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March 8th, 2009
As shooters seek less expensive ways to shoot, rimfire competition of all types is becoming more popular. Silhouette shooting is fun because you get to knock down small steel targets, just like in a shooting gallery at a County Fair. But don’t let anyone suggest Silhouette is easy. All shots are taken from the standing position. If you haven’t tried that recently, you’ll find that your crosshairs will be dancing all around the target.
At an official match, you’ll shoot at least 40 shots, ten each at four sets of 1/5th size standard High Power Rifle Silhouette targets. The smallest targets, the chickens, are set at 40 yards, Pigs are at 60 yards, Turkeys are at 77 yards, and Rams are at 100 yards. (Alternatively, metric distances are used.) Though the rams are the largest targets, hitting them is far from easy, given the ballistics of 22 rimfire ammo. At 100 yards, a little bit of wind will blow you off the target.
Two classes of rifles are used in Rimfire Silhouette: Standard and Hunter Class. Standard rifles can weigh up to 10 pounds, 2 oz. (with sights) and have no restriction on trigger pull weight. The fore-end shall not exceed 2 1/4″ wide, and 2 1/4″ deep measured from the centerline of the bore. Bull barrels are common, and the gun of choice is the Anschutz 54.18 MS (Metallic Silhouette) or 1808 (thumbhole version of the 54.18). A 54.18, if you can find one, will set you back $1200.00 – $1700 depending on condition. The 54:18 is in limited production and even good used models are hard to find.
Hunter Class rifles must have a more conventional “sporter-style” stock, typically with a narrow fore-end. A high comb is used to provide a good cheek weld. Hunter Class Rifles are limited to 8.5 pounds (with scope), and the trigger pull weight shall not be less than 2 pounds. No bull barrels are allowed — you must use a conventional tapered hunting barrel. Among production rifles, the Anschutz 1712 is the rifle to beat. These guns are very accurate out of the box, and come with an outstanding two-stage trigger that breaks cleanly right at two pounds. Kimber and CZ also make factory silhouette rifles for the Hunter Class. Though not on a par with the Anschutz 1712, the Kimber and CZ are viable options for novices or shooters on a tight budget.
Many top silhouette shooters like Mark Pharr will shoot the lighter Hunter rifle in both classes. Pharr and others have found that accurized Hunter Class guns can be competitive even against the heavier guns. While a stock Anschutz 1712 Hunter is impressive, many competitors will hot-rod their gun, putting a 1710 or 1712 action in a Mark Pharr-designed stock. They will then add a match barrel from Lilja, Shilen or other top barrel maker. Shown below is an Anschutz 1712 action in Pharr stock.
If you want to learn more about rimfire silhouette, visit SteelChickens.com. To order a Mark Pharr stock (built by Robertson Composites), contact Chickens Shooting Supply.
CLICK HERE for Summary of Rimfire Silhouette Rifle Rules.
March 8th, 2009
We announced that a new shipment of Lapua cartridge brass is due to arrive within a couple weeks. Both importers, Graf & Sons and Kaltron, have ordered large quantities. However, some cartridge types, including 6mmBR, do not appear to be included in this container.
We’ve checked around, and most everybody seems to be sold out of 6mmBR, 220 Russian, and .308 brass. You may want to check with E. Arthur Brown, www.eabco.com. That company’s shopping cart system is still showing availability of Lapua brass of most types, including 6mmBR. No guaranties however — you may want to call E. Arthur Brown first before placing your order: (320) 834-3000, or for Orders Only, 1-800-950-9088.
March 8th, 2009
 The NRA Shooting Coach Education Program offers both basic and advanced technical and tactical skills coach training schools for rifle, pistol, shotgun and High Power rifle along with training camps and clinics. The Coach Education Program is a cooperative effort of the three major competitive shooting organizations in the United States: the NRA, USA Shooting (USAS) and the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP).
The NRA Coach Schools are taught by National Coach Development Staff who are Certified Coaches that have been carefully selected, based on their talents and expertise in the areas of sports, education, coaching, athletics, and shooting.
Don Sipes, NRA’s National Shotgun Coach Trainer, explains that the Coach training program has been very effective: “The growth has been phenomenal … we had 495 [NRA Certified Shotgun Coaches] as of July 1, 2007, and after [the March 2009 session], we’ll have over 1,500 coaches.” Looking to the future, Sipes hopes to have 1,800 NRA Certified Shotgun Coaches by the end of 2009.
Shooting Coach School
The 2-day coach school is the heart of the program. The instructors use up-to-date materials and PowerPoint presentations to present coaching methodology and a variety of learning activities for all participants. Each coach certification school involves two days of sports-specific lessons designed to teach coaching fundamentals. The following subjects are taught:
Safety and Risk Management
Competition Events
Rules
Equipment and Facilities
Fundamentals of Shooting |
Shooting Positions
Sports Psychology
Training Planning
Running Quality Programs
How To Conduct Tournaments |
If you are interested in becoming an NRA Shooting Coach, you can attend one of the 2-day clinics held at a dozen locations nationwide. Currently, most of the coaching schools are for ATA Trap and shotgun disciplines, but there are also sessions for Smallbore and Air Rifle disciplines scheduled from April through July. CLICK HERE for a list of Coach training seminars (with contact info). To learn more about Rifle or Pistol Coach Education, contact Marcus Raab (703) 267-1589 or mraab [at] nrahq.org.
March 7th, 2009
Notice for Forum Visitors:
Unfortunately, you may have trouble accessing our Shooters Forum during the next 24 hours. The third-party that hosts our forum, Website Toolbox, is installing a master “back-end” software upgrade today.
Predictably, something went wrong with the upgrade and access to the Forum may be sporadic today. Please don’t freak out. This is something that should be resolved shortly, and YES we know there’s a problem.
March 7th, 2009
Frank Green at Bartlein Barrels has announced that custom stocks can be painted by a member of the Bartlein “team”, Terry Bartlein, (aka “Squirt”). Terry can produce a wide variety of stock finishes and effects, including metallics, fades, gradient shifts, plus graphics, flames, and lettering. Terry is very talented. He owned his own body shop for 20 years and he really liked doing custom paint work on motorcycles. He has painted everything from cars to bikes to gun stocks. He’s even custom-painted refrigerators and mail boxes.
If you want to have your stock painted by “Squirt”, contact Terry at Bartlein Barrrels, (262) 649-1574, or email Terry at squirt-bartlein [at] sbcglobal.net .
March 7th, 2009
Randy Robinett, maker of the popular and super-accurate BIB bullets, now has an updated website. With a little help from Ryan Ware and the folks at the BenchTalk Forum, Randy has expanded his website to include very comprehensive information on all the bullets he produces.
On Randy’s new product page, you’ll find everything you want to know about his bullets: BCs, recommended twist rates, ogive number, meplat size, and diameters of pressure rings and shanks. Here’s a sample of the info for Randy’s 6mm bullets:
| BIB 6mm Bullets
6mm – 65gr FB, BC = .27. Made in Niemi carbide dies, 8.5 ogive/.055″ meplat, .2435 pressure ring; .2433 shank: a 1:14″ twist is ideal.
6mm – 67.0gr FB, BC = .28. Made in Niemi carbide dies, 8.5 ogive/.055″ meplat, .2435 pressure ring; .2433 shank: ideal twist for the 67gr FB is 1:13.5″.
6mm – 95gr FB, BC = .45. Made in Niemi carbide dies; 11 ogive/.052″ meplat; .2435 pressure-ring; .2433″ shank. Ideal twist: 1:10″ twist; works well in twist rates as fast as 1:8″.
6mm – 108gr FB, BC = .51. Made in Niemi carbide dies; 11 ogive/.052″ meplat; .2435 pressure-ring; .2433″ shank. Ideal twist rate: 1:9″; faster twists not recommended. |
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For more information on Robinett’s .22, .25, 6mm, and 30-Caliber bullets, visit www.BIBullets.com. You can also email Randy at bibrob [at] netins.net, or phone him at (515) 438-4010.
March 6th, 2009
“Sold Out” is the message these days at retail stores, gunshows, and online merchants. Our readers have reported that big outlet stores such as WalMart are completely sold out of loaded ammo in popular calibers. At a Sportsman’s Warehouse store, the shelves were bare (see photo below). Likewise at a gunshow we attended last week in California, vendors sold out their supplies of rifle primers… down to the last box. Many online e-merchants (including Grafs.com, MidwayUSA, and Wideners) are completely sold out of small and large CCI, Federal, Remington, and Wolf rifle primers.
What’s going on? Is this a wave of panic buying or are there other factors at play? First, it’s pretty clear that shooters nationwide are laying in large supplies of ammo, bullets, and primers. This is motivated by fears (justified or not) that Congress is contemplating new taxes on ammo and reloading components. Also, there has been increased demand for ammunition for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that has siphoned off some of the supply of primers from CCI and Federal. However, the primary cause of the shortages is “panic buying” and hoarding by gun owners. Amy Bruno tells us that none of her suppliers have notified her of any production issues. CCI, Federal, and Remington are cranking out as many primers as ever, but supplies are selling out as soon as they hit the shelves.
The Good News
Nammo Lapua reports that a large shipment of Lapua cartridge brass should be arriving in the USA and clear customs within the next 10 days. This will include 220 Russian, .243 Win, 6.5 Grendel, 6.5×47, 6.5×55, 7.63×39, .308 Win, 30-06, 7.62x54R, and 338 LM brass. This shipment will also include loaded ammo, plus Scenar bullets and Lapua rimfire ammo. Also, a second container is due around the end of March. Hopefully that will include 6mmBR brass also. Check with major vendors such as Sinclair Int’l, Grafs.com, and MidwayUSA. Midway is listing 3/14/09 as the “Date expected in-stock” for Lapua .308 brass.
Bruno Shooters Supply has significant quantities of CCI and Federal primers in stock (mention 6mmBR.com when you call). However, all Rem, Winchester, and Wolf rifle primers are sold out. Here’s what Bruno’s has as of today, March 6th:
CCI BR2 Large Rifle Benchrest (quantity 50 1K boxes): $49.95/box
Fed 205M Small Rifle Match (quantity 383 1K boxes): $43.95/box
Fed 210 Large Rifle standard (quantity 122 1K boxes): $32.95/box
Amy Bruno also reports she has 55 8-lb jugs of the hard-to-find VV N133. She doesn’t know when the next shipment of Vihtavuori powders will arrive.
Powder Valley has the CCI BR2 Large Rifle Benchrest primers in stock at $37.00 per thousand. Unfortunately, Powder Valley is sold out of almost all other rifle primers.
March 6th, 2009
Do you have a hunting, fishing, or outdoors-related photo that deserves to be in print? If so, you can enter Outdoors Magazine’s inaugural Memorable Moments Photo Contest. Photo entries should “celebrate ‘memorable moments’ in the outdoors”. Appropriate subjects include: traditional big game trophy shots, classic fishing pictures, youth in the outdoors, dogs working, wildlife photography, ATVing, snowmobiling, camp life, boating, and much more.
Monthly winners will receive an assortment of prizes. The grand prize winner will be selected next January and will receive either a guided Maine hare hunting trip, a one-day fishing excursion on the Kennebec River, or an evening moose safari compliments of Pine Grove Lodge in Bingham, Maine.
Photo submissions will be posted on the Outdoors Magazine website, and may be used in future issues of Outdoors Magazine. Email entries to Kyle [at] elkpublishing.com. Please include your name, address, phone number and information about the photo in the body of the email. You can also mail entries to: Outdoors Magazine Photo Contest, 531 Main Street, Colchester, VT 05446. Include a self-addressed envelope if you would like them returned.
March 6th, 2009
 If you have a background in marketing or communications, and you’d like to work in the firearms industry, here’s a great job opportunity. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is looking to hire a new Managing Director of Marketing Communications. The NSSF seeks someone with at least 5 years experience in marketing communications, who has “exceptional communication and presentation skills”, and who has experience doing print, radio and TV interviews. The job is located at the NSSF’s Newtown, CT headquarters.
The Managing Director of Marketing Communications will have a leading role in NSSF’s communications, safety and education efforts. The Marketing Communications Managing Director will perform these tasks: lead proactive media and public relations campaigns incorporating NSSF developed data; implement the strategic plan and develop partnerships that enhance the effectiveness of NSSF; craft all outbound marketing communications such as press releases, corporate Web site copy, white papers, e-mail campaigns, etc.; cultivate long-standing relationships with the media, including reporters, news editors and industry analysts.
How to Apply for the Job
Interested candidates should visit the NSSF website, www.nssf.org for complete job information. Qualified candidates should forward a cover letter, resume and salary history to dkenney [at] nssf.org. You can also fax these materials to (203) 426-7994, or mail them to: D. Kenney, NSSF, 11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470. No phone calls please.
Formed in 1961, the National Shooting Sports Foundation is a not-for-profit organization with a membership of more than 4,800 manufacturers, distributors, retailers, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers.
March 5th, 2009
The Canadian Firearms Registry is a government-run registry of all legally-owned guns in Canada. Compulsory gun registration was written into the Firearms Act (Bill 68) in 1995, which also provided for the establishment of a centralized database. It requires every firearm in Canada to be registered or rendered in an unusable state. This was an effort to reduce crime by making every gun traceable. Any person wishing to obtain a firearm must first acquire a Possession and Acquisition Licence or PAL.
$2 Billion Tab for Failed Gun Registry
The Registry was supposed to cost Canadian taxpayers approximately $119 million dollars. Instead, documents obtained by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation show the program has cost upward of $2 BILLION dollars. At the same time there is little evidence that the Registry has had any notable effect on crime.
 There has been intense opposition to the Firearms Registry since its beginnings, and now the drive to eliminate the Registry has gained force. In the NationalPost.com website, Canadian Member of Parliament (MP) Garry Breitkreuz has called for the abolition of the long-gun Registry. MP Breitkreuz has introduced new legislation, Bill C-301, that would dismantle the long-gun provisions of the Registry.
Breitkreuz argues: “The Gun Registry has not saved one life in Canada, and it has been a financial sinkhole, estimated to have cost some $2 Billion. Imagine how many more police we could have on the streets if we had invested more wisely…. We need to dismantle the wasteful, futile registry and abandon the notion that this political pacifier is working.
Bill C-301 will scrap the long-gun Registry, improve efficiency and reduce costs without having any negative impact on public safety. The bill introduces a number of amendments to streamline the Firearms Act…. The Auditor-General has already blown the whistle on the gun registry. My bill proposes to ask for regular independent cost-benefit analyses on all aspects of the firearms program every five years.
Many Canadians have come to realize that the long-gun Registry is merely a bureaucratic exercise designed to lay a piece of paper beside every gun in the country. That piece of paper has no effect on the criminal and does nothing to prevent the misuse of a firearm.”
MP Breitkreuz’ efforts have been applauded by Canadian citizens writing to the National Post:
“[Canada’s Gun Registry] was a ‘paper’ ideological exercise which has proven worse than useless.” — Robins
“The Firearms Act as it exists is an incredible drain on much needed financial resources while giving very little of value in return. Streamlining the redundant, byzantine and costly bureaucracy is a worthy goal”. — Chuckbuster
“The gun registry was SUPPOSED to ‘make our streets safer’. It is beyond me how a slip of paper sent to law abiding persons was ever going to accomplish this task. The registry was always about confiscation of firearms. Despite political promises at the time, that it was ONLY for safety, it has shown itself time and time again, to be a tool of confiscation of legally-owned property. Time for it to go.” — Anopheses
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