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June 23rd, 2008
Sam Hall of Boonville, NC has been the man to beat at 600 Yards this season. It looks like he nailed yet another IBS record with that hot-shooting 6BR of his. On June 14, at the Piedmont Gun Club in Rutherfordton, NC, Sam fired a 0.913″ five-shot group with his 28-lb 6BR Heavy Gun. The group was fully centered up, scoring a 50-5X on the new, smaller 600-yard target. Sam told us: “I believe this group is the smallest 50 ever shot in competition — with 5Xs to boot.” The previous record, we believe, was a 50 (1.174″) by Terry Brady.
Sam tells us: “This was the first group of the morning at Piedmont. Conditions were good …. I put 11 MOA elevation into my new March 50X scope (mounted just the day before) and almost hit the 2 1/4 inch skeet sighter on the first shot. On my last two shots on the skeet, I could see my shots hit dead center, so I knew I was on.
During record fire, I relaxed, took my time, because conditions were not changing, and let the rifle do what it was capable of. (I feel this rifle can hold 1.5″ at 600 pretty consistently, in windless conditions.) At the end of the 5 shots, my spotter, Brian Moore, and myself could see a little cluster in the middle of the bull. When that target was posted, man was I one happy fellow!”
GUN INFORMATION — HALL’s HAMMER
Action: BAT MB, RB-LP-RE. 1.40″ diameter.
Barrel: 31″ Lilja, 1.25″ straight, fluted, 1:8″ twist, 4 groove, .236 bore
Cartridge: Standard 6mmBR Norma, .268 neck, .104 freebore, Kiff Reamer
Stock: Shehane fiberglass ST-1000, orange and white, with “lots of lead” in buttstock. Gun is 28-lbs overall.
Scope: New March 50X, Target CH, Kelbly X-high rings.
Gunsmith and Stocker: Leonard Baity.
RELOADING DATA:
6BR (standard) with .268″ neck (.267″ loaded round), Berger 105 VLD (from last year’s orange box) +.010″ into rifling, 31.0 grains Reloder-15, CCI BR-4 Primers, Lapua Brass. Velocity, about 2970 fps.
WARNING: This load IS TOO HOT for most rifles.
Sam’s 6BR Heavy Gun Holds Multiple Records
NOTE: This combination holds three IBS 600-yard world records at this time: A 192 Score, a two-gun (LG and HG) group agg. of 1.955″, and now a score record of 50-5X, 0.913″. Also, this gun shot an 0.870″ at Oak Ridge, TN in March (the Record, at that time, was 0.861″ by Terry Brady).
June 23rd, 2008
 From June 26-28, the 2008 IBS 600-yard National Championship will be held in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, at the Oak Ridge Sportsmen’s Assn. (ORSA) facility. We expect many of the nation’s top 600-yard shooters will be attending the event, including record-holders Terry Brady, Mike Davis, Sam Hall, and Mark Schronce. If the weather cooperates, new records could be set.
ORSA offers 20 Benches, to accommodate 80 competitors in four relays. Eight targets will be fired for both Light Gun (LG) and Heavy Gun (HG). On Thursday, LG will shoot 3 targets and then HG will shoot 3 targets. On Friday, HG will shot 3 targets and then LG will shoot 3 targets. On Saturday, LG will shoot 2 targets and then HG will fire two targets. Sunday is the rain make-up date. The range will be open for practice on Wednesday, the 25th.
If you plan to shoot and haven’t registered already, do so right away! Entry fee for 2 guns is $150. Entry fees for one gun (either Light or Heavy) will be $80. For more info, contact Larry Sparks, larrysparks [at] chartertn.net .
RESOURCES:
Directions to Range
Oak Ridge City Information
GPS Location for ORSA: 35° 59′ 14.00″ N 84° 19′ 30.90″ W
June 22nd, 2008
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June 21st, 2008
Many readers have been asking: “When are the new 6mm plastic-tipped 111gr Tubb bullets going to be available?” Well, we talked to David Tubb, and he indicated the new DTAC 111-grain MJPT (Match Jacket Plastic Tip) bullets should start shipping next month. These bullets have a shorter bearing surface than the older DTAC 115s, so they should be more versatile, and not require rifles to be chambered with such a long throat. The Ballistic Coefficient, calculated on the bullet design, should be around 0.575. However, David notes that, as with all bullets, the exact BC is velocity-dependent.
CLICK HERE for DTAC 111 Information Sheet (.pdf file)
 David predicts that this new bullet will be more accurate than the DTAC 115 — David’s testing showed superior overall performance from the slightly lighter-weight projectile. The 111 should also be easier to tune than the 115. The 111-grainer’s bearing surface is .015″ shorter than the 115. The jacket draw on the 111 is shorter than a 107 SMK. David says: “Shorter draw translates to better jacket consistency.”
The new 111gr bullet features a plastic tip. This, David believes, provides more consistent bullet-to-bullet BC — and tests by others support that view, so long as the tips themselves are uniform and properly attached. David says: “The typical out-of-the-box bullet could have a spread of 10% in true BC, from bullet to bullet. With the plastic tips you cut down the BC variance considerably. What we’ve seen in field testing is a spread of only 2% in actual bullet BC. This has reduced the shot-to-shot velocity spread as actually measured at long range.” When bullets maintain more uniform speed over the course of flight, you may see tighter groups with reduced vertical spread, all other factors being equal.
This new DTAC 111 MJPT will be available either “naked” or coated with Boron Nitride (BN). Call (806) 323-9488 for current pricing and to place an order. Visit www.DavidTubb.com for more details.
June 20th, 2008
Berger has introduced a new type of 6.5mm bullet. This 140gr design features a thicker J4 jacket and a tangent (non-VLD) ogive. The thicker jacket should provide increased bullet durability when shot at high velocity through 6.5-284s and the short magnums. Berger’s testing showed that the 30-32″ barrels used on many long-range rifles produced increased frictional heat compared to 26-28″ barrels. The new, thick-jacket 140s should handle that heat better. The new bullets have a claimed BC of 0.593 and are designed for 1:9″ twist (or faster) barrels. These new bullets should work very well in 6.5-284 and 6.5×55 match rifles. (Berger does not recommend using its thick jacket bullets for hunting.)
Robert Whitley recently received some of the new bullets. He reports: “The 140gr ‘Thicks’ look great in all respects and I have no doubt they will shoot well based on their design and the obvious quality of manufacture. When you hold a Berger 140gr BT Thick Jacket bullet next to a Sierra 142gr MatchKing, the two look rather similar in length and shape, although the meplats of the Berger 140 gr bullets are closed up tighter.”
The nice, tight meplats on the new Berger 140gr BT “Thicks” should give these bullets an edge in BC compared to other tangent-ogive bullets in the same weight range. Additionally, based on our testing with bullet pointing tools, the small meplats should provide better BC consistency from bullet to bullet. With non-plastic-tipped bullets, we’ve found that the smaller the meplat, the better the BC uniformity.
More Thick Jacket Designs Coming — Including 7mm
The 6.5mm 140gr BT Thick Jacket is the first of a line-up of Thick Jacket bullets to be introduced by Berger in the coming months. Thick-jacketed match bullets will be offered in most of the popular calibers. Long-range shooters will be interested in the new 180gr BT Thick Jacket 7mm bullet. With a claimed BC of 0.642, this should be ideal for 1000-yard and F-Class shooters with .284 Win, 7mm WSM, and 7mm SAUM rifles.
June 19th, 2008
The Supreme Court convened today, with members of the media anxiously awaiting decisions in many major cases, including D.C. v. Heller, the landmark Second Amendment case. The court did issue five decisions, but did not announce its decision in the Heller case, or the other pair of major cases before it: Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker (Exxon Valdez punitive damages), and Kennedy v. Louisiana (death penalty for non-homicide rape.)
We will now have to wait until next week for a decision in D.C. v. Heller, one of 10 cases still remaining for the Supreme Court to decide. A Heller ruling might be issued Monday, or another day next week.
June 19th, 2008
On the Guns & Ammo Magazine website, there is a feature article, America’s Rifle: the AR, that AR15 shooters will enjoy. The article contains dozens of links for AR15 components and accessories, including barrels, upper and lower receivers, sights, optics, grips, stocks and more. You’ll find photos of many of the more propular add-ons such as folding stocks, accessory rails, and red dot sights.
For those times when the AR stumbles (yes, it does happen), the article provides a helpful Jam-Clearance procedure. You’ll also find an excellent Trouble-Shooting Guide for the AR’s five most common problems: insufficient extractor tension, loose carrier keys, improper headspace, failure to eject (FTE), and primer issues from hot loads.
If you’re a black rifle shooter, definitely check out this story. It’s worth the read for the extensive product/vendor links alone, not to mention the fix-it tips.
June 18th, 2008
This is important news for wholesalers, gunsmiths, and FFLs who ship firearms to California. Starting July 1st, 2008, FFLs wishing to send a firearm to a California FFL must first register with the California Dept. of Justice (CA DOJ), submit the details of the transaction(s), and then wait for the CA DOJ to issue a “Firearms Shipment Approval” letter. The letter must be enclosed within the gun shipment and the receiving FFL in California must retain the letter for three (3) years. Curios and relics are exempt, but otherwise this applies to all firearms — handguns, rifles, and shotguns.
To obtain approval, the shipping FFL must have the California FFL’s five-digit Centralized List number and fill out an application and provide the invoice number and quantity of long guns and handguns to be shipped. The application process will be available to FFLs online and via facsimile or telephone once the FFL is enrolled in the CFLC program. NOTE: This law only imposes burdens on FFLs. It is still legal for a private party in another state to ship a gun to a California FFL-holder (if the shipper otherwise complies with Federal law).
Bad Law Applies Even to Intra-State Shipments
The Democrat-controlled California Legislature has produced some bad gun laws before, but this is one of the worst ever. It is extremely burdensome. An FFL wishing to ship guns to California must obtain an approval letter with EVERY shipment. This law even applies to a California-based FFL wishing to ship in-state to another California FFL. The new regulations are administered as the “California Firearms Licensee Check System (CFLC)“, authorized by AB 2521, a terrible piece of legislation signed into law by Gov. Schwarzenegger in 2006.
CA DOJ’s official summary of the CFLC system:
“As of July 1, 2008, California Penal Code Section 12072(f)(1) prohibits all Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs), other than Type 03 or 06 FFLs, from shipping firearms to an FFL in California unless, prior to delivery, the FFL intending to deliver, sell or transfer the firearms obtains a verification approval number from the California Department of Justice (CADOJ) Bureau of Firearms. This includes transfers that occur at gun shows.
The verification approval number, which the Bureau of Firearms provides in a Firearms Shipment Approval letter, confirms that the intended recipient of the firearm shipment is properly licensed and listed in the state’s database of persons/entities authorized to receive firearm shipments. If the intended CA FFL recipient is not listed in the state’s database, the transaction will result in a Do Not Ship letter, and it is a crime for the intended recipient to receive the firearms (Penal Code Section 12083(c)(1)).
As a courtesy to impacted FFLs, the Bureau of Firearms has established an Internet application that is available to FFLs nationwide 24 hours a day 7 days a week (24/7) to obtain Firearms Shipment Approval letters. All Internet transactions will be handled on a secure server, and the information provided will be used solely for the purposes associated with the administration of the CFLC program. For FFLs that do not have Internet access, the Bureau has established a telephone service that allows nationwide FFL shippers to enroll and obtain Firearms Shipment Approval letters via telephone or facsimile prior to shipping firearms to a California FFL. However, the telephone service availability will be limited to Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
California FFL holders (other than Type 03 or 06) must enroll in the California Firearms Licensee Check (CFLC) Program to ship firearms to another California FFL. They must also be listed on the State of California Centralized List as either a dealer, manufacturer, or exempt. Once enrolled in CFLC, California FFLs will be able to obtain Firearms Shipment Approval letters to ship firearms to other FFL holders within the state.
For additional information regarding this new program, please refer to our CFLC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).”
CLICK HERE for GENERAL INFO and LINKS
New System Imposes Useless Red Tape
The author of AB 2521, CA Assemblyman Dave Jones, claims the new system is designed to “protect the consumer” by ensuring gun shipments are not sent to recipients whose Federal Licenses are not in good standing. That, of course is nonsense. Current Federal law already requires a shipping FFL to confirm that the shipment’s recipient has a valid license. No, the real purpose of the new law is to impose a wall of red tape blocking gun shipments to California. The new law has already had a chilling effect. We’ve seen notices on gun auction boards from dealers stating: “Due to new regulations, we will NOT ship this firearm to California.”
New Law Needs to Be Challenged
On its face, California’s new Approval Letter System probably cannot withstand legal scrutiny if it is challenged in court. First, insofar as it regulates and changes the record-keeping duties of Federal Firearms License holders, the CFLC should be 100% pre-empted by Federal Law. California is adding an additional layer of duties and responsiblities on FFLs in OTHER STATES, and then imposing criminal penalties if California’s new rules aren’t followed to the letter. Avoiding this kind of mess is precisely why we have uniform federal regulation in the first place. In addition, the California law may be Constitutionally invalid as a restraint on interstate commerce. We hope the NRA or NSSF immediately challenges California’s Firearms Licensee Check System.
June 17th, 2008
We are very sad to announce that Texas shooter, Shelley Davidson, passed away this morning. He had cancer. Shelley was a great individual, and one of the most innovative and creative spirits we’ve ever seen in sport of Benchrest. In our conversations with Shelley, he was always full of interesting new ideas and concepts. And he always had a positive, forward-thinking attitude. He wasn’t satisfied with the status quo and was always thinking about new ways to “build a better mousetrap”. Butch Lambert notes, “you may remember Shelley as the builder of the Tinker Toy rifle. He developed the tuner that my company sells. Shelley really pushed the 30BR and its off-springs. He tried opposing magnets on the end of his barrels, he used an electric motor with a sensor to operate his powder measure, and many other things.”
Shelley Davidson’s Tinker Toy Rifle
Shelley will be missed but not forgotten. He was a credit to the sport, and we feel privileged to have been able to show some of Shelley’s innovations to the world.
June 16th, 2008
Does the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution give individual citizens a right to “keep and bear arms”? If so, does that right override local regulations controlling firearms? These questions were presented to the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court by the D.C. v. Heller case.
Heller, a security guard and District of Columbia resident, was prohibited from keeping a handgun in his home by the DC’s strict anti-handgun law. Heller challenged that law and his case went all the way to the Supreme Court. Oral arguments were heard on March 18. At that time it appeared that a thin majority of the Justices , including Chief Justice Roberts, favored the view that the Second Amendment applies to individuals, not just state militias.
The High Court is expected to issue its written decision on the case on Thursday, June 19, when it reconvenes. This is a landmark decision that may impact local gun laws throughout the nation. There was some hope that the Heller decision would be issued yesterday, June 16, but the High Court ruled on only two cases (not including Heller) during its Monday session, so we’re still waiting on the Heller outcome.
Stay tuned to this column and to Fox News or C-Span for updates on the case. We will link to the printed decision as soon as it becomes availalbe.
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