Midsouth Shooters is running a great Black Friday sale this year. If you need an electronic scale/dispenser, grab the RCBS ChargeMaster Lite for just $179.99, the lowest price you’ll find anywhere. And if you need .224 caliber bullets for varmint work or training, Midsouth is now offering FIVE Thousand 55gr bullets for just $399.99 — that works out to just $8.00 per 100, an amazing deal. There are many other great bargains at Midsouth currently. NOTE: It appears these deals are good through Monday.
MidwayUSA — Cyber Week Sale
MidwayUSA offers FREE SHIPPING for orders over $49 with Code CYBERFS4921.
There are scores of bargains offered through MidwayUSA’s Cyber Week Sale (8 Days of Savings). There are new deals every day through 11/29/2021. You’ll find deep discounts on optics, reloading equipment, hunting gear and factory ammo on MidwayUSA’s Cyber Week Sale Page. NOTE you get FREE Shipping for orders over $49 with Code CYBERFS4921. Here are some of the best Black Friday Deals:
Cutting Edge Bullets — 20% Off All Bullets
At Cutting Edge Bullets you can get 20% off of your entire order with code BLK2021 at checkout. This Sale ends Sunday, November 28th at midnight. Get this deal by ordering direct from Cuttingedgebullets.com.
Bass Pro & Cabela’s — Black Friday CyberWeek Sale
Hundreds of products are on sale right now at Bass Pro and Cabela’s. Hunters will find bargains on camo gear, packs, boots, trail cams and more. In addition a variety of optics are deeply discounted, including Vortex and Cabela’s house brand binoculars and spotting scopes. One great deal we noted is the Savage Axis XP rifle with Weaver 3-9x40mm scope. This camo-stocked hunting rig is just $249.97 after applicable $75 Savage Rebate. Yes that includes the scope! That’s a steal for a capable deer rifle.
Brownells Black Rifle Friday Sale and Giveaway
Brownells’ Black Rifle Friday Page has great deals on uppers, lowers, AR components, magazines, and optics. Sale prices are good through 11/28/2021. The Grand Finale of the Black Rifle Friday will be on Monday, November 29th, with additional special deals and exclusives. And you can also enter to win one of four (4) $1,000 Brownells gift cards. Go to the Brownells Grand Giveaway Entry Page.
Academy Sports — $400 Off Cannon 43-Gun Safe Today Only!
This could be the best deal on a large gun safe we’ve seen all year. This Cannon 43-gun safe (with 30 min fire rating) normally retails for $999.99. Today only, Black Friday (11/26/21), this big safe is just $599.99 — a $400.00 savings. This is an incredible deal — 40% off retail for ONE DAY ONLY. NOTE: There is also a $20 off $200 discount with Code EM10TS3JKE that might apply (no guarantees on that).
Happy Thanksgiving folks. Many major manufacturers and online vendors are offering great bargains tomorrow, Black Friday. And many of the sales start today. We are spotlighting vendors worth visiting because they offer a wide range of discounts on a large inventory selection — in some cases, everything in stock is discounted 10%, 15%, 25% even 40%. For other sellers, only specific items are on sale, so we’ve identified some of the best deals.
Come back regularly, as we will be updating the information as Black Friday sale prices on specific products are released by some vendors late on Thursday.
ScopeList — Save 20% on Top Quality Optics
Scopelist.com, which is affiliated with EuroOptic, has some very good promotions right now. Some are special Black Friday/Cyber Monday specials, while other deals are good through December 1, 2021. Here are some of the notable special deals that can save you up to 20%:
Midsouth is one of our favorite vendors. This company respects its customers and has maintained fair pricing even during the shortages. We will update this listing with specific hot deals as soon as they are posted. Special sale items with discounted prices should be revealed at 12:01 am ET 11/26/2021.
MDT — 10%-40% off all MDT Products including Chassis Systems
MDT produces very popular chassis systems for bolt-action rifles. These MDT Chassis units are very popular with PRS/NRL competitors because they are strong, versatile, adjustable, and can be easily fitted with bipods, forearm weights, and other accessories. Right now all MDT products are at least 10% off. And the “factory second” chassis systems are now 40% off at Mdttac.com.
Graf & Sons — Big Sightron Sale
The entire Sightron line-up is on sale now at Grafs.com. Save 25% on most Sightron riflescopes, including the poplar 10-50x60mm SIII scopes which have won major benchrest and F-Class matches. In addition, some great Sightron spotting scopes are 25% off. There are also significant discounts on binoculars, sunshades, and tripods.
Sportsman’s Warehouse — Huge Black Friday Sale
The Black Friday Sale at Sportsman’s Warehouse is underway right now, and runs through Wednesday December 3, 2020. We saw some great deals on Savage rifles, SIG Sauer optics, Leupold SX-2 spotters, as well as gun safes. A wide selection of hunter camo clothing is also on sale starting 11/25/2021 (Thanksgiving Day). CLICK HERE for compressed layout with 100+ sale items on one page.
K&M Shooting Products — 23% Off with Code THANKFUL23
K&M Products is running a Thanksgiving/Black Friday special offer, with 23% Off Savings on purchases over $50 (with some exclusions). K&M posted: “Happy Thanksgiving… Feast on 23% Off on $50 or more.” This promotion is good November 24-29, 2021. To get the savings, use Coupon Code THANKFUL23. Mitutoyo products, Arbor Press Case, and Benchtop machines, are excluded.
Bruno Shooters Supply — FREE Shipping for $100 (and up) Orders
Now through Monday 11/29/21 at noon, Bruno’s Shooters Supply is offering FREE Shipping (within the USA) on all orders of $100 or more. This does not cover items not currently in stock, and the Free Shipping offer excludes hazardous materials and any complete firearm. The Bruno’s storefront will be open half days on Friday and Saturday, 11/26-11/27.
Area 419 — Black Nitride Friday Discounts
Area 419 is running a “Black Nitride Friday” promotion. There are major savings on a variety of products including Hellfire muzzle brakes, Sidewinder muzzle brakes, suppressor mounts/adaptors, and thread protectors. CLICK HERE for all sale items.
KYGUNCO — Big Savings on Rifles, Pistols, Shotguns and Ammo
Shown above are just some of the deals, starting Friday. There are great prices on rifles, pistols, and shotguns. If you’re looking for a nice Bergara B-14 HMR .22 LR trainer, this is a good place to shop. NOTE: Prices go into effect on Friday, 11/26/2021. CLICK HERE for a full preview of items that will go on sale. That page has clickable links for particular products (sale prices effective 11/26/21).
Natchez Shooters Supplies — FREE Shipping for $99.99+ Orders
As a special Black Friday Promotion, Natchez Shooters Supplies is offering FREE Shipping on all orders of $100 or more. Use Code FS211125 to qualify for free shipping. This promotion is good through Monday 11/29/2021 at midnight.
Locked & Loaded — Black Friday Sale
You’ll find some attractive deals on Rifles, Pistols, and Shotguns at LockedLoaded.com now through CyberMonday at 11:59 pm. This vendor also has substantial stocks of loaded ammunition at better-than-average prices.
L.E. Wilson — Free Shipping November 26 – 28 (Fri, Sat, Sun)
L.E. Wilson will offer FREE shipping on November 26-28, 2021 for orders in the USA. At the top of the L.E. Wilson website it notes: “Black Friday Free Shipping November 26-28th (U.S. Orders) Automatically Applied.” So this offer starts tomorrow, Black Friday, and is good through Sunday, November 28, 2021.
Do you ever use military-style brass with swaged primer pockets? Then you can really benefit from the new LEE Ram Swage tool. This innovative swaging tool provides a fast, simple, and efficient method of removing the primer pocket crimp on milsurp brass.
Primer pocket swaging is necessary when reloading brass with crimped primer pockets. Many brands of brass for military (and some law enforcement) applications have this crimp. You may find such primer pocket crimps on a variety of milsurp brass types including: 9mm Luger, LEO .40 S&W, .45 ACP, .223 Rem (5.56×45), .308 Win (7.62×51), and .30-06 Springfield, as well as older European cartridge types such as 6.5×55. If you use a progressive press, this new LEE Ram Swage is a boon. Nothing reduces priming problems on a progressive press more than properly swaged primer pockets.
Why use milsurp brass? Surplus military and police department brass is a great low cost source of cases. It is typically very strong, long-lasting, and can often be acquired for a fraction of the cost of new commercial brass. For example, Lake City 7.62×51 (.308 Win) brass is excellent.
Note: This tool is designed for Boxer-primed cases only, not cases with Berdan Primers.
The Lee Ram Swage works on all single stage presses with 7/8″-14 frame threads, and rams which take common “universal” shell-holders. This new tool features spring-assisted case extraction, and an all-steel case guide. This ensures that your cases will be positively centered on the push rod. The swage holder, large or small, installs in seconds into your press ram with no adjustments required.
LEE’s engineers devised a clever “Shell-holderless design” for the LEE Ram Swage. This allows you to swage any small or large primer pocket, without swapping to a different size shell-holder. The hardened steel swage punch is automatically extracted from the primer pocket by five disc springs. The complete LEE Ram Swage set includes one guided 7/8″-14 threaded swage push die, with both large and small ram swage holder assemblies.
Popular Powders In Stock at Brownells at Reasonable Prices
We all know that reloading powders have been hard to find. And when you do find an appropriate powder, some vendors are asking crazy high prices. Well we’re pleased to report that Brownells has a number of popular powders IN STOCK today (11/20/2021), and the prices are quite fair, starting at $24.99 per pound for Ramshot Competition. Grab some excellent Hodgdon H380 for $33.99 per pound, or IMR 4198 for $38.99 per pound. CLICK HERE to see all available in-stock powders at Brownells today.
Save Money with Brownells Discount Codes
While you’re shopping at Brownells, don’t forget to use one of the current Discount Codes to save money. There are many current codes that can save you up to 10% on your purchase. And with special Pre-Black Friday Code RTC you get $30 off $300 PLUS FREE Shipping and handling through November 23rd at midnight. Fill in the applicable Code during checkout.
Current Brownells Discount Codes:
Code FR6: $85 off $875
Expiration date November 30, 2021
Code FR5: $55 off $575
Expiration date November 30, 2021
Code RTC: $30 off $300 and FREE Shipping/Handling
Expiration Date November 23, 2021 at 11:59pm
Code FR4: $25 off $275
Expiration Date November 30, 2021
Code TAG: $15 off $150
Expiration Date Unknown
Code SAE: $15 off $150
Expiration Date Unknown
Code PTT: $10 off $100
Expiration Date Unknown
Code Q63: Free Shipping/Handling over $99
Expiration Date Unknown
Our friend and colleague F-Class John tests some of the finest reloading and shooting equipment you can buy. Recently he added the impressive Henderson Gen 3 Powered Trimmer to his inventory of tools. John is now a Henderson fan. He likes the speed, precision, and repeatability of the $779.00 Henderson machine, which trims-to-length and chamfers the case mouth all in one pass. Unlike some other trimming tools, the Henderson indexes off the overall case length NOT the shoulder. John found this worked just fine for his .284 Winchester brass, which has all been full-length sized prior to trimming.
John liked the precision of the Henderson trimmer and the overall design of the machine, which offers good ergonomics and very precise alignment of the cases. Cycling is smooth and positive, as you can see from the videos. Fit over the pilot was fine for John’s .284 Win brass, but he notes that other users may need to expand their case necks appropriately to fit their pilot.
Watch the video to see the Henderson trimmer in action. The dual, parallel horizontal support shafts provide precise alignment of the case as it moves inward toward the cutter blade. The Taper-Lock cutter provides a 14-degree inside chamfer and 30-degree outside chamfer. The trimming process is very consistent case after case, and the Henderson’s design captures brass shavings effectively.
Testing Trim Length Consistency — Henderson Shows Superb Repeatability
John did a separate quick test to demonstrate the trim length consistency of the Henderson unit. Measuring with digital calipers, John found that he could easily hold case overall trim lengths within .001″ (one-thousandth). The consistency was excellent even when trimming cases very quickly. When trimming .003″ off his cases, John said the Henderson showed superb repeatability. Henderson promises the trimmer “will repeat to within 0.002″ with same brand brass”, and John was able to hold 0.001″ length consistency.
Another Henderson owner posted: “I love mine. I like [the] consistent trim length with the positive stop. [Doing] the trim, chamfer, and debur all in one step sure makes the process nice and easy! I also immediately noticed the problem with the pilot on the cutting head with my sized cases. I just polished the pilots on my cutting heads with some fine grit sand paper a little at a time till I got it perfect for my preferred neck tension setting! I’m very pleased with my purchase of the Henderson precision trimmer.”
Henderson Power Trimmer vs. Giraud Power Trimmer
After he tested his new Henderson trimmer, F-Class John compared the pros and cons of the Henderson vs. his other high-volume power trimmer, a Giraud. He likes both machines, but now favors the Henderson for trimming his .284 Winchester match brass. He found that his ES/SD dropped a bit for brass trimmed with the Henderson vs. brass trimmed with the Giraud. With the Henderson-trimmed brass, John achieved an ES of 15 fps for 49 shots. That’s mighty impressive (see photo at right).
But the Giraud does have it’s advantages. It can work with calibers above .338, and it is very fast. One viewer of this video commented: “The Giraud is insanely fast if you aren’t only loading insane precision ammo. I borrowed one when I first started reloading and immediately ordered one. I’ve trimmed somewhere between 40-50k .223 cases. You can just rip through them while watching TV or listening to a podcast. It trims to length consistently less than +/-.001 all day.” The Giraud also indexes off the shoulder while the Henderson trims based on Cartridge Overall Length (OAL).
Henderson Gen 3 Trimmer Details
The Henderson Trimmer is available from HendersonPrecision.com for $779.00. When ordering, you must select a caliber and a collet size. Expect to wait a bit for delivery, depending on the cartridge type(s) you load. Available calibers are: .223, .243 (6mm), .25, .264 (6.5mm), .277, .284 (7mm), .308, and .338.
Product Description: The Gen 3 powered case trimmer uses a powerful, single-speed DC motor. The DC motor is extremely smooth and quiet and powers the spindle at around 1700 rpm. The enclosed aluminum motor mount shroud bolts directly to the bearing housing. The 90-volt DC motor offers maximum torque at 1700 rpm where you need it most. The motor has an in-line on/off switch for easy control. The Tri-Trim case trimmer includes one Henderson Precision Taper-Lock cutting head with Forster pilots as well as one Forster collet. The Taper-Lock cutter provides a 14 degree inside chamfer and 30 degree outside chamfer. The following cutter heads are available: 224, 243, 25, 264, 277, 284, 308, 338.
Nosler now offers the Nosler Reloading Guide #9, the latest in a respected series of hardback Nosler load manuals. This 800-page guide covers 101 cartridge types. New in this edition you’ll find the popular 6mm Creedmoor, 6mm XC, 6.5 PRC, and 7.62×39, along with 20 Nosler, 22 Nosler, 24 Nosler, 27 Nosler and 33 Nosler. This new guide draws from thousands of hours in the Nosler Ballistic Lab, along with the experience of many respected experts.
The book is available now for $27.99 at Grafs.com. In addition, much of the book’s latest load data is available for free on the Nosler.com online LOAD DATA Center. But to get ALL the data, PLUS the technical articles, you’ll need to buy the book.
The Nosler Reloading Guide 9 Reloading Manual provides load data for 101 rifle and handgun cartridges with hundreds of new powder additions. A comprehensive data set for today’s reloader, this manual is current with every bullet that Nosler offers through 2020 from 17 caliber up to 458 caliber in the rifle section and 9mm up to 45 caliber in the handgun section. Nine new cartridges were added to this manual. These include: 20 Nosler, 22 Nosler, 24 Nosler, 6mm Creedmoor, 6mm XC, 6.5 PRC, 27 Nosler, 7.62×39 and 33 Nosler. Also new for the Nosler Reloading Guide #9 are cartridge introductions written by veteran outdoor writers and industry tech experts. The 800-page book also has helpful “how-to” sections such as “Getting Ready to Reload”.
Q. Why Buy a Book when Load Data is Available Online from Powder Makers?
There are good, solid reasons to buy print-format loading guides produced by bullet-makers. If you go to the Hodgdon online Reloading Data Center you’ll only find loads with Hodgdon, IMR, and Winchester powders — the key brands they sell. In a book such as this Nosler #9 or the Sierra Reloading Manual, you will find loads with a much wider selection of powders including Vihtavuori, Alliant, Accurate, Norma, Ramshot, and other brands. You won’t find a Reloder 16 or VV N140 load on Hodgdon’s website.
In addition, it is handy to have loads in a print edition which is easy to access on your load bench. You don’t need a computer or an internet connection. And using a book is often faster than a web interface when quickly scanning through a variety of bullet choices for a cartridge.
Along with the Nosler #9 Manual, here are four other recommended Reloading Manuals:
In the wintertime, it’s common to encounter problems with static electricity when throwing your powder charges. The static can cause powder kernels to cling to the surface of reloading components, and can cause powder clumping. Clumped or sticky powder may make your measure bind or grab in the middle of the cycle, which can throw off your charge weight. Here are a couple simple ways you can minimize the effects of static electricity and improve the consistency of your powder measuring.
Ground Your Powder Measure — If you’re throwing powder charges in the fall or winter and have problems with bridging or sticking powder, use a ground wire. Bullet-smith Victor Johnson (Johnson Precision Bullets) tells us: “I have a 25-foot piece of real small wire with alligator clips on each end. It’s that long so I can run it down the hall to a water pipe. Use the wire tie from a bread bag to hold it in a small roll to put in the range box. When using it at the range use a 6″ nail from the co-op or Lowe’s / Home Depot and just push it into the ground.”
Use Bounce Dryer Sheets — A quick pass with the thin sheets used in dryers will eliminate “static cling” on your plastic reloading parts like powder throwers, powder funnels, and reloading press guides. Thanks to Doc76251 for this tip.
Reduce Electronic Scales’ Drift with Anti-Static Spray
Reloading Tip by GS Arizona from Riflemans Journal
Apparently reducing static charges on and around electronic scales can reduce their propensity to drift, lessening the problem of “wandering zero”. Just how and why static charges interfere with scale performance is unclear, but many shooters have noticed that static electricity can cause electronic scales to behave strangely. So how do you reduce static charges around your digital balance? GS Arizona has found a very simple solution — an anti-static aerosol spray — that, by all indications, actually works. When this “spray-can solution” was suggested by a fellow shooter, GS was skeptical. However, he tried the stuff and he says that it really does help the scale maintain zero over time, with much less observed drift.
GS explains that the use of “Static Guard” spray helped mitigate the problem of a drifting zero on his Ohaus electronic scale: “My electronic scale… suffers from drifting zero (as they all seem to). I’ve read dozens of forum posts about drift and how to minimize its occurrence, so I know this problem isn’t limited to my scale or my workshop. Sometime last year, John Lowther mentioned the use of anti-static spray as a solution to the drift problem. John stated that the spray had virtually eliminated drift for him.”
GS found that the Static Guard actually worked: “The spray works great, just as John said it would. I spray all surfaces that I touch with my hands and arms as well as the pan (top and bottom), the metal tray on which the pan rests and the table under the scale. In six months or so of using the spray I’ve re-applied it about two or three times; it certainly isn’t something that you need to do each time you sit down to load. Before using the spray, it was not uncommon for me to re-zero the scale 10 times in the course of loading 72 rounds; now it might need it once during a session.”
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.
1. Bruno Shooters Supply — Reloading Press Sale
⏺ Good sale on single-stage and turret presses
Bruno’s is running a good SALE on Reloading presses, with some of the best prices we’ve found. Get significant savings on RCBS, Lyman, and Redding presses — single-stage presses along with turret presses. The classic RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme is now $180.00 at Bruno’s — that’s $30 cheaper than MidwayUSA. Check out these offerings:
2. Norma — Centerfire and Rimfire Ammo Direct from Norma
⏺ Great savings on excellent ammo, plus free shipping over $150
Good news for rimfire and centerfire shooters. Norma is now selling ammunition direct through its website NormaShooting.com at very competitive prices. What’s more you get FREE Shipping on all orders over $150, plus free insurance with all orders. Norma’s online ammo store has both centerfire and rimfire ammunition “in stock, ready to ship… there is plenty of ammo for sale at Norma Shooting.” The Norma 9mm Luger ammo is a good value at $17.99 for 50 rounds. And Norma’s 55gr .223 Rem ammo is just $15.49 for 30 rounds, 30% OFF the regular price.
3. Savage — November Rimfire Rebate — $50 or $25 Back
⏺ Get $50 or $25 money-back rebate on Savage rimfire rifles
Let Rimfire Ring… Purchase any Savage A or B Series rimfire rifle and receive a $50 mail-in Rebate, or purchase any Savage Rascal, 93, or 93R17 Rifle and receive a $25 mail-in Rebate. These rebate offers apply to rifle purchases between 11/1/2021 through 11/30/2021. CLICK HERE for Rebate INFO. Purchasers can REDEEM Online or return their Rebate Form through the mail. DEADLINE for mail-in or online submission is 12/31/2021.
4. Midway USA — Vortex Scopes Clearance Sale, Save 30-35%
⏺ Big-time 30-35% savings on many popular Vortex riflescopes
Vortex Optics riflescopes are reliable and are protected by one of the best warranties in the business. Right now you can save big on Vortex scopes for competition and hunting. Save 30-35% with MidwayUSA’s Vortex Clearance Sale. In addition to the optics shown above, there are a dozen other models on sale including: Viper PST Gen II 3-15x44mm, Viper HS 6-24x50mm, Viper HS LR 4-16x44mm, Viper HS 2.5-10x40mm, Viper 3-9x40mm, Viper 4-12x40mm, Viper PST 1-4x24mm and more.
5. CDNN Sports — Winchester Wildcat with Reflex Optic, $299.99
⏺ Handy .22 LR rimfire with Reflex optic, and easy take-down
Here’s fun, functional rimfire rifle for under $300 with reflex optic. This special edition .22 LR Winchester Wildcat features a field-removable lower receiver, ambidextrous magazine release, integral Picatinny top rail, and rear barrel access for easy cleaning. There is even a Picatinny rail on underside of forearm for mounting bipod or accessories. This SHOT Show Special Wildcat comes with a Reflex-style electronic optic, plus ghost ring rear sight and post front sight. TFB praised the one-button takedown and 10/22 magazine compatibility (see video). This can be a great fun plinker or first rifle for a family member. CDNN Sports also offers the Wildcat without Reflex sight for $279.99.
6. Amazon — BOG Deathgrip Aluminum Tripod, $137.99
⏺ Versatile tripod mounts quickly, securely — use for PRS/NRL or hunting.
This is a great tripod for long-range hunters and PRS/NRL competitors. The Clamp-type head quickly secures to your rifle’s forearm for a secure shooting solution. The BOG Deathgrip Aluminum Tripod is on sale now on Amazon for $137.99 (add to cart to see price). If weight is critical, there is also a lighter BOG carbon fiber tripod for $249.99. For the extra $112 you save a pound in total weight (7.5 lbs for carbon vs. 8.5 lbs for aluminum).
7. MidwayUSA — Frankford Large Rotary Tumbler, $149.99
⏺ Big Capacity, Great Deal — save $77 over typical price
If your brass is dirty on the outside or if you want to get it “squeaky clean” before annealing, a Rotary Wet Tumbler is a smart option. Right now the large, full-size Frankford Rotary Tumbler is on sale. Order it now from MidwayUSA for just $149.99 including 5 pounds of 304 stainless media pins and a packet of Frankford Brass Cleaning Solution. NOTE: You must ADD to CART to see that $149.99 price. This a great deal — this tumbler sells elsewhere for $220 or more. Note: if you already have stainless media, you can also buy the unit by itself from Amazon for $149.99, with free shipping for Prime members.
⏺ Affordable padded mat rolls up for easy transport
When shooting prone, it’s really important to be comfortable. You need a good mat that offers some padding along with plenty of room for your gear. The Redneck Convent Padded Shooters Mat fits the bill. Measuring 64 inches by 21 inches it boasts plenty of room and features 1/2″ padding top to bottom. This mat rolls up for easy storage/transport (Rolled size is 21″x8″) with handy built-in rolling straps. This is also available in Black for $35.99.
9. Midsouth — Hornady Quick Change Die Bushing Kit, $17.99
⏺ Great upgrade to any brand single-stage reloading press
With this inexpensive Hornady Lock-N-Load Die Conversion Kit, you can swap dies in and out of a press in a few seconds. This is great if you worth with multiple cartridge types, or size and seat on the same single-stage press. Simply insert the Hornady conversion bushing into a Rock Chucker or other press that uses a standard 1-1/4:12 thread. Then put the die bushing on your die. This Lock-N-Load Conversion Kit includes three die bushings and one conversion bushing.
10. Amazon — 12″ x 12″ Splatter Grid Targets, 10 for $10.99
⏺ Great for hunting rifle Sight-In and easy to estimate group size
This 12″x12″ Splatterburst Target combines splatter shot marking with a grid background, with five aiming points. The bright neon shot circles make it easy to see your shots. And the handy grid lets you quickly estimate your group size. Get a 10-pack for $10.99, or a 25-pack for $18.99 (better deal). This particular target has earned rave reviews — 87% of verified buyers gave this a FIVE-Star rating. One example: “Excellent quality and durability. The adhesive is really strong and the splatter contrast is [great].”
One side of this gauge is the “go” side which quickly tells you the depth of a primer pocket, whether any crimp is properly removed, and whether the primer pocket is loose. If it feels loose on the “go” side, use the other end of the tool, the “no go” side, to test to see if the primer pocket is too loose to hold a primer. If the no-go slides into the pocket, then you know to junk that brass.
Primer Pocket Growth and Useful Case Life
Repeated firings at stout pressures can cause primer pockets to grow in diameter. This can create an unsafe condition if your primers are not seating properly. Are your primer pockets “good to go”, or have they been pushed to the point of no return? Do you really know? Many guys try to gauge primer pocket tightness by “feel”, as they seat the primer. But that method isn’t precise. Now there’s a better way…
The folks at Ballistictools.com have created a handy set of precision-machined gauges that let you quickly and accurately check your primer pockets. These gauges (aka “gages”) are offered in two sizes — for large and small primer pockets. A two-piece set of both large and small gauges costs just $22.99. These gauges let you quickly measure the depth of a primer pocket, and check if the crimp has been removed properly. Most importantly, the gauge tells you if the primer pocket has opened up too much. One side of the gauge has an enlarged diameter plug. If that “No-Go” side fits in the primer pocket, you should ditch the case — it’s toast.
Precision ground from O-1 tool steel, The Ballistic Tools primer pocket gauges serve multiple functions. The inventor of these tools explains: “I created the prototype of this tool for my own use in brass processing. I needed a way to quickly and easily measure primer pockets that was reliable and did not require wasting a primer. This tool has been indispensable for me and I would never go back to the old method of uncertainty and guessing.”
Product tip from Boyd Allen. We welcome reader submissions.
When Annealing Made Perfect (AMP), a New Zealand-based company, first unveiled its original induction annealing machine at SHOT Show 2015, it was big news in the reloading world. This was a real breakthrough — an induction annealer running on electricity that was fully programmable. No more flames to fuss with. The advent of the AMP annealer was a true “game-changer” for the shooting enthusiasts who reloaded their ammo.
The AMP system is based on smart science and modern technology. Right from the start, AMP invested in advanced lab equipment (such as gear for Micro-Vickers hardness testing). AMP also worked with independent outside metallurgical laboratories. And AMP invited shooters from around the world to send in sample cartridge cases. AMP accumulated a huge archive of cartridges from .17 Hornet to an array of .50 BMG wildcats and everything in-between. AMP’s archive includes multiple brands and even different lot numbers of the same cartridge. AMP now offers the most highly developed and precise consumer annealing system on the planet. That is because of the amazing amount of R&D behind the product, plus the use of advanced technologies.
Annealing Under the Microscope — Informative Articles
Alex and Matt Findlay have produced a series of articles called “Annealing Under the Microscope”. The first of these was released in July 2017. Part 1 was a general explanation of annealing, and busted a number of myths. It examined the repeatability of annealing over multiple reloads, and conducted a series of tensile bullet pull tests.
Annealing Different Brands of Brass
Part 2 of Annealing Under the Microscope covered an important topic — annealing for different brands of brass. This article examines the reasons why different brands of the same cartridge can require different annealing settings. The article also reveals that lot to lot variations of the same brand of brass can make a big difference.
AZTEC Annealing System — AMP Annealers become Smart Machines
In late 2017, Alex and Matt started the development of their revolutionary AZTEC system, which in effect transformed AMP annealers into SMART annealers. It meant that individual customers could analyse their own cases with laboratory grade accuracy without the need to send samples to the AMP lab for calibration.
Part 3 of Annealing Under the Microscope was released in July 2018 after nearly 12 months of R&D on AZTEC. It focused on how to best utilize this new self-calibration capability. It also highlighted the difference between several “premium” brands of brass compared to cheaper alternatives.
Benefits of Precision Annealing — Accuracy and Repeatability
Part 4 of the series was released in September 2019. It focused on the true benefits of accurate annealing, and the arguments for annealing every reload. The study identified sizing accuracy and repeatability as the key factor. This article also revealed the first prototype of AMP’s new auto bullet seater with seating pressure data capture.
Proof on the Target — Down-Range Benefits of Annealing
In Part 5 of the series, AMP’s experts focus on the real world, down-range benefits of annealing, turned out to be a much more complex process than AMP initially planned. Accordingly, Part 5 was conducted in three stages, with three detailed write-ups.
The Part 5, Stage 1 paper examined sizing accuracy of annealed vs un-annealed cases, taking two sets of three identical Peterson Cartridge .308 Winchester cases through twenty (20) reloading cycles. For every cycle, cases were measured both fire-formed and as re-sized. With each cycle the cases were measured for case length, shoulder bump, neck OD, and head OD.
Field Testing in Tennessee — Proof on Target
The Part 5, Stage 2 article covered detailed ballistic testing using multiple rifles, cartridges, and shooters at the Strategic Edge range in Tennessee.
The Tennessee testing sessions accumulated a wealth of data on velocity spreads and group sizes right out to 1,000 yards. The evidence showed a clear advantage for annealed brass, both for average group size and average Extreme Spread for the groups shot with AMP-annealed cases.
Underground Testing with Lou Murdica
Lastly, AMP’s Part 5, Stage 3 paper featured testing by Lou Murdica at an underground range in California. We have previously shown a video of Lou shooting one case, then reloading it and shooting the same case into the same hole at 100 yards.
This time he repeated the feat, shooting one un-annealed case twenty times into the one hole. Then Lou produced another even smaller 20-shot group, shot with a case which he annealed before every shot.
Enjoy These Technical Articles from AMP Annealing
Collectively AMP’s “Annealing Under the Microscope” series represents a remarkable body of outstanding work. Whether you anneal your cartridge brass now, or just want to learn more about the benefits of annealing, we recommend you take a look at this series of informative articles.
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After he tested his new Henderson trimmer, F-Class John compared the pros and cons of the Henderson vs. his other high-volume power trimmer, a Giraud. He likes both machines, but now favors the Henderson for trimming his .284 Winchester match brass. He found that his ES/SD dropped a bit for brass trimmed with the Henderson vs. brass trimmed with the Giraud. With the Henderson-trimmed brass, John achieved an ES of 15 fps for 49 shots. That’s mighty impressive (see photo at right).
Apparently reducing static charges on and around electronic scales can reduce their propensity to drift, lessening the problem of “wandering zero”. Just how and why static charges interfere with scale performance is unclear, but many shooters have noticed that static electricity can cause electronic scales to behave strangely. So how do you reduce static charges around your digital balance? GS Arizona has found a very simple solution — an anti-static aerosol spray — that, by all indications, actually works. When this “spray-can solution” was suggested by a fellow shooter, GS was skeptical. However, he tried the stuff and he says that it really does help the scale maintain zero over time, with much less observed drift.
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