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January 22nd, 2008
The Chiafullo Group, a New Jersey-based law firm, has launched a new cooperative program to assist firearms retailers and FFL-holders in matters concerning licensing and compliance with ATF Regulations. Entitled “FFLGuard” this program provides qualified legal advice to subscribing gun-related businesses. In effect, the Chiafullo Group, LLP acts as a cooperatively-financed, de facto “general counsel” to participating clients.
The FFLGuard program is designed to provide participating Federal Firearms Licensees cost-efficient access to trained firearms lawyers and other qualified legal personnel who can respond quickly to protect the client’s business and its Federal License(s). Under this program, the majority of the client’s retainer for participation in the FFLGuard program is held in trust with other participant’s retainer fees. This provides “strength in numbers” so no individual business is saddled with overwhelming legal expenses in the event of a lawsuit or dispute with the ATF. FFLGuard is endorsed by AcuSport, a leading firearms wholesaler.
January 21st, 2008
Here’s a remarkable video clip demonstrating state-of-the art CNC production of precision gun parts. In the video, created by STAMA America, an HK pistol gun breech is crafted from bar stock through a totally automated drilling/milling procedure. The breech is made by STAMA’s Model MC 726 MT, a unique five-axis, CNC milling/turning center. The five-axis machine is designed for continuous production of complex parts from bar stock and multiple different parts, including weapon components.
The process shown in the 5-minute video actually takes 50 minutes to craft the breech, starting with a 60mm diameter section of 42 CrMo 4 steel. Amazingly, the 5-axis machine employs 25 separate tools in the operation!
STAMA states that its milling/turning machines “can produce even short runs of complex weapon parts in one operation with superior quality, finish and cost efficiencies. Typically, Model MC 726 MT can result in up to 70% reductions in part processing time, according to current customers.”
CLICK HERE to PLAY 5-minute YouTube VIDEO
January 20th, 2008
We chatted with Richard Franklin of Richard’s Custom Rifles yesterday, and he mentioned that one of his favorite varmint rifles is a 14-twist, 22BR built on his model 11 stock in laminated Black Walnut and fiddleback maple. Richard says the rifle is versatile and deadly accurate out to 400 yards. Richard uses a Leupold 8.5-25×50 with varmint reticle.
“This is my light walking varminter. It’s built on a blueprinted SS Remington 700 short action and chambered as a no-turn 22 BR for Lapua brass. The bolt handle is a Dave Kiff replacement and I’ve fitted a Jewel BR trigger with bottom safety. Barrel is a Lilja, 1:14″ # 6 contour with a muzzle diameter of .750″. I shoot the 40gr V-Max in the rifle at 4000 FPS. Its tough on hogs if you don’t try them too far. 400 yards is about the max with it. Accuracy is outstanding and with Roy, Mike, my grandson and myself shooting this rifle I don’t believe it has missed more than 3 hogs out of over 100 shot at this summer. This rifle is carried in a ceiling rack in the truck where its handy and is used by the first person that grabs it when a hog is sighted if we are moving between setups. The Varmint reticle on the Leupold is nice for quick hold-overs as you change distances.”
Detail of Model 11 Stock (Different Rifle in Birdseye Maple)
22BR Rivals 22-250 Performance
With bullets in the 40gr to 60gr weight range, the 22BR gives up very little in velocity to a 22-250, despite burning quite a bit less powder (30-32 grains for the 22BR vs. 35-38 grains for the 22-250). With a match-quality chamber, the 22BR will probably have an edge in accuracy over a 22-250, and you should experience longer barrel life. Here are some recommended 22BR loads for 40-60gr bullets:
For more info on the 22BR for varminting, read our 22BR Cartridge Guide
January 19th, 2008
Blaser, maker of the innovative R93 straight-pull rifles, has created a new DVD, “Hunting in Motion — Shooting at Moving Game”, that will interest all game hunters. It provides helpful hints on aiming (showing how to “lead” your prey), with strategies for various species, including deer and wild boar. There’s good close-up footage showing the fast Blaser bolt in action on Driven Hunts. The DVD also includes important safety tips. In the sample video, Blaser demonstrates the hazards of ricochets and shows what happens to your bullet if it strikes a branch or obstruction between muzzle and target.
CLICK HERE (or on image) to watch INTRO VIDEO.
The DVD is available from select Blaser dealers, or contact:
Blaser USA
220-G Log Canoe Circle
Stevensville, MD 21666
Phone: (410) 604-1495
Email: info (at) blaser-usa.com
We noted one serious flaw in the Blaser Video. Many of the shooters in the video are not wearing eye protection. Big mistake. Shooters should ALWAYS use safety glasses, even when hunting.
January 19th, 2008
 Grafs.com has new .223 Remington brass made at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant and marketed by Federal (item FDU223). Price is just $19.99 per hundred, or $94.95 per 500.
In our comparison measurements of .223 Rem Brass, various lots of Lake City brass have shown good weight uniformity, with an average case to case Standard Deviation of just .61 grains, compared to 0.85 for Remington, and 1.36 for PMC. Lake City ’06 Brass also has more case capacity than other brands–but to be fair, we haven’t measured the capacity of the brass currently on sale at Grafs. Traditionally, Lake City Brass has higher-than-average capacity.
| .223 Rem Case Weight vs. Capacity |
| Case Manufacturer |
Case Weight* |
H20 Capacity** |
| Lake City 06 |
92.0 |
30.6 |
| WCC99 |
95.5 |
30.5 |
| Sellier & Belloit |
92.3 |
30.5 |
| Remington |
92.3 |
30.4 |
| PMC |
93.5 |
30.4 |
| Hirtenberger |
93.7 |
30.4 |
| Lake City 04 |
93.0 |
30.4 |
| Federal |
96.3 |
30.2 |
| Hornady |
93.9 |
30.1 |
| IMG (Guatemalan) |
95.4 |
30.1 |
| Lapua (new lot) |
93.4 |
30.1 |
| Winchester |
93.9 |
30.1 |
| Olympic |
97.4 |
30.0 |
| Radway Arsenal |
96.1 |
30.0 |
| PMP |
104.5 |
29.9 |
| FNM 93-1 |
97.3 |
29.8 |
| Lapua (old lot) |
104.0 |
28.0 |
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For more info on .223 Rem brass and reloading, see our 223 Rem Cartridge Guide.
January 18th, 2008
Butch Lambert of ShadeTree Engineering just sent us these “Spy Photos” of his latest creation, a 6.5-lb, low-profile front rest designed for F-Class competition. The rest features wide, stable legs, large, easy-to-adjust screw knobs, and Butch’s JoyStick Rest top that adjusts windage and elevation with a single control.
Butch tells us: “This is my latest rest assembly, a new product designed for F-Class. It weighs 6.5 pounds with the Edgewood bag and heavy sand. It has a needle thrust-bearing under the mariner wheel. Please note, the photos do NOT show the finished leg screws. On the bottom of each leg, the leg screws will ride on a 2″-diameter discs with tungsten armor-piercing bullets on the tips.”
For more info, visit the ShadeTree website, or call Butch at (972) 524-2247, from 9am to 5pm Central Time.
January 18th, 2008
On Jan. 25 to Feb. 3, 2008, Cabela’s celebrates the Grand Opening of its new large-format superstore in Post Falls, Idaho. The Grand Opening feature celebrities and hunting and fishing experts sharing stories and advice. The Post Falls store is located just east of Spokane, Washingon, at Exit 2 off I-90 near the Washington/Idaho State line. The 125,000-square-foot showroom is an educational attraction, featuring museum-quality animal displays, aquarium and trophy animals interacting in realistic re-creations of their natural habitats.
Many special bargains are offered during the Post Falls Grand Opening. CLICK HERE for the Grand Opening Sales Circular (Adobe .pdf file). Shown below are two great deals on rifles. We know the Savage 17 HMR to be extremely accurate. At $499.99, the complete Remington 700 VFS rifle costs not much more than a bare Remington 700 stainless action. (Sale Prices good at Post Falls, ID store ONLY.)
Grand Opening giveaways and special prices on clothing and merchandise will also be offered. Customers can enter drawings to win an African safari; a New Zealand Red Stag hunt; a Texas Whitetail Management hunt; an Alaska fishing trip; and a trip to Crocodile Bay Resort in Costa Rica.
January 17th, 2008
 We are currently hard at work on a new Cartridge Guide for the WSM series of cartridges. This will cover the 300 WSM, 7 WSM, and the 270 WSM or 300 WSM necked to 7mm. (Both the 270 WSM and 300 WSM have a slightly longer neck than the 7mm WSM).
If you shoot these cartridges in competition, or use them for hunting, and have developed a highly accurate load, please send us your load data. We are also interested in your comments about bullet selection–both for long-range target shooting and hunting. As with our other Cartridge Guides, we will discuss powder and primer choices. We welcome your comments on these reloading components.
One popular feature of our Cartridge Guides is a comparison line-up of premium bullets. Jason Baney, our 1000-yard Editor, has a good selection of 30-caliber bullets, but we need more 7mm bullet samples. If you can spare 1 or 2 sample bullets, send them in for our “line-up.” Be sure to mark the bullets or otherwise include information on the manufacturer and brand of bullet, such as Sierra 7mm 175gr MatchKing. IMPORTANT: DO NOT send loaded ammo or primed cases. Send only bullets by themselves. Samples will not be returned (we keep these “on file” for future reference).
Send bullet samples to:
Jason Baney
P.O. Box 308
Douglassville, PA 19518
January 17th, 2008
Each summer the Civilian Marksmanship Program sponsors a popular series of Three-Position Air Rifle Camps to teach rifle marksmanship skills to junior shooters and their adult leaders. For 2008, these 5-day camps are offered in Fort Benning, GA; Camp Perry, OH; Rapid City, SD; and Kerrville, TX. The CMP is now accepting 2008 Camp Applications. Camps fill-up quickly, so early registration is recommended.
CMP Junior Three-Position Air Rifle Camps are for junior shooters with a basic knowledge of the sport. Athletes should have completed basic rifle marksmanship training and one season of three-position competition. CMP camps are designed for students who will be in grades 9 through 12 during the coming school year. The Junior Shooters must bring their own shooting equipment — either precision or sporter class rifles, prone mat, and a spotting scope (except at Fort Benning where electronic targets will be used).
The 2008 Summer Camp Fees are:
$350 (jr. athlete), $150 (adult) for Residential Camps
$225 (jr. athlete), $30 (adult) for Commuter Camps
$265 (jr. athlete) $70 (adult) for Camp Perry Camp
Dr. Dan Durben will again serve as Camp Director and chief instructor. Dan shot for the USA in the 1988 Olympics and served as the National Rifle Coach from 1997 through the 2000 Olympic Games. Dr. Durben will be assisted by Camp Coordinator, Sommer Wood, and by James Hall, who earned All-American honors in both air rifle and smallbore in collegiate competition.
CLICK HERE for CMP SUMMER CAMP INFO PAGE
January 16th, 2008
There’s a new tool available that should make the gunsmith’s job quite a bit easier. It’s such a logical, clever design, you wonder why somebody didn’t think of it years ago.
Co-Designer Nat Lambeth reports: “The photo shows a new tool called the Lambeth/Kiff Micrometer Adjustable Reamer Stop (Patent Pending). This is a add-on device that controls the depth a reamer can cut. It uses the reamer itself as the micrometer pinion and the barrel tendon face as the anvil. It does not matter where the tail stock or carriage is located, it measures off the reamer. It functions with a floating reamer holder too. These new Micrometer Reamer Stops have 50 indexing marks and will allow for .0005″ adjustments. The gunsmith can preset the Micrometer Adjustable Reamer Stop to about .020″ out and ream without worry. Then re-measure, adjust once, and make the final cut right on the money.”
These tools are available from Dave Kiff at Pacific Tool & Gauge, Nat Lambeth at NLambeth [@] embarqmail.com, and several gunsmith tool suppliers.
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