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February 8th, 2008
Here at AccurateShooter.com we use Canon digital cameras for most of our photography. They are reliable, they take nice sharp images, and they come with many sophisticated features at a bargain price. The latest A-Series PowerShot IS cameras offer especially good “bang for the buck”, offering sharp lenses, good video capability, and built-in image stabilization.
Many readers may think they don’t need video capability, but once you start capturing video, you’ll see it has many important uses for a shooter. You can record your gun handling techniques while shooting. This will reveal flinching or poor follow-through, and you can see if you are maintaining the same body and head position with every shot. You can also use the video to record comments on range conditions and your load performance — it’s easier than writing down notes in a journal.
Right now, NewEgg.com is selling the Canon A 570IS for just $139.99. That’s a great deal, and for just $5.99 more you can get a 1 gigabyte memory card (highly recommended!). This camera features built-in image stabilization, 7.1 megapixels, and can shoot at up to 1600 ISO–allowing you to get good images even in very low light. Like most Canon digital cameras, the A 570IS has excellent auto white balance (so you don’t get those yellow- or green-tinted photos when shooting indoors), plus built-in sharpening, and color saturation. The A 570IS features a large LCD viewing screen, plus a regular view-finder. Conveniently, it uses easy-to-find AA batteries.
February 7th, 2008
Space-age carbon fiber allows a rifle stock to be extremely light-weight, yet stiff and strong. Some of the best carbon fiber long-range, tactical, and hunting stocks on the market are crafted by Manners Composite Stocks. Manners stocks exhibit excellent fit and finish (without the bubbles and flaws found on some lesser-grade products), and the geometry is correct for good tracking in the bags. We were very impressed by the samples we saw at SHOT show, in particular the quality of the inletting and the carbon lamination work. Tom Manners gave us the run-down on his long-range MCS-L50 stock, his model “T” hunting stock, and his model “T-4″ tactical stock.
CLICK HERE to WATCH VIDEO
February 7th, 2008
At SHOT Show, MTM previewed a versatile new range box that doubles as a rifle cleaning stand. Sized 25″ long x 11.5″ wide x 8.75″ high, the MTM Shooting Range Box is about the size of a large toolbox, with plenty of room inside. The range box comes with two removable, rubber-padded cradles that hold a rifle securely for cleaning. This means your range box does double duty, and you don’t have to haul a separate cleaning stand around. We liked the prototype version on display. It’s plenty big, and has a long enough “wheelbase” to work effectively as a stand.
The gun cleaning kit top section has a see-through plastic top. Underneath are trays with divided slots for small parts, patches, brushes and sundries. There is a special insert for jags and mops (see photo). The two trays can be positioned four different ways, to suit your requirements. The long section in the front will hold bore guides, and large cans of spray solvents/lubes. The unit is deep enough that most bottles of cleaning solvents will sit up-right, and the box is made from chemical-resistant polypropylene.
The base section holds twin adjustable gun forks (cradles) with over-molded rubber padding. These will support rifles or shotguns with a firm, non-marring hold. The base section offers plenty of deep storage for supplies and ammo. The bottom base is big enough to hold a large MTM R-100 ammo box. The new range box/rifle holder, MTM Catalog item RBMC-11, should start shipping in Mid-March of 2008. Midsouth Shooters’ Supply lists the MTM Range Box at $26.76, item 008-RBMC11. That’s the best price we’ve found — other vendors are charging $35.00 to $42.00.
February 6th, 2008
 In previous installments of our Daily Bulletin, gunsmith Gordy Gritters has demonstrated headspacing and barrel set-up on a Grizzly Industrial multi-purpose lathe. We visited with Gordy at the Grizzly booth at SHOT Show. We had to fight through a sizeable crowd of folks who were watching Gordy chamber a barrel for a 1000-yard rifle. The Europeans, in particular, seemed fascinated with the process, as custom gunsmithing operations are few and far between in many European countries.
Gordy pointed out some of his favorite features on the Grizzly 0509G gunsmithing lathe and noted that Grizzly is coming out with a new lathe with even more functions in “the very near future.” Gordy also shared his thoughts on piloted vs. non-piloted reamers.
CLICK HERE to WATCH VIDEO
February 5th, 2008
One of the most interesting factory actions on display at SHOT Show was the Thompson/Center Icon. It’s very robust and features multiple lugs on the bottom that mate with a metal bedding platform. Unlike Remington, Sako, or Remington actions, the T/C icon features three integral recoil lugs, CNC-milled bedding block, a large-diameter bolt, and extremely sturdy bottom metal. Click here for a LARGE PHOTO showing all the components of the prototype “Icon” action. Note, production versions may have different magazines. GA Precision will also build a special run of detachable-magazine tactical rifles using the new “Icon” action.
CLICK HERE for PAGE with ICON FEATURES. Note: at the top of that page is a flash file. Click on the small red crosses to zoom and highlight particular features.
February 5th, 2008
We’ve been working the floor of SHOT Show to bring you the latest info and precision shooting products from action, barrel, bullet, optics, and rifle-makers. On a separate page, our daily Shot Shot Reports feature many large photos and video clips with knowledgeable smiths and technicians. Topic Highlights of the SHOT reports will be posted here in the Bulletin.
Click HERE for Part Two of our SHOT Show reports. Here are the highlights from our second installment:
Hornady’s Senior Ballistician discusses new 6.5 Creedmoor Cartridge.
Sightron unveils impressive new 8-32x56mm SIII Target Scope.
Glen Harrison, founder of Nesika Bay, reveals production plans (and tech features) of his new line of custom action.
Schmidt & Bender showcases much-anticipated 12.5-50 Target scope–and it’s amazing.
SKB’s new line of roto-molded heavy-duty rifle transport cases.
Chris Hodgdon summarizes new 2008 powder offerings, including Hybrid 100V and Win 780 Supreme.
February 4th, 2008
For the next three days, we’ll provide evening Shot Shot Reports with many large photos and video clips. Topic Highlights of the SHOT reports will be posted here in the Bulletin.
Click HERE for Part One of our SHOT Show reports. Here are the highlights from this first installment:
Savage Displays New Palma Rifle with Deluxe Metal Adjustment Hardware.
Battenfeld Technologies Unveils $220.00 Co-Axial “Fire Control” Front Rest.
Anschutz Will Continue to Produce Series 2000 Action. Dieter Anschutz Announces Retirement.
Lapua Debuts X-ACT Ultra-Premium Rimfire Ammo. Is this the Most Accurate Rimfire Ammo Ever?
Dave Kiff Displays new PT&G Products. Offers Discounts to 6mmBR.com Readers.
READ FULL REPORTS HERE: Shot Show 2008 Report
February 4th, 2008
Ace California shooter Jerry Tierney added a few more feathers to his cap this past weekend. Shooting a “spacegun” chambered in 6mmAR by Robert Whitley, Jerry, a retired computer engineer, set no less than six (6) new records in a reduced High Power course match on Saturday, February 2nd. Note, while distances are shorter, the targets are reduced proportionately in size so the course of fire remains very challenging. Half in jest, Jerry reported: “High Power is more fun than full-bore!”
Based on his recorded scores, it’s believed Jerry set all these records on Saturday: 3 Grand Senior records; 1 Senior record; 1 Civilian Record; and 1 Open Record (best regardless of age group or military/civilian status).
The 6mmAR is a wildcat based on the 6.5 Grendel case necked down to 6mm. It provides performance very similar to that of the 6mmBR Norma with a cartridge that will mag-feed in an AR style rifle. Robert Whitley has done extensive development for this round, developing optimal loads he’s posted on www.6mmAR.com. Robert also sells “space gun” accessories, and complete 6mmAR upper assemblies.
Jerry has enjoyed considerable success in other disciplines–as you can see from the photo below, Jerry did pretty well when he tried his hand at the 1000-yard Benchrest game. He won the 2005 NBRSA 1K BR championship with a dominant performance. Now the High Power crowd has to worry about Jerry as well…
February 3rd, 2008
David Tubb’s Superior Shooting Systems currently offers two high-BC bullets, both produced by Sierra Bullets to David’s specifications. The original DTAC is a 115-grainer with a normal match hollowpoint. The second bullet is a 117gr MJPT (Metal Jacket Plastic Tip), with a super-high 0.600 BC, confirmed by actual field tests.
We’ve just learned that DTAC plans, shortly after SHOT Show, to introduce a new, 110 or 111-grain 6mm bullet. Like the 117 MJPT, this will have a plastic tip. However, it should have a shorter base-to-ogive measurement than the 117-grainer. Hopefully the new bullet will be short enough to work in rifles throated for the 105s and 108s. David Tubb tells us that the bullet will be about .050″ shorter than the 117 and should need .020-.025 less throat. It should look like the 117 in the photo below, but with a shorter bearing surface, and a BC around 0.545:
David explained that the shot-to-shot BC variance of his bullets has been substantially reduced by the addition of the polymer bullet tip. With conventional bullets, true BC can vary from bullet to bullet because the meplats aren’t consistent. David tells us: “With the new bullet tip you no longer have to uniform the meplats to get a consistent BC shot-to-shot. As a bonus, the BC is higher overall due to improved aerodynamics. What we’ve seen in field testing is a spread of only 2% in actual bullet BC. This has reduced the measured shot-to-shot velocity spread at long range.”
Independent testing confirms many of David’s statements. A series of dual-chronograph tests done by Larry Bartholome and Ken Oehler showed that there IS significant bullet-to-bullet BC variance in most boxes of bullets. After testing over 30 brands of projectiles, Larry and Ken found the average extreme spread in BC was 0.019. On the other hand, plastic-tipped Hornady A-Max bullets showed the smallest BC variance of the samples tested. So maybe Tubb really is on to something here.
 Bullet pointing tests also suggest the importance of reducing bullet-to-bullet BC variance. Jason Baney’s recent work with the Whidden Pointing Die showed that the reduction of bullet meplat diameter (by pointing) produces a significant increase in effective BC–as demonstrated by less bullet drop at long range.
CLICK HERE to Read Jason’s Bullet Pointing Analysis.
February 2nd, 2008
The 30th Annual NSSF SHOT Show kicked off today. Nearly 2,000 exhibitors and 40,000-plus attendees are expected to pour into the Las Vegas Convention Center as the 2008 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show opens.
To preview new products to be featured at SHOT Show, 2008, download the SHOT Daily, Feb. 2 Edition. This 8.5 megabyte Adobe Acrobat File has a dozen pages dedicated to new products from rifles to optics. Download future editions of the SHOT Show Daily at www.SHOTShow.com.
Today’s SHOT Daily has an interesting interview with Mark DeYoung, the President/CEO of Federal/ATK Industries. ATK’s sporting brands include Federal Cartridge, CCI/Speer, RCBS, Outers, Ram-Line, Alliant Powder, and Redfield, Simmons and Weaver mounts, rings and bases.
DeYoung says ATK will be launching two new brands of Asian-manufactured optics, “Intensity” and “Nitrex”. DeYoung explains, “Nitrex is positioned for a more discriminating customer. Nitrex is going to be lined up head to head with a line like the Nikon Monarch. The price point for Nitrex will be right around $200 to $300 for the binoculars, and the scopes will be in the $300 to $400 range. The Intensity will be
positioned to compete against some of the less expensive Bushnell and Tasco products.”
ESPN Outdoors will also provide extensive SHOT Show coverage for the next four days. CLICK HERE for photos from the Media Preview events on Friday.
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