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March 23rd, 2008
The full line of K&M reloading tools and accessories is now offered by PrecisionReloading.com.
 The popular K&M Arbor press (with optional seating force measurement gauge) is in stock. The K&M arbor costs $78.00, or $115.00 with the force measurement system. This clever design uses a Bellville washer stack and linkage to show the force required to seat your bullet on a standard dial indicator mounted on the top (dial is $22 extra.) In addition, Precision Reloading offers K&M neck-turning tools, primer seaters, expanders, neck reamers, and flash-hole uniformers.
Based in Mitchell, South Dakota, Precision Reloading is run by active, knowledgeable shooters. In addition to centerfire reloading supplies and tools, Precision Reloading offers a full line of shotshell components and shotgun reloading equipment, plus optics, cleaning supplies, gun cases, and hunting gear.
March 23rd, 2008
On March 28-30, Cabela’s is running a major gun sale at many of its stores. This “Gun Show” weekend will feature great discounts on both new and used firearms. Customers are also invited to bring in their own firearms to sell, trade, or consign. Cabela’s has collected inventories from its gun vaults, placing hundreds of used guns on sale for the first time. In addition, participating stores will offer new guns at special savings. The Cabela’s “Gun Show” will be held at these participating stores: Boise, Buda, Dundee, East Grand Forks, Fort Worth, Glendale, Hamburg, Kansas City, Kearney, La Vista, Lehi, Mitchell, Prairie du Chien, Owatonna, Richfield, Rogers, Sidney, and Wheeling.
In addition, gun safes will be offered at low, discounted prices at the following locations: Boise, Glendale, Kansas City, Lehi, Owatonna, Richfield, and Rogers. If you live near any of these locations, this is an excellent opportunity to acquire a quality gun safe at significant savings.
March 22nd, 2008
 On LongRangeHunting.com, you’ll find a good article about wind reading by Shawn Carlock. Shawn Carlock is a veteran law enforcement marksman and the current USPSA national precision rifle champion. Shawn offers good advice on how to estimate wind speeds and directions using a multitude of available indicators — not just your wind gauge: “Use anything at your disposal to accurately estimate the wind’s velocity. I keep and use a Kestrel for reading conditions….The Kestrel is very accurate but will only tell you what the conditions are where you are standing. I practice by looking at grass, brush, trees, dust, wind flags, mirage, rain, fog and anything else that will give me info on velocity and then estimate the speed.”
Shawn also explains how terrain features can cause vertical wind effects. A hunter positioned on a hilltop must account for bullet rise if there is a headwind blowing up the slope. Many shooters consider wind in only one plane — the horizontal. In fact wind has vertical components, both up and down. If you have ever piloted a small aircraft you know how important vertical wind vectors can be. Match shooters will also experience vertical rise when there is a strong tailwind blowing across an up-sloping berm ahead of the target emplacements. Overall, Shawn concludes: “The more time you spend studying the wind and its effect over varying terrain the more successful you will be as a long-range shooter and hunter.”
March 22nd, 2008
Norma 6XC brass is available direct from Superior Shooting Systems for $60.00 per hundred. These days, that’s a good deal for premium brass. Other vendors are selling the Norma 6XC for up to $89.00 per hundred. This is excellent brass that has shot extremely well for German Salazar and other top prone and cross-the-course shooters. It has a large flash hole and large primer pocket. It has enough case capacity to drive 110-115 grain bullets to 3000 FPS in most 27-28″ barrels.
The much-awaited, polymer-tipped 111 DTAC MJPT (Match Jacket Plastic Tip) 6mm bullet is still awaiting delivery. [UPDATE: As of 7/17/2008, the ship date keeps slipping. Superior Shooting promised initial shipments at the “end of June”, but everyone’s still waiting.] The price is $105/500 for naked bullets, and $110/500 for boron nitride-coated bullets. The new DTAC 111 is showing good accuracy and can be shot in most rifles throated for the 105-107 grain bullets, though, ideally, you’d want freebore about .030″ longer (and we recommend a 1:7.5″ twist barrel). David says the new bullet’s ballistic-coefficient (BC) is “right around .600″ based on field testing using multiple chronographs set downrange. (This is actually measured, not calculated, BC.) When shot from a 6XC, 6-6.5×47, 6-250 or similar cartridge, you should be able to push this bullet at 3000 fps. The plastic tips provide a more uniform bullet-to-bullet ballistic coefficient according to David Tubb: “With the new bullet tip you no longer have to uniform the meplats to get a consistent BC shot-to-shot. What we’ve seen in field testing is a spread of only 2% in actual bullet BC.”
Download DTAC 111 Info Sheet
March 21st, 2008
David Tubb of Superior Shooting Systems pioneered the use of Boron Nitride to coat bullets. Hexagonal Boron Nitride (aka “White Graphite” or “HBN”) is an extremely slippery substance with high load-bearing properties. David believes Boron Nitride reduces bullet jacket friction and fouling in the bore. With boron nitride-coated bullets, it is believed that a shooter can fire longer shot strings before cleaning is required. Boron Nitride coating performs much the same function as moly-coating, but David (and others) believe HBN does the job better, and adheres to the bullet better than plain moly. And unlike moly, HBN has no potential corrosive properties.
 You have to make you own decision as to whether bullet coatings are advantageous to you. The majority of shooting matches are still won by “naked” bullets. However, if you are a long-term moly user, you may want to investigate the benefits of boron nitride coatings.
Superior Shooting Systems will coat your naked bullets with Boron Nitride for $0.05 (five cents) per bullet with a 1000-bullet minimum order. If you want to save dollars and coat your own bullets, the process is similar to that for moly-coating — impact plate the bullets by tumbling with Boron Nitride powder. Boron Nitride powder is available in bulk from LowerFriction.com. This Canadian firm sells powdered boron nitride in three sizes, .070 micron, 0.5 micron and 1.5 micron. The 0.5 micron size seems to work best for bullet coating. Current price is $79.00 US per pound, plus shipping. Call 1 + (416) 509-4462 to order.
Smaller quantities of a Boron Nitride bullet lubricant are offered by 21st Century Ballistic Solutions (“21stCBS”). This company offers a proprietary Boron Nitride blend specially formulated for easy application and excellent adhesion. 21stCBS has done extensive testing with both varmint and match rifles. They believe the Boron Nitride coating significantly reduces both copper and carbon barrel fouling. This allows up to 120+ rounds to be fired with no significant reduction in accuracy. The 21stCBS product applies easily in a vibratory tumbler–you don’t need steel shot or ball bearings to get the Boron Nitride to adhere to your bullets. Cost of the 21stCBS “custom blend” is $10.25 shipped for one (1) ounce of product, enough to coat 1000+ bullets. For more info, or to order, contact Mike Brenner, Mikeb@21stcenturyballisticsolution.com, (641) 485-0047 or (641) 753-3670. Mike also notes that the Boron Nitride does a great job of reducing friction when applied to leather benchrest front and rear sandbags.
 Aerosol Boron Nitride Lubricant
We haven’t tried it, so we can’t confirm its effectiveness, but a new Aerosol spray coating is available that contains Boron Nitride. Produced by Slide Products in Illinois, Hi Temp 1800 was designed as a metal lubricant and mold release. The Boron Nitride retains its friction-reducing qualities even at very high temperatures.
We’ve been told that some shooters are experimenting with this spray-on Boron Nitride product. If it works with bullets, that will simplify the application process, since you won’t need a tumbler. But we caution that right now, spray on Boron Nitride is “experimental” at best. Cost is $87.20 for a case of 12 cans. For more info, or to order, call Slide Products, Toll Free 1-800-323-6433, or (847) 541-7220. Samples are available on request.
March 21st, 2008
 The CMP has finalized its 2008 rules for service rifle, service pistol and as-issued military rifles. The 12th Edition (2008) of the CMP Competition Rules is now posted on the CMP web site and can be downloaded for free. Printed copies of the 2008 rulebook can also be ordered from the CMP. DCM representative Gary Anderson reports that “just like in 2007, there are not a lot of rule changes, [and] nothing in the 2008 rules is going to substantially change any CMP courses of fire or the way competitions are conducted. There are some rule changes, however, that are designed to address issues that have come up or to respond to recommendations that were received from match sponsors and competitors.”
CLICK HERE for a Summary of all the New Rules
CLICK HERE to download CMP RULEBOOK
ECIs now Required for Rimfire AND Pistol Classes
One noteworthy change in the 2008 CMP rules is that ECIs (empty chamber indicators) confirming that firearms are unloaded and safe are now required in ALL rifles and pistols in both CMP and NRA matches at all times except during preparation and firing periods. Highpower and air rifle shooters quickly accepted the mandatory use of ECIs for centerfire rifles and CBIs (clear barrel indicators) for air rifles, but smallbore and pistol shooters resisted. Now several years of experience have demonstrated how effective these safety flags are in allowing range officers to quickly confirm that guns are cleared. Accordingly, the use of ECIs is now mandatory in all classes.
March 20th, 2008
Cartridges of the World, 11th Edition by Frank Barnes, is considered by many to be the definitive print resource on firearm cartridges. The most recent 552-page edition describes over 1500 cartridges, including the latest wildcat and military cartridges. It also describes many historical or obsolete cartridges, making it useful for antique firearms collectors. This important reference features detailed photos, dimensional drawings and loading data.
Now through the end of March, 2008, MidwayUSA has Cartridges of the World (item 743700) on sale for $16.99, marked down from $19.99.
About the Author, Frank Barnes
Frank Barnes (1918-1992) began collecting information on handgun cartridges at the early age of 12, thanks to his father who was a police officer. Most people don’t know that Frank had a Masters degree in Justice and served as college professor, a pilot, and a racecar driver. He was an innovator, and came up with the original 308 x 1.5″ Barnes, predecessor of the 30BR case. Decades ago Barnes started working with different cartridges and decided to publish a manual for all of them. Cartridges of the World was first published in 1965, and is now in its 11th Edition.
March 20th, 2008
In a commentary appearing in the Boston Globe and Washington Times, Robert A. Levy, one of the lawyers for Dick Heller, explains the key issues in the landmark D.C. v. Heller Case. We recommend you read Levy’s essay, offered on the CATO Institute website.
CLICK HERE to read Levy Commentary.
Levy explains how, if the Supreme Court finds that the Second Amendment accords an individual right to ALL citizens, then restrictions on that right should be subject to “strict scrutiny” under established principles of Constitutional law. Levy notes that, if the High Court accepts the District Columbia’s view of the Second Amendment, then this would effectively render the Second Amendment a “dead letter”. Based the comments of the Justices during the oral arguments on March 18, we believe at least a majority of the Supreme Court is not willing to go that far. However, Levy warns:
“If D.C.’s outright ban on all handguns, in all homes, at all times, for all purposes, is determined by the court to pass muster, it will mean the Supreme Court intends to rubberstamp just about any regulation a legislature can dream up — no matter whether the government has offered any justification at all, much less a justification that would survive strict scrutiny. That would, in effect, excise the Second Amendment from the Constitution. A right that cannot be enforced is no right at all.
At root, the Heller case is simple. It’s about self-defense: individuals living in a dangerous community who want to protect themselves in their own homes when necessary. The Second Amendment to the Constitution was intended to safeguard that right. Banning handguns outright is unconstitutional.”
March 20th, 2008
Please send in your events for the Calendar. We have about 40 event listings and we’d like to triple that number. While we don’t have the resources/space to put in all clubs’ regular monthly events, we want to include:
A. Major National and Regional Championships
B. Popular Special Competitions and fun shoots, such as Hickory Groundhog Shoot
C. Interesting Special Events, such as Industry Trade shows, BR school, or multi-discipline shoot.
Please provide a 100-word summary of event with dates, cost, list of classes (gun types), and a phone # and web link for further information.
Send Photos and Range Maps
Our Calendar software allows us to display photos, club logos, or range maps, so you can attach those to your submissions. Please send your calendar items to: mailbox@6mmBR.com . Please put “EVENT” in the email subject line. Thanks!
We reserve the right to edit any entries.
March 19th, 2008
Yesterday the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral auguments in the landmark D.C. v. Heller case. It appeared, based on the questions posed by the Justices, that the High Court may strike down the D.C.’s ban on handguns. But we’ll likely have to wait until May or June for a final decision.
Head Count: It looks Like 5:4 or 6:3
Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Alito, and Justice Scalia all seemed to favor the view that the Second Amendment confers an individual right to keep and bear arms. Roberts made his views clear right from the start, asking the District’s lawyer: “If [the Second Amendment] is limited to state militias, why would they say ‘the right of the people’?…In other words, why wouldn’t they say ‘state militias have the right to keep arms’?” Justice Thomas did not speak at the argument, but he can be expected to align with Roberts and Scalia. Justice Kennedy may be the swing vote needed to overturn the D.C. ban. Kennedy said the Second Amendment confers “a general right to bear arms quite without reference to the militia either way.” That leaves four justices who may vote the other way: Breyer, Ginsburg, Souter, and Stevens. Stevens might also vote with the majority for a 6-3 decision.
Most legal observers, including our correspondent, Robert Whitley, believe there will be at least 5 votes to overturn the D.C. ban. Whitley cautions however: “I think there will be a recognition of the individual right, and the D.C. ban will probably be invalidated, at least in its current form. But this isn’t the end of the controversy… there will be many more battles ahead. The court will likely try to decide the case narrowly, and many of the justices seem to favor some kind of ‘reasonableness’ test for gun laws that will only lead to more legal challenges in the months and years ahead.”
Richard Heller, the Man in the Middle
After the oral arguments, Robert Whitley interviewed Dick Heller, the plaintiff in the historic case. Robert observed: “Heller is a normal guy, like you and me. He’s a nice guy who simply felt the D.C. gun ban was wrong.” Heller lives in a small apartment in the heart of the District. One day, observing a bullet hole in the frame of his front door, he decided he wanted to keep a handgun to protect himself.
Heller works as a security guard in a Federal building. Heller told Whitley: “To me, the case is simple. I go to work, and I’m told to carry a gun to protect Federal employees. Yet when I go home, the District of Columbia says the value of my own life is not worth protecting. That’s just wrong.”
Jim Shepard, covering the case for The Outdoor Wire, recorded a remarkable exchange between Heller and reporters:
“… A reporter interjected: ‘the Mayor (DC Mayor Adrian M. Fenty) says the handgun ban and his initiatives have significantly lowered violent crime in the District. How do you answer that, Mr. Heller?”
The initial answer certainly wasn’t expected – Dick Heller laughed. Ruefully.
Pointing at the Mayor who was making his way across the plaza, surrounded by at least six DC police officers, Heller said, ‘the Mayor doesn’t know what he’s talking about.’
‘He doesn’t walk on the street like an average citizen. Look at him; he travels with an army of police officers as bodyguards – to keep him safe. But he says that I don’t have the right to be a force of one to protect myself. Does he look like he thinks the streets are safe?'”
When it comes right down to it, that’s what this case is really all about — an individual citizen’s basic, fundamental right to defend himself and his home. That’s a right the founders surely intended to guarantee in adopting the Second Amendment.
CLICK HERE for NBC News Video Report
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