The MidwayUSA Competition Range Bag is on sale, through April 20, 2010, for $39.99. That’s $20.00 off the regular $59.99 price. With 14 total pockets or pouches, this 22″L x 15″W x 10″H bag has plenty of carrying capacity. This is a BIG bag, nearly twice as wide as some other range bags. We saw many of these Midway Range Bags in use by top shooters at the recent 2010 F-Class Nationals. Don’t be fooled by the discount price — this is a quality piece of kit that is very versatile, thanks to the removable components inside the large main bag. These include a removable stage bag/ammunition carrier, two removable pistol rugs and a removable fired brass or ammunition carrying bag.
The bag has earned consistent “five-star” reviews from owners, who praise the bag’s ruggedness and ability to haul lots of gear. B. Schue of Minnesota wrote: “This bag is huge. The inside bag is bigger than most of those low-priced range bags sold elsewhere. I carry everything to the range in this bag. The zippers are top quality, and so is the stitchery.” Here are some other comments:
“I love the removable ‘bag’ within the bag. You can load up and take out only what you need at that moment. The material is light weight but very sturdy. I don’t think they make a bigger/better bag for the money. Definite buy!” – R. Sebastian, FL
“I ordered the bag after reading several favorable reviews. Other reviewers were right. Well-made bag with lots of pockets for magazines, etc. Even has a bag within a bag, outside water bottle pocket, a detachable mesh bag for brass, a couple of flat pouches that can double as gun mats, etc. — and it is big. If you can’t fit it in this bag, you don’t need it. A great value.” – D. Moard, WI
NOTE: The bag is currently back-ordered, but it should be back in stock by 4/18/2010. The $39.99 special price applies to black-colored bags. Also, a handsome new olive drab version will be offered for $59.99, with availability in mid-summer, 2010.
We know many of our readers have a Ruger 10/22 for varminting, fun shooting, or rimfire tactical competition. Here’s an affordable new product for the Ruger 10/22 that will fit the highly-accurate Volquartsen rimfires as well. The new TriMag™ magazine coupler secures three standard, 10-round 10/22 rotary magazines together, giving you extra ammo capacity with full factory reliability. Yes there are long, banana-style magazines for the 10/22, but a TriMag 3-mag assembly won’t interfere with prone or off-hand shooting. And when varminting, you won’t have to set your tripod super-high to provide clearance for a long single-column magazine. This is ideal for rimfire tactical matches.
Designed and crafted by Alangator of Hayden Lake, Idaho, the $9.95 patent-pending TriMag™ is a clever, U.S.-made invention that any 10/22 or Volquartsen owner can afford. Puchasers give the TriMag™ high marks. One Cabela’s customer writes: “One of the best 10/22 products ever! As everyone who owns a 10/22 knows, aftermarket or non-factory extended capacity 10/22 magazines perform terribly. This product resolves that issue because you have 30 rounds available using your perfectly-functioning factory magazines.” Another buyer adds: “IMO one of the best accessories for the 10/22… one of those things that you can’t go without. An added bonus is that when you set your gun on a bench it holds it up right.”
Where to Buy
The TriMag™ is currently offered by Cabela’s, Volquartsen, and other vendors starting at $9.95. Volquartsen says the device fits all Volquartsen .22 LR semi-auto rifles.
.223 WSSM and 6mmBR Disaster — Report by Dr. Jim Clary
Under most circumstances, shooters don’t have to worry about chambering the wrong cartridge into the wrong rifle. After all, the cartridges are well marked and we all know which rifle we are shooting on any given day. In many cases, incorrect cartridges cannot be chambered — larger cases will not fit in smaller chambers, for example. No problem! That being said, I can tell you that even an experienced, careful and normally safe shooter can make a mistake.
The following is an account of just such a mistake that could have resulted in death or dismemberment. Fortunately, the shooter was not hurt, but the rifle was completely destroyed.
Last year, a friend purchased a Savage Precision right bolt, left port, single shot bolt action in 6mmBR Norma. It was an incredible prairie dog gun and he spent the summer burning powder and busting dogs. In October, he purchased a stainless steel Browning A-Bolt Varmint in .223 WSSM. The weather in the upper Midwest turned sour by the time he got the brass tuned up and he only got to fire it a few times before he was “socked in” for the winter. Thus, he spent his evenings loading ammo for the spring thaw.
During a break in the weather, he grabbed both rifles and a couple of bags of .223 WSSM and 6mmBR cartridges and headed to the range to check out his new loads. In case you are not familiar, the 6mmBR is smaller in diameter and a mite shorter than the .223 WSSM. Because of this, it will chamber in a .223 WSSM, but the .24 caliber bullet is too big for the .22 caliber bore. That is what happened to my friend.
The rest is history; when he squeezed the trigger, all hell broke loose. The entire bottom of the rifle blew out, including the magazine assembly. The explosion actually cut the stock into two pieces. However, the bolt held and amazing as it may seem, the .243 bullet was “swaged” right out of the .223 barrel.
6mmBR (left) and .223 WSSM (right) cartridges above the remains of Browning A-Bolt rifle.
One Small Mistake Is All It Takes
Now, realize that my friend has been shooting all manner of firearms, safely, for over half a century. He is meticulous, thorough and conscientious in his approach to reloading and shooting. However, he made one mistake. He put some lose 6BR cartridges in a baggie as he packed up from a prairie dog hunt last summer, without noticing that the baggie was marked .223 WSSM in black marker. Then, when the break in his winter weather came, he grabbed the bag, believing it to be the WSSM cartridges and didn’t check the head stamp.
Couldn’t happen to you? How many times have we emptied our pockets of cartridges and dropped them into a plastic container on the shooting bench? How many times have we set down to a marathon reloading session, loading several calibers in a row? How many times have we put the wrong bullets, cases or primers into the incorrect container? My point is that even the safest of us can make a mistake. So, look at the picture above and take a bit more time when you reload your ammunition at home or chamber a round in the field. It might save your life.
COMMENT: In a thread inspired by the above story, the moderator of another gun forum wrote:
“There was a rifle (or what was left of it) mounted above the door of a range I used to go to. The story behind it was of a guy who was shooting a .30-06 and set it aside to shoot his .25-06 instead. He didn’t bother putting the larger cartridges away first and of course one found its way into his gun. The explosion took three fingers off his left hand, two off his right and stuck a piece of the bolt in his face. He recovered but was never the same again. The pieces of the gun were gathered and mounted to show others why it pays to be mindful of what you’re doing. It was effective as there was never another such accident at that range.”
Congratulations to Carl Boswell, Vince Bottomley, Andy Dubreuil, Laurie Holland and all the staff at Target Shooter online magazine. Target Shooter has released its April 2010 First Anniversary issue, and it may be the best yet. The hardware photography is high quality and there is something for everyone — from Benchresters to Tactical shooters. You can view the 110-page April issue for FREE at www.targetshooter.co.uk.
Carl tells us: “Yes, this is our first anniversary issue and we have it packed with articles.” Here are some of the recommended articles in the April Anniversary Edition of Target Shooter:
Loading for the .308, Part 6 — Laurie Holland continues his informative reloading series.
SEB Neo Coaxial Rest — Vince Bottomley reviews one of the most impressive rests on the market. This is a very thorough review which compares the old SEB Coax with the SEB NEO side by side.
Rimfire and Air Rifle Benchrest — Carl Boswell looks at these rapidly evolving disciplines.
Gallery Rifle 1500 — Gwyn Roberts continues his course on Gallery Rifle Basics.
New GBR Custom Action — A New Rem 700-footprint action made in the UK.
Steyr LG110 Field Test — Tim Finley reviews the Steyr LG110 rifle for Field Target.
Definitely check out the latest edition of Target Shooter magazine. Laurie Holland is one of the best technical gun writers in the business, and when Vince Bottomley reviews a product, he delivers intelligent conclusions you can “take to the bank”. As a special bonus, this April edition includes exclusive reports from the IWA Expo in Germany — the “Euro Shot Show”.
At the request of some younger Forum members who are Facebook fans, AccurateShooter.com has added a Facebook Page. This will feature brief notices of recent feature stories, planned events, and site news. We will also be building a photo gallery and video archive as time permits. What’s cool about Facebook is that readers who link up as AccurateShooter.com “Fans” can then post items of interest on our Facebook “Wall”. Use this feature to alert other readers about upcoming matches and shooting events, or to report a hot deal on shooting gear.
So, get involved with social networking. If you’re a registered Facebook user, just click the “Become a Fan” button below to join up with our Facebook Page. Let’s see how quickly we can add 100, 200, 300 “Fans”. We started with Fan #1 when this story was released. Thanks in advance for participating!
Summer is just a couple months away. If you’re looking for supervised shooting opportunities for your youngsters this summer, the NSSF has created a list of suitable programs. Parents can choose from shotgun, rifle and/or handgun programs with certified adult instructors. All the programs listed below offer an introduction to target shooting, and some provide opportunities for individual and team competition. To learn more about training programs for young people, read “A Parent’s Guide to Recreational Shooting for Youngsters,” which is available online at www.nssf.org/lit.
AIM (Academics, Integrity, Marksmanship): AIM provides a safe, positive experience with firearms and registered trapshooting for youth, elementary school through college age. AIM encourages good sportsmanship and personal responsibility. Learn more at www.shootata.com/aim/aim4ata.html.
American Legion: Thousands of male and female junior shooters have participated in the American Legion Junior Shooting Sports Program, which has a perfect safety record. The Junior Program includes a Basic Marksmanship Course, Qualification Awards and Air Rifle Competition. To learn more, visit www.legion.org/shooting.
Civilian Marksmanship Program: The CMP offers many programs for youth shooters, including indoor air rifle clinics, summer shooting camps, and Rimfire Sporter competitions which are held natiowide. CLICK HERE to read about Rimfire Sporter matches, and learn more about all CMP youth programs at www.odcmp.com.
Junior USA Shooting Patch Program: This NSSF patch program allows youngsters to get started in target shooting. Under adult supervision, participants learn safety and shooting basics while earning official Junior USA Shooting team rifle or shotgun patches. Learn more at www.nssf.org/JRUSA/.
National 4-H Shooting Sports: More than 300,000 4-H members have been introduced to shotgun, rifle, muzzleloader and handgun shooting through this program, which emphasizes the development of youth as responsible, productive citizens. Learn more at www.4-hshootingsports.org.
Scholastic Clay Target Program: Directed by adult coaches, the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) provides team competition for youth in skeet, trap and sporting clays, with the opportunity to win state and national championships. Learn more at www.sssfonline.org.
Scholastic Steel Challenge: The SSC provides the opportunity for young adults aged 12 through 20 to participate in the challenging sport of “speed steel” in a supportive environment taught by trained adult coaches who focus on the safe handling and use of handguns.
Now through April 18, 2010, if you purchase a Browning firearm, Browning will refund the amount you pay in sales tax, up to 8%. Under the terms of Browning’s Tax Relief offer, purchase any new Browning firearm (other than Buck Mark Pistols) at your local preferred Browning dealer starting April 2, 2010 through April 18, 2010 and Browning will reimburse you up to 8% in U.S. funds for the sales tax. Participating dealers should have flyers and coupons available at their stores. Or, CLICK HERE to download Browning Tax Relief Promotion Flyer.
To get your 8% sales tax rebate you must:
1. Make your purchase from April 2, 2010 through April 18, 2010 at your Preferred Browning Dealer.
2. Make or get a copy of your sales receipt.
3. Fill out the Tax Relief program coupon and send it in to Browning.
The 30th Annual Hickory Groundhog and Egg Shoot was held on April 3rd, 2010. Saturday’s competition proved a great day for the Brady family. Our friend (and Forum member) Terry Brady won the Custom Rifle division with a 99 score, setting a new record. Terry edged his son Chris, who shot a 98, matching the previous Custom Class record set by fellow North Carolinian Sam Hall. (That will teach Sam to go fishin’ on shoot day!) The threesome of Terry Brady, Chris Brady, and Greg Cooper also won the Hickory Team competition. Conditions were excellent for Saturday’s match, with calm winds. A total of 167 shooters attended the Hickory Shoot, which offered over $4000.00 in cash, coupons, and hardware.
Bill Shehane of D&B Supply was on hand for the match. Bill reports: “Chris Brady tied Samuel Hall’s all-time record of 98 points today only to have his father Terry Brady take it away with a scorching 99. Congratulations to this fine Father-Son team for a 1-2 finish in this year’s shoot. That’s a lot of loot for the Brady boys. Couldn’t happen to two better guys and I for one know just how much work it takes to finish 1st and 2nd. Terry told me when he arrived on Saturday morning that he intended to take home a Tracker stock. My Granddad always said if ya can do it — ‘It Ain’t Bragging!'” Actually, Terry didn’t get it quite right. His son Chris won the Tracker while Terry earned $300.00 plus a 50% off coupon for a Nightforce scope. Either way… it’s all in the family.
Terry Brady Busts Record with Heavy 6BR in Custom Class
Terry and Chris Brady brought two guns to the match, both chambered as 6BRs. The first was a special 38-pounder built by Mike Davis. It featured a BAT DS action, weighted Shehane Tracker stock, Krieger gain-twist barrel and Nightforce 12-42x56mm BR scope. The second gun was a 17-pounder built by Glenn Williams with a Borden action, Shehane tracker stock, Krieger 8.5-twist barrel and Nightforce 12x42x56mm BR scope.
Terry reports: “The conditions were almost perfect for shooting. Very small guests of wind with no mirage. I set the new score record with 99. Chris and Josh Duckworth tied the former record set by Sam Hall of 98. Josh was shooting a Borden 6BR as well. 17 people hit the egg at 500 yards, including myself, Chris, Chris’ girlfriend Jessica, and Josh. Chris, Jessica, Ben Yarborough and I busted 4 eggs in a row with the 38-pound rifle before Larry Willis (the Match Director) jokingly asked us to move on and leave some fun for the other guys.”
The 4-day Berger Bullets SW Nationals wrapped up Sunday. It was a successful match with over 80 shooters competing in various classes. After blustery weather on Thursday for the prone 3×600, conditions improved for the ensuing three days of Cross-the-Course events, with milder wind, temps in the low 70s and a bright blue sky.
Phil Hayes of Arizona was the overall Grand Agg winner with a 2256-76X. Congratulations Phil! Johnathan Thornton was close behind, capturing second with 2255-68X. Third overall and the top Service Rifle shooter was Alan Spiker, who shot 2250 with a remarkable eight-two (82) Xs, the high X-count among all competitors. Walt Smith was High Senior with 2231-68X, while Tyler Rico scored 2215-74X to capture the High Junior spot. John Beall was the highest-scoring Master, with a 2216-64X, while Phillip Meyers won the Expert Class scoring 2156-44X.
On Friday, Jonathan Thornton was the overall winner for the day shooting a 789-23X with his Tubb 2000 in 6XC. Jonathan’s aggregate included clean 200 scores in sitting rapid fire as well as the 600 yard slow fire prone stage. Phil Hayes and Tyler Rico were second and third in the High Master match rifle category. Justin Skaret was the top service rifle shooter at 782-27X, followed by Allen Spiker and Eric Swearingen.
A catered barbeque dinner was provided for competitors and guests and thousands of dollars of merchandise prizes were distributed on a random drawing basis. Barrels, bullets, scopes, powder, triggers and all manner of accessories were distributed and highly appreciated.
This past week (March 29 – April 1), wounded soldiers practiced marksmanship at Fort Benning (GA) under the tutelage of USAMU instructors. The training focused on Air Rifle and Air Pistol skills in preparation for the inaugural Warrior Games, to be held May 10-14 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. The Warrior Games provide a venue where wounded, ill, and injured service-members from all branches can compete in Paralympic sports. The goal of the Warrior Games is to inspire recovery and promote opportunities for growth and achievement among wounded troops.
The Fort Benning Training Camp gave injured soldiers a chance to break away from their sometimes grueling rehabilitation schedules, and look forward to something beyond another doctor’s appointment. “It’s so easy to isolate yourself, then think that nobody understands,” said Staff Sgt. Rachelle Renaud, who required a double lumbar fushion on her spine after suffering back injuries during two Iraq deployments. “The Warrior Games have inspired me — I’m motivated to go out and go exercise, go to the gym — go do something to prepare.”
“The challenge to compete with these other soldiers who have gone through similar experiences… is very exciting,” said Capt. Juan Guerrero. Severely injured in both legs from an explosive projectile while on a patrol south of Baghdad in 2007, Guerrero offers some important advice: “They may think they aren’t going to be able to do it, but until they try it, they won’t know for sure. One of the things as a soldier is that you have to try it first. If you try it and succeed, then you go on from there. If you try and you fail, you try again. It’s a long process, but eventually, you’ll get to the point where you’ll be able to do stuff you didn’t think you could do, just like I did.”
As the week progressed, enthusiasm to get on with the Games was evident. There was no mention of treatments or appointments, just encouragement and excitement. At a practice match, the wounded competitors rooted for each other. With the Warrior Games a month away, the goal of the Games seems to be working. “What we have to do with our service-members is inspire them to reach for and achieve a rich and productive future, to defeat their illness or injury, whatever lies in their way, to maximize their abilities and know that they can have a rich and fulfilling life…” said Brig. Gen. Gary Cheek, commander, U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command.
Summer is just a couple months away. If you’re looking for supervised shooting opportunities for your youngsters this summer, the NSSF has created a list of suitable programs. Parents can choose from shotgun, rifle and/or handgun programs with certified adult instructors. All the programs listed below offer an introduction to target shooting, and some provide opportunities for individual and team competition. To learn more about training programs for young people, read “A Parent’s Guide to Recreational Shooting for Youngsters,” which is available online at 
The 4-day Berger Bullets SW Nationals wrapped up Sunday. It was a successful match with over 80 shooters competing in various classes. After blustery weather on Thursday for the prone 3×600, conditions improved for the ensuing three days of Cross-the-Course events, with milder wind, temps in the low 70s and a bright blue sky.
This past week (March 29 – April 1), wounded soldiers practiced marksmanship at Fort Benning (GA) under the tutelage of USAMU instructors. The training focused on Air Rifle and Air Pistol skills in preparation for the inaugural Warrior Games, to be held May 10-14 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. The Warrior Games provide a venue where wounded, ill, and injured service-members from all branches can compete in Paralympic sports. The goal of the Warrior Games is to inspire recovery and promote opportunities for growth and achievement among wounded troops.
