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May 9th, 2007
ShootingUSA, the leading shooting sports TV show, will feature a 6-part training series on precision rifle shooting. The Precision Rifle “Pro Tips” series will offer six lessons, delivered in six episodes (one per broadcast). Part One, dedicated to Rifle Fit, debuts tonight, May 9th, on the Outdoor Channel (9pm Eastern time, 6pm Pacific time).
Future episodes will include: Scope Settings, Shooting Positions, Practice Drills, Wind and Mil Dots, and Shooting Moving Targets. The on-camera host for this series is Bill Davison, Master Rifle Instructor for the respected TAC PRO Shooting Center. Bill says his mission is “…in getting you to a point where you can use your weaponry to it’s full advantage, whether it be to shoot prairie dogs, hunt mountain goats, compete in rifle competition, or to serve in Iraq..” Highlights for all 6 Lessons (with text and photos) are available right now on the ShootingUSA.com website. Click this LINK, scroll to the bottom of the page, and hit the “GO” buttons to view text and photos for all six lessons.
Bill Davison:
May 9th, 2007
An excellent article by Robert Whitley on the 6.5-284 Cartridge is now available on the Precision Shooting magazine Website. From the PS home page, click the image for April 2007 (Volume 54 No. 12). If you don’t have Javascript enabled, here is a Direct Link to Robert’s Article.
 Robert’s article covers chambering, bullet selection, load development, and the use of the 6.5-284 in competition. Robert explains how he has tested a variety of long-range cartridge, and he keeps coming back to the 6.5-284 because its combination of accuracy, velocity, and recoil is hard to beat: “In past years, I have had the opportunity to set up and shoot a variety of long range prone rifles. These rifles have predominantly been chambered in cartridges that were 6mm, 6.5mm and 7mm. The cartridges tried included a 6XC, a 243 Winchester, a 6.5 x 284, a straight 284 Winchester, a 7mm Remington SAUM, and more recently, a 7mm/300 WSM. While I still am partial to the 7mms, after shooting all these cartridges … I find myself liking the 6.5 x 284 more than ever. [T]he 6.5 x 284 provides a well balanced combination of all the key factors needed for long range work (accuracy, velocity and down-range bullet performance, all with moderate recoil).”
May 7th, 2007
This weekend we met with Don Nielson, recent overall winner of the NBRSA 600-yard Nationals. Don shot most of that match with his new 6.5×47 Lapua, using 130gr JLK bullets from Swampworks. Don explained that both his 6.5×47 and 6-6.5×47 shot extremely well in initial tunnel testing, with the 6mm very slightly more accurate. Don asked us not to reveal the group sizes, but we can say this much–those groups (if shot outdoors) would be competitive in any short-range BR match. At the Nationals, Don started off with the 6mm, but after his 6.5×47 shot a 1 3/4″ group, he used that rifle for the balance of the Match. Don’s rifle features a Panda action, fluted Hart barrel (formerly chambered in 6.5-284), and a Kelbly 1M long-range BR stock.
Don told us load development came together very quickly. He knew (based on reports in this website and elsewhere) that RL15 would be a good choice, and he tried only one bullet–the new 130 JLK. Once he backed down his load to moderate levels, the 6.5×47 shot “well under quarter-MOA”. To our surprise, Don felt that shooting at 600 yards wasn’t that much different than shooting at 200 yards with his PPC: “You still have to read the wind right, and pull the trigger when you should.” Don did observe that shooting a 17-lb NBRSA Light Gun was more similar to shooting Cruiser Class in short-range BR, as opposed to his HV or LV 6 PPCs. Click HERE for a short video interview with Don.
May 5th, 2007
While this site is dedicated to precision rifles, we know many of our readers also collect historic military rifles. On April 27, the Civilian Marksmanship Program, ODCMP.com, announced the sale of genuine M1 Carbines. The first group of rifles are “Service Grade” produced by the Inland company. Note, these will be hot sellers at $495.00, and we expect the allotment to sell out quickly. M1s from other manufacturers will be offered later in 2007 and into 2008. The CMP has announced: “Orders for M1 Carbines manufactured by INLAND are now being accepted. The Inland carbines are priced at $495.00 each plus $22.95 S&H. Other manufacturers will not be available until later in the year. We are not accepting orders or establishing waiting lists at this time.” In addition, “Inland Cabines will be available for sale in both CMP Stores (North and South) beginning on 3 May. Carbines will also be available for inspection at the CMP Easter Games and CMP Western Games.” Note, most of these Inland Carbines are coming in from Italy, and their stocks are marked with a “FAT” cartouche (Fabbrica Armi Terni).
UPDATE: As of 5/21/2007 All Inland M1 Carbines are SOLD OUT. Check with CMP for future Carbine Sales.
May 5th, 2007
 Our Eliseo R5 tubegun kit auction concluded successfully midnight on May 3rd. The high bidder, who has asked to remain anonymous for now, is a prominent Northern California HighPower and long-range BR shooter who has been featured in the Gun of the Week section in the past. Our auction winner hopes to use the R5 kit, for which he bid $1002.00, to “get involved in across the course shooting again”. He will be building the gun as a 6mm Dasher. He wrote, “I submitted a strong bid because I didn’t want to wait until more R5s are available at the end of the summer, and I’m pleased to kick in something extra to support the site.”
May 3rd, 2007
 April 28 was a day for the record-books at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix, AZ. Multiple new NRA records were set at the Desert Sharpshooters Rifle Club Registered 500-yard prone match (pending NRA certification).
Berger Bullets’ Michelle Gallagher topped the field with a 200-17X in Stage 1, shooting a .308 Win. That mark sets three new records–Open, Civilian, and Women. Not far behind was Middleton Tompkins with a 199-12x, a new Grand Senior mark for shooters 70 years and older. (Mid reportedly was shooting the new 6.5×47 Lapua). Young Nate Silverman steered his .223 Remington to a 191-4X, which is a new NRA Junior class record.
German Salazar reports: “We had very hot and windy conditions on the 28th at Ben Avery for the 500-Yard Prone match. Temperature into the 90s and wind speed of 20 mph with some gusts above that. The wind was often from 6 o’clock and fishtailing fast, but you could keep up with it with some attention to detail.” Given those challenging conditions, the setting of new records is even more impressive. Congratulations to Michelle, Middleton, and Nate for their impressive performances in the desert heat.
May 3rd, 2007
 German Salazar of ShootersJournal.com reports an outstanding batch of 4895 powder is available from Jeff Bartlett’s GIBrass.com. We aren’t supposed to reveal the country of origin, but the photo may give you a hint.
German says “this stuff hammers, and it works great in both the 6BR and .308 Win. Believe me, this is THE powder, I am very well acquainted with this particular lot. It’s a little slower than IMR 4895, closer to IMR 4320 in my opinion. Compared to Varget, you’ll get a little more load density in the 6BR. For the .308, if you’re shooting something like 47 grains of Varget, it will be hard to get it in. If you’re in the 45.5 to 46.0 range, it will work great.” Bartlett’s 4895 costs just $100 per 8-lb jug (that works out to $12.50 per pound). Hazmat fee is waived on 6-jug orders.
May 1st, 2007
 The USA Young Eagles National Rifle Team today announced that Lapua, a division of the Nordic Nammo Group, has committed to providing its world-class cartridge cases for the team’s use in the 2007 World Long Range Target Championships and beyond. Combining Lapua cartridge cases with bullets from Sierra and powder from Hodgdon will provide the USA Young Eagles with the best ammunition that can be made, bringing the team one step closer to becoming the next world champions.
“We are very fortunate to have such a reputable company as Lapua supporting our team with quality reloading components,” said J.J. Jackson, manager, USA Young Eagles. “With the sponsorships of Sierra Bulletsmiths, Hodgdon Powders and now Lapua we have a leg-up on the competition. You just don’t get a better ammunition combination.”
This coming August, 20 of America’s finest young men and women from 12 states across the nation will travel to Canada to face team competition in the World Long Range Target Championships, shooting at distances from 300 to 1,000 yards. The USA Young Eagles National Rifle Team is fully self-supported and must supply all of its own equipment, ammunition and rifles as well as travel expenses.
“The USA Young Eagles are a very accomplished group of competitive shooters and we wish them the best in their quest for gold at the World Long Range Championships,” said Adam Braverman, U.S. Sales and Business Manager for Lapua. “We are very proud to offer our support.” Check out Lapua.com for information on Lapua bullets, brass, and loaded ammo, including downloadable product data sheets. To learn more about the USA Young Eagles or to make a donation to the team, visit USAUnder25Team.org.
April 29th, 2007
One key issue affecting all shooting sports is how to attract new shooters, particularly juniors. Young people represent the future of the sport, and unless we can get them involved, there will be fewer shooting opportunities for all. Gun manufacturers will see their sales decline and more ranges will be closed, both due to lack of revenue and political pressures. The closing of shooting ranges is a major problem in many areas of the country, particularly in California and other regions where anti-gun politicians and land developers are aggressively working to shut ranges down.
One great way to draw new shooters into the fold (particularly youngsters and ladies) is to host an event at your club where novices can try their hand at multiple disciplines. This is a user-friendly, low-cost way for newcomers to try different types of firearms in a supervised setting. Every year, the Ojai Valley Gun Club (OVGC) in California hosts a 7-Gun Shoot open to the public. OVGC’s 7-Gun Shoot took place on April 28th, and was a huge success, with 130 new shooters coming to the range for a day of fun, followed by a tri-tip barbecue. Participants ranged from 6 to 89 years of age. For a fee of just $8.50, visitors (of any age) could try seven different types of arms, under the guidance of club members who provided assistance and safety instruction. Guns and ammo were furnished by club members, and hearing and eye protection were offered for a nominal fee.
The 7-Gun Shoot offered a smorgesbord of shooting options: Air Rifle, Small-bore Pistol, Small-bore Rifle, Full-bore Rifle (.223 and .308), Centerfire Handgun, Black-Powder Rifle, and Shotgun (Trap). OVGC even offered an archery clinic, which was very popular with both kids and adults. A full troop of boy scouts attended the 7-Gun Shoot, and there were many families with husband, wife and kids. Participants were issued scorecards covering all 7 disciplines, and prizes were awarded to the highest aggregate totals for junior boy, junior girl, adult women, and adult men. Among the visiting couples, it was not unusual for the wives to outscore the husbands. One lady who came to the 7-Gun Shoot with her husband had never fired a long-gun before, yet she managed a perfect score with air rifle and an impressive 4 for 5 on the trap (shotgun) course.
Even many veteran shooters took the opportunity to try out new disciplines. Handgunners tried out the rifle course and some hard-core trap shooters enjoyed knocking down steel targets with replica black powder rifles. There’s nothing quite like the boom and smoke of the “Holy Black”. The day concluded with a great 4-course all-you-can-eat barbeque, ($8.50 per head), followed by a raffle of shooting and camping accessories. Overall, the event was a great success. The young people seemed to have the best time of all, and more than a few of the Scouts said the 7-Gun Shoot was one of their favorite annual troop activities.
OGVC signed up a number of new members during the shoot, but more importantly, the club gave scores of novices, young and old, the chance to have fun and get hooked on shooting sports. If you are interested in developing a similar program, visit OVGC.net where you can email the organizers.
April 28th, 2007
CDNN Investments is a large retailer that often acquires overstock inventories of rifles, shotguns, and pistols, as well as shooting accessories. You can often purchase brand new rifles for 50% to 70% of the original retail price. And this includes major brands such as Winchester, Browning, Walther, and Anschutz. CDNN’s latest catalog was recently released and it includes great deals on Steyr and Winchester hunting rifles. Click here to download the latest catalog.
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