Watch this video to see how a sound suppressor (aka “silencer”, “moderator”, or “can”) is constructed, start to finish. It’s more complicated than you might expect — there are quite a few stages in the process. The video below shows the fabrication of a SilencerCo Octane 45 suppressor:
SilencerCo writes: “What, exactly, goes into making a silencer? It may be more than you’d expect. From cutting metal to chemical baths, to extensive quality control every step of the way, our streamlined process is more than just a few steps. Watch our newest video, HOW IT’S MADE: Octane 45, to catch a glimpse behind SilencerCo’s doors.”
How Loud Are Unsuppressed Rifles?
Firearms Are Loud — 140 dB to 175 dB. ASHA explains: “Almost all firearms create noise that is over the 140-dB level. Exposure to noise greater than 140 dB can permanently damage hearing. A small .22-caliber rifle can produce noise around 140 dB, while big-bore rifles and pistols can produce sound over 175 dB. Firing guns in a place where sounds can reverberate, or bounce off walls and other structures, can make noises louder and increase the risk of hearing loss. Also, adding muzzle brakes or other modifications can make the firearm louder. People who do not wear hearing protection while shooting can suffer a severe hearing loss with as little as one shot[.]” Source: ASHA, Recreational Firearm Noise Exposure.
How Much Does a Good Suppressor Really Reduce Firearm Sound Levels?
That depends on the rifle, the cartridge, and the effectiveness of the suppressor. American Hunter explains: “Suppressors retard the speed of propellant gases from the cartridge that rapidly expand and rush out of the barrel. It’s these gases that produce the loud boom that’s heard for miles. A suppressor’s series of internal baffles slows these gases so they are not all released at once, thereby muffling the sound.” Many good commercial suppressors can achieve 30-35 dB sound suppression. However, Zak Smith of Thunder Beast Arms says: “There are a bunch of manufacturers who publish values that are not reproducible, or use an ad-hoc test instead of a mil-spec test. In many cases we’ve tested the exact same suppressors they’ve advertised with 30-40 dB reductions and found they are actually in the high 20s instead.”
Again, for this reason, we recommend that hunters use ear protection, such as electronic muffs, even when shooting suppressed.
Well folks, today is the first day of August, National Shooting Sports Month (NSSM). To help grow the shooting sports, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) asks you to bring a new shooter to the range this month. That’s a good mission — adding to the ranks of shooters is the best way to preserve our Second Amendment rights.
This coast-to-coast celebration spotlights the fun and enjoyment of target shooting. Newcomers can take their first shots, and experienced shooters can invite someone new to the range or help an erstwhile shooter rediscover the fun of target shooting. This month-long event involves all the shooting sports — rifle, pistol, and shotgun.
The NSSF has an online database of NSSM shooting events scheduled for August. In most states you’ll find a large number of August events in the database — matches, clinics, training sessions, special sales — and much more. To see the events in your region, go to the Shooting Events Page and select a state or put a ZIP Code in the search field on the right. The scheduled events will then be listed in a scrolling vertical list in the right column. Here is an example from the state of Texas:
Here’s Your Chance to Win $500 with 2024 #RangeChallenge
Feelin’ Lucky? Then head to the range and shoot a target for a change to win $500.00. Celebrate National Shooting Sports Month and take the #RangeChallenge for a chance to win rewards this month. The NSSF will randomly select 10 winners in August to each receive a $500 gift card!
Enter by either: (1) posting a photo or video of you and your target to Instagram accompanied with the #RangeChallenge hashtag; or (2) Uploading a photo of you and your target directly to the Sweepstakes Page. You can CLICK HERE to download official August 2024 Range Challenge Target.
FREE Downloadable Fun Targets for Shooting Sports Month
On the NSSF Shooter Toolkit Page, you’ll find 17 FREE Downloadable Targets. Shown below are 15 of the targets. Pick the target(s) you want on the Shooter Toolkit Page or Download all 17 FREE Targets.
There are regular bullseyes, as well as Darts, Golf, and more. We really like the Billiards target and kids love the Water Balloons target. You can download all 17 targets for free, and then print them out, ideally with a color printer.
What Shooters Can Do to Promote National Shooting Sports Month:
The NSSF says: “As shooters, you serve a critical role in the continued growth of gun ownership and shooting sports participation. We urge you to join us this August for National Shooting Sports Month.” There are a variety of ways you can help this August:
— Introduce a family member, friend, or group of friends to the shooting sports by taking them to a local range that’s hosting an event.
— Spread the word to family/friends and encourage them to get out to the range in August.
— Encourage the ranges and retailers near you to host an event this August and add them to the official events calendar at www.ShootingSportsMonth.org.
Today is the final day of competition at the 2024 NRA National Smallbore Prone Championships at Camp Atterbury. Many of the nation’s top rimfire prone position shooters are on the firing line competition for the national title. In addition there is a division for .22 LR rimfire F-Class shooters (see bottom photo). For regular update on NRA events, check out the NRA Facebook Page. In today’s story we’ve also included the calendar for NRA Camp Atterbury events this summer.
Along with the classic rimfire prone competition with competitors using slings and shooting coats, there is a division for .22 LR rimfire F-Class shooters. These rimfire F-Class rifles resemble their centerfire cousins, with 3″ wide forearms and high-magnification riflescopes. Shooters can use font rests (such as the Mini-X) or stable, wide-base bipods, typically with ski-type feet.
2024 NRA National Matches Schedule
Smallbore Rifle Prone and F-Class (July 28 – August 1)
July 28 – Squadded practice, Metallic Sights Day One
July 29 – Metallic Sights Day Two
July 30 – Randle, Dewar, Team Matches
July 31 – Any Sights Day One
August 1 – Any Sights Day Two, Awards Ceremony
Smallbore Rifle Three-Position (August 2 – 4)
August 2 – Metallic Sights
August 3 – Drew Cup Team Match, Team Matches
August 4 – Any Sights, Awards Ceremony
High Power Rifle OTC (August 5 – 10)
August 6 – Member’s Trophy, Scott Trophy, Coast Artillery Trophy Matches
August 7 – Navy Cup, Army Cup, Coast Guard Trophy Matches
August 8 – Appreciation Cup, Marine Corps Cup, Air Force Cup Matches
August 9 – Crescent Cup, Cavalry Cup, Crowell Trophy Matches, Awards Ceremony
August 10 – EIC Leg Match
High Power Rifle Mid-Range (August 11 – 14)
August 11 – 300, 500, 600 yards, 600-yard Teams
August 12 – 3×600 yards, 600-yard Teams
August 13 – 300, 500, 600 yards, 600-yard Teams
August 14 – 3×600 yards, Awards Ceremony
High Power Rifle Long-Range (August 16 – 19)
August 16 – Wimbledon Cup, Rem Trophy, Porter Trophy, Andrus Trophy, Herrick Trophy Team Matches
August 17 – Leech Cup, Mustin Trophy, Farr Trophy, Aitken Trophy, Roumanian Team Trophy Matches
August 18 – Palma Individual Match, Awards Ceremony
August 19 – Palma Team Matches, Awards Ceremony
2024 NRA National Matches at Camp Atterbury Calendar
Tomorrow is the first day of August, the beginning of National Shooting Sports Month (NSSM). Each August, throughout the month, America’s shooters come together to celebrate our sport and get newcomers involved. To help grow the ranks of shooters, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) asks you to bring a new shooter to the range in August. That’s a good mission — adding to the ranks of shooters is the best way to preserve our Second Amendment rights.
This coast-to-coast celebration spotlights the fun and enjoyment of target shooting. Newcomers can take their first shots, and experienced shooters can invite someone new to the range or help an erstwhile shooter rediscover the fun of target shooting. This month-long event involves all the shooting sports — rifle, pistol, and shotgun.
Find Shooting Sports Events Near You
The NSSF’s ShootingSportsMonth.org website offers a comprehensive, searchable database. This lets you search by state, to find ranges, events, and sales promotions near you. Visit the NSSF online database of NSSM shooting events to find matches, clinics, training sessions, special sales — and much more.
Great FREE Targets for Fun at the Range
To promote National Shooting Sports Month, the NSSF offers 17 FREE Downloadable Targets. There are regular bullseyes, as well as Darts, Golf, and more. We really like the Billiards target and kids love the Water Balloons target. You can download all 17 targets for free, and then print them out, ideally with a color printer. Below are six of our favorite targets. Click HERE to download these six targets (3.5 mb ZIP).
What Shooters Can Do to Promote National Shooting Sports Month:
The NSSF says: “As shooters, you serve a critical role in the continued growth of gun ownership and shooting sports participation. We urge you to join us this August for National Shooting Sports Month.” There are a variety of ways you can help this August:
— Introduce a family member, friend, or group of friends to the shooting sports by taking them to a local range that’s hosting an event.
— Spread the word to family/friends and encourage them to get out to the range in August.
— Encourage the ranges and retailers near you to host an event this August and add them to the official events calendar at www.ShootingSportsMonth.org.
Bushnell Match Pro ED 15×56 Binocular with MRAD Reticle
Bushnell’s impressive Match Pro ED 15×56 binoculars are designed for precision and competition rifle shooters. These 15-power, high-magnification binoculars offer ED Prime glass and a proprietary, rotating Shot-Call MRAD reticle. This reticle allows fast shot calls and corrections — something important for PRS/NRL competition. Bushnell says these new 15×56 binoculars, when mounted securely, have “enough power to effectively replace your spotting scope with a wide field-of-view that puts less stress on your eyes and allows you to more easily observe projectile flight.”
Early prototype versions of the Match Pro ED 15×56 binocular proved their worth in PRS/NRL competition. Bushnell pro shooter Robert Brantley has used the Match Pro ED binocular in PRS matches where he won four consecutive Tactical Division titles. In this video, Brantley explains the key features of Bushnell’s 15X, reticle-equipped Match Pro ED binoculars:
“The … Match Pro binos offer the perfect setup for spotting and calling shots on the range,” said Brantley. “They offer … the ability to fine tune corrections with the Shot-Call reticle. It truly does offer the best of everything and I’m not ever going back to shooting without them.”
Two important features of the Match Pro ED binoculars are the Shot-Call reticle and BridgeSet Stabilizer. The offset MRAD reticle is designed for target sizing, ranging and follow-up shot correction. The reticle has a dedicated focus adjustment and can be rotated for leveling after IPD (interpupillary distance) adjustment. Users can lock in their preferred IPD with the integrated bridge-lock, which ensures the binoculars are set for quick use.
This unit has some cool features. The BridgeSet IPD stabilizer provides a barrel angle stop that keeps your inter-pupillary distance constant in the field. A first of its kind, the BridgeSet is like a zero stop for your binoculars. These binoculars also have dual adjustable diopters to keep both barrels perfectly focused. This is important because many folks have slightly different vision in their left vs. their right eyes.
Bushnell’s 15-power Match Pro ED binoculars boast fully multi-coated ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) Prime objective lenses and BaK4 Abbe-Koenig roof prisms with PC3 dielectric phase coatings to ensure 92% light transmission. These Match Pro ED binoculars also feature Bushnell’s EXO-Barrier for high resolution regardless of weather conditions. A rugged magnesium housing protects the internal mechanisms while IPX5 waterproof sealing shields the optics from moisture. Another very good feature is that you can mount a tripod adapter to either the front or rear bridges based on your preference. That’s handy. These binoculars weigh a hefty 56 ounces (3.5 pounds), so you’ll definitely want to mount them on a tripod.
These Bushnell Match Pro ED 15×56 binoculars are available for $699.99 at EuroOptic.com and other leading vendors. Plus EuroOptic is currently offering FREE shipping with orders over $250.00. The Match Pro ED 15×56 binocular is backed by Bushnell’s 20-year Lifetime Ironclad Warranty. CLICK HERE to see full product profile on Bushnell.com.
USAMU SGT Alison Weisz was the overall winner in both 3-position smallbore and 60-shot air rifle at the 2024 National Matches.
Weisz Wins in CMP’s National 3-Position Smallbore and Air Rifle Championships
U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) shooter SGT Alison Weisz, 29, shot great at the 2024 National Smallbore and Air Rifle Championships at the CMP National Matches. SGT Weisz posted overall wins in both the 3-position smallbore and 60-shot air rifle competitions. Weisz has already had a busy year, competing in the Olympic Trials and securing a place as an alternate on the USA women’s Olympic air rifle team.
The National Smallbore and Air Rifle Championships were held July 11-20, facilitated by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). The event, shot with electronic targets for the second year, featured three-position and prone smallbore matches along with 60-shot air rifle and air pistol competitions. Events included two days of qualifying matches as well as a culminating elimination final to determine overall winners.
The smallbore match started off smoothly for Weisz, with little wind. Conditions on Day 2 of competition proved to be more of a challenge. “There was a lot more wind, and I struggled with that a little bit more,” Weisz confessed. But Weisz finished well to win the smallbore event.
The quick turnaround on the match schedule left Alison little time to celebrate before heading over to the CMP Gary Anderson indoor air gun range to compete in the air rifle final. “We had the smallbore final right before it, and my positions are a little bit different, so I was kind of intrigued”, she said. “I approached it with curiosity, wondering how it would work to have only five minutes of sighters to settle in and find the air gun position and see what happens from there.” She shot well, leading through most of the air rifle match, and made it a double-victory day.
The 60-Shot Air Rifle Match was held within the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center.
The combination of air rifle and smallbore matches running simultaneously suited an array of athletes searching for more international-style or collegiate competition, which typically feature both types of rifles. The National Three-Position Smallbore and Air Rifle Championships also included three-person team elimination matches. An aggregate award based on qualification scores from the three-position smallbore and air rifle competitions was also presented at the conclusion of both events, with Peter Fiori, 24, earning the overall title by a margin of four points.
OK guys, you probably want to keep this page confidential. Your spouse probably doesn’t want to be reminded about all the times you ignored the “Honey Do” list and headed off to the range instead. And she certainly doesn’t want to know how much you spend every year on your gun hobby.
Answer these two polls to see how dedicated (or should we say “obsessed”) a gun guy you really are. Once you vote you can see how your shooting (and spending) habits compare to other readers. Full results display after you select an answer and click the “Vote” button.
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The rifle cartridge money clip was a real product from ReleaseMeCreations.com (now sold out). You can, of course, make your own cartridge money clip with a Dremel tool for free.
Do you have an Eliseo Tubegun that you use for sling-shooting competitions, but would like to try your hand at F-Class Open matches? Well here is a low-cost, yet very effective add-on that can transform your TubeGun into a serious F-Open rifle. The bolt-on rails also work great for load development if you want to use a front rest with 3″-wide front bag for greater stability and repeatability.
Competition Machine’s Gary Eliseo is a very smart designer as well as a talented shooter. The inventor/builder of the popular Competition Machine Tubegun chassis systems, Gary offers a bolt-on bag-rider accessory. Gary call this his PickleFork fore-end extension. The Pickleforks are rails that fit to the sides of the tubular fore-end/handguard on his chassis systems. This allows you to use a pedestal-style front rest for F-Class competition.
Pickleforks also provide a much more stable platform for load testing, varmint hunting, or any kind of rest-assisted precision shooting. These PickleForks transform a Tubegun into an ultra-stable, straight-tracking rig when used with a competition-style front rest.
Gary explains: “Now you can have the same super low-boreline, long ‘wheelbase’ and vertical sides of our innovative F1 F-Class chassis system for your tube chassis. The new PickleForks attach directly to the sides of the F-Class/Tactical fore-ends, no modifications are required. They are very rigid with no flex or twist and make the rifle track like it’s on rails.” The new Eliseo Competition Machine PickleForks are offered for a very reasonable $70.00 per pair, with Cerakote finish. (You get two metal units, one for each side of the fore-arm). For more information, visit www.GotXRing.com or call (928) 649-0742.
Product Tip from EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
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. Creedmoor Sports — American Bullet Company Sale
⏺ Great deals on .224 and .308 bullets for training
Creedmoor Sports offers American Bullet Company bullets, made in the USA by major manufacturers. The “practice” bullets are factory seconds, sold at very attractive prices– up to 50% compared to first-run offerings. You may want to sort these practice bullets by weight and/or base-to ogive measurement. We think these are a good choice for M1 Garand, M1A, and 1903 Springfield shooters running .30-06 or .308 Win chamberings. And the .224 Cal 77gr Practice bullets are excellent for service rifle shooters. NOTE: There are also first-run (non-blem) 155gr and 175gr .308 Caliber “Match” Bullets on sale.
⏺ Excellent, rugged rifle case at a very good price
When flying or driving it’s vital to protect your rifles. A good hard case option (at a great price) is the APACHE 9800 Weatherproof Protective Rifle Case. On sale for $149.99, this 53″-long case is $190.00 less than an equivalent-size Pelican case. Constructed from durable polypropylene, this quality hard case can protect long guns from from impact, moisture, and dust. The built-in purge valve equalizes pressure so you can open the case after changing elevations. NOTE: Case interior dimensions are 50⅜” by 13⅝”.
3. Grafs.com — Frankford Arsenal F-1 Press, $103.99
⏺ Versatile press, good primer exit, plus built-in light
Here’s a handy, single-stage press with some cool features. The Frankford Arsenal F-1 press has an open front for easy case placement, plus a built-in LED lamp at the top. And after decapping, spent primers go straight down a tube into a handy, clear, twist-off catch cylinder (as on a Forster Co-Ax). We think this would be an excellent secondary press used for decapping or bullet seating. Priced at just $103.99 at Graf & Sons — this press is a GREAT deal, but act quick, supplies are limited. NOTE: This press does NOT have primer seating capability — you must prime cases with a separate tool. Also, the power cord for the LED light is NOT included. CLICK HERE for full Frankford Arsenal F-1 Press Review.
4. CDNN Sports — Winchester .22 LR Wildcat, $193.67
⏺ Fun rimfire rifle complete with optic — good owner reviews
Here’s a fun semi-auto .22 LR rifle at a crazy low price — $193.67 complete with a mounted Red Dot Reflex optic. That’s a steal for a reliable rimfire rig for plinking and NRL22 matches. The Winchester Wildcat takes Ruger 10/22 mags, and has some great features, such as field-removable lower receiver, ambidextrous controls, integral Picatinny rail, and rear barrel access. It has a good trigger and shoots well. In many respects the Wildcat beats the Ruger 10/22 while costing a lot less. If you don’t need the optic, you can get a basic Wildcat for $179.99 with Strata camo stock or $157.66 with OD Green stock.
5. Natchez — Norma TAC-22 .22LR Ammo, 50 rounds, $3.49
⏺ Very good .22 LR ammo at extremely low price — GREAT VALUE
If you love .22 LR rimfires and want quality ammo at an ultra-low price, grab some Norma TAC-22. At $3.49 for 50 rounds, this is a true bargain, yet the TAC-22 is good enough for NRL22 matches as well as fun target shooting. We’ve shot this Norma ammo and been very satisfied. You’ll be hard-pressed to find better .22 LR ammo at anywhere near this price. Don’t delay ordering — at this price, we expect this TAC-22 ammo will sell out soon. NOTE: On the Natchez website there is a reference to $0.17 per round. That is a TYPO. You get 50 rounds for $3.49, which works out to SEVEN cents per round ($0.0698 to be exact).
6. 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 (#ad). 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.
7. Amazon — Caldwell AR-500 Steel Targets, starting at $14.92
⏺ Great deals on durable AR500 steel targets — watch video below right
Caldwell’s bright, easy-to-see steel targets come in multiple shapes and sizes for competition, training, and recreational use. Made of AR-500 grade hardened steel, these bright yellow targets can withstand thousands of rounds. Rated up to a 3000 fps impact velocity and a 3500 ft-lb impact energy, these targets come in seven styles and sizes with three hanging solutions. These bright yellow Caldwell AR500 Steel Targets (#ad) are on sale now on Amazon, starting at just $14.92 for the 5″ Gong Target.
8. Amazon — Deyace Extra Large Shooting Mat, $37.99
⏺ Nice, relatively big shooting mat with good padding
When shooting prone, you need a good shooting mat. The Deyace Extra Large padded shooting mat (#ad) is a great value for just $37.99. Measuring a generous 78″x28.5″, this XL mat has nice padding for elbows and knees, and the mat folds up nicely for transport. This mat is offered in four colors: Green, Tan, Tan Camo, and Black. For transport, we like this mat’s integral straps and carry handle.
How many times have you grabbed your electronic earmuffs only to find the batteries are dead. To avoid the hassles (and cost) of battery replacement, consider Walker’s Rechargeable Razor Ear Muffs (#ad). These rechargeable muffs have an estimated 80 hours of run time. That’s enough to get through several DAYS at the range. Then you can recharge the muffs conveniently at home or in your vehicle. To hear range commands clearly, the muffs have HD speakers. Plus there’s a handy audio jack. These muffs are comfortable and boast a 21 dB Noise Reduction Rating (NRR).
10. Amazon — 6 Inch Calipers w/ Extra Large Screen, $29.98
⏺ Big screen is a big plus with these Digital Calipers
Every handloader can use a good set of digital calipers (#ad). With an extra large, high-contrast LCD display, these Jiavarry digital calipers show bigger numbers that are easier to read. That help ensure you don’t make mistakes. These calipers have a good Lithium battery and offer ample 0-6 inch (0-150mm) measuring range with ±0.02 mm/0.001″ resolution.
As an Amazon affiliate, this site can earn revenues through sales commissions.
Want to learn the basics of position shooting? Then you should check out an article by Gary Anderson, DCM Emeritus, in On the Mark digital magazine (Summer 2014, pp. 6-13). This article covers all the key elements: body position (prone, sitting, standing), sling use/adjustment, sight picture, aiming process, and trigger control. While this 8-page article was specifically written for Rimfire Sporter shooters, the techniques described by Anderson apply to all types of position shooting, whether you shoot air rifles, smallbore rifles, or centerfire rifles.
Here’s what Anderson says about aiming — how to keep your sights steady and get them centered on the middle of the target:
Trigger Contact and Center As soon as aiming at the target begins, the index finger must move from the trigger-guard to contact the trigger. It is important to get initial pressure on the trigger as soon as aiming begins. Then the shooter must focus on the sight picture and centering the sight picture movements over the aiming point. No one, not even champion shooters, can hold the aligned sights perfectly still. The sights are going to move a little bit or a lot, depending on the shooter’s skill level. The secret is to center those sight picture movements over the aiming point on the target (see trace illustration) before pulling the trigger.
When the sight picture movements on the target are centered, the last step in firing the shot is to add… smooth pressure on the trigger until the shot breaks.
Anderson also discusses the 5 Basics of Shot Technique:
BONUS: Olympic Gold Medalist Jamie Gray
Here’s an interesting video about three-position shooting. Produced by GOnra Media, this video demonstrates rifle hold and body alignment for prone, standing, sitting, and kneeling positions. Olympic Gold Medalist Jamie Gray demonstrates the proper stance and position of arms and legs for each of the positions. Ideally, in all of the shooting positions, the shooter takes advantage of skeletal support. The shooter should align the bones of his/her arms and legs to provide a solid foundation. A shooter’s legs and arms form vertical planes helping the body remain stable in the shooting position.