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April 26th, 2007
The folks at Williamsport have completed a new 600-yard range and will be running 600-yard matches through the spring and summer of 2007. Match dates are: May 19, June 2, June 16, June 30, July 28, and August 25. This match is not affiliated with IBS, though IBS Light Guns are welcome. Either light or heavy or both can be shot. Light gun configuration is similar to IBS specifications (17-lb maximum, 3″ max fore-arm width). Sight-in and shooting will be done on a new berm constructed this spring. 10 benches are available. Four targets will be shot in two relays. The winners for group and score will be determined by Aggregate of the four targets. Anyone who has shot at Bridgeville will find this format familiar. The refreshment stand will be open and offering dinner specials after the conclusion of the match. This is a fun match, run by club members. Everyone is welcome. A non-member can shoot twice without joining. However, the third shoot will require a membership. Plaques will be awarded for each category, and an Aggregate winner for the year will receive a special award. For more info and directions to the range, visit the Original Williamsport Club Website, PA1000yard.com.
April 23rd, 2007
The NBRSA 600-Yard Nationals (Sloughhouse 600) wrapped up yesterday in Sacramento, CA. The top performers were Don Nielson (overall champion), Ron Tilley (Second Overall), and Lou Murdica (Third Overall). Conditions were fairly challenging during the match. On Friday the first relay started very calm, but then the winds picked up later in the day. It was windy Saturday and Sunday, and a big storm on Saturday night actually carried away the cover over the shooting benches. Don truly shot a great match, leading right from the start. After the first day he shot his 6.5×47 in both light and heavy classes. Don was worried about the increased winds on Sunday but “despite my fears, I shot 90s on Sunday which is what I needed to win.” In addition to winning the overall Championship, Don took top honors in Two-Gun Score, Two-Gun Group, Heavy Gun 3-Target Score, and Heavy Gun 3-Target Group. Don also posted the Heavy Gun single target High Score for the match (98-3X). That same target produced the Heavy Gun Small Group, 1.776″, which is a new NBRSA 10-shot record. During the match, Don established three other new score records for the new, smaller 600-yard target.
Ron Tilley ruled the Light Gun Class, finishing first in both Score (276-5X), and group (2.414″ Agg), and Ron had the best LG 3-target Group Agg. (2.023″). Ron was shooting a 6BR smithed by Stu Harvey. Bert Seltzer nailed the Light Gun Small Group, a 1.7″ (49-2X). Lou Murdica, shooting a 6BR with 95gr Bergers, shot the Light Gun High Score (50-3X) on a target which also produced an impressive 1.745″ group. (Lou shot a 6.5×55 in Heavy Gun.) In Heavy Gun class L. Dragoman Sr. shot well as did Billy Copelin.
 We spoke to Don Nielson this morning and he had some interesting observations. He started off the match shooting his 6.5×47 in Heavy Gun and 6-6.5×47 in Light Gun. Both rifles weigh 17 lbs. and use Panda actions in Kelbly 1M stocks. But, after his 6.5×47 produced the 1.776″ group on Day 1, he shot that Hart-barreled rifle in both classes for the rest of the match. On Sunday it was very windy and Don had two larger-caliber rifles in his truck, a 280 Rem Improved and a big 30. Don thinks “the 6.5×47 is the ideal cartridge for 600 yards, but when it really blows you may want something bigger.” Don attributed the accuracy of his rifle to careful brass prep: “If you don’t have perfect brass, you might as well go home.” Don reamed the 6.5×47 flash holes to .0625″ with a Ron Hoehn tool, and turned the necks to .010″ wall thickness using his Pumpkin neck-turning tool. In the 6.5×47 he shot a “moderate” load of RL15 with new JLK 130gr bullets from Swampworks.com. He uses Federal 205m primers and he says he has had absolutely no ignition problems. In the 6-6.5×47, Don used H4350 with original, Jimmy Knox produced 105gr JLKs. FYI, if you want some of those Swampworks’ 130s, you better get in line. Don just ordered another 3000.
We noted that Don and Lou Murdica are both veteran short-range benchrest shooters. We asked Don if his short-range experience gave him an edge in the 600-yard game. He replied: “Well both Lou and I are used to holding off as the conditions change. I never clicked once I had a group going–I held off as conditions dictated. I also tried to shoot sighters in all conditions that might occur during record fire, and noted how these impacted on the target. That way I felt I knew how to compensate with my hold no matter which way the conditions went.” Lou Murdica noted that his new March 40X ED scope made it easier to hold off: “Most of the time I had no trouble seeing 6mm bullet holes at 600 yards in both the white and blue areas of the target. Most of the other guys had trouble seeing their bullet holes with other scopes.”
Congratulations to all the competitors. We also credit Ed Eckhoff and his crew, who, as usual, did a great job running the match at the Sacramento Valley Shooting Center.
April 18th, 2007
 Need a custom full-length sizing die? Want something very special that will be gentle on your brass, reduce sizing effort, not rust, and never wear out? Tool-maker CH Tool & Die, CH4D.com, offers custom sizing dies, with optional Titanitum Nitride (TiN) coatings inside and out. Internal die dimensions can be set from fired brass you supply, a chamber cast, or specifications you provide (which could be based on a reamer print, with the dimensions tightened up slightly). Cost for a custom sizer die is $73-$110, depending on chambering (common calibers cost less). TiN coating is $36.50 for the die body, $10.80 for the expander ball. CH4D custom FL dies are conventional full-length sizers without bushings. If you need to vary the neck tension, have the die spec’d for “normal” tension and then use a separate bushing neck-sizer when you need more tension. Normal turn-around time for a CH4D custom die is 10-12 weeks; TiN coating can add 2-3 weeks to that.
CH4D’s Dave Davison explains: “Titanium Nitride coatings have been used in industry for many years, primarily to extend the life of carbide tools. It has not been useful in reloading until recent advances in technology permitted TiN coating a die without softening the steel of the die itself. A TiN coated sizer in 308 Win showed no measurable wear after sizing 50,000 rounds. Although Titanium Nitride is harder than carbide and has a lower coefficient of friction it does not eliminate the need for lubricant when full-length sizing cases. It does reduce sizing effort considerably and minimizes the lubricant required. TiN-coated dies will live longer and require less force to operate than any die available. If you ever manage to wear out your TiN coated die, we will replace it at no charge. All we ask is that you tell us how many rounds you’ve loaded with it.”
CH4D can coat other manufacturers’ dies with Titanium Nitride. However, CH4D cautions: “TiN coating other manufacturers’ dies can be done, and is usually successful. However we have no control over the material or heat treatment of these dies and cannot guarantee the results.”
April 17th, 2007
Since April 15 fell on a Sunday this year, and April 16 was Emancipation Day (a holiday in DC), April 17 is the last day to file your IRS tax returns for 2006. If you’re falling way behind and simply can’t make the deadline–don’t despair. Click HERE to download IRS Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time. This gives you an extra 6 months (4 if you are out of the country) to file your Federal Return. NOTE However, you MUST pay ALL your taxes today, with the Form 4868, or you will be subject to interest and penalties. Normally filing a Form 4968 extends your filing date for State income taxes, but check with a tax professional.
If you need some Mental TAX RELIEF after the grim duties of filing taxes, we offer this nice photo taken by gunsmith Richard Franklin in Bedford County, Virginia. Maybe that will put things in perspective. Remember we don’t live to work and pay taxes, we work and pay taxes to be able to enjoy life, including the chance to spend a nice day in the country with our rifles. View Larger Photo.
April 17th, 2007
 Launi Meili, Olympic Gold Medalist (Barcelona 1992), and 7-time National Champion in three-position rifle, has been named head rifle coach at the Air Force Academy. Meili comes to the academy from the University of Nebraska, where she led the Cornhuskers to a No. 2 national ranking this season and earned “Coach of the Year” honors in 2006. “Coach Meili brings a wealth of experience as not only a proven NCAA Division I head coach, but a world-class competitor as well,” said Col. Billy Walker, the Air Force Academy’s Assoc. Athletics Director. “I’m quite certain Coach Meili will develop us into one of the elite programs in the country.”
As a shooting competitor, Meili shot with the U.S. Shooting team for 10 years. In that time, Meili participated in two Olympic Games, two Pan American games and a World Championship. During her career, she produced three world records, three Olympic records, a world team championship and the Olympic Gold medal in Barcelona in 1992, becoming the only American woman to ever win gold in smallbore. She has written the Advanced Coaches Certification Program in use by the US Shooting Team and the NRA to certify coaches at the highest level. She has also created the “mental training workshop” taught to athletes, coaches and business personnel in the US and Japan.
April 16th, 2007
 The NBRSA 600-yard Nationals will be held this week, April 19-22, at the Sacramento Valley Shooting Center Range in Sloughhouse, California. Weigh-in and Sight-in Sessions will be held Thursday the 19th, with the Match commencing Friday the 20th at 8:00 am. Ed Eckhoff notes: “The new smaller 600-yard target will be used. The Firing line will be covered for the Sloughhouse 600. Just be sure no one does ANYTHING to PO the range gods and we’ll have good conditions. On-site overnight parking available for RVs at $10/night. If you have questions, contact me at (530) 661-6018.” There will be practice sessions throughout this week. The Schedule is:
Mon April 16: Normal BR and F-Class Practice day 600
Tues April 17: Palma and F-Class Practice day 800, 900, 1000
Wed April 18: Range normally closed BUT can be available 600 yd.
Thurs April 19: 600 Nat’ls day for sign-in/weigh-in/sight-in
Fri, Sat, Sun, April 20-22: Sloughhouse NBRSA 600 Nationals
Sat April 21: Catered BBQ immediately after the match
Click HERE to download the NBRSA Rules. For weather reports, go to Weatherunderground.com. In the search box at the top, enter Zip Code 95683. That provides an extended forecast for the whole week. Under each day of the week click on the blue “Detail” link for more wind and humidity info. Click HERE for Map and Directions to the range.
April 15th, 2007
Gary Eliseo, builder of outstanding Tubegun kits for Cross the Course, Prone, and Highpower shooting, has generously donated an R5 Repeater Kit to help support this website. We will auction off this kit, with the high bidder to be announced the first week of May, 2007. The Competition Shooting Stuff R5 kit is set up to shoot the 6mmBR cartridge or similar family (22BR, 6 Dasher etc.). The kit comes complete with everything you need to build a gun except sights (or scope), trigger, barrel and action. The current retail price on this R5 Kit is $925.00. There is a long waiting list and the next production run won’t be available until August 2007, so this is a chance to get an R5 before the end of the summer. Click HERE for our illustrated feature article on the R5 Repeater. Click the video window below to watch Gary put an R5 through its paces in rapid fire:
The kit to be auctioned has a handsome silver finish, which Gary tells us is the most popular color. There is a minimum bid for the R5 Kit of $500.00. Submit your bids by email to mailbox@6mmBR.com. You MUST include your name, address, and phone number so we can confirm your bid. Note: Because this kit does NOT include an action, no FFL is required. You will, however, need a capable smith to chamber and fit the barrel.
The R5 kit comes complete with everything you need except front and rear sights, Rem 700 action, barrel, and trigger. Click Here for large photo. The kit is much more than a painted housing for action and barrel. For $875.00, Gary delivers the following components:
• Complete Stock in gray powder-coat color.
• Advanced 4-way adjustable Buttstock/buttplate Assembly.
• Extended Picatinny (Weaver-style) top rail.
• Adjustable Handstop with quick disconnect socket.
• Recoil Disc to replace factory recoil lug.
• Bolt-handle Extension Knob.
• Two 5-round CNC Magazines optimized for the 6mmBR cartridge.
• SLED for single-round loading.
• All screws, washers and other fasteners.
Because of export restrictions, the R5 kit will only be shipped within the 50 U.S. States. The winning bidder must comply with all applicable laws.
April 14th, 2007
 Winchester Ammunition has pledged $500,000 to permanently endow the NRA’s Marksmanship Qualification Program. The gift allows Winchester to become the exclusive, permanent sponsor of the program, which will now be formally known as the Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program. The original NRA Marksmanship Qualification program is based on the Winchester Junior Rifle Corps, started by Winchester in 1918. Winchester transferred this program to the NRA in 1926, where it was merged with its existing youth training offerings.
The Marksmanship Qualification Program provides attractive pins, patches, and certificates to participants as they achieve progressively higher shooting standards. More than 200,000 such awards were distributed in 2006 alone, and 1,700 shooters reached the program’s highest level, “Distinguished Expert.” Although originally designed for youngsters, the program has grown to include beginning adult shooters and hunters as well. To learn more about the program, Click HERE to view the program summary, or call the NRA Qualification Coordinator at (703) 267-1505.
April 8th, 2007
This website is all about precision rifles, and achieving the Nth degree of accuracy. But sometimes we should remember the simple pleasures that made shooting fun to begin with. Today, on Easter Sunday, it’s worth contemplating rifles that allow all members of the family to have fun, without a lot of expensive gear or costly ammunition.
I spent a few hours yesterday testing big-buck rimfire bench rifles, shooting through a 36-power scope from a thousand-dollar, one-piece rest. Before heading to the range, I spent two full hours sorting my ammo by run-out, OAL, rim thickness, and weight. The whole afternoon, I strained to deal with the scope’s ultra-critical eye-relief and miniscule 1mm exit pupil. While shooting, my partner and I would grumble and groan if we had a single shot leak out of a group at 50 yards. Then we’d second-guess our wind call, or speculate whether Juenke-sorting the ammo might take 0.10″ off the average group size. The standard of accuracy we demanded made this “Saturday at the Range” more work than play. At day’s end, I realized I had a stiff neck, a tension headache, and a lingering sense of dissatisfaction. Then I thought, wait a minute, shooting is supposed to be fun.
What was missing from Saturday’s “all-business” shooting session was a time-out for some stress-releaving fun stuff. Typically when I go to the range I’ll bring a pistol, or a lever gun, or a factory 22 to shoot steel. It’s very rewarding to stand up on your hind legs with a lever gun and “ring steel” at 50 or 100 yards, using iron sights or a low-power scope with forgiving eye relief and a bright image. When I bring my Marlin 39A to the range, invariably a fellow shooter asks to give it a try, or says “mind if my boy tries your 22?” After sending a dozen rounds of inexpensive ammo downrange at steel targets, they’d hand back the rifle with a big grin saying “Now THAT was fun.” Kids especially love shooting a light, well-balanced 22 offhand and getting instant gratification from the “ping” of a well-placed shot.
In our obsession with precision, we can forget to involve the family in the shooting game, and fail to allow needed diversity into our shooting. It’s OK for a Hall of Fame BR shooter to stand up and shoot iron sights now and then. We BR-aholics can actually benefit from trying different shooting disciplines. I find that taking a break from the serious bench stuff and shooting from a standing position with iron sights loosens up the body and clears the mind, so when I go back to shooting from the bench, my performance improves.
Here are three great plinking rifles that combine low cost with surprising accuracy. The Marlin 39A is a classic, with the heft and feel of a centerfire lever gun. The Micro-groove barrel provides “best in class” accuracy. The CZ 452 Varmint is a versatile sporting gun with a comfortable stock and quality action. With a Brooks trigger upgrade, it’s good enough to win a club-level silhouette match (or you can get a model 453 with factory set trigger). The Izmash “Biathlon” basic offers a fast-cycling Fortner-style toggle action (kids love them), a heavy barrel, and 1.3-lb trigger pull out of the box. Often priced as low as $349.00, this rifle, from Russian American Armory, is hard to beat from a price/performance standpoint. For more info (including accuracy test results), read this Review of Biathlon Basic. Here are some 50-yard targets shot with the Biathlon Basic by Tod at GunTech.com.
April 6th, 2007
 In somewhat startling news, the Remington Arms Company announced yesterday that it would be acquired by Cerberus Capital Managment. Cerberus is paying $118 million in cash and assuming Remington’s $252 million of accumulated debt. The deal is expected to close June 7th. Remington Arms was founded in 1816 by Eliphalet Remington II. Currently, Remington is the #1 producer of shotguns and #1 producer of rifles for U.S. domestic sales according to published BATF records. For the time being Remington’s executives will stay in place, but Cerberus is known for bringing in its own management teams to run the companies it has acquired. Cerberus specializes in acquiring large enterprises that are cash-strapped or on the verge of bankruptcy, and then turning them around. In 2006 Remington posted earnings of $300,000 after three previous years of losses. Cerberus has been quite successful with its turn-around strategies, and now controls $23.5 billion worth of holdings, including MCI, the National and Alamo car rental chains, Air Canada, and Mervyns’ Department stores.
Interestingly, Cerberus acquired Bushmaster Firearms, Inc., for an undisclosed sum in April 2006. With both Bushmaster and Remington under its wing, Cerebus is poised to expand into the defense contract area. Cerberus campaigned very aggressively to successfully retain MCI’s $1 Billion computer services contract for the U.S. Navy and Marines. We expect Cerberus’ long-term plans include competing for major military small-arms contracts, including the eventual replacement for the M-16. Watch out Colt and FN–we think Cerberus is looking to build America’s next military rifles. Sources close to both companies confirm that a Remington-branded AR15 is in the works for the civilian market.
It will be interesting to see if Remington, under Cerberus’ control, makes changes in its product line-up. Remington executives can be faulted for ignoring major trends in the sport shooting market. Cowboy Action Shooting is the fastest growing segment of the shooting market, and Remington, despite its strong brand name and legendary heritage, offered very little that cowboy action shooters wanted to buy. Sturm, Ruger & Co. tapped that market very successfully. Remington, in many respects, has also failed to keep pace with competitors Ruger and Smith & Wesson in adopting modern, computerized production technologies. Ruger also produces a variety of non-firearms products such as golf clubs and industrial metal castings.
Remington Press Release | Bloomberg Report
Remington Bond Certificate courtesy of Scripophily.com.
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