One of the most remarkable shooting records — and one that has stood for four decades — is the 0.009″ five-shot group credited to Mac McMillan. The NBRSA Light Varmint Record of .009″ for five shots (at 100 yards) was set on 9/23/1973, forty years ago. Experts have considered that record “untouchable”, “unassailable” — in other words “unbreakable.”
Well records are meant to be broken. It appears that Texan Mike Stinnett has broken the “unbreakable” .009″ NBRSA record. Mike shot a .0077″ five-shot group at 100 yards in a registered short-range benchrest match at Denton, Texas. This will be a new NBRSA record (and all-time world record) if approved. Mike was shooting a .30-caliber cartridge, listed as a 30 PPC, but there’s some talk that the cases were formed from a Lapua 6.5 Grendel case. No matter — this is a mind-blowing accomplishment, particularly considering that Stinnett was shooting a .30-caliber gun, which has considerably more recoil than a 22 PPC or 6 PPC.
Forum member Wes J. (aka “P1ZombieKiller”) reports: “My buddy Mike Stinnett was just confirmed as having beat the world record LV group at 100 yards in a registered match. His group measured .0077″ and he did it with his 30 caliber.”
Wes adds: “Mike shoots thousands of rounds a year… I have sat on the bench right next to him several times, and he has rattled off five shots down range in a matter of 2-3 seconds, and the groups have measured in the .1s. The guy can flat shoot. His wind reading abilities are mind-blowing. When he gets the right condition, he is fast. REALLY FAST.”
NOTE: We will publish photos of Mike Stinnett and his target as soon as they are available.
Our buddy Shawn McKenna from Colorado Springs has made the pilgrimage to Camp Perry this year. McKenna, a talented service rifle and High Power shooter, captured some striking images during this week’s matches, including some beautiful photos taken in the early light.
Off to a Great Start
Shawn and his shooting companions have been doing well so far. At the team match, Shawn observed: “[It was a] great way to start the Team Match at Camp Perry 2013 with a call ‘X’ [for my team-mate]!”
Want to work for a successful, big-name gun industry business? Well there are jobs to be had. Right now, Beretta, Brownells, FNH, Glock, Kimber, and Remington are all listing good gun industry employment opportunities. The National Shooting Sport Foundation (NSSF) has listed the following engineering, production, marketing, and technical jobs in the gun industry. CLICK HERE for more info and links to specific jobs.
Louisiana has adopted a program we’d like to see state governments copy nationwide. From September 6th through 8th, 2013, Louisiana shoppers can buy guns, ammo, and hunting supplies without paying a penny of sales tax. The Sales Tax Holiday is authorized by a Louisiana statute that waives gun-related sales and use taxes each year on the first Friday through Sunday in September.
Now that’s a “stimulus program” all firearms owners can support. Don’t you wish your state had a similar Second Amendment tax holiday?
The sales tax holiday takes place Friday, September 6, through Sunday, September 8, pursuant to the Louisiana Second Amendment Weekend Holiday Act. This law provides a three-day exemption from state and local sales and use taxes on consumer purchases of firearms, ammunition, and hunting supplies. Tax-free items include: Guns, Ammunition, Game feed and Decoys, Camo Gear, Hunting Safety Gear, Knives, Bows, Arrows, Boats and Off-Road Vehicles. Get more information at Louisiana’s Department of Revenue Website.
Learn More About Louisiana’s Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday
Business Purchases Still Taxed
During Louisiana’s Sales Tax Holiday weekend, the sales and use tax levied by the state and its political subdivisions shall not apply to any consumer purchases (by individuals) of firearms, ammunition and hunting supplies. However, sales and use taxes will still be due on business purchases of guns and ammo. Also sales tax will still apply to sales of animals used for hunting purposes .
The web-based JBM Ballistics Program is one of the most sophisticated and accurate ballistics calculators available — and it’s free. The latest version of the JBM Trajectory Calculator includes field-test-derived actual G7 BCs, as well as bullet drag data from Lapua’s Doppler radar testing. You can also change weather variables, and generate come-up tables for distances out to 3000 yards.
Whenever we have web access, the JBM program is our “go-to” resource for dependable ballistics calculations. In our experience, with most bullets, if you input all the correct variables for the JBM program, it should get you within 1/2 moa (2 clicks), at 600 yards.
New URLs for JBM Ballistics Calculators
With the release of the latest version of the JBM program, some URLs for the calculations pages have changed. You may want to update your bookmarks with the following web addresses:
ArmaLite Inc. (ArmaLite) has been acquired by Strategic Armory Corps LLC (“SAC”), a holding company that also owns Surgeon Rifles, and AWC Systems Technology. SAC purchased the ArmaLite assets from Mark Westrom, who will remain as an investor in SAC and will serve on SAC’s board of managers. ArmaLite (and its 90 or so employees) will continue to operate out of its current facility in Geneseo, Illinois.
ArmaLite is a leading manufacturer of a complete line of semi-automatic rifles, including the M15 and AR-10 lines, and an expanding line of advanced bolt action rifles in a wide range of calibers from .308 Winchester through .300 Win Mag, .338 Lapua, and .416 Barrett to the massive AR-50A1 .50-caliber rifle.
“ArmaLite is a tremendous addition to our group of outstanding companies and broadens our product line so we can better meet the needs of our customers”, said Mark Johnson, SAC President and CEO. “Mark Westrom [who directed ArmaLite for two decades] will provide a wealth of industry knowledge to our leadership team.”
Strategic Armory Corps manufactures precision bolt-action rifles under the name Surgeon Rifles, high-quality firearm suppressors under the name AWC Silencers, and AWC match grade ammunition. To learn more about Strategic Armory Corps, and its subsidiaries, visit www.StrategicArmoryCorps.net.
FACTOID: The “AR” in AR15 Refers to Armalite, NOT “Assault Rifle”
The ArmaLite Division of the Fairchild Engine and Aircraft Company was the original developer of what has become known simply as the “AR”. In fact, “AR” actually stands for ArmaLite. There have been many variations of the original rifle, but the “grand-daddy” of ARs was an ArmaLite.
Troy Lawton of Columbus, Georgia won the prestigious President’s Rifle Match this week at Camp Perry. This is a 40-shot (total) High Power Match that includes a pressure-packed 10-shot “Shoot-off”-format final stage. Lawton held onto the lead in the President’s Rifle Final stage shooting an aggregate score of 395-18X. Jared Perry, the 2012 President’s Rifle Match winner, finished 2nd with a 392-15X and Justin Utley, firing a 100-2X final stage, finished 3rd with a 392-11X. The cut-off score for the President’s Rifle 100 is 284-8X.
About the President’s Rifle Match
The President’s Rifle Match is a National Trophy Rifle Match. It was first fired in 1878 and was incorporated into the National Match program after the Nationals were established in 1903. The President’s Match became uniquely prestigious because it was modeled after the famous British Queen’s Prize Match and because the winner formerly received a letter of congratulations from the President of the United States.
In the President’s Rifle Match, all competitors fire 10 shots standing, 10 shots rapid prone and 10 shots prone slow fire to determine who makes the President’s 100. The top 20 shooters advance to a final where they fire a 10-shot stage at 600 yards directly in front of spectators. The exciting 20-marksman Finals Shoot-off now concludes the President’s Rifle Match. This enables shooters who are in contention for first place to finish the match together on the same range at the same time in front of their fellow competitors.
A record number of shooters attended this year’s Small Arms Firing School (SAFS) at Camp Perry July 27-28. The school involves class-room-style instruction by the U. S. Army Marksmanship Unit, on-the-range coaching by military service rifle shooters and 200-yard practice firing. Classroom instruction and practice firing was held on Saturday, 27 July. Students then competed in the Excellence in Competition (EIC) match fired Sunday Morning, 28 July. By competing in the EIC match, students could earn points toward a Distinguished Rifle Badge. (There is also a SAFS Pistol program and match.) See highlights from the SAFS (and EIC match) in the short video below.
Tired of those whimpy nature calendars your wife gives you — or those obnoxious corporate motivation calendars they hand out at work? Then get yourself a bold, manly calendar featuring classic firearms every month. And you don’t have to wait ’til January to start using it. The new NRA Museum Calendar starts with September 2013. There are 16 months worth of full-color, high-rez photographs of over 20 historic firearms. On the right side of each month’s grid display you’ll find short histories of the featured arms, plus close-up photos.
You can order this calendar at the NRA Store, item number BK 02300. At $15.95, this calendar is overpriced, but it IS printed on very nice heavy, glossy stock. This calendar also makes a nice gift item for a friend or family member who enjoys shooting.
Do you have a favorite large-caliber rifle that sits in the safe because it’s just too painful to shoot? Perhaps you’re planning a big-game safari, and you need to comparison-test some ammo, but you dread the punishment you will take firing many dozens of rounds over the course of an afternoon. Well TargetShooting Inc. has a solution. Two new accessories are offered for TargetShooting’s model 1000LP one-piece shooting rest that tame the recoil of even the hardest-recoiling rifles. Up front, a 19.85-lb weight provides extra mass for the unit, keeping the 1000LP firmly planted. In the rear, an adjustable Recoil Pad Assembly soaks up recoil energy. The key component is a very thick Sorbothane pad that adjusts to the angle of the butt on your rifle.
With the recoil reduction system in place, we have tested the 1000LP with a variety of hard-hitting calibers: 50 BMG (with brake), .458 Lott, .338 Lapua Magnum, .375 H&H. It handled all these big boomers well, and the felt impact on the shoulder was significantly reduced. We won’t say you can shoot a .50 BMG “all day long” with this rig, but this set-up is definitely a shoulder-saver. If you are testing ammo with a hard-recoiling caliber, the 1000LP with recoil reduction allows you to fire more rounds without abusing your body, or developing a bad flinch. We also tested the 1000LP with a common hunting caliber — the venerable .30-06 — and the felt recoil was really quite mild. Honestly, you could shoot many dozens of rounds of .30-06 or .308 Win with this rig without having to take multiple “time-outs” (or see a chiropractor). By itself, the 1000LP one-piece Rifle Rest costs $699.95. The adjustable Recoil Pad Assembly sells for $349.95 extra. The low-profile, forward counter-weight unit costs $139.95. The 1000LP and all its accessories are precision-crafted with very high levels of fit and finish.
The weight of the rifle and the shape of the stock/chassis will affect how the gun behaves on recoil. Light rifles with narrow fore-ends tended to jump a bit out of the front bag. Heavier rifles with a beefier chassis would recoil more in a straight line. But no matter what the caliber (or stock type), the Sorbothane recoil pad soaked up the lion’s share of the recoil, dramatically reducing the shock (or jolt) you actually feel on your shoulder. By the laws of physics, the energy of the rifle’s recoil can’t magically disappear. However, when using this system, the smack on your shoulder is much diminished and the perceived recoil “hit” (on your body) is far less extreme.
Note: The 1000LP is designed to slide a bit when used with a big-caliber gun. If the rest did not move at all, this could cause problems with stocks or optics. On a concrete bench-top the rest might slide back 1/2″ to 3/4″ after firing a big-caliber round. After a couple shots we would reposition the rest. This was easily done by sliding the rest forward on the three legs (you do not have to lift up the entire rest between shots — just push it forward, while keeping the rear “superfoot” pad aligned under the rear adjuster).
One of the most remarkable shooting records — and one that has stood for four decades — is the 0.009″ five-shot group credited to Mac McMillan. The NBRSA Light Varmint Record of .009″ for five shots (at 100 yards) was set on 9/23/1973, forty years ago. Experts have considered that record “untouchable”, “unassailable” — in other words “unbreakable.”
Want to work for a successful, big-name gun industry business? Well there are jobs to be had. Right now, Beretta, Brownells, FNH, Glock, Kimber, and Remington are all listing good gun industry employment opportunities. The 
Louisiana has adopted a program we’d like to see state governments copy nationwide. From September 6th through 8th, 2013, Louisiana shoppers can buy guns, ammo, and hunting supplies without paying a penny of sales tax. The Sales Tax Holiday is authorized by a Louisiana statute that waives gun-related sales and use taxes each year on the first Friday through Sunday in September.
The web-based 
Tired of those whimpy nature calendars your wife gives you — or those obnoxious corporate motivation calendars they hand out at work? Then get yourself a bold, manly calendar featuring classic firearms every month. And you don’t have to wait ’til January to start using it. The new 
