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January 22nd, 2008
The Chiafullo Group, a New Jersey-based law firm, has launched a new cooperative program to assist firearms retailers and FFL-holders in matters concerning licensing and compliance with ATF Regulations. Entitled “FFLGuard” this program provides qualified legal advice to subscribing gun-related businesses. In effect, the Chiafullo Group, LLP acts as a cooperatively-financed, de facto “general counsel” to participating clients.
The FFLGuard program is designed to provide participating Federal Firearms Licensees cost-efficient access to trained firearms lawyers and other qualified legal personnel who can respond quickly to protect the client’s business and its Federal License(s). Under this program, the majority of the client’s retainer for participation in the FFLGuard program is held in trust with other participant’s retainer fees. This provides “strength in numbers” so no individual business is saddled with overwhelming legal expenses in the event of a lawsuit or dispute with the ATF. FFLGuard is endorsed by AcuSport, a leading firearms wholesaler.
January 20th, 2008
We chatted with Richard Franklin of Richard’s Custom Rifles yesterday, and he mentioned that one of his favorite varmint rifles is a 14-twist, 22BR built on his model 11 stock in laminated Black Walnut and fiddleback maple. Richard says the rifle is versatile and deadly accurate out to 400 yards. Richard uses a Leupold 8.5-25×50 with varmint reticle.
“This is my light walking varminter. It’s built on a blueprinted SS Remington 700 short action and chambered as a no-turn 22 BR for Lapua brass. The bolt handle is a Dave Kiff replacement and I’ve fitted a Jewel BR trigger with bottom safety. Barrel is a Lilja, 1:14″ # 6 contour with a muzzle diameter of .750″. I shoot the 40gr V-Max in the rifle at 4000 FPS. Its tough on hogs if you don’t try them too far. 400 yards is about the max with it. Accuracy is outstanding and with Roy, Mike, my grandson and myself shooting this rifle I don’t believe it has missed more than 3 hogs out of over 100 shot at this summer. This rifle is carried in a ceiling rack in the truck where its handy and is used by the first person that grabs it when a hog is sighted if we are moving between setups. The Varmint reticle on the Leupold is nice for quick hold-overs as you change distances.”
Detail of Model 11 Stock (Different Rifle in Birdseye Maple)
22BR Rivals 22-250 Performance
With bullets in the 40gr to 60gr weight range, the 22BR gives up very little in velocity to a 22-250, despite burning quite a bit less powder (30-32 grains for the 22BR vs. 35-38 grains for the 22-250). With a match-quality chamber, the 22BR will probably have an edge in accuracy over a 22-250, and you should experience longer barrel life. Here are some recommended 22BR loads for 40-60gr bullets:
For more info on the 22BR for varminting, read our 22BR Cartridge Guide
January 18th, 2008
On Jan. 25 to Feb. 3, 2008, Cabela’s celebrates the Grand Opening of its new large-format superstore in Post Falls, Idaho. The Grand Opening feature celebrities and hunting and fishing experts sharing stories and advice. The Post Falls store is located just east of Spokane, Washingon, at Exit 2 off I-90 near the Washington/Idaho State line. The 125,000-square-foot showroom is an educational attraction, featuring museum-quality animal displays, aquarium and trophy animals interacting in realistic re-creations of their natural habitats.
Many special bargains are offered during the Post Falls Grand Opening. CLICK HERE for the Grand Opening Sales Circular (Adobe .pdf file). Shown below are two great deals on rifles. We know the Savage 17 HMR to be extremely accurate. At $499.99, the complete Remington 700 VFS rifle costs not much more than a bare Remington 700 stainless action. (Sale Prices good at Post Falls, ID store ONLY.)
Grand Opening giveaways and special prices on clothing and merchandise will also be offered. Customers can enter drawings to win an African safari; a New Zealand Red Stag hunt; a Texas Whitetail Management hunt; an Alaska fishing trip; and a trip to Crocodile Bay Resort in Costa Rica.
January 17th, 2008
Each summer the Civilian Marksmanship Program sponsors a popular series of Three-Position Air Rifle Camps to teach rifle marksmanship skills to junior shooters and their adult leaders. For 2008, these 5-day camps are offered in Fort Benning, GA; Camp Perry, OH; Rapid City, SD; and Kerrville, TX. The CMP is now accepting 2008 Camp Applications. Camps fill-up quickly, so early registration is recommended.
CMP Junior Three-Position Air Rifle Camps are for junior shooters with a basic knowledge of the sport. Athletes should have completed basic rifle marksmanship training and one season of three-position competition. CMP camps are designed for students who will be in grades 9 through 12 during the coming school year. The Junior Shooters must bring their own shooting equipment — either precision or sporter class rifles, prone mat, and a spotting scope (except at Fort Benning where electronic targets will be used).
The 2008 Summer Camp Fees are:
$350 (jr. athlete), $150 (adult) for Residential Camps
$225 (jr. athlete), $30 (adult) for Commuter Camps
$265 (jr. athlete) $70 (adult) for Camp Perry Camp
Dr. Dan Durben will again serve as Camp Director and chief instructor. Dan shot for the USA in the 1988 Olympics and served as the National Rifle Coach from 1997 through the 2000 Olympic Games. Dr. Durben will be assisted by Camp Coordinator, Sommer Wood, and by James Hall, who earned All-American honors in both air rifle and smallbore in collegiate competition.
CLICK HERE for CMP SUMMER CAMP INFO PAGE
January 12th, 2008
We recently received an email from a Hunter Class competitor, Mike Kenwood, who extolled the merits of Kelbly Kodiak actions, and told us the Kodiak deserved more coverage on the site. We did a double-take when we saw the email came from, of all places, Kodiak, Alaska.
 Mike wrote: “Ralph Stolle-designed actions have been named after bears, the Teddy, the Panda, the Grizzly, and of course the Kodiak, with the Panda being the hands-down favorite in short-range BR until recently. Yes Kodiak Island is home of the world’s largest land-based carnivore, the sub-species of Grizzly, and known as ‘Kodiak Brown Bear’.
As a resident of Kodiak, AK, I admit to being partial to the name, but that’s not what drove me to try this model in my project guns.
Kelbly’s Kodiak action is a favorite in the IBS “Hunter Class” rifles. Though not so popular in the long-range game, the Kodiak is set up with a magazine cut-out, and big footprint for bedding. I own two Kodiak actions, along with five Kelbly Pandas, and the ability to interchange barrels between them is very useful. If you provide Greg Walley at Kelbly’s the serial number of your action, he can chamber the barrel and fit it to your gun based on recorded dimensions — you don’t need to send in the action. So your gun need not be out-of-commission for months while waiting on a chambering job.
While many folks now favor BAT Machine and other actions in the long- and short-range accuracy quest, I think the Kodiak action, as a repeater or single-shot, deserves more credit. Hunter Class participation levels seem to be declining at IBS matches. I hope this will not influence Kelbly’s to stop making Kodiak actions. The accuracy of the Kodiak, along with its wide footprint and functional magazine, make the Kodiak a great choice for long-range shooting. The Kodiak’s magazine length is well-suited for 6 BR, 6 XC, and 6 Dasher cartridges. This makes the Kodiak a perfect contender for a long-range Benchrest repeater. As a Kodiak action owner familiar with the accuracy Kodiaks deliver, I believe your readers will benefit from a close look at the Kodiak option.
My Kodiak in 30 BR features a 1:18″ twist Krieger barrel, Kelbly’s stock, and Jewell trigger. My preferred bullet is the 118gr BIB (with 34.8 grains of H4198), but in the picture below one group is with Ronnie Cheeks 118gr bullets with 36.0 grains of Benchmark. My Kodiak with a Rock Creek barrel in .308 Win shoots the same size groups with 155gr BIB bullets and 47.3 grains of Varget. My .308 Win Kodiak features a Kelbly’s Benchrest trigger for short and consitent ignition. Both loads use Federal Match primers, and of course Lapua brass. All metal work on my Kodiaks was done by Kelbly’s Greg Walley. All bedding was done by Tom Meredith at TM Stockworks. Both Greg and Tom do fantastic work.”
January 11th, 2008
Sixty-eight years after Bob Brownell hung his shingle as a gunsmith, his grandson, Pete Brownell, was named the president of Brownells, Inc. as of January 1, 2008. Former company president, Frank Brownell, continues to serve as chairman and chief executive officer.
“Dad founded the company on the foundation of providing customers unsurpassed service, selection and satisfaction,” Frank Brownell commented. “I’ve done my best to carry on that tradition. I’m positive that as Pete transitions into his new role, he’ll continue to put our customers atop his priorities.” Officially joining the company in 1998, Pete spent nine years in his previous position as Brownells vice president.
Brownells is the world’s largest supplier of firearm parts, tools, equipment and accessories. For more information, call (800) 741-0015, or visit www.Brownells.com.
January 10th, 2008
Half of American households have one or more firearms. While anti-gun media attempt to portray firearms owners as a fringe group, in reality, gun owners come from all segments of America society–rich and poor, black and white, Republican and Democrat, urban and rural.
Writer/photographer Kyle Kassidy has undertaken an interesting project entitled “Armed America — Portraits of Gun Owners in Their Homes”. To our surprise, this was a relatively neutral report that allows gun owners to explain, in their own words, why they own firearms. The reporter takes a “back seat” in this study, allowing gun owners to tell their own stories. Below is a 10-minute video combining audio interviews with still images of firearms owners. It’s worth watching, and worth recommending to your “liberal” friends who may hold negative stereotypes of firearms owners and target shooters.
CLICK SCREENSHOT to Load YouTube VIDEO
January 9th, 2008
The news that Citi Merchant Services and First Data have refused to process sales for guns and gun accessories has spread like wildfire across the internet, arousing the ire of gun owners around the country. The story broke when the NSSF reported that Citi Merchant Services and First Data terminated the merchant account of CDNN Sports, a large, Texas-based gun retailer. There have been calls for the boycott of Citicorp/Citibank/Citi-Card products, as many gun owners have vowed to close their Citibank accounts or terminate their Citi-affiliated credit cards.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Citicorp/Citigroup has faced a boycott threat from gun owners. In 2000, after Citibank imposed a “no firearms” policy on a Nevada gun range, firearms owners nationwide responded with a boycott that caused Citibank to alter its policies.
The Year 2000 Citibank Boycott
As reported by the Second Amendment Foundation (“SAF”), the “Battle began with a February 7, 2000 letter from Citibank to the Nevada Pistol Academy stating that their recently approved account would be closed in ten days ‘due to Citibank not maintaining accounts for businesses that deal in weapons.’ This letter revealed an otherwise secret policy of refusing accounts from lawful, Federally-licensed firearm-related businesses.” In response to a threatened boycott from the SAF and other firearms groups, Citibank, a member of CitiGroup, agreed to drop its policy of refusing accounts of lawful firearms businesses. Citibank agreed to treat small firearms sellers the same as other businesses “using the same standards” according to a Citibank media statement.
Citicorp and First Data Alliance
Fast forward to 2008 — In the current dispute, some folks have wondered whether Citicorp is directly involved in the denial of card processing services to CDNN Sports which sparked the controversy. The answer is yes. Though First Data provides processing solutions, Citi Merchant Services handles the actual banking end of the card processing. First Data explains: “Citi Merchant Services provided by First Data Merchant Services Corporation is a contractual alliance in the U.S. between Citicorp Payment Services, Inc. (CPSI) and First Data Merchant Services Corporation (FDMS). FDMS provides all the systems, technology, processing services and customer support to the alliance. CPSI is the sponsoring card association member and provides the clearing and settlement functions on behalf of the alliance.”
Termination Based on Faulty Legal Interpretation
In terminating CDNN’s merchant services account, and freezing $75,000 of CDNN’s card collections, Citi Merchant Services (“CMS”) and First Data specifically cited the sales of firearms in interstate commerce as the reason. CMS/First Data asserted that interstate firearms sales violate the Gun Control Act and that “shipping across state lines is also banned”. CMS/First Data misconstrue the law, and ignore the fact that any and all firearms sold by CDNN to non-Texas customers must be shipped to licensed FFLs, in full compliance with Federal statute. If you have ever purchased a gun from CDNN you know it will only ship to verified FFL-holders.
Either CMS and First Data are completely ignorant of the law, or they are using a faulty interpretation of Federal law as a pretext to deny services to CDNN. Either way, the actions of CMS and First Data are unjustified. As one internet poster wrote: “Citi Bank [CMS/First Data] has taken the view that THEY are an arm of the BATF. Problem is, they do not even understand the rules.” Here is the termination letter sent to CDNN Sports. Click the image for a full size version with the key text highlighted:
January 9th, 2008
Sightron has provided AccurateShooter.com with these exclusive new photos of the “next generation” Sightron SIII scopes to be released very soon. Four new 30mm scopes join the Sightron line-up for 2008. There will be two new 3.5-10X scopes, one with a 44mm front objective and Mil-Dot reticle, the other with a large, 56mm objective and IR4A reticle for enhanced low-light performance. Both 3.5-10X scopes feature 1/4 MOA clicks plus 120 MOA of windage AND elevation. The 56mm version boasts constant 3.6-inch eye relief–a nice feature for hunters.
Next in the line-up is the new 6-24×50 SIII. This is an all-new 30mm scope that rivals the Leupold 8-25 LRT in design and performance. Available in target dot or mil-dot reticle, the 6-24x50mm offers a full 100 MOA of windage and elevation in a relatively compact (14.96″) scope weighing 21.90 ounces. Clicks are 1/4 MOA and eye relief is near-constant, varying from 3.6-3.8 inches throughout the magnification range.
NEW 8-32x56mm with 70 MOA of Windage + Elevation
For long-range shooters, the most exciting new offering from Sightron is the SIII 8-32x56mm. This scope has more magnification and a larger front objective than the Leupold 8-25×50 LRT, but with an $825.00 estimated “street price”, the Sightron costs less. Importantly, the Sightron 8-32X offers 70 MOA of both windage AND elevation. This outclasses other domestic 8-32 power zoom scopes. With a weight of 24.70 oz., the new Sightron 8-32×56 is 2.7 oz. heavier than a Leupold 8-25 LRT, but the Sightron is nearly 3/4 of a pound lighter than the Nightforce 8-32×56 BR model. That’s a big difference, considering that the Sightron matches the Nightforce’s 56mm front objective size.
Initially, the Sightron 8-32×56 will be offered with 1/4 MOA clicks, and just one reticle, a target dot. Sightron has indicated that other reticles might be offered in the future. No word on 1/8 MOA click values though. Overall, we’re impressed with the specs on the new 8-32 Sightron. It offers much more elevation than the Burris, Bushnell or Nightforce BR 8-32s, yet weighs little more than an 8-25 Leupold. We just wish Sightron offered a 1/8 MOA click option.
Sightron SIII 30mm Side-Focus Scopes for 2008
| Scope |
Objective |
Clicks |
Eye Relief |
OAL |
Weight |
Street Price |
| 6-24X |
50mm |
1/4 MOA |
3.6-3.8″ |
14.96″ |
21.9 oz. |
$785 |
| 8-32X |
56mm |
1/4 MOA |
3.6-4.0″ |
15.35″ |
24.7 oz. |
$825 |
CLICK HERE for Scope SPEC SHEET (MS Excel File)
January 8th, 2008
The NSSF reports that Citicorp’s Merchant Services Division is refusing to process gun-related customer credit-card sales. This applies both to legal firearms transactions conducted through licensed FFLs as well as ordinary sales of firearms accessories. The first company to be affected by this decision appears to be firearms distributor CDNN Sports, a large retail operation based in Texas. Citi Merchant Services and First Data notified CDNN that its merchant services account would be terminated and funds seized. (Citicorp Merchant Services employs First Data Merchant Services Corporation to handle credit card transactions.)
Charlie Crawford, president of CDNN Sports Inc., explained: “We were contacted recently by First Data/Citi Merchant Services by a June Rivera-Mantilla stating that we were terminated and funds were being seized for selling firearms in a non-face-to-face transaction. Although perfectly legal, we were also informed that no transactions would be processed in the future, even for non-firearms.”
If you have a Citigroup credit card, or use Citibank for your banking services, you may want to consider shifting your accounts to another financial services provider — and be sure you tell the Citibank representatives why you are making the shift. If gun owners act in solidarity, other credit card companies may think twice about following Citigroup’s lead in refusing to handle gun transactions. To voice your concern to Citi Merchant Services and First Data Corp. directly, you can contact June Rivera-Mantilla at 631-683-7734 or Robert Tenenbaum at 631-683-6570.
If you run a firearms-related business and wish to shift to an NSSF-affiliated credit card processing program, contact Payment Alliance International at 1-866-371-2273 (ext. 1131).
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