Happy New Year to all our readers, and especially the 66,660+ members of our AccurateShooter Forum. We hope 2023 brings you happiness in your lives and success in your endeavors. We also wish for small groups, high scores, and successful hunts in the New Year. And, yes, we wish for mankind’s victory over COVID, and other viral pandemics, so we can fully return to our normal lives.
Forum Members — Upgrade Your Membership to Get Unlimited Classifieds for 12 Months.
Looking Forward to 2023 Every year we work to improve AccurateShooter.com. We have continued to upgrade the Forum, adding enhanced security measures, with background checks on all sign-ups and enhanced scammer detection. On the content side we have expanded our popular Deals of the Week and Sunday GunDay features. And we’ve added a Video Showcase every Saturday. We also now offer more product reviews in our Daily Bulletin. We hope you’ll continue to enjoy our feature articles, our Deals of the Week, our match reports, and our Forum Classifieds. The formula seems to be working — our audience is bigger than ever, with Forum membership growing substantially year after year.
Forum Membership Increased 10% in 2022
Our Shooters’ Forum grew significantly over the past 12 months. Total registered membership grew by about 10% as Forum ranks swelled to 60,670+ members! More people are successfully buying and selling through our Forum Classifieds services than ever before. Silver and Gold members get unlimited Classifieds for 12 months. Gold members also get custom Avatars and other privileges.
We need your support. For 19 years the site has relied largely on volunteer efforts. But as the site grows, we need the assistance of Forum moderators, product testers, web gurus, and computer software experts. Those guys don’t work for glory alone.
Consider this — you could pay $25 for a couple medium pizzas. For the same twenty-five dollars you can become a Silver Forum member for an entire YEAR and help this site provide info, tests, tech tips, bargains, and shooting news.
And consider the benefits — Silver or Gold Members get unlimited classifieds for 12 months. If you were to sell just ONE $1500 rifle through Gunbroker.com, you would pay $66.50 in fees! That’s much more than our Gold Membership — just to sell one single rifle.
In the last quarter of 2022 about 540 site users have donated or upgraded their Forum membership. That’s less than 1% of the current membership. We thank all those who have generously contributed. But that still leaves tens of thousands of users who access the site every week without contributing. With more donations and more Forum upgrades, we can deliver more premium content and offer more services to our members.
How to Contribute
If you ARE a Forum member, you can help the site by UPGRADING your membership. CLICK HERE to UPGRADE.
If you are NOT a Forum member, you can still help by making a donation. Donating is simple and easy. Just click on the orange “Donate” button at right. If you have a credit card, you don’t need a PayPal account to contribute.
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For the very first day of 2023 we present a precision rifle built with a relatively new cartridge — the 6GT. Developed by George Gardner of G.A. Precision and Tom Jacobs of Vapor Trail Bullets, the 6GT was designed to have the efficiency of a 6mm Dasher without the need for case forming. It was also designed with a longer case body so it feeds better from magazines. Even with the added capacity, the 6GT is still very efficient, and can achieve good velocities with less powder than a 6mm Creedmoor.
Today’s Sunday Gunday feature rifle was smithed and tested by Gavin Gear of UltimateReloader.com. Gavin did all the gunsmithing — chambering the barrel, fitting the muzzle brake, and even laser engraving the barrel. In building this 6GT rifle, Gavin used top-tier components: BAT TR action, Krieger 28″ 1:7.5″-twist 4-groove 6mm barrel, TriggerTech Diamond Rem 700-compatible trigger, and Area 419 Hellfire Muzzle Brake. The barreled action was then fitted in a handsome and rugged MDT ACC Chassis. On top is a Zero Tech 4.5-27×50mm FFP Trace Advanced scope in 30mm Hawkins Precision high rings.
We recommend you watch the video above — it covers the rifle build, load development, and then features some remarkable shooting sequences across snowy hills in the Pacific Northwest. Gavin’s team actually used a drone to capture overhead footage of the location.
After developing a promising load with Berger 109gr LRHT bullets, Varget powder, and Alpha brass, Gavin literally headed for the hills to test his new rifle at longer ranges, shooting from bipod. His load had shot well under half-MOA at 100 yards in testing so he was hoping he could hit multiple steel targets positioned at 340 yards, 760 yards, and 1000 yards. Indeed he did, proving the rifle’s great accuracy and Gavin’s fine trigger-pulling skills. You can see the hits at these time points in the above video:
340 Yards — 18:15 time | 760 Yards — 19:00 time | 1000 Yards — 19:54 Time
Gavin’s 6GT Hit Highlights on Steel out to 1000 Yards
Building Gavin’s 6GT Precision Rifle
Gavin Gear did all the gunsmithing on this project, using his own Precision Matthews TL-1660 lathe for the chambering with an Alpha carbide 6GT reamer. The barrel work took about four hours total. Shown below is the reamer cutting the chamber, which was finished with a 0.170″ freebore and 0.270″ neck diameter. For other brands of brass you might want the chamber to have a larger 0.272″ neck diameter.
Chambering the Krieger barrel with Alpha carbide 6GT reamer, 0.170” freebore, .270″ neck diameter.
This project when smoothly, with Gavin able to install the barreled action in the MDT Chassis and fit the buttstock in an hour or so. So total build time was about five hours. One nice “finishing touch” on the project was laser engraving the 28″ Krieger barrel — a process you can see in the video below.
Laser engraving of Krieger 28″ barrel.
About the 6GT — Sort of a 6 Dasher on Steroids
6GT Cartridge Design Features
The 6GT was designed to have an optimal length and capacity for mag-fed PRS/NRL tactical rifles. The 6GT is longer than a 6mmBR and 6 Dasher, but shorter than a 6mm Creedmoor and 6.5×47 Lapua. That gives the 6GT ample case body length to feed reliably from a magazine, while the case capacity is sufficient to run popular powders at reasonable pressures. It has a 35-degree shoulder angle.
On paper the 6GT seemed like the perfect cartridge for PRS- and NRL-style centerfire competition. It has the low recoil of a 6 Dasher, with good feeding and mag compatibility. With the 6GT, a competitor can push 6mm 105gr bullets at 3000+ FPS or run heavier bullets at ~2950 FPS. With this 28″ Krieger barrel, Gavin actually achieved 3004 FPS running 109gr Bergers.
Gavin started with quality Alpha Munitions brass. The cases were then annealed with an AMP Annealer and trimmed to length with a Henderson powered trimmer (see video below). After sizing with a Forster Co-Ax press, Federal SR Primers were seated using a Primal Rights competition seater. Next the powder was measured with an A&D FX120i force restoration scale. Finally, the Berger 109gr LR Hybrid Target bullets were seated with a Forster Micrometer die, again using the smooth Forster Co-Ax press.
Initial Load Testing with Berger and Hornady Projectiles
Before it got cold and snowy, Gavin did load development, shooting from a bench with a Sinclair front rest. The Krieger cut-rifled barrel was accurate right from the start and Hodgdon Varget powder proved to be a very good choice for the 6GT.
Gavin’s 6GT boasts a MDT ACC short action chassis with SRS-X Elite buttstock, vertical grip, and MDT CKYE-POD Bipod.
Gavin did initial load testing with both Hornady 110gr A-Tip Match and Berger 109gr Long Range Hybrid Target bullets. The Berger 109gr LRHT bullets were the most promising. A variety of charge weights were tested, with Gavin settling on 34.6 grains of Varget. This delivered fine accuracy with a 3004 FPS muzzle velocity. Group size measurements with this load are shown in the chart. At 100 yards, four three-shot groups averaged 0.361 MOA, and the rifle produced a nice 0.387 MOA (0.405″) five-shot group.
———————————————— Winter Wonderland for Shooters ———————————————–
Coming Soon — Ultimate Reloader Rifles Business
Gavin Gear is in the process of opening his own gunsmithing business. He will be offering a variety of custom-built rifles for multiple disciplines — hunting, PRS/NRL, ELR, and other competitive disciplines. Gavin explains: “Ultimate Reloader is gearing up to do custom rifle work for the general public starting (hopefully) in Spring 2022. We will most likely start with complete custom rifle builds using parts from our inventory. We will focus on high-end, bolt-action rifle builds and gunsmithing, primarily Remington 700 and clones. We will entertain limited gunsmithing work outside of complete builds (i.e. chambering, muzzle threading).
As we release this story, the East Coast has just entered a new year 2023. Perhaps you’ve been eagerly awaiting for the big event, getting champagne (and sparklers) to celebrate the New Year. 2023 will hopefully be a much better year than 2022, a tough year with inflation, the border crisis, War in Ukraine, and shocking incompetence in Washington. To mark the dawning of 2023, with hope for a much better year, we expect many folks will open a bottle of champagne. You could pop the cork the traditional way, or read on and learn how to release the celebratory champagne with a rifle shot, as demonstrated by the talented Kirsten Joy Weiss.
Recently at Thorton Winery in Temecula, California, a champagne vintner, we were shown the best way to open a champagne bottle. We were told you should hold the bottle nose up at an angle then rotate the BOTTLE slowly while holding the cork. That works great… but it’s not as stunning as the way sharpshooter Kirsten Joy Weiss opens a bottle of bubbly.
A former competitive smallbore rifle shooter, ace trigger-puller Kirsten Joy Weiss tried a special New Year’s trick shot a few seasons back. In keeping with the festive New Year’s spirit, Kirsten attempted to shoot the cork off a champagne bottle. After a few unsuccessful tries, she managed to hit the cork with at least two shots. But alas the cork did not fly. She actually hit the cork, but it did not release. That was surprising…
Undaunted, Kirsten changed her strategy, aiming for the neck of the bottle. This duplicates the process of “sabering” a champagne bottle — a method of liberating the bubbly by slashing off the end of the neck with a blade. Aiming for the neck of the bottle, Kirsten successfully blew off the top of the bottle. (Apparently, when “sabering” it is actually the pressure within the champagne bottle which does most of the work).
Do you own an M1A rifle? If so, you’ll want to view a new video from Springfield Armory (SA). As part of SA’s new Workbench Video Series, this 9-minute video is a detailed guide to the M1A rifle. The video can benefit any M1A owner or shooter: “These in-depth videos were developed to help new gun owners safely care for and maintain their firearms, as well as provide a useful resource for seasoned gun owners”, notes Steve Kramer of Springfield Armory. In the video, firearms expert Steve Horsman provides a step-by-step guide for the popular M1A semi-auto rifle.
Springfield Armory M1A Workbench Video:
“Descended from the M1 Garand, the M14 utilized multiple improvements that made it a far superior firearm for combat and a much better rifle for competition.” — Dick Jones, Shooting Sports USA.
An evolution of the M1 Garand, the M14 was designed to shoot the 7.62×51 (.308 Win) round instead of the larger .30-06 Springfield cartridge used in WWI, WWII and Korea. While the vast majority of today’s M1As are chambered for .308 Win/7.62×51, Springfield Armory also produces a 6.5 Creedmoor version
For many years, the semi-auto version of the M14 was “top dog” in iron sights Service Rifle competition. Now that discipline is dominated by .223 Rem (5.56×45) AR-type rifles, but the bigger .308-caliber rifle, now sold as the M1A, remains popular. Each summer, the CMP hosts a major M1A Match at Camp Perry, sponsored by Springfield Armory. This is a popular event with 100+ competitors and significant cash prizes.
See how the modern M1A is built in this Springfield Armory Video:
As racing improves automobiles, competition improves firearms, and the current crop of Springfield M1As, from the Basic to the top-of-the-line Super Match and Loaded models, reflects the years of development. The M14 and its variants are … still considered by many to be the best battle rifle in the history of the U.S. Military. — Dick Jones, Shooting Sports USA
How to Install a Scope Mount on an M1A
Folks — there is another M1A scope-mounting video from Springfield Armory which is worth watching. We recommend you watch both videos before starting this task, which requires some specialized tools.
Military Version Operation Revealed — M14 Training Film
The original military version of the M1A was the select-fire M14. The 27-minute official U.S. Army video below demonstrates the operation of the M14. Field-stripping is shown from the 5:13 time-mark through 8:30. Cut-away drawings show the M14’s gas operation at 8:40.
Watch M14 Functioning Cycle Starting at 9:25 Mark:
The M14’s complete 8-step functioning cycle is demonstrated from the 9:25 time-mark through 22:41. These eight operations are: 1) Feeding; 2) Chambering; 3) Locking; 4) Firing; 5) Unlocking; 6) Extracting; 7) Ejecting; and 8) Cocking. This movie is fairly long, but every M1A owner should definitely watch this video start to finish.
Holiday Greetings to Our Readers
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all our readers and especially our 66,500+ Forum Members. This marks our 18th Christmas “in business”, and the site is stronger than ever thanks to our Gold and Silver Forum members and industry sponsors. AccurateShooter.com is now accessed by over 500,000 visitors every month, who enjoy our Shooters’ Forum, Daily Bulletin, Cartridge Guides, and Feature Articles. Part of the reason for that success is the hard work of our dedicated staff and volunteer helpers.
Unsung Heroes Deserve Recognition
I want to acknowledge those guys who have really helped out the site. Number one is skilled F-Class shooter Praveen K. who serves as our System Admin. Along with being a talented trigger-puller, Praveen is a super-smart computer wizard who has kept our servers running smoothly and helped with vital software upgrades. Praveen has also done some key product tests for the site. We also thank Andy B., our Xenforo ace who has contributed vital Forum software solutions.
A huge “thank-you” goes to F-Class John who finds weekly bargains for the Bulletin and tests new products. John produces gear/hardware reviews for the Daily Bulletin with informative videos showcased on his YouTube Channel. John’s work has become a highlight of our Bulletin content. We also regularly feature videos from wind wizard Keith Glasscock, and product tests from Gavin Gear of UltimateReloader.com. We thank Boyd Allen and EdLongRange who supply story leads for the Daily Bulletin. And we wouldn’t be here without Jeff Williams, who handles site donations by mail. We have a great place to test rifles thanks to our valued friend Joe Friedrich. Other important contributors include: Bryan Litz of Applied Ballistics, Bill Marr of Rifleshooter.com, Jason Baney of EuroOptic.com, and Dennis Santiago. These folks have contributed stories, reviews, and videos. I also want to recognize Hunting Editor Colton Reid and Norway’s Thomas Haugland. All these men (and many others) have aided the site.
Praise for our Site Sponsors and Advertisers
We also want to thank our major sponsors, without whose support the site could not provide the full AccurateShooter.com experience, with an active Forum, an archive of in-depth articles, and fresh content 365 days a year in our Daily Bulletin. We’re grateful to ALL our sponsors and advertisers. In particular, we want to acknowledge the major companies which have been strong supporters of this site for many years: Capstone Precision Group (Berger, Lapua, SK, Vihtavuori), Bruno Shooters Supply, Bullet Central, EuroOptic, Graf & Sons, Midsouth Shooters Supply, Powder Valley Inc., PMA Tools, Precision Reloading, Whidden Gunworks, and Zeiss Sports Optics. Their continuing support helps us keep up the flow of information and serve our readers and Forum members.
Here are ten rebate or instant savings programs that can save you $25 to $100 on guns, ammunition, and optics. For example you can save $75 on a Browning Citori shotgun, or save $50 on a new S&W pistol. IMPORTANT: most of these rebate promos expire December 31, 2022, just nine days away. So don’t delay if you want these deals!
Smith & Wesson M&P Pistol Rebate
Purchase a new Smith & Wesson M&P Shield EZ pistol by 12/31/22 and receive a $50 rebate. CLICK HERE for Rebate details.
Savage Rascal Rifle Rebate
The Savage Rascal is a great starter rifle for new shooters. This compact, single-shot, bolt-action rimfire comes in a variety of stock colors and patterns. Purchase one by 12/31/2022 and get a $25 mail-in Savage rebate. CLICK HERE for details.
Browning Holiday Firearms Rebate
Get up to a $75 rebate on the purchase of a Browning shotgun, rifle, or handgun between November 29, 2022 and December 31, 2022. Save $75 on Citori shotguns, save $50 on centerfire rifles (and other shotguns) or save $25 on rimfire rifles, pump shotguns, and handguns. CLICK HERE for details.
Taurus Pistol Rebate
Purchase a Taurus pistol before 1/15/2023 and save $25 or $50. Purchases of new Taurus GX4 Series pistols qualify for a $50 rebate. Or get a $25 rebate on a new Taurus G2 or G3 Series pistol. CLICK HERE for details.
CZ Pistol Rebate
CZ will provide $50 back with the purchase of any new CZ P-07, P-09, or P-10 handgun. This rebate is good for purchases through 12/31/2022. CLICK HERE for details.
Rossi Rifle Rebate
Rossi rifles are surprisingly good for the price. And now, if you purchase any new Rossi RS22, Gallery, and Rio Bravo Rifle by 1/15/2022 you can get a $25 rebate. CLICK HERE for details.
Heritage Mfg. Rebate on Handguns and Carbines
Heritage Mfg. is offering a $30 rebate on the purchase of a qualifying Heritage Rough Rider revolver, Barkeep revolver, and/or Rancher Revolver Carbine. Qualifying purchases must be made between November 1, 2022 and January 15, 2023. CLICK HERE for details.
Winchester Ammunition 20% Off Rebate
Save 20% on Winchester centerfire FMJ rifle ammo between December 5 and December 31, 2022. Eligible cartridge types are: 7.62x51mm, 300 BLK, 5.56x45mm, and .223 Remington. CLICK HERE for details.
Nightforce 10% Off NXS Instant Savings
Purchase a new Nightforce NXS series riflescope between November 18, 2022 and December 31, 2022 and get 10% OFF the regular price. The 10% savings is show in the listed price. CLICK HERE for details.
Nikon 2022 Optics $50-$100 Instant Savings
Purchase any new Nikon’s Prostaff P3, Prostaff P7, Monarch M5, Monarch M7 binoculars between October 31, 2022 and December 31, 2022 and save up to $50. Or save up to $100 with the purchase a Prostaff 1000/1000i, or Coolshot rangefinder. CLICK HERE for products.
Winter solstice is tomorrow, Wednesday, December 21, 2022. We’re seeing extremely cold temperatures throughout many northerly states, with tons of snow falling on the ground. For American firearms fans in those colder climes, indoor training is the only realistic option this time of year.
AccuWeather forecasters warn that a significant storm may bring a wide swath of snow, rain, and fierce winds from the Plains to the East Coast this week. CLICK HERE for Accuweather Weather Report.
This article explains some key points to remember when shooting at indoor ranges. Always remember — safety first. Be especially careful to follow ALL the rules of safe gun handling. And even before you get to the range, make sure your guns are transported safely and in compliance with all local laws. In some states firearm(s) and ammunition must be kept in separate containers during transport.
This Video Covers Basic Gun Range Safety Rules and Etiquette
FIVE IMPORTANT SAFETY PROCEDURES for Indoor Ranges
1. Follow the Three Fundamental Rules for Safe Gun Handling
ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
2. Follow ALL Range Officer Instructions
ROs are the first and final authority on any range and their decisions are generally final. Arguing with a Range Officer may just get you thrown out.
3. Don’t Bother Others or Touch Their Guns
Respect other shooters’ privacy unless a safety issue arises. Do NOT engage other shooters to correct a perceived safety violation unless absolutely necessary – inform the RO instead. NEVER handle or touch another shooter’s firearm without their permission!
4. Know Your Range’s Rules
Review and understand any and all range rules and requirements/expectations. For example, what is the range’s maximum rate of fire? Are you allowed to collect your brass?
5. Know What To Do During a Cease Fire
IMMEDIATELY set down your firearm, pointed downrange, and STEP AWAY from the shooting booth (or bench). Range Officers do not want shooters trying to “secure/unload” their firearms in a cease fire situation — they want the shooters separated from their guns instantly.
BAD RANGE BEHAVIOR — Five Things NOT to Do at the Range
Here are the five worst behaviors we’ve seen at indoor ranges. These behaviors are both dangerous and inconsiderate. Any one of these behaviors can get you permanently banned from an indoor range.
1. Sweeping other individuals after loading a weapon behind the firing line is very bad. All your weapons should be empty until you reach your shooting station.
2. Turning the handgun sideways while trying to clear a malfunction or insert/remove a magazine. This will point the muzzle at a fellow shooter. Or, after shooting a gun, the shooter fails to clear the weapon and then places the gun somewhere near the shooting station with the muzzle in an unsafe position.
3. Reacting unpredictably when firing a high recoil handgun. We’ve seen people take a second shot by accident with the muzzle way off target.
4. Not obeying range commands — in particular continuing to shoot during called cease-fires.
5. Poorly aimed shooting that hits target frames or carriers, causing ricochets.
Double-Up on Hearing Protection When Shooting Indoors
When shooting indoors we recommend quality muffs with earplugs underneath, offering double protection. When inside an enclosed range, with other shooters blasting away right next to you, you really need effective hearing protection. But you also need to hear range commands and be able to communicate. That’s why we recommend electronic muffs with plugs underneath.
For indoor rifle and pistol shooting, we like the latest Howard Leight Impact Pro Muffs. These offer an impressive 30 dB Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). In addition, these muffs are pretty comfortable and offer Headphone Functionality so you can connect to your smartphone, MP3 player, or other audio device. These muffs are now $66.85 on Amazon and $66.85 at Walmart.
Christmas Day is this upcoming Sunday, just five days away. We know many of our readers and Forum members will be traveling to spend the holidays with friends and families. If you will be transporting any firearms when traveling by air over the holidays you need to know the rules.
If you will be flying with firearms this winter, you should read this article. You need to familiarize yourself with current Federal Regulations on gun transport before you get anywhere near an airport. Thankfully, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has a web page that states the important requirements for airline passengers traveling with firearms and/or ammunition.
You’ll want to visit the TSA Firearms and Ammunition webpage, and read it start to finish. In addition, before your trip, you should check the regulations of the airline(s) with which you will fly. Some airlines have special requirements, such as weight restrictions.
Here are the TSA’s key guidelines for travel with firearms:
TSA FIREARM Guidelines
1. When traveling, comply with the laws concerning possession of firearms as they vary by local, state and international governments.
2. If you are traveling internationally with a firearm in checked baggage, please check the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for information and requirements prior to travel.
3. Declare each firearm each time you present it for transport as checked baggage. Ask your airline about limitations or fees that may apply.
4. Firearms must be unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container and transported as checked baggage only. As defined by 49 CFR 1540.5, a loaded firearm has a live round of ammunition, or any component thereof, in the chamber or cylinder or in a magazine inserted in the firearm. Only the passenger should retain the key or combination to the lock unless TSA personnel request the key to open the firearm container to ensure compliance with TSA regulations. You may use any brand or type of lock to secure your firearm case, including TSA-recognized locks.
5. Bringing an unloaded firearm with accessible ammunition to the security checkpoint carries the same civil penalty/fine as bringing a loaded firearm to the checkpoint. You may find information on civil penalties at the Civil Enforcement page.
6. Firearm parts, including magazines, clips, bolts and firing pins, are prohibited in carry-on baggage, but may be transported in checked baggage.
7. Replica firearms, including firearm replicas that are toys, may be transported in checked baggage only.
8. Rifle scopes are permitted in carry-on and checked baggage.
TSA Ammunition Guidelines
1. Ammunition is prohibited in carry-on baggage, but may be transported in checked baggage.
2. Firearm magazines and ammunition clips, whether loaded or empty, must be securely boxed or included within a hard-sided case containing an unloaded firearm. Read the requirements governing the transport of ammunition in checked baggage as defined by 49 CFR 175.10 (a)(8).
3. Small arms ammunition (up to .75 caliber and shotgun shells of any gauge) must be packaged in a fiber (such as cardboard), wood, plastic, or metal box specifically designed to carry ammunition and declared to your airline.
4. Ammunition may be transported in the same hard-sided, locked case as a firearm if it has been packed as described above. You cannot use firearm magazines or clips for packing ammunition unless they completely enclose the ammunition. Firearm magazines and ammunition clips, whether loaded or empty, must be boxed or included within a hard-sided, locked case.
5. Please check with your airline for quantity limits for ammunition.
More Airline Travel Tips from Tom McHale
A while back, Tom McHale wrote an excellent article for the Beretta Blog, entitled Ten Things You Need to Know about Flying with Guns. Here are two of Tom McHale’s Travel Tips from that article:
Weigh your gun case and ammunition
Most airlines will allow up to 11 pounds of ammunition. And, like any luggage, you will be charged more for any baggage weighing more than 50 pounds. This sounds like a lot, but when traveling to the Crimson Trace Midnight 3 Gun competition last year, my case with shotgun, rifle, pistol and ammunition tipped the scale past the 50 pound mark.
Pack ammo in the same locking case
This is another area that’s misunderstood and full of internet myth. Your ammo just needs to be stored in some type of safe container and not loose. Technically, you can keep ammunition in magazines, but I wouldn’t recommend it. It meets the letter of the law storage requirement, but too many airline and TSA agents will give you grief. Use a plastic ammo box or original cardboard packaging and you’ll be fine carrying that in the same lockable case as your gun.
*Please see, United States Code, Title 18, Part 1, Chapter 44 for information about firearm definitions.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.
1. Bullet Central — Premium Pre-Fit Barrels
⏺ Excellent Pre-fit chambered barrels in stock at good prices
No one wants to wait weeks or even months to get a top-quality custom barrel chambered by a gunsmith. Now you have a great alternative. Bullet Central has a large inventory of pre-fit, pre-chambered, cut-rifles barrels crafted with premium hand-lapped steel from Bartlein, Brux, and Krieger. A wide variety of calibers and contours are offered. Chamberings include: 6.5mm Creedmoor, 6.5×47 Lapua, 6mm BRA, 6mm BRX, 6mm Creedmoor, 6mm Dasher, and 6mm GT. If need a top-quality barrel for your Benchrest, varmint, or NRL22 rifle, this is a great option. Note: Pre-fits are also offered in .223 Rem, but are currently sold out.
⏺ Complete Package — everything you need to reload at 21% Off
Here’s an excellent reloading package with everything you need to start handloading cartridges. And right now you can save 21%. With this Hornady Lock N Load Deluxe Classic Reloading kit you get the Classic single-stage press, powder measure with stand, digital scale, hand priming tool, OAL gauge tool, calipers, loading block, bullet release “hammer”, powder trickler, funnel, chamfer/debur tool, shellholder pack, die bushings, lock rings, Hornady Reloading Manual and much more. Folks, this is a great bargain at $450.00! The same Hornady L-N-L Deluxe Kit is currently $599.00 on Amazon and $579.99 at MidwayUSA.
3. KYGUNCO — 12 Days of Christmas Rimfire Rifle Deals
⏺ Major bargains through 12/31/2022 — check out these rimfire rifles
⏺ Versatile, stable, works with all rifles, including ARs
When cleaning long guns, you need a secure, stable platform. We recommend the Tipton Best Gun Vise, now $71.99 on Amazon. This vise was designed to accommodate the widest possible array of firearms for cleaning, maintenance, or gunsmithing. This vise is easily configurable to handle bolt-action rifles, break-open shotguns, AR-15s, and handguns. We’ve used this vise and can attest that it is very versatile and holds rifles securely.
5. EuroOptic — Free Extra Stock/Fore-end with Sako S20
⏺ Free factory stock and fore-end with Sako S20 Purchase
Here’s a great deal from Sako and EuroOptic. Purchase a new Sako S20 Hunter Rifle and receive a free S20 Precision Stock and S20 Precision Fore-end. OR purchase a new Sako S20 Precision Rifle and receive a free S20 Hunter Stock and S20 Hunter Fore-end. Note: The S20 Precision Stock is currently out of stock, it will ship when more arrive. Not valid with any other discount or offer.
6. Browning — $150-$300 Rebates on Browning Gun Safes
⏺ Big End-of-Year Rebate on quality Browning Prosteel Safes
Now’s a great time to purchase a new gun safe. You can save up to $300 with Browning’s Holiday Safe Rebate Program. Receive a money rebate of $150, $200, or $300 when you purchase a new, eligible Browning ProSteel safe at retail between November 23 and December 31, 2022. After purchasing the safe at a Browning dealer, submit your rebate application via the Browning Online Rebate Center.
7. Palmetto State Armory — Taurus 9mm Pistols $100-$125 Off
⏺ Major discounts plus Taurus Factory Rebates
You can get the Taurus G2C pistol for $224.99 on sale ($125 Off), and you qualify for an additional $25.00 Taurus Factory Rebate. That lowers your net cost to just $199.99 — a heck of a deal for an accurate, reliable 9mm carry pistol. If you want something smaller get the Taurus GX4 pistol for $299.99, $100 off. The GX4 also qualifies for a FIFTY dollar Taurus Rebate, lowering your net cost to $249.99. These Taurus Rebate programs are good for purchases made through 1/15/2023.
8. Midsouth — RCBS ChargeMaster SALE, $50 OFF and $30 OFF
⏺ Best ChargeMaster deals around — grab savings while you can
As part of Midsouth’s 2022 Christmas Sale, there are big savings on RCBS ChargeMaster powder scale/dispensers. Get the ChargeMaster Supreme for $379.99 ($50 OFF) or the ChargeMaster Link for $269.99 ($30 Off). Both machines are Bluetooth-capable for use with a mobile App. These are the best prices we’ve seen for these two ChargeMasters. And with either machine you get FREE Shipping! Sale prices end at 11:59 PM on 12/31/2022.
9. Amazon — Midland-EX37VP Radio Kit (Set of 2), $49.99
⏺ Quality Walkie-Talkies with good range and special Emergency functions
Having a good 2-way communication system is vital when hunting or wilderness hiking. And a pair of walkie-talkies really helps during shooting practices when a buddy goes downrange to set targets. A very good 2-Way radio system is the Midland-EX37VP E+Ready Emergency Two-Way Radio Kit. These walkie-talkies have a 26 mile range and feature 22 FRS (Family Radio Service) channels, along with channel scan. With this kit you get vital E+Ready Emergency functionality, plus NOAA weather alerts — important in the event of a natural disaster.
10. Cabela’s — Knife and Flashlight Combo, $10.00
⏺ Amazingly low price for decent folding knife and flashlight
This Cabela’s Knife and Flashlight Combo Kit makes a great gift, or a back-up to keep in a vehicle or travel kit. The rugged folding pocket knife features an aluminum handle with a 2.5″-long blade made of 420 stainless steel. The 3.5″-long flashlight has a durable aluminum body, and a 75-lumen output.
11. Midsouth — MTM Cleaning Rod Case, $21.99
⏺ Good product for transport of those important cleaning rods
Good cleaning rods are expensive and can be easily damaged if you’re not careful. To protect those valuable cleaning rods, we recommend the MTM cleaning rod case which holds four rods as well as cleaning supplies. This case protects your rods both at home and while traveling. With this handy, durable case you can stop worrying about bending or breaking those important cleaning rods.
BONUS — Get $25 Gift Card with $100 Gift Card Purchase
FREE MONEY: If you are looking for a gift for a shooting buddy, consider this Brownells deal. If you purchase $100 worth of Brownells gift cards you get bonus $25 Card for FREE.
SHOT Show 2023 takes place January 17-20, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can get a sneak peek of new-for-2023 products on the official SHOT Show New Products webpage.
As of this morning December 19, 2022, there are 293 products featured on the New Products site. Here are seven notable new items. CLICK HERE to view 286 more.
ZENK RZMK-357 Modern Revolver
The new ZENK RZMK-357 is a radical new revolver with a patented design. The frame is similar to a semi-auto, but with a rotary cylinder. Zenk states that the patented design allows for a more balanced recoil, and states that the unique design gives the shooter “more accuracy and comfort”. The RZMK fires .357 Magnum ammunition, loaded into a 6-round cylinder like a conventional wheelgun. The top section of the pistol tilts upwards to allow loading into the rear of the cylinder.
KOR 5er VRS Gun Case Insert (Foam Replacement)
KOR’s patented Vacuum Rigidizing Structure (VRS®) 5er insert is a foam replacement system for existing gun cases. The technology eliminates the need to cut, pluck, or customize interior foam. This, KOR claims, allows gun owners to have “one case for everything in their safe”. The VRS system “customizes interior by conforming to contents”. The interior is filled with “rigidizing beads” which provide a custom fit. You can change the rifle or accessories and the VRS adapts to the new contents using a vacuum pump. KOR states that its VRS system has “no shifting contents, corrosion, crushing, abrasion, or rust inside.” The 5er VRS insert is compatible with many case types from Pelican and SKB.
MDT TIMBR Frontier — Wood Stock with Internal Metal Chassis
The MDT Timbr Frontier has the look and feel of traditional stock with the benefits of a modern chassis with V-block. The buttstock and fore-end are made of clear-coated Birch hardwood laminate attached to an aluminum micro-chassis and bottom metal. The Timbr Frontier stock offers adjustable Length of pull, adjustable cheek riser, and interchangeable rubber over-molded grips. You can easily add accessories to the M-LOK fore-end and buttstock. With a weight of just 4 pounds, the Timbr Frontier stock works for hunting as well as target shooting. The stock can take standard AICS pattern magazines.
Advantage Arms .22 LR Pistol Conversion Kit
Advantage Arms has been the top-selling .22 LR Conversion Kit for the Glock, XD, and 1911 since 1998. This year, Advantage Arms introduces the new Micro Series Conversion Kits, which work with SIG P365, Springfield Armory HellCat, and Glock 43X pistols.
Taurus 10.5″ Barrel Raging Hunter Revolver
Taurus has updated the Raging Hunter revolver line with a new 10.5-inch barrel option in .460 Magnum. This impressive, long-barreled wheelgun features a proprietary muzzle brake to help tame recoil. Also added are models in .500 Magnum that use the traditional Raging Hunter barrel profile.
XMAG Dry Firing System with BlueOps Technologies App
BlueOps’s Xmag is crafted to match the shape and dimensions of a firearm magazine. The Xmag is inserted into a pistol or rifle during Dry Fire practice. Measure and track your performance while dry-firing. Use your own gun — no mods needed — to collect a wide spectrum of data through built-in sensors. The data is sent to an advanced mobile App that displays data and training results.
Luth-AR MCA-22 Modular Chassis for Ruger 10/22
Here’s a cool new upgrade for Ruger 10/22 rimfire rifles. Luth-AR’s new Modular Chassis Assembly (MCA) offers adjustability and features that can transform a 10/22 into a much more effective rifle for rimfire gun games. Priced at just $189.95, the new MCA-22 modular chassis is great for NRL22 competition, Tactical 22 matches, Steel Challenge, Practical Rimfire Challenge matches, as well as casual plinking.
Every year we work to improve AccurateShooter.com. We have continued to upgrade the Forum, adding enhanced security measures, with background checks on all sign-ups and enhanced scammer detection. On the content side we have expanded our popular Deals of the Week and Sunday GunDay features. And we’ve added a Video Showcase every Saturday. We also now offer more product reviews in our Daily Bulletin. We hope you’ll continue to enjoy our feature articles, our Deals of the Week, our match reports, and our Forum Classifieds. The formula seems to be working — our audience is bigger than ever, with Forum membership growing substantially year after year.
A former competitive smallbore rifle shooter, ace trigger-puller Kirsten Joy Weiss tried a special New Year’s trick shot a few seasons back. In keeping with the festive New Year’s spirit, Kirsten attempted to shoot the cork off a champagne bottle. After a few unsuccessful tries, she managed to hit the cork with at least two shots. But alas the cork did not fly. She actually hit the cork, but it did not release. That was surprising…
Holiday Greetings to Our Readers
