|
|
March 31st, 2008
A full-time lawyer, Robert Whitley is also an avid prone, Highpower, and cross-course shooter. Over the past two years, Robert has pioneered a cartridge for these disciplines (as well as long-range varminting) based on the 6.5mm Grendel necked down to 6mm. Robert calls the cartridge the “6mmAR”.
The 6mmAR cartridge has performed very well in AR-based comp guns, both with shorter bullets loaded to mag length, and 105-107gr bullets single-loaded. Robert has complete info about the 6mmAR on his website, 6mmAR.com, including recommended loads and field test results.
Though making 6mmAR brass from 6.5 Grendel brass is quite straight-forward and simple, Robert receives many questions about forming the brass, so he recently prepared a video. The two-minute video shows how quick and easy the brass-forming process can be:
Robert also builds and sells products for across-the-course shooters, including complete AR uppers, chambered in a variety of calibers, including 6mmAR. Jerry Tierney, 2005 NBRSA 1000-yard champion, has a 6mmAR upper built by Robert and Jerry says the upper “Absolutely shoots great. I love it.” In the past few months, Jerry has broken many NRA senior records with his new 6mmAR-chambered rifle.
CLICK HERE for Feature Article on 6mmAR and Robert Whitley (many photos)
CLICK HERE for 6mmAR LOAD DATA
March 23rd, 2008
The full line of K&M reloading tools and accessories is now offered by PrecisionReloading.com.
 The popular K&M Arbor press (with optional seating force measurement gauge) is in stock. The K&M arbor costs $78.00, or $115.00 with the force measurement system. This clever design uses a Bellville washer stack and linkage to show the force required to seat your bullet on a standard dial indicator mounted on the top (dial is $22 extra.) In addition, Precision Reloading offers K&M neck-turning tools, primer seaters, expanders, neck reamers, and flash-hole uniformers.
Based in Mitchell, South Dakota, Precision Reloading is run by active, knowledgeable shooters. In addition to centerfire reloading supplies and tools, Precision Reloading offers a full line of shotshell components and shotgun reloading equipment, plus optics, cleaning supplies, gun cases, and hunting gear.
March 22nd, 2008
Norma 6XC brass is available direct from Superior Shooting Systems for $60.00 per hundred. These days, that’s a good deal for premium brass. Other vendors are selling the Norma 6XC for up to $89.00 per hundred. This is excellent brass that has shot extremely well for German Salazar and other top prone and cross-the-course shooters. It has a large flash hole and large primer pocket. It has enough case capacity to drive 110-115 grain bullets to 3000 FPS in most 27-28″ barrels.
The much-awaited, polymer-tipped 111 DTAC MJPT (Match Jacket Plastic Tip) 6mm bullet is still awaiting delivery. [UPDATE: As of 7/17/2008, the ship date keeps slipping. Superior Shooting promised initial shipments at the “end of June”, but everyone’s still waiting.] The price is $105/500 for naked bullets, and $110/500 for boron nitride-coated bullets. The new DTAC 111 is showing good accuracy and can be shot in most rifles throated for the 105-107 grain bullets, though, ideally, you’d want freebore about .030″ longer (and we recommend a 1:7.5″ twist barrel). David says the new bullet’s ballistic-coefficient (BC) is “right around .600″ based on field testing using multiple chronographs set downrange. (This is actually measured, not calculated, BC.) When shot from a 6XC, 6-6.5×47, 6-250 or similar cartridge, you should be able to push this bullet at 3000 fps. The plastic tips provide a more uniform bullet-to-bullet ballistic coefficient according to David Tubb: “With the new bullet tip you no longer have to uniform the meplats to get a consistent BC shot-to-shot. What we’ve seen in field testing is a spread of only 2% in actual bullet BC.”
Download DTAC 111 Info Sheet
March 16th, 2008
Here’s a great product for owners of the Lyman 1200 Electronic Powder Scale/Dispenser. Lyman offers an inexpensive kit that will make your machine run much faster, AND it will be easier to clean out. Currently MidwayUSA has the Lyman 1200 Speed Upgrade Kit (item 638676) on sale for $21.99. This price is good through March 31, 2008.
Lyman 1200 owners report that the Speed Kit (Lyman part #7752428) is easy to install, and it can double the dispensing speed with some powders. Jack C. of NY reports that he could swap in the new unit in 10 minutes. He found that, with the Speed Kit, his machine was “nearly twice as fast and it cleans out in 1/10th the time.” Chris U. of Texas concurs: “This upgrade works! The bonus is that cleanup is greatly improved over the original unit. Remaining powder flows out easily leaving only a few behind.” Overall, Lyman 1200 owners report significant dispensing speed gains. Steve K. of VT notes: “The upgrade kit at least doubles the speed of the DPS 1200 and with rifle cartridges has a new charge dispensed and ready by the time I have placed and seated a bullet on the previous charged case. I highly recommend this upgrade.”
March 7th, 2008
Now through March 31, 2008, MidwayUSA has Ramshot X-Terminator powder on sale for just $10.49 per pound, marked WAY down from the $20.49 regular price. X-Terminator is a double-based, high-energy ball powder that is designed for the varmint hunters who demand a clean burning powder. X-Terminator’s small, spherical kernels meter easily and precisely, so this is a good choice if you plan to load a large quantity of ammo on a progressive press. X-Terminator has a burn rate similar to Accurate 2230, Hodgdon H322, and Win 748. X-Terminator is well-suited for the 222 Remington, 223 Remington and 22 BR cartridges.
Note, the sale price does NOT includes a $20.00 hazmat charges and $9.99 special handling fee. You may want to combine your order with fellow shooters to “amortize” the hazmat fee over a larger quantity of powder.
Powder Burn Rate Chart from The Reload Bench.
March 3rd, 2008
 One of our Forum readers asked “How can I get a custom in-line seater for my new rifle?”. First, we would say that, if you are not shooting an unusual Wildcat, check first to see if L.E. Wilson makes a stainless Micrometer Seater Die for your rifle. These dies are a joy to use, and we’ve found the fit to be exceptionally good with many calibers. Wilson stainless micrometer-top seaters are available for the following calibers: 20 Tactical, 204 Ruger, 20BR, 222 Rem, 223 Rem, 22 PPC, 22BR, 22-250, 223 WSSM, 6 PPC, 6BR, 243 Win, 243 WSSM, 25 WSSM, 6.5-284, 270 WSM, 30BR, 30 IHMSA, 30×47 (not Lapua), 308 Win. The Wilson stainless micrometer seaters are priced $79.50 at Sinclair Int’l, item 50-1X.
If you do want a custom seater die, the process is relatively simple. Purchase a die blank from Wilson and have your gunsmith run the chambering reamer in. Forum member Gunamonth explains: “I start with a Wilson seating die blank. They’re available from Sinclair and other vendors. Just run the reamer in. For some of my rifles, where I wanted the stainless die with the micrometer adjustment, I bought a smaller die and had the smith ream it with the chamber reamer. That’s how I had my 6 Dasher and 6mm AI seaters made. With the Dasher I stared with a 6mmBR Micrometer die.” Sinclair Int’l sells Wilson die blanks, item WBLAX, for $37.50.
Micrometer Top Add-on
We really like micrometer tops on a seating die. But what if Wilson doesn’t make a micrometer top seater for your chambering? Don’t despair, Sinclair Int’l sells a micrometer top that can be added to any Wilson standard seater or to a custom seater die made from a Wilson die blank.
 The Sinclair Micrometer Attachment For Wilson Seaters, item WSM, costs $38.50. You can use the Sinclair Micrometer top with a new custom die, or Wilson’s standard inline seater dies. Wilson makes the standard (non-stainless) chamber-style bullet seaters for dozens of calibers for which the stainless micrometer seaters are not offered. Standard Wilson inline seaters (non-micrometer) retail for about $39.00. They are made from 12L14 mild steel. This 12L14 steel WILL rust, so you should keep a light layer of rust preventative (such as Eezox or Corrosion-X) on the die.
February 26th, 2008
The HuntingNut.com website offers Point Blank Ballistics and Reloading software free of charge. That’s right, the program is absolutely free, forever — not just for a trial period. We use Point Blank all the time, not just to calculate come-ups and windage for our rifles, but also to compare ballistics among various chamberings, or to compare different bullets. With Point Blank it is easy to just change your bullet BC value and instantly see the effect on windage and drop. Point Blank will even calculate muzzle energy and recoil force. Point Blank will also hold all your reloading info in a built-in database. You enter the caliber (chambering), bullet, powder, velocity, and other important variables. Then you can quickly access hundreds of different load combinations.
CLICK HERE TO download PointBlank Reloading & Ballistics Software v2.0 (ZIP Archive).
(Note: this 1.13mb file is for Windows computers; you need WinZip or other program to unzip the file archive.)
You can even use Point Blank to plot your shots on a test target. This way you can easily compare the accuracy of different “recipes” during load development. You can record up to 10 shots per target.
February 15th, 2008
For someone just getting started in reloading, who wants a functional, yet inexpensive set-up, MidSouth Shooters Supply is offering a Lee Breech Lock Challenger Press Reloading Kit for just $89.99. This features a Challenger press with Lee’s New Breech-Lock inserts (3 Breech Lock Bushings supplied with kit). We like the Breech-Lock System–it holds your dies solidly in position, yet you can swap them out with just a quick one-third turn of the die. It’s a smart feature for a single-stage press.
The Breech Lock Challenger Press features an all-steel linkage, and a very handy tube-type primer catcher. Midsouth’s $89.99 Challenger Press Reloading Kit includes the Lee Auto Prime, Auto Prime shell holder set, Pefect Powder Measure, Safety Scale, Powder Funnel, Case Cutter and Lock Stud, Chamfer tool, Sizing lube, Small and Large Primer Pocket Cleaners. This is a heck of a deal for all that equipment. Lee’s suggested retail price for the Breech Lock Challenger Press Kit (item 90030) is $144.98.
There is an excellent review of the Lee Breech Lock Challenger Press Kit on Realguns.com. This review has nice, large photos, and clearly illustrates how the Breech Lock system functions.
CLICK HERE for LEE RELOADING KIT REVIEW
February 12th, 2008
 Alliant Powder, a division of Alliant Tech Systems Inc., (ATK), will be shipping new Reloder 17 powder in mid-March, 2008. This is an all-new, double-base powder produced in Switzerland by NitroChemie for Alliant. It is a high-energy powder with a burn rate close to IMR 4350, and “midway between Reloder 15 and Reloder 19.” The powder density is optimized for the short magnum cases such as the 7mm WSM and 300 WSM, but it also will work very well with cartridges such as .243 Win, .270 Win, 6XC, and 6mm Remington, according to Alliant Product Manager Dick Quesenberry.
Reloder 17, a state-of-the-art propellant, promises to deliver higher velocities than competitive powders for many popular calibers. If you have the “need for speed”, Reloder 17 is worth trying if you’re shooting IMR4350, H4350, N550 or similar powders right now. The new RL17 will be offered in 1-lb. and 5-lb. containers and will cost about the same as other Alliant Reloder powders, such as RL15 and RL19.
Mr. Quesenberry noted that Alliant tested many formulations, from a variety of makers, before choosing the Swiss-made Reloder 17. Alliant’s new RL17 is NOT the same as Norma URP, produced by Bofors in Europe. According to Alliant, the new Reloder 17 tested superior to URP (and most other powders in that burn range) in all major criteria: Velocity, Accuracy, ES/SD, material consistency, and resistance to ambient temperature-induced pressure changes.
Reloder 17 features an advanced, penetrant-type kernel coating. Alliant believes this is superior to typical surface powder coatings because it provides a more consistent, progressive burn. The powder pressures do not spike as sharply as with surface-coated powders, but remain more consistent throughout the burning process.
Testing has shown that Reloder 17 offers big velocity gains in many cartridges compared to other powders in the same burn range. For example, in the 6mm Remington, using an 85gr BTSP, Reloder 17 delivered a +156 fps gain over all other powders listed in the current Speer Reloading manual. Likewise, in the 300 WSM with a 180gr BTSP, Reloder 17 offered +104 fps edge in velocity over all powders listed in the Speer Manual. Below is a chart showing projected velocity gains compared to other Speer Manual-listed powders.
VELOCITY GAINS with RELOADER 17 POWDER
Alliant has already done extensive load testing in its ballistics laboratories and has load data available for 20 popular cartridges, including .243 Win, 6mm Rem, 6.5×55, .260 Rem, .270 Win, .308 Win, 30-06, 7mm WSM, 300 WSM, and 300 Win Magnum.
CLICK HERE for ALLIANT RELODER® 17 LOAD DATA
NOTE CONCERNING LOAD DATA:
Reloder® 17 was created with new technology to provide velocity greater than the competition in the most popular standard rifle calibers and the new short magnums. For the recipes developed in Alliant’s Ballistics Laboratory, all loads used Speer bullets and list the correct Overall Length — DO NOT SEAT THE BULLETS TO A LESS OVERALL LENGTH. These recipes are maximum loads and shall not be exceeded. Always start at least 5% low and work up.
February 5th, 2008
We’ve been working the floor of SHOT Show to bring you the latest info and precision shooting products from action, barrel, bullet, optics, and rifle-makers. On a separate page, our daily Shot Shot Reports feature many large photos and video clips with knowledgeable smiths and technicians. Topic Highlights of the SHOT reports will be posted here in the Bulletin.
Click HERE for Part Two of our SHOT Show reports. Here are the highlights from our second installment:
Hornady’s Senior Ballistician discusses new 6.5 Creedmoor Cartridge.
Sightron unveils impressive new 8-32x56mm SIII Target Scope.
Glen Harrison, founder of Nesika Bay, reveals production plans (and tech features) of his new line of custom action.
Schmidt & Bender showcases much-anticipated 12.5-50 Target scope–and it’s amazing.
SKB’s new line of roto-molded heavy-duty rifle transport cases.
Chris Hodgdon summarizes new 2008 powder offerings, including Hybrid 100V and Win 780 Supreme.
|
