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October 13th, 2007
There are a wide variety of reloading tools designed to cut a slight chamfer in case necks and deburr the edge of the case mouth. You don’t need to spend a lot of money for an effective tool. A basic “rocket-style” 45° chamfering tool, such as the Forster, actually does a pretty good job taking the sharp edge off case mouths, particularly if you use a little scotch-pad to smooth the edge of the cut. The $13.00 Forster is a nicely made product, with sharper cutting blades than you’ll find on most other 45° chamferers.
Many folks feel they can get smoother bullet seating by using a tool that cuts at a steeper angle. We like the 22° cutter sold by Lyman. It has a comfortable handle, and costs under $9.00 at MidwayUSA.com. The Lyman tool is an excellent value, though we’ve seen examples that needed sharpening even when new. Blade-sharpening is easily done, however.
Darrell Holland has offered a nice 28° chamfering tool for quite some time and we think it works very well. Sinclair recently introduced a 28° chamferer similar to the Holland tool, with some additional features. The $26.50 Sinclair Chamfering Tool (14 degrees per side) will chamfer cases from .14 through .45 caliber. The cutter head/shaft segment, with a .250″ diameter shank, can be purchased by itself for $16.95. This can be chucked in a drill or, with an adapter, it can be used with a power screwdriver when prepping large volumes of cases.
K&M makes a depth-adjustable “VLD” chamferer (“case mouth reamer”) which has very sharp blades and can be adjusted for cutting depth. It makes a very “steep” cut into the inside of the case neck. The latest version ($24.00 at PrecisionReloading.com), features a central pin that indexes via the flash hole to keep the cutter centered. However if you are not very careful, it is easy to over-cut, slicing away too much brass and basically ruining your neck. We think that most reloaders will get better results using a more conventional chamfer tool, such as the Forster or Lyman.
One last thing to note–tools like the K&M and the Holland chamferer are often described as VLD chamferers–that is really a misnomer, as bullets with long boat-tails actually seat easily with very minimal chamfering. In reality, these high-angle chamferers may be most valuable when preparing brass for flat-base bullets and bullets with pressure rings. Using a 22° or 28° chamferer can reduce the risk of cutting a jacket when using VLD bullets though–so long as you make a smooth cut.
October 13th, 2007
Sinclair Int’l, a leading vendor for precision shooting products, is now running a “Mix and Match” solvent special. If you order any two 16-ounce solvents from the list below, you receive a free three-pack of plastic solvent bottles (item 01-280). CLICK HERE for details. Choose from the following products:
The products listed are all very effective at removing copper fouling as well as powder and carbon fouling. No one product is necessarily the best at removing both carbon and copper. We’ve had good luck with Montana XTreme, Butch’s Bore Shine, and TM Solution. We have seen some issues concerning Bore Tech Eliminator. If you use Eliminator, make sure to remove ALL residues from your bolt, action and stock, then wipe the bolt and action with a protective oil or rust preventative such as Eezox.
October 11th, 2007
 The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is running a “Step Outside” sweepstakes to promote outdoor actitivities, rewarding those who act as “mentors” for new hunters, shooters, and anglers. Five $1,000 gift certificates to Bass Pro Shops will be awarded. The NSSF notes that “Research shows that 48 million men and women would accept an invitation to go shooting if invited. The mission of ‘Step Outside’ is to increase participation in and support of shooting, hunting, fishing and archery. To accomplish this goal, ‘Step Outside’ encourages individual outdoor enthusiasts to mentor newcomers by inviting them to participate in these traditional outdoor activities.”
To enter the “Step Outside” sweepstakes, you must have participated as a mentor in at least one “Step Outside” activity — shooting sports, hunting, archery and fishing — between April 30, 2006 and December 15, 2007. You also need to go to the NSSF Website and fill out an online questionaire describing your mentoring activities. Winners will be selected at a random drawing on January 4, 2008.
October 10th, 2007
 Now celebrating its 100th year in business, optics-maker Leupold & Stevens has introduced some interesting new products in 2007, including new Silhouette scopes and new varmint reticles. Many of these new Leupold offerings will be covered on this week’s edition of Guns & Ammo TV, broadcast Wednesday night on the Outdoor Channel. Next week’s show (Episode 3), will feature “tactical” bolt-action rifles. These will be put through their paces both at the range and on the field. Showtimes for Guns & Ammo TV are 5:30pm and 9:30pm Eastern Time every Wednesday night. Check your local listings for other regions.
October 9th, 2007
Thompson/Center (a subsidiary of Smith & Wesson) has commenced shipping ICON rifles, the company’s first bolt-action centerfire product. The ICON incorporates several innovative features including a metal bedding block, three-lug (60° lift) bolt with interchangeable bolt handle, and a 24″ barrel with 5R rifling and 60° chamfered crown. The first models of the ICON are chambered in .22-250, .243, .308 and the new .30 TC (Thompson/Center) cartridge. Rifles are delivered with a classic-style American walnut stock with 20 lines-to-the-inch cut checkering and a 3-round, single-stack detachable magazine.
The ICON rifles are distinctive for the use of a metal Interlock™ bedding system which mates with three integral recoil lugs on the bottom of the action. ICON actions are CNC-machined from solid bar stock and finished with with integral Weaver-style rails. Triggers are externally-adjustable for pull weight, sear engagement, and overtravel. Pre-set from the factory at about 3 lbs., T/C spokesmen tell us the triggers can go down to about 2 pounds. The nice three-lug bolt features a polished steel cocking indicator, “T-Slot” style extractor, and a bolt lock that integrates with the two-position safety. The bolt can be easily disassembled in the field using a supplied tool.
Noted tactical gunsmith George Gardner of GA Precision has worked with T/C on the development of the ICON action, and he thinks the new three-lug action will work very well in tactical style rifles once a larger 5- or 10-round detachable box magazine (DBM) is developed.
October 3rd, 2007
Now in its 15th season, ShootingUSA expands to one full hour of TV coverage on the Outdoor Channel. The one-hour programming block will likely be listed in cable and satellite menus as two programs: “Shooting USA” and “Sighting In With Shooting USA”, or just “Sighting In”. Shooting USA Executive Producer Jim Scoutten notes: “We’re very pleased to be part of Outdoor Channel’s increased commitment to America’s 70 million gun owners and sport shooters. Wednesday is the destination night for non-stop gun action.” (In addition to ShootingUSA, Guns & Ammo TV, and American Rifleman TV appear on Wednesday night.)
The Shooting USA hour-long block will air twice, early and late, on Wednesday Evenings:
• Eastern Time – 8:30 PM and 12:30 AM
• Central Time – 7:30 PM and 11:30 PM
• Mountain Time – 6:30 PM and 10:30 PM
• Pacific Time – 5:30 PM and 9:30 PM
 This week, ShootingUSA’s second half-hour segment will feature an introduction to Cartridge and Shotshell Reloading with RCBS factory expert Allan Jernigan (General Manager). Jernigan will explain both single-stage and progressive press reloading. For cartridge reloading, topics include: Inspecting Brass, Case Prep, Lubing Cases, Expanding/Resizing, Priming, Powder Delivery, and Bullet Seating.
October 2nd, 2007
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has launched two new shooting industry research tools for its members — the NSSF Survey Tracker and the NSSF Market Indicator. These new reports will be emailed monthly to NSSF members and will appear in the members area of NSSF’s Web site, www.NSSF.org. “These new reports are ‘quick reads’… [highlighting] market leaders, hot-selling products and the voice of today’s recreational shooter,” said Frank Briganti, NSSF manager of industry research and analysis.
The NSSF Survey Tracker provides monthly reports from an online panel of active hunters and target shooters sourced by HunterSurvey.com. Each report features a “Market Snapshot” — a listing of purchases made in the past month and corresponding top-selling brands. In addition, a “Market Leaders” section will highlight the top brands in different categories, while the “Question of the Month” showcases opinions of today’s recreational shooters.
The NSSF Market Indicator is a monthly point-of-sale report indicating the top-selling items in six major equipment categories: shooting sports, hunting, archery, paintball/airsoft, optics, and cutlery. Photo © 2007 by NSSF
September 29th, 2007
We are pleased to announce that Andy Anderson of Northern California was the high bidder in our recent auction of a new, Savage 6.5-284 Precision Target Rifle. All proceeds from the auction go to defray expenses of the site. In a generous show of support for AccurateShooter.com, Andy bid an amount exceeding the $1211 MSRP on the rifle. We all owe Andy (and his wife Sandy) our thanks for their commitment to the site. Andy noted: “If if it weren’t for Sandy being supportive on stuff like this, it could not have happened.”
Andy tells us he is pleased to do what he can to help the site: “Keep on doing the excellent job you’re doing. Always be pro 2nd Amendment and NRA 100%. That is the only other [shooting] organization I donate to. Sandy and I are proud to have donated more than the item was worth as we need web sites like AccurateShooter.com. It is our belief that, when a worthwhile cause comes up with an auction, it is not the price that matters, it is the cause that matters.”
September 28th, 2007
As reported in this Bulletin on Sept. 24th, American Airlines announced earlier this week that it would no longer accept any firearms as checked baggage to destinations in Europe or Asia. (Read PRIOR REPORT.)
Now, under pressure from airline customers and shooters organizations including the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Safari Club International (SCI), American Airlines has reversed its ban on firearms transport, except as to the United Kingdom. American has determined that it WILL allow legally-declared firearms to be transported on nonstop flights to destinations in Europe (outside of the UK), and to Asian destinations. However, American Airline’s spokesman declared: “As a result of UK policies we can not allow civilian transport of firearms into the UK.”
September 26th, 2007
We heard from our friends at SWFA.com that Leica’s current 62mm and 77mm Televid spotting scopes are being discontinued. Now we know why. Bigger and better models will be available in early 2008. These are completely re-designed, with larger objectives, more advanced glass, and special new AquaDura™ coatings that shed raindrops.
A new, very compact 65mm Televid will replace the current 62mm model. Leica’s top-of-the-line unit has jumped up to 82mm from 77mm. Even with their bigger objectives, Leica claims both new scopes will be the most compact premium spotting scopes in their respective classes. The new Televid 65 and 82 also now sport full rubber armor.
The big news is the glass. Both the new 65mm and the 82mm will come with flouride glass, with optional (extra cost) APO (apochromatic) lenses for reduced chromatic distortion. Leica claims the optical performance of the new spotting scopes is significantly better than the preceding models. The use of specialty fluoride glass yields improved contrast without altering natural color tones. The Leica Televid 82 and Televid 65 spotting scopes are both available with straight or angled eyepiece housing, with either HD or APO glass. The new APO versions feature redesigned apochromatic lenses for high contrast viewing free of color aberrations. The High Definition (HD) versions use specialized glass in a newly designed lens arrangement for improved clarity and contrast.
The new Televid spotting scopes come complete with quality Leica zoom eye-pieces. Televid HD versions come with a Leica VARIO 20-60x eyepiece, while the Leica APO-Televid versions sport the new high performance wide-angle Leica VARIO 25-50x WW ASPH eyepiece. Leica claims this is the first premium zoom eyepiece to offer a field of view comparable to wide-angle fixed-power eyepieces.
As noted above, the new Televid 65 and Televid 82 both feature AquaDura™ lens coatings. This is a Leica proprietary coating technology used on all exterior glass surfaces. This AquaDura coating repels moisture, causing raindrops to cleanly drip off from the lens surface. Additionally, fingerprints and dirt can be easily removed.
For more information, visit www.leica-camera.com.
82 mm APO Brochure (.pdf) | 65 mm APO Brochure (.pdf)
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