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March 17th, 2009
Are you a rimfire shooter looking for an Anschütz action (or barreled action) to use in an after-market benchrest, silhouette, or prone stock (such as the new Elesio AN-1)? You can spend weeks watching the auction boards, or you can save time and money by just giving Mac Tilton a call at his shop in California.
Mac, owner of MTGuns.com, has hundreds of “previously owned” rimfire rifles in inventory, including scores of Anschütz models. Most have model 54 or 64 actions–he rarely gets the 2000-series barrel-block-style actions. But you can certainly build a match-winning rifle from a Model 54. Mac also stocks many BSA Martini and Walther match rifles. Our friend Joe F. recently picked up a used Suhl 150-1 from Mac. This editor has shot that gun and it is amazingly accurate, with a fantastic trigger. (Unfortunately, Mac has only a couple Suhls left.)
Big Shipment Just Arrived from Europe
Mac has just taken delivery of 150 rifles from Europe. Among this batch are a couple dozen 20-year-old Anschütz prone rifles that are essentially “as new”, still “in the wrap”. The rest of the shipment are mostly single-shot Anschütz prone or position rifles, but there will be some other brands in the mix. For more info, call Mac at (805) 720-7720, from 9 am to 5 pm, Pacific Time.
March 16th, 2009
 In an official press release dated March 10, 2009, the National Parks Service (NPS) announced its intention to ban all lead bullets, lead-containing ammunition, and lead fishing tackle in the lands under NPS control.
According to acting National Park Service director Dan Wenk: “Our goal is to eliminate the use of lead ammunition and lead fishing tackle in parks by the end of 2010. We want to take a leadership role in removing lead from the environment.”
The NPS announcement has drawn scathing criticism from groups representing hunters and anglers. The National Shooting Sports Foundation called the decision “arbitrary, over-reactive, and not based on science”. According to the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, the NPS lead ban “would needlessly push hunters to use more costly bullets made of tungsten, copper, and steel. The restrictions, set to take affect by the end of 2010, were announced without regard to science and without soliciting feedback from sportsmens’ groups.”
Outdoor groups were blind-sided by the NPS policy change, as the Park Service made no effort to consult hunters and fishermen before instituting the “no-lead” policy. “The NPS announcement demonstrates either complete ignorance or complete arrogance as to the effect that this policy will have on hunters,” said NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox. “There is no science to support NPS’s contention that the use of lead ammunition in hunting is causing environmental contamination, having a negative effect on wildlife, or posing a threat to the health of visitors or park staff. This policy, and the lack of communication in advance with the sportsmen’s community, is a deliberate attempt to reduce the number of people who will want to hunt in the 60 parks that are open to hunting.”
With the Park Service lead ban be fully implemented as planned? We’ll have to see whether the chorus of criticism can derail the NPS policy. Jim Shepherd of the Outdoor Wire writes: “When the National Park Service decided to ban lead in fishing tackle and ammunition from properties under their control, they probably thought this was another of their little surprises that would stay under the radar. Instead, they’ve found themselves justifiably pilloried by a wide array of organizations representing the hunting and fishing communities and several state legislatures who find their capricious rule-making more than a little offensive.”
March 16th, 2009
 In a surprise move, Remington Arms announced that current President/CEO Tommy Millner will be replaced by Remington Chief Operating Officer (COO) Ted (Theodore) Torbeck. Torbeck has been promoted to CEO and director of both Remington Arms and Freedom Group Inc., Remington’s parent company. (Freedom Group is owned by Cerberus Capital Management, a private holding company.) Millner will make a lateral move to take over as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of outdoor retailer Cabela’s Inc. (NYSE: CAB). The 55-year-old Millner had worked for Madison, N.C.-based Remington for 15 years, including the past 10 as CEO of parent Freedom Group Inc.
We don’t know the “how and why” of this executive re-shuffling, and whether Millner decided to “jump ship” on his own or whether he was pressured to leave. Freedom Group Chairman Paul Miller issued a statement thanking Millner for his years of service, and stating that Torbeck would help Remington “expand into new markets.” Before joining Remington as COO in February of 2008, Torbeck held various positions at General Electric beginning in 1978. He was vice president of operations of GE Industrial from 2006 to 2008.
March 15th, 2009
Many of our readers like to preview the Daily Bulletin by looking at the small preview portal on our home page. Some of you may not realize that there is a better, more reader-friendly way to read the Bulletin every day.
CLICK HERE to view Bulletin in full-page window.
We offer the Daily Bulletin on a larger, dedicated page. You can see the full width of the pictures, and the navigation tools won’t interfere with the text. It’s very simple to view the full-width Bulletin. We offer multiple links from the top of our home page (see illustration). In addition, right above the Bulletin preview window on the home page is a big red 6″-long button that says “CLICK HERE for DAILY BULLETIN”.
Once you’ve arrived at our Bulletin page, we suggest that you bookmark the address: www.accurateshooter.com/bulletin.html.
March 11th, 2009
The Youth Shooting Sports Alliance (YSSA) has introduced a new Donated Firearms Program to help support youth shooting programs. If you donate a “previously-owned” firearm, the YSSA will auction the gun on Gunbroker.com. After the gun is sold, the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, will provide the donor with a receipt showing the sale value. You can then claim this amount as a charitable deduction on your income taxes.
“The Donated Firearms Program provides an opportunity for sportsmen and women to donate their old guns and help the YSSA build the next generation of shooters” said David Baron, President of Baron Technology, Inc. and President of YSSA. Baron added “It may be just your old gun, but put in the right hands, it can help … the next generation of shooters and hunters.”
CLICK HERE to download YSSA gun donation form.
Prospective donors are asked to complete a sign-up form, available on YSSA’s website (or by clicking the above link). In addition to collecting the donor’s contact info, the form requests a description of the donated firearm(s) (including any known defects). The donor must also supply contact information for the Federal Firearms License (FFL) holder who will be shipping the donor’s firearm. The donor will be provided copies of all communications between the FFL holders involved. The donor must agree to pay for shipping of the firearm to the YSSA’s designated FFL holder — Red’s Army/Navy, Kitty Hawk, NC.
Auction proceeds will be used to purchase equipment and supplies for priority youth shooting sports programs nationwide. This is a worthy program that allows you to get a tax deduction for those old guns that may be sitting in your say. Visit the YSSA website for more information.
March 10th, 2009
 Putting an end to nine years of litigation, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear New York City’s request to continue a lawsuit that sought to hold firearms manufacturers responsible for the criminal misuse of firearms. Among the companies sued were Beretta USA Corp., Smith & Wesson Holding Corp., Colt’s Manufacturing Co. LLC, Sturm, Ruger & Co. and Glock GmbH.
“We are very pleased by today’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to not review lower appellate court rulings that dismissed cases based on the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act,” said Steve Sanetti, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. “These baseless lawsuits against responsible, law-abiding companies are the type that Congress intended to prevent by passing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.”
The city’s lawsuit was originally filed in 2000 by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and was continued by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. After the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act was passed by Congress in 2005, a federal judge threw out the New York lawsuit. Then in April of 2008, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that decision, saying the new law was constitutional. New York City’s final recourse was to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, but on March 9th the High Court refused the case.
LINK to N.Y. Times Report on NYC Gun Litigation.
This report is provided by the NSSF.
March 8th, 2009
 We regret that the AccurateShooter Forum is still not 100% right, but there is progress. As of 1300 Pacific time the Forum could be accessed and we were able to open and read threads, but the formatting was still not completely right.
What’s been happening? On Saturday morning, the hosting company installed some new software. We were told the Forum would be up and running “within 2-3 hours”. Obviously the hosting company encountered more serious problems than it anticipated. The problems were caused by a software update that did not work properly. This update was initiated by the third-party hosting company and is NOT something we requested (or even knew was coming).
We understand there is a high level of frustration, and we have commenced the process of moving the entire forum to a new hosting system. Unfortunately, with thousands of members and nearly 100,000 threads, that is a process which needs to be done very carefully. Full conversion take some time.
March 7th, 2009
Notice for Forum Visitors:
Unfortunately, you may have trouble accessing our Shooters Forum during the next 24 hours. The third-party that hosts our forum, Website Toolbox, is installing a master “back-end” software upgrade today.
Predictably, something went wrong with the upgrade and access to the Forum may be sporadic today. Please don’t freak out. This is something that should be resolved shortly, and YES we know there’s a problem.
March 7th, 2009
Randy Robinett, maker of the popular and super-accurate BIB bullets, now has an updated website. With a little help from Ryan Ware and the folks at the BenchTalk Forum, Randy has expanded his website to include very comprehensive information on all the bullets he produces.
On Randy’s new product page, you’ll find everything you want to know about his bullets: BCs, recommended twist rates, ogive number, meplat size, and diameters of pressure rings and shanks. Here’s a sample of the info for Randy’s 6mm bullets:
| BIB 6mm Bullets
6mm – 65gr FB, BC = .27. Made in Niemi carbide dies, 8.5 ogive/.055″ meplat, .2435 pressure ring; .2433 shank: a 1:14″ twist is ideal.
6mm – 67.0gr FB, BC = .28. Made in Niemi carbide dies, 8.5 ogive/.055″ meplat, .2435 pressure ring; .2433 shank: ideal twist for the 67gr FB is 1:13.5″.
6mm – 95gr FB, BC = .45. Made in Niemi carbide dies; 11 ogive/.052″ meplat; .2435 pressure-ring; .2433″ shank. Ideal twist: 1:10″ twist; works well in twist rates as fast as 1:8″.
6mm – 108gr FB, BC = .51. Made in Niemi carbide dies; 11 ogive/.052″ meplat; .2435 pressure-ring; .2433″ shank. Ideal twist rate: 1:9″; faster twists not recommended. |
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For more information on Robinett’s .22, .25, 6mm, and 30-Caliber bullets, visit www.BIBullets.com. You can also email Randy at bibrob [at] netins.net, or phone him at (515) 438-4010.
March 6th, 2009
“Sold Out” is the message these days at retail stores, gunshows, and online merchants. Our readers have reported that big outlet stores such as WalMart are completely sold out of loaded ammo in popular calibers. At a Sportsman’s Warehouse store, the shelves were bare (see photo below). Likewise at a gunshow we attended last week in California, vendors sold out their supplies of rifle primers… down to the last box. Many online e-merchants (including Grafs.com, MidwayUSA, and Wideners) are completely sold out of small and large CCI, Federal, Remington, and Wolf rifle primers.
What’s going on? Is this a wave of panic buying or are there other factors at play? First, it’s pretty clear that shooters nationwide are laying in large supplies of ammo, bullets, and primers. This is motivated by fears (justified or not) that Congress is contemplating new taxes on ammo and reloading components. Also, there has been increased demand for ammunition for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that has siphoned off some of the supply of primers from CCI and Federal. However, the primary cause of the shortages is “panic buying” and hoarding by gun owners. Amy Bruno tells us that none of her suppliers have notified her of any production issues. CCI, Federal, and Remington are cranking out as many primers as ever, but supplies are selling out as soon as they hit the shelves.
The Good News
Nammo Lapua reports that a large shipment of Lapua cartridge brass should be arriving in the USA and clear customs within the next 10 days. This will include 220 Russian, .243 Win, 6.5 Grendel, 6.5×47, 6.5×55, 7.63×39, .308 Win, 30-06, 7.62x54R, and 338 LM brass. This shipment will also include loaded ammo, plus Scenar bullets and Lapua rimfire ammo. Also, a second container is due around the end of March. Hopefully that will include 6mmBR brass also. Check with major vendors such as Sinclair Int’l, Grafs.com, and MidwayUSA. Midway is listing 3/14/09 as the “Date expected in-stock” for Lapua .308 brass.
Bruno Shooters Supply has significant quantities of CCI and Federal primers in stock (mention 6mmBR.com when you call). However, all Rem, Winchester, and Wolf rifle primers are sold out. Here’s what Bruno’s has as of today, March 6th:
CCI BR2 Large Rifle Benchrest (quantity 50 1K boxes): $49.95/box
Fed 205M Small Rifle Match (quantity 383 1K boxes): $43.95/box
Fed 210 Large Rifle standard (quantity 122 1K boxes): $32.95/box
Amy Bruno also reports she has 55 8-lb jugs of the hard-to-find VV N133. She doesn’t know when the next shipment of Vihtavuori powders will arrive.
Powder Valley has the CCI BR2 Large Rifle Benchrest primers in stock at $37.00 per thousand. Unfortunately, Powder Valley is sold out of almost all other rifle primers.
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