Club has been an integral partner in introducing women to the safe and proper handling of firearms,” said Diane Danielson, Women On Target Instructional Clinic Coordinator. “Their clinic’s volunteers have taught beginning marksmanship skills to more than 2,000 women and the dedication and patience they display has helped the clinic remain the country’s largest for the past nine years.”
Women On Target mentors women new to recreational shooting and hunting sports in a safe and friendly environment with like-minded females. Since its inception in 1999, the program has introduced nearly 80,000 women to the shooting sports. Each year, more than 200 clinics are held throughout the United States.
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