New from Howa, is the Howa Actuator Controlled Trigger (HACT). This two-stage-style trigger system lightens the trigger pull weight, and reduces the amount of trigger creep. HACT trigger units will fit all Howa M-1500 rifles that were previously equipped with a three-position safety. The HACT trigger assembly is a completely redesigned trigger and sear unit with a lighter, two-stage-style trigger pull. HACT pull-weight range is 2.5 to 3.8 pounds; the factory default setting is 3 pounds.
Writing for the Western Outdoor News, WONews.com, Steve Comus has field-tested the new HACT Trigger. Steve writes: “I always liked two-stage triggers, because of the way I could take-up the slack and then actually know when the rifle was going to go off. The take-up on the [HACT] trigger was fast and easy. The crisp, positive release when pressure was put on during the second stage [reminded me] of some of the target rifles I shot through the years.”
HACT Retrofit Kit Coming in Mid-2012
The HACT trigger will eventually be available as a retrofit for existing Howa 1500 and Weatherby Vanguard Rifles. According to Legacy Sports Int’l Marketing VP Andy McCormick, the retrofit kits “should cost under $100.00 MSRP and should fit all Howa and Weatherby Vanguard short-action rifle with the current three-position safety… and that includes most of these rifles sold in the last 5 or 6 years”. Trigger Kits will be packaged with instructions. McCormick expects much interest in the HACT retrofit kit: “It’s a great two-stage trigger. I would say the HACT trigger kit will be available as a single accessory item by mid-summer 2012. Stay tuned to LegacySports.com for updates.”
Howa Detachable Magazine Kit, Just $98.00 Complete
The recently-introduced Detachable Box Magazine (DBM) Conversion Kit for Howa and Weatherby Vanguard rifles has proven extremely popular. This $98.00 kit includes new plastic floorplate and trigger housing plus either a 5-round or 10-round polymer magazine (as the customer prefers). The DBM Kit saves 1/4 lb. of weight as compared to hinged bottom metal. Made for target shooters and varmint hunters, these POLYMER BODY magazines allow you to turn your 4-round box magazine into a high-capacity DBM system. Conversion kits are currently available for .204, .223, 22-250, .243, 7mm-08, and .308 Win short action Howa rifles. These kits will also fit most late-model, short action Weatherby Vanguard Rifles.
Now through Monday, January 2, 2012 at 11:00 CST, Grafs.com is running a Last Chance Sale. With this limited-time promo you can save money on powder purchases, and save on shipping/handling charges. If you purchase at least 32 pounds of powder, Grafs.com will waive the normal $25.00 Hazmat Fee. You can mix and match different brands of powder to reach the 32-lb minimum. You can also add other hazmat items (powder and primers) into the shipment, up to a total weight of 50 pounds. (Limit one free Hazmat fee per order, all items must be in stock.)
Also during the “Last Chance Sale”, if you purchase $100.00 or more of currently-in-stock products, Grafs.com will waive the normal $4.95 handling and insurance fee, and UPS or FedEx ground shipping to the lower 48 states is free. This offer excludes closeouts and target load ammo.
Sale Tip by EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
You may not know it, but Whidden Composites, run by two-time National Long-Range Champion John Whidden, produces a nice series of hunting, F-TR, match, tactical, and general purpose gunstocks. These high-grade stocks all feature advanced composite construction, Whidden Gunwork’s signature V-blocks, three installed sling swivels, and a Pachmayr® Decelerator pad. Epoxy construction ensures that these stocks are stiff AND light. John explains: “All of our stocks are crafted with epoxy from core to finish. The core is an expanded epoxy blended to a density that perfectly balances weight, strength, and rigidity. The outer shell is an epoxy coating that is incredibly durable — but light enough to carry all day. The textured epoxy external coating forms a handsome, tactile finish that is great to hold.”
Built-in V-Block Standard, with Many Options Available
The latest stock design from Whidden Composite Works is the model 175 Tactical/F-TR stock. This unit offers a long, rigid fore-end, with a straight comb and straight buttstock toe. This makes it very well-suited for prone shooting with a rear sand-bag and front bipod. The design is ambidextrous so it can be used by either right- or left-handed shooters (with appropriate inlet). Five color choices are offered: black, silver, reddish brown, tan, and green. Base price, inletted for Rem 700 long- or short-action, is a reasonable $549.00 — remember that includes deluxe buttpad and the versatile V-block which allows one stock to be used with multiple barreled actions.
For the model 175, Whidden offers a number of options: $100 Fore-end Rail, $125 Adjustable Cheek piece, $135 Rear Monopod, and $75 Picatinny Bipod Rail. The sling attachments can also be flush-mounted for $10.00 per slot. For just $30.00 over the base price, Southpaws can order a left-hand version of the model 175 stock. Whidden Composites can also inlet for detachable bottom metal and for non-Rem actions (Tikka, Winchester, Sako, etc.), but it does cost more for these non-standard inlets.
Product Tip by EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
How would you like to be able to shoot a rimfire rifle or pistol that only makes 25% as much noise as a standard .22 LR gun? And no, we’re not talking about a suppressor-equipped firearm. CCI claims that its new Quiet-22 rimfire ammo “generates one-quarter the perceived noise level of standard velocity .22 LR rounds.” So this stuff is very quiet indeed, and it’s also affordable — a 50-round box sells for under $4.00 at major online vendors.
CCI’S 710 fps Quiet-22 Ammo only produces 68 Decibels (dB) of sound at the shooter’s ear (compared to 132-139 dB for a standard .22LR). How do we put that in perspective? Consider this: 68-70 dB is the noise level inside a typical family sedan cruising at 70 mph. For additional comparisons, a typical alarm clock ringer produces 80 dB of noise, while a hair dryer can deliver 90 dB. The sound levels at rock concerts can top 115 dB, and a chain saw can hit 125 dB.
To achieve its low sound levels, CCI’s Quiet-22 ammo sacrifices both speed and energy. Rated velocity is just 710 fps, and the 40gr LRN bullet only has about 36 ft-lbs of energy at 100 yards. So this ammo may not be a great choice for varminting, except for very small prey. On the other hand the ammo could be ideal for short-range plinking and fun shooting. For paper punching, CCI notes that Quiet-22 ammo offers better performance than an air rifle with similar noise levels. CCI’s Quiet-22 Ammo may also be perfect for areas where shooting is allowed, but noise pollution is a concern.
Do You Need To Wear Muffs?
CCI says you can shoot this ammo without hearing protection. The 68 dB report of this ammo is well below the 85 dB(A) noise level at which OSHA requires hearing protection in the workplace. However, remember that, when you’re at a range with other shooters, you must shield your ears from the noise produced by other firearms. So even if you use Quiet-22 ammo, you’ll need muffs/plugs if other shooters nearby are using conventional rimfire and centerfire ammo.
In late 2010, the NRA’s National Firearms Museum opened its Robert E. Petersen Gallery, which now showcases 400 of the finest and most valuable firearms from the publishing magnate’s world-renowned collection. We know most of you haven’t yet visited the Petersen Gallery, so we’re presenting some “eye candy” from the Gallery to give you an idea of the quality of the collection.
If you can’t make it to Fairfax, VA to view the collection first-hand, you can view a “virtual gallery” on NRAMuseum.com. The flash-based web gallery features hundreds of pro-quality “glamour shots” of the most notable arms in Petersen’s collection, including spectacular double guns and historic Gatlings. Controls allow you to rotate and zoom the images. Below are some representative samples from the Petersen Collection online gallery. CLICK HERE to view dozens more.
Rade Tecnologías SL, through its USA subsidiary Radetec, has developed a fired-shot counting system for pistols and long guns that offers immediate benefits for soldiers and LEO personnel. Down the road, we envision how an automatic shot-counting system could benefit Multi-Gun and High Power competitors. Firing one shot too few in a course of fire can lose a match, and firing one too many can have the same result — or worse yet, a DSQ.
Two Display Options for Pistols Radetec’s SpeedShot shot-count system employs a sensor in a special, dedicated magazine which outputs to either a digital or LED light display. Both the numeric display and color-changing LED light indicate rounds left in the magazine. For pistols, Radetec will market custom grips which incorporate the shot-counter display modules. Currently, Radetec systems are available for Beretta, Glock, Smith & Wesson M & P, and 1911-platform pistols. The digital-numeric display on these grips indicates the actual number of rounds left in the magazine. The total number of rounds fired can also be accessed.
The SpeedShot counting system is powered by a 5-year lithium battery. Pistol systems feature special Radetec grips with embedded electronics for each make/model of firearm, one magazine, and a user’s manual. MSRP is $160 for either the digital-numeric model or the LED display version.
Are factory rifles really more accurate than ever? This question is examined in the December issue of SHOT Business. In this issue you’ll also find a good discussion of modern bullet design. In his article Whatever Happened to Bad Bullets?, author David E. Petzal explores why and how bullet performance has improved in recent years. You’ll find plenty of other interesting content in SHOT Business magazine, including numerous gear reviews, retail selling advice, recent news briefs, ATF Q&A, and much more.
The latest issue of SHOT Business magazine is now available for FREE online. You can either read the feature stories in a conventional web layout at Shotbusiness.com, or view the magazine-style ePaper version. This takes longer to load, but you can see larger photos, and flip from page to page like a conventional print magazine.
In past years, Safari Club International (SCI) conventions were hosted in Reno, Nevada. This year, SCI’s 40th Annual Hunters’ Convention will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center (MBCC) in Las Vegas. This facility is 50% bigger than previous venues. The exhibit show space at the MBCC encompasses 750,000 square feet, with over 2,400 dedicated booth spaces. On the show floor you’ll find hundreds of top-flight outfitters offering the world’s finest hunts, plus numerous firearms displays from manufacturers and custom gun-makers.
In addition, SCI has contracted an additional 250,000 square feet for meeting and ballroom space to support all other SCI-related functions. This enables SCI to house every event under one roof including evening dinner and auction, day time auction, and special banquets. So far, it looks like the 40th Annual SCI show will be the biggest and best ever. SCI member registrations are 20% ahead of 2011’s convention to date and SCI expects 15% more exhibitors than ever before. If you’re an avid hunter, definitely mark your calendar for the SCI Convention in February.
SCI Convention Keynote speakers and evening entertainers include NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre and musicians Martina McBride, Trace Adkins, Brit Beat, and Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons.
For 2012, Pierce Engineering Ltd. plans to offer Titanium (Ti) versions of its popular Remington-footprint custom actions. Just 42% the weight of steel, Titanium is light yet very strong, with a strength to weight ratio of 1.5+. By producing action bodies from Titanium, Pierce Engineering is able to shave eight ounces (8 oz.) off the weight of a long action (compared to 4140 steel). What’s more, Pierce is now working on Titanium internals and Titanium bolt handles. This could bring the total weight savings to nearly one pound (16 ounces).
John Pierce tells us: “To add to weight reduction we will offer a Titanium recoil lug and install a Titanium handle to the bolt, and possibly a lightened firing pin assembly. I really want to get close to a one-pound reduction overall.”
The new Pierce Titanium actions were inspired by customer requests. One domestic customer wanted an ultra-light action for a sheep rifle, while an Aussie buyer requested a Ti XP action for a silhouette pistol build. John Pierce reports: “After many requests and having a bar of Titanium lying on the shelf for more than three years, [I decided] well ‘Why not have a go?'”
Price and Ordering Info
What will the new Titanium actions cost? Expect to pay an extra $350.00 or so above the cost of Pierce’s stainless and chrome-moly actions. John Pierce explains: “Titanium does cost a lot more and Titanium offers challenges in machining and special tooling. We are estimating that a Ti action will sell in the range of $350.00 more than the steel counterpart.” For more info, visit PierceEngineeringLtd.com, email jpierceltd [at] tds.net or call (517) 321-5051. You can also write to the address below:
Here’s one last chance to save money before 2012 arrives. MidwayUSA has just announced a Year-End Promo that runs through 11:59 p.m. CT on December 31, 2011. With the Promo Codes you can save $10 on a $100.00 order (Code SAVE10), $25 on a $250.00 order (Code SAVE25), and $50 on a $500.00 order (Code SAVE50).To get your discount, enter the appropriate Code during check-out.
NOTE: This offer is limited to online sales only, and it covers in-stock, regular-price merchandise only. Sale, clearance, out-of-stock, Nightforce and FNH products (and Gift Certificates) do NOT count towards the total. Each code can only be used once. One code per order.
New from Howa, is the Howa Actuator Controlled Trigger (HACT). This two-stage-style trigger system lightens the trigger pull weight, and reduces the amount of trigger creep. HACT trigger units will fit all Howa M-1500 rifles that were previously equipped with a three-position safety. The HACT trigger assembly is a completely redesigned trigger and sear unit with a lighter, two-stage-style trigger pull. HACT pull-weight range is 2.5 to 3.8 pounds; the factory default setting is 3 pounds.
You may not know it, but 
How would you like to be able to shoot a rimfire rifle or pistol that only makes 25% as much noise as a standard .22 LR gun? And no, we’re not talking about a suppressor-equipped firearm. CCI claims that its new 
Radetec’s SpeedShot shot-count system employs a sensor in a special, dedicated magazine which outputs to either a digital or LED light display. Both the numeric display and color-changing LED light indicate rounds left in the magazine. For pistols, Radetec will market custom grips which incorporate the shot-counter display modules. Currently, Radetec systems are available for Beretta, Glock, Smith & Wesson M & P, and 1911-platform pistols. The digital-numeric display on these grips indicates the actual number of rounds left in the magazine. The total number of rounds fired can also be accessed.
In past years, Safari Club International (SCI) conventions were hosted in Reno, Nevada. This year, 
