Do you use bushings to size your case-necks? Are you assuming that your bushings are actually round on the inside, with a hole that’s centered-up properly? Well you may be in for an unpleasant surprise, based on what our friend Jim de Kort recently discovered. Jim was concerned about the run-out on his brass. His cases went into his bushing-equipped FL die pretty straight, but came out of the die with up to .004″ run-out. “What gives?”, Jim wondered. “Could the problem be the bushings themselves?”
To answer that question, Jim decided to examine his bushings. Using an Accuracy One Wheel-drive concentricity gauge, Jim checked out some of his neck bushings. What he discovered may surprise you…
Neck Bushing Flaws Revealed
Trust no one… — Jim de Kort
Jim writes: “I measured the concentricity of my 6BR rounds today. I noticed they went into the neck-bushing equipped full-length sizing die with less than .001″ deviation but came out with .003-.004″. The culprit, it appears, was the bushing itself. Without it the cases stayed within .0005″ to .001″ deviation, so something was happening with the bushing.
One bushing had .00025″ deviation on the outside, yet almost .003″ on the inside, so it is crooked. But even when using a bushing that is within .001″ I still get .003″ runout after sizing. I repeated the same procedure for my 6×47 and got the same results. When using the bushing, concentricity suffers a lot.”
Before we bash the bushing-makers, we must acknowledge that many different things can contribute to excessive run-out and/or mis-alignment of case-necks. We don’t have all the answers here, and Jim would be the first to say that some mysteries remain. Still, these are interesting results that give all precision hand-loaders something to think about.
Jim Borden of Borden Accuracy also offers this tip: “Check the trueness of the face of the die cap. That has more to do with trueness than the bushing. Also check perpendicularity of hole in bushing to top surface. When I was making dies, the cap was made by threading and facing the threaded tenon in same setup.”
Editor’s Comment: Many people have great results with neck-bushing dies, but Jim isn’t the only fellow who has seen some very odd results. I personally employ honed, non-bushing dies for many of my chamberings. These non-bushing dies (with the necks honed for .002-.003″ neck tension) produce extremely straight ammo, with run-out consistently under .0015″.
Black Friday, the major discount day, was two days ago. For many vendors, Black Friday discounts continue all weekend through Cyber Monday, 11/27/23. So there are some spectacular pistol, shotgun, and rifle bargains offered today and tomorrow. In addition, many very high-quality rifle chassis systems are on sale. If you’re looking for a new handgun, rifle, or shotgun, or need a chassis for a new rifle project, now’s a great time to shop.
Here are some of the best long gun deals we’ve found. Don’t hesitate, as these deals are short-lived. Most of the specials are good through 11:59 pm on Monday, November 27, 2023. However, some of the sales expire tonight, Sunday 11/26/2023 at 11:59 pm Central Time.
Browning X-Bolt Stalker Long Range in .300 Winchester Magnum
The Browning X-Bolt Stalker in .300 WinMag features a 26″ barrel with muzzle brake, removable magazine, extended bolt handle, and black composite stock with adjustable comb. Complete with a Browning 4-12x40mm AO scope, this rifle was originally $1149.00. Now CDNN has discounted the price to $949.00. And it gets even better. For purchases November 22-27, Browning is offering a $100 factory mail-in rebate. That lowers your net cost to just $849.00 — a great deal for a serious large-game hunting rifle.
Savage 110 Hunter XP with 4-12x40mm Vortex Diamondback Scope — Multiple Calibers
If you want a solid, accurate hunting rig with a top-tier camo stock, look no further. Right now at Cabela’s/Bass Pro, the Savage 110 Hunter XP with TrueTimber VXP camo stock is on sale for $749.98, a $70.00 savings. This handsome rifle is available in a wide variety of calibers/chamberings: .243 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Win, 7mm Rem Mag, .308 Win, .300 Win Mag, .30-06 Springfield, and 350 Legend. NOTE: Today 11/26/2023 is the last day for this Cabela’s/Bass Pro discount pricing, so don’t delay.
Christensen Arms Ranger .22 LR with Carbon-Wrapped Barrel
The Ranger 22 brings a rimfire back to the Christensen Arms lineup. The bolt-action Ranger 22 features an aluminum receiver with Picatinnny rail, Christensen Arms carbon fiber tension barrel with Bentz match chamber, and carbon fiber composite stock. The Ranger 22 rifle boasts a nice “match grade” Rem 700 style trigger. These rifles shoot well — Christensen Arms backs the Ranger 22 with a Sub-MOA at 50 Yards Guarantee. Right now the Ranger 22 is on sale at Palmetto SA for $729.99, a $270.00 savings off the regular $999.99 price.
Winchester SXP 12ga Shotgun, $179.99 After Winchester Rebate
This may be the shotgun steal of the year. Right now you can get a Winchester SXP 12ga pump shotgun with 26″ or 28″ barrel for just $254.99, marked down from $324.99. But it gets even better. Winchester has a $75 factory rebate good for Super X Pump (SXP) firearms purchased November 20-27, 2023. So if grab one of these today or tomorrow your net cost is just $179.99! That’s a steal — you could pay twice that just for a barrel these days. If you want something fancier, Kygunco also has a wood stocked SXP for $244.99 (after rebate) and a nice SXP waterfowl with Mossy Oak Camo for $294.99 (after rebate).
WOOX Metal/Wood Hybrid Chassis Systems — $100-$300 Off
WOOX offers unique, handsome hybrid chassis systems that combine modern high-tech metal frameworks with fine-finished highly-figured wood forearms, grips, and butt-stock segments. Right now, a variety of these Woox metal and wood chassis systems are deeply discounted, so you can save from $100 to $300. NOTE: These sale prices on hybrid chassis systems are good through 11:59 pm on Monday 11/27/2023.
Video shows how WOOX hybrid chassis is crafted with metal and high-grade wood components.
Palmetto State Armory (PSA) EPT AR-15 Platform Rifle
This rifle, a top seller among PSA’s extensive AR line-up, has earned overwhelming 5-star reviews from verified buyers. Now through Monday get this great PSA AR15-platform rifle for just $579.99 complete with MBUS sights and adjustable buttstock. This PSA EPT rifle has a 16″ chrome-moly vanadium steel barrel chambered in 5.56 NATO, with a 1:7″ twist rate, and mid-length gas system. This rifle features a lightweight M-LOK handguard for easy accessory attachment. The upper includes a Picatinny rail for mounting optics. This PSA EPT rifle even comes with FREE Shipping.
In a helpful NSSF video, Ryan Cleckner explains why you normally should avoid canting your rifle — rotating it clockwise or counter-clockwise. Cleckner explains that canting the rifle in one direction or another will change the point of impact: “When you rotate the rifle, not only does the [POI move] in the direction that you’re rotated, [but] it also loses some of its elevation as it rolls down.” This, Cleckner explains, can make you miss on one side or the other:
Cant to the Left — You’re going to miss low and left.
Cant to the Right — You’re going to miss low and right.
In this video, starting at the one-minute mark, Cleckner shows the effect of rifle canting when engaging a 600-yard target. A few degrees of cant (either to the left or to the right), moves the shot POI completely off the steel silhouette target. The POI change occurs mainly because you are lowering (and laterally shifting) the scope sight-line relative to the bore axis, effectively changing your zero.
David Tubb has explained: “Every 1 degree you are off on a cant, is about six inches of difference laterally at 1000 yards”.
Position Shooting with Sling — Rifle Cant Considerations
Cleckner’s discussion assumes that the scope or sights are set to hit center with the rifle level and plumb. That works for most situations when shooting prone off bipod, front mechanical rest, or front sandbag. However, many sling shooters, including David Tubb and John Whidden, do tilt or cant their rifles slightly inward because this allows a more comfortable hold with sling, or allows better eye-to-sight alignment. Holding the rifle at an angle can work — but the angle of cant must be consistent for every shot. Canting the rifle is not a sin by itself. However, after you confirm your zero on your target, the degree of cant must be the same for EVERY shot. You must maintain that exact same degree of rotation on each shot or you will experience the shot POI movement Cleckner illustrates. Consistency is the key.
John Whidden, 5-time Nat’l Long Range Champion, holds a Palma rifle. John now shoots a match rifle with an Anschutz stock which he holds more upright, but still with some counter-clockwise cant. John also installed his iron sights at an angle so that the adjustments are correct (and plumb) even with his canted hold: “While it may not be obvious in the picture, the sights on my rifle are set up so that they’re straight vertical and horizontal while I hold the rifle canted. Making sure your adjustments (scope or sights) are vertical and horizontal is a critical piece of the pie.”
Inexpensive Dual-Diameter Scope-Mounted Bubble Level
The best way to avoid inconsistent rifle canting is to use a bubble level fitted to rail or scope. One very affordable and versatile product is the Jialitte Scope Bubble Level. This features a 30mm milled inside diameter, plus an inner insert ring so it will also fit 1″-diameter main tubes. The Jialitte unit is nicely radiused, and has a low profile in the middle. User reviews have been very positive. You could easily pay $35.00 or more for a 30mm scope level. This costs just $8.79 on Amazon (Cyber Monday special).
CCI is now producing Catalyst lead-free primers and Catalyst-primed CCI and Speer ammunition at the CCI factory in Lewiston, Idaho. The proprietary Catalyst lead-free primer was first developed in 2016 by Federal Ammunition, a CCI/Speer partner company. The advanced lead-free Catalyst primers have been used in CCI- and Speer-brand pistol ammo, and are featured in Federal’s Syntech Range ammo and American Eagle lead-free ammo. Eventually, CCI may eventually offer lead-free primers for the reloading market.
Writing for the MagLife Blog, Kat Ainsworth described Catalyst lead-free primers: “Many manufacturers use lead styphnate mixtures in the production of primers, but Federal Ammunition states the proprietary design utilized in the Catalyst is not only lead-free but outperforms those other methods. The company also says the Catalyst primers are safer to manufacture and provide a host of benefits over lead designs. For example, the Catalyst primers deliver greater compatibility with modern powders, produce less pressure from the gases generated during live fire, and don’t cause degradation in the powder they touch.
The company says these primers are extremely clean-burning which helps them perform more uniform and complete propellant combustion. Even better, the Catalyst has minimal velocity variation[.] These primers are also non-hydrophilic, meaning they don’t attract water molecules like DDNP-based mixes that are found in other brands[.]”
Catalyst Primers Promise Best-in-Class Performance
“We are extremely proud of this new production capability which continues the rollout of an incredible primer technology” said Federal/CCI/Speer President Jason Vanderbrink. “This product has proven to be the best in its class after nearly seven years of continuous production. Its consistent performance has been tested over hundreds of millions of rounds. Most notably, the product is featured in Federal’s innovative Syntech Range ammo and American Eagle Lead-Free.”
The extremely clean-burning Catalyst primer creates more uniform and complete propellant combustion, yielding minimal velocity variation and consistent bullet launch for improved accuracy. It is also non-hydrophilic, so it does not attract water molecules like DDNP-based mixes found in most lead-free primers, resulting in better reliability.
“Catalyst lead-free priming technology provides the cleanest, most consistent ignition possible. We are excited that our Lewiston plant is now set up to run Catalyst priming in our target pistol products”, said Speer and CCI’s Director of Factory Operations Mike Overberg. “The Anoka facility has proven this to be the best lead-free priming technology available. Our staff here has done a fantastic job of working across factories to extend this product into Speer and CCI Blazer ammunition products made in Lewiston, Idaho.”
Firearms enthusiasts definitely need to employ hearing protection at all times when shooting or visiting an active range. Just a few moments of unprotected sound exposure can have permanent negative effects. For best protection, consider “doubling up” — wearing good foam plugs under quality muffs. This allows max sound reduction — as much as 5-6 dB quieter than good muffs alone. If the muffs are electronic (with filtered microphones that block extreme sounds), you can still hear range commands.
So How Loud Are Gun Shots?
A pistol gunshot can reach 160 decibels (dB), and rifle gunshots can be even louder, exceeding 170 dB. This means you can do permanent damage to your hearing with just a few shots fired. 160 dB is 20 decibels over OSHA’s threshhold for safe noise levels. This is why it’s essential to always use hearing protection when you are anywhere near firearms being discharged.
“Science tells us that exposure to continuous noise of 85 dB for eight hours is enough to cause permanent hearing loss, and worse, spikes of 130 dB and more can result in permanent hearing damage instantly.” Source: NRA Blog.
This American Suppressor Association (ASA) Video explains that gunshots can measure 160-170 decibels, high enough to cause permanent effects. (See: 00:20 time-mark)
The Risk of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can be progressive and irreversible. If you are a shooter, this is serious business. As the NRA Blog cautions: “You may not even realize you’re harming your hearing. Hearing loss occurs gradually, and can go effectively unnoticed until symptoms become severe. By then, the damage is done. Effective hearing protection is a must whenever you are shooting firearms or when you are in the vicinity of gun-shots. For ultimate protection, we recommend a good set of tapered foam earplugs, topped by ear-muffs. However, there are situations when you may prefer lighter-weight hearing protection that can be quickly removed. For example, if you are standing well behind the firing line as an observer, or if you are working as a rangemaster or waddie some distance away from the shooters.” Good muffs or plugs will reduce sound by 23 to 33 dB.
Sound Levels for Common Noises:
9mm Luger pistol: 160 dB
Jet aircraft engine (near): 140 dB
.22 LR pistol: 134 dB
Normal human pain threshold: 120 dB
Noisy Nightclub: 110 db
Riding Motorcycle at 65 mph: 103 db
Power Lawnmower: 95 dB
Hearing damage possible: 85 dB (sustained for 8+ hours)
Ringing Telephone: 80 dB
Normal conversation: 60 dB
Hearing Protection Product Reviews
Shooters should have comfortable, effective muffs, preferably that allow normal conversations to be heard through internal electronics. For best protection, run good earplugs under electronic muffs. There are also electronic earbuds that provide protection, but these do not provide all the benefits of good muffs as some noise energy can be transferred through bone conduction.
The following videos evaluate a wide variety of earmuffs currently on the market. Some of the big muffs boast a 30 dB Noise Reduction Rating (NRR), while thin, muffs may only have a 22-23 dB NRR. Remember that decibel scale is logarithmic, so, according to the experts, a 3 dB gain represents twice the sound energy. So “this means that a small change in the number of decibels can result in a significant change in the intensity of noise and hence its potential to damage a person’s hearing. [F]or every 3 dB the sound level increases the impact on hearing health which is doubled. For example, 63 dB is twice as noisy as 60 dB. For every 3dB the noise level increases, the exposure time must be halved to keep the worker safe from harm.” Source: Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).
Yes Hunters Need to Employ Sound Protection
According to Dr. William W. Clark, the current Director of the Washington Univ. School of Medicine’s Audiology/Communication Sciences Program, a “serious threat to hearing comes from recreational hunting or target shooting”. This is in large part due to the fact that many people choose not to use traditional hearing protection devices like earplugs and earmuffs because they want to be able to hear their surroundings. Multiple studies have found that between 70 to 80% of hunters never wear earplugs or earmuffs, and nearly half of all target shooters don’t consistently wear traditional hearing protection. Thus, it should come as no surprise that for every five years of hunting, hunters become seven percent more likely to experience high frequency hearing loss.
We recommend that hunters carry quick-insert plugs on a cord around your neck. These can be quickly deployed when you are getting ready to shoot. Or, get a lightweight neck band with earbuds, such as Howard Leight Quiet Band QB2HYG, Sellstrom Band, or 3M Safety Band, all with good Noise Reduction Ratings of 25 dB or higher. You can keep these lightweight bands around your neck for quick deployment.
Creedmoor Sports has many popular products on sale for Black Friday (through 11/28/23). As part of its extended Black Friday Sale, Creedmoor Sports is discounting quality hearing protection equipment from Radians. Choose one of the excellent electronic muffs or the innovative Vertex Nano Electronic Earplugs (aka “Earbuds”). With the sale promotions you can save up to $25.00.
And now through Tuesday November 28th at noon, you can get FREE Shipping on all orders over $99.00. This applies to all in-stock products, not just the hearing protection products shown here.
Double-Up Muffs and Plugs for Maximum Sound Protection
For maximum safety and protection, we recommend running good foam plugs under quality electronic muffs. “Doubling up” with plugs AND muffs can reduce total sound energy levels by 5 dB or more. That may not sound like much, but the decibel scale is logarithmic, so just a 3 decibel increase in noise represents double the sound force on your ears. Reducing sound by 5 decibels (by running plugs under muffs) offers very significant extra protection.
20 Pairs
50 Pairs
Your Editor has tried many different varieties of ear plugs, both the foam variety and the soft plastic flange-type plugs. I now favor the Howard Leight MAX-1 plugs. Rated at NRR 33, these are, quite simply, the best ear-plugs I’ve ever tried. The first thing I noticed about these plugs is how much more effective they were than muffs alone. With just muffs in place, a rifle report is still quite audible. With the red MAX-1 plugs, the noise from a shot is much, much quieter. Proof of the “real world” effectiveness of these plugs came when talking. The plugs work so well that I had trouble hearing words spoken by a colleague from just four feet away. With conventional (non-electronic) muffs I can hear a normal speaking voice from many yards away.
Yesterday we featured ten great Black Friday SALES from leading vendors. With those sale programs you can save hundreds of dollars on firearms, gun safes, optics, reloading hardware and more. Here are ten more Black Friday specials, many of which run through end of day on November 27th, Cyber Monday. PRS/NRL shooters should definitely check out the MDT Sale, while hunters will find many great deals at Cabela’s and Bass Pro.
Bullet Central Black Friday Sale
The Black Friday Sale at Bullet Central runs from Friday 11/24/2023 through Sunday 11/26/2023. This is a great sale — there are significant savings on custom actions, stocks/chassis systems, pre-fit barrels, reloading dies, and optics. Here are the key sale items. We are not sure if the discounts have already been applied automatically to the listed prices. You should check with Bullet Central.
K&M Precision Shooting Products (K&M) makes great arbor presses and precision reloading tools. Now through Monday 11/27/2023 you can save $20-$75 on Arbor Presses and other K&M Gear and accessories. The more you spend the more you save with codes KMBF20, KMBF30, KMBF45, KMBF60, and KMBF75. Pick the code that fits the amount you spend from $100 to $500. For example, save $20 (20%) on a $100 purchase with code KMBF20. NOTE: This promotion excludes Mitutoyo products, Arbor Press Cases, and Gift Certificates. Spend value for coupons excludes shipping fees.
MDT Black Friday Sale — 10% to 40% Off
MDT is a top-tier rifle chassis-maker, favored by PRS/NRL competitors. MDT says that its 2023 Black Friday promo is MDT’s “Only sale of the year”. This year’s Black Friday Specials include chassis systems, buttstocks, bipods, support bags, scope rings, magazines and more. Some of sale items are “blem” and/or “factory second” items. Though offered at huge discounts these products are still fully covered by the MDT lifetime warranty.
Shooting sports store KYGUNCO has dozens of items deeply discounted for Black Friday. CLICK HERE to see ALL the Black Friday Sale listings. We saw some great CZ pistol and rifle deals, plus huge discounts on Sports Afield gun safes.
Creedmoor Sports Black Friday Extended Sale
Creedmoor Sports has many popular products on sale for Black Friday (through 11/28/23). The TRX-925 Precision Reloading Scale, regularly $374.95, is on sale for $350.00. The Big Shot BST-40 Rotary Wet/Dry Tumbler is on sale for $329.95 ($50 savings). Plus some Creedmoor Rifle Rest Bags are 15% off. In addition to these specials, there are ongoing discounts on a variety of brands, including Peterson Brass, ADG Brass, Hornady Bullets, Kowa Spotting Scopes, AMP Annealers, and much more. But that’s not all! During Black Friday, when you place an order over $200, you’ll receive a FREE, Creedmoor Sports 45th Anniversary T-Shirt. And through Tuesday 11/28/2023 at noon, customers also get FREE SHIPPING with orders over $99.00.
Midsouth Black Friday Specials
A large selection of products are deeply discounted for the Midsouth Black Friday Sale. You’ll find big price reductions on everything from bullets to big progressive presses. Our top picks are:
1. Hornady LNL Loading Combo Kit w/ Free Case Prep Duo ($299.99, Save $100)
3. Lyman Gen 6 Powder Dispenser/Scale ($179.99, Save $80)
2. Hornady 17 HMR Ammo ($134.99/500 rounds, Save $55)
4. Frankford Arsenal Tumbler and Depriming Tool ($99.99, Save $65)
Horus Vision 20% Off Sitewide
Horus Vision produces quality riflescopes, rangefinders, spotting scopes, and electronic weather meters. In addition Horus offers combo kits with multiple products. For example the HoVR™ Complete Shooter Package mates the HoVR 5-20x50mm scope with the HoVR 2000 BT Laser Rangefinder and HoVR weather meter. Right now you can save 20% on virtually all products sold through the Horus Vision online store.
Protector Model Shooting Bags — 15% Off with Code THANKFUL
Protektor Model will be discounting its leather shooting bags 15% for Black Friday through 11:59 pm on November 24, 2023. NOTE: You won’t see a “Black Friday Sale” prompt on the website or product descriptions. However, when you put your order in the shopping cart, the 15% OFF savings will be applied via discount code THANKFUL. We just confirmed that on the ProtektorModel.com website at 8:00 pm on 11/23/23.
Winchester Black Friday Special — 20% Off The Entire Store
For Black Friday weekend, the Winchester Gear Store is offering 20% off all merchandise. NOTE: This offer does NOT apply to Winchester brand ammunition, powder, or primers. This is ONLY for clothing and accessories such as hats, sweatshirts, and shotgun shooting vests. To save 20% on all items use code SHOP23 at Checkout.
At AccurateShooter.com, our primary focus is precision target shooting with rifles. But it’s definitely fun to shoot pistols too, and we bet most of our regular readers own handguns. Here are six tips for shooting safely and accurately with handguns. These pointers will help you advance your skills and have more fun with your pistols and revolvers. Top image courtesy Sanctuary Gun Club.
1. Make Sure Safety Is Number One
Whether you own one gun or one hundred, gun safety must always be your main priority. In this video, Smith & Wesson Team Captain Julie Golob covers the basics of gun safety.
2. Start with a .22 LR Handgun
We strongly recommend that new pistol shooters start off with a .22 LR rimfire handgun. The .22 LR cartridge is accurate but has very low recoil, less “bark” than a centerfire, and very little smoke and muzzle flash. New shooters won’t have to fight muzzle flip, and won’t develop a flinch from the sharp recoil and muzzle blast common to larger calibers. With the .22 LR, the trainee can focus on sight alignment, breathing, and trigger pull. When he or she has mastered those skills, move on to a .38 Special or 9mm Luger (9x19mm).
What gun to use? We recommend the 10-shot Smith & Wesson Model 617. Tthis is ideal for initial training, shooting single action, slow-fire. You want to focus on sight picture and holding steady. Shown above is the 4″-barrel Model 617 which balances well. There is also a 6″-barrel version. It has a longer sight radius, but is a little nose-heavy. Both are great choices. They are extremely accurate and they boast a very clean, precise trigger.
If you prefer a semi-auto .22 LR pistol, we recommend the Browning Buck Mark series. Buck Marks are very accurate and very reliable. This rimfire pistol is available in a variety of models starting at under $350.00. Like the S&W Model 617, a good Buck Mark will serve you for a lifetime.
3. Use Quality Targets with Multiple Aim Points
It’s common for new pistoleros to start shooting at cans or clay birds at a public range. That can be fun, but it’s better to start with proper targets, placed at eye level, at 7-10 yards. We like to use targets with large, brightly colored circles. Focus on putting 5 shots in a circle. We recommend targets that have multiple bullseyes or aiming points — that way you don’t have to constantly change your target. There are also special paper targets that can help you diagnose common shooting problems, such as anticipating recoil. EZ2C Targets offers many great target designs with bright, red-orange aim points. You can also use the bright orange Birchwood Casey stick-on Target Dots (right). These come in a variety of diameters. We like the 2″ dot at 10 yards.
4. Shoot Outdoors If You Can
We recommend that new pistol shooters begin their training at an outdoor range. There are many reasons. First, the light is better outdoors. Indoor ranges can be dark with lots of shadows, making it harder to see your target. Second, sound dissipates better outdoors. The sound of gunfire echoes and bounces off walls indoors. Third, an outdoor range is a more comfortable environment, particularly if you can get out on a weekday morning. Indoor ranges, at least in urban areas, tend to be crowded. Many also have poor ventilation. If you can make it to an outdoor range, you’ll be happy. Many outdoor ranges also have some steel pistol targets, which offer a fun alternative to paper. When shooting steel however, we recommend polymer encased or lead bullets to avoid ricochets.
Too many new pistol shooters try to move right to rapid fire drills. It’s better to start slow, practicing the basics, under the guidance of a good mentor. If you belong to a club, ask if there are certified instructors who will help out. This Editor learned pistol shooting from a seasoned bullseye shooter, who got me started with a .22 LR revolver and very close targets. Over the course of a few range sessions we progressed to farther targets and faster pace. But the fundamentals were never forgotten. When starting your pistol training, it’s wise to view some instructional videos. Top Shot Champion Chris Cheng hosts an excellent Handgun 101 Series produced by the NSSF. We’ve linked one of these Handgun 101 videos for Tip #6.
6. SLOW DOWN — This Is Not a Race
When you learned to ride a bicycle, you started slow — maybe even with training wheels. The same principle applies to pistol shooting. When you get started with handguns, we recommend you shoot slowly and deliberately. Start with the handgun unloaded — just work on your sight alignment and breathing. With snap caps in place, try some dry-firing drills. Then progress to live fire. But be deliberate and slow. With the target at 20 feet, see if you can get three successive shot-holes to touch. Believe it or not, many common pistols are capable of this kind of accuracy (but you won’t see many shooters at indoor ranges who pursue that kind of precision). Once you master your form and accuracy, then you can work on your speed.
Happy Thanksgiving folks. Major gun and optics makers, tool crafters, and large outdoor gear vendors are offering great bargains for Black Friday week. Expect discounts from 10% to 30% on a wide range of quality products.
While some sales are set for Friday, November 24th only, most of the featured Black Friday Sales have already started. And some of these promotions run through Cyber Monday (11/27/2023). Find other sales at Gun.Deals.
Most of the showcased vendors offer discounts on a large inventory selection — in some cases, everything in stock is discounted 10%, 15%, 20% or more. For other sellers, only specific items are on sale, so we’ve identified those particular deals. In addition to the ten sellers showcased below, Brownells is offering big Discount Code savings on nearly all products. Get 15% OFF your Brownells orders with Code BF15.
Come back tomorrow for Part Two of our Black Friday Sales Showcase!
21st Century Innovation 20% Off One-Day Sale
21st Century Innovation makes some of the very best tools and hardware for precision handloaders. 21st Century’s Arbor Presses, Neck-turning lathes, Concentricity Gauges, and other tools rank at the very top. And now you can get these superb products at a huge 20% discount. Virtually all 21st Century hardware (except the Hybrid-X Shooting Rest) will be 20% OFF for ONE DAY ONLY, Friday November 23, 2023. Use Coupon Code 20BFRI2023 at checkout to save 20%.
Annealing Made Perfect (AMP) — $200 Off MK II Black Friday Sale
AMP Annealers are the most advanced annealing system on the planet. With such high demand for these products, you’ll rarely see a discount on AMP Annealing machines. But this year, for Black Friday, AMP will offer a U.S. $200.00 discount on the advanced MK II (MK2) Annealer “while stocks last”. AMP will will run a countdown clock which will hit zero at 12:00 noon USA Pacific time / 3.00 pm USA Eastern on Thursday, November 23rd (Thanksgiving day 2023). At that point, AMP MK II Annealers will be added to stock at $1,395.00, a $200 discount off regular $1,595.00 price. NOTE: This sale is limited “while stocks last”.
F-Class Products Black Friday Sale
The biggest F-Class Products (FCP) sale ever conducted is happening this week. Sale items include the new Paragon actions, 7 FCP Bundle Kit, two in-stock F-TR complete rifles ready to go, and much more! Save 10% off sitewide with discount code BLACKFRIDAY.
Graf’s Black Friday Promotions and Savings
If you need ammo, bullets, powder, or primers, head over to Grafs.com this week. Graf’s is running a series of promotions. For example you can get 7 lbs. of tumbling media for FREE with a $200 purchase of the excellent Peterson brass. In addition, you can get FREE Hazmat if you buy $150 or more of powder and/or primers. Note: The Free Hazmat offer ends Saturday 11/25/2023 at 11:59 pm CT.
Palmetto State Armory Black Friday Sale
Need an AR Upper/Lower or a carry pistol? Then definitely check out the Black Friday Sale at Palmetto State Armory. Save 20% or more on AR components, handguns, optics, accessories and more. There are also excellent deals on ammunition, such as CCI Blazer 9mm for just $13.99/box.
Area 419 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales
Area419 is running a great extended Black Friday Promo for the next few days. You’ll find significant discounts on most Area 419 products, including tools, scope mounts, muzzle brakes, and Arcalock products. In addition, the superb Area419 Zero Press goes on sale 11/27/2023, and a variety of reloading products will be discounted for Cyber Monday.
Precision Reloading Early Black Friday Sale
Precision Reloading has been running an early Black Friday Sale, with items discounted starting Monday, 11/20/23. New items are added daily through 11/27/2023. Some of the hot deals are: Berger Bullets and Ammo, Hornady Products (including tools, dies, ammo), and Starline Brass. With the full Black Friday Sale, for orders over $79.00, you can get 10% Off Sitewide with code BLACK23. That code should work through 11/26/23 at 11:59 pm.
EuroOptic — 10% Off Black Friday Nightforce Sale
This week you can save big bucks on Nightforce scopes which are rarely discounted this much. With the EuroOptic Black Friday Sale you save 10% on Nightforce NX8 and ATACR scopes. This 10% discount can be worth $175 to $395 in savings! In addition, EuroOptic is offering some sales tax rebates.
Weatherby 15% Off Rifles, 20% Off Ammo, 15-25% Off Gear
Right now, through an extended Black Friday Sale, Weatherby is running its “biggest rifle discount of the year”, with 15% Off Weatherby Mark V and Vanguard rifles. Plus ammunition and and brass is discounted 20%. In addition, Weatherby is offering up to 25% off accessories, hunting gear, clothing, gun cases, and other products sold through the Weatherby online store.
Springfield Armory 20% Off Black Friday Week Sale
You can save 20% sitewide now at the Springfield Armory online store. NOTE: Springfield Armory rifles and handguns are NOT sold direct through the website, so this sale applies to AR Uppers, airguns, pistol slide assemblies, optics, magazines, holsters, apparel, and other accessories.
Talented sharpshooter Kirsten Joy Weiss is featured in an episode of NRA All Access. The show covers Kirsten’s development as a competitive shooter, and her success as a trick-shot artist with her own popular YouTube channel. Here’s the All Access segment featuring many of Kirsten’s most famous trick shots.
During the video Kirsten also talks about her background in shooting and how she wants to be a good ambassador for the shooting sports, “spreading the positive reality of shooting”. Kirsten explains: “The fun challenge and joy of shooting is important to me because I really wanted to be a positive example. So when the media says the ‘guns are a bad thing and nobody does anything good with guns’, they can say ‘Well, what about her [Kirsten]’?”
Kirsten: “I think that it’s important for young girls to have somebody that they can look up to… I feel responsibility to show young shooters coming up, especially females, that you can respect yourself and shoot a gun as well.”
A gifted “natural” shooter, Kirsten started shooting fairly late — at age 16. Despite her relatively late start, she learned very quickly, and managed to earn a place on the University of Nebraska shooting team. That literally opened up a new world for Kirsten: “During the course of my career, I’ve had a lot of success. I’ve gone to World Cups… in Zagreb, Croatia, in Munich, Germany. I’ve won National Championships, and got on to the U.S. Olympic short list, so it’s been a good career.”
Proper Cheek Weld
No matter what your discipline — smallbore, silhouette, High Power, F-Class, or even PRS — it’s vital to have a consistent cheek weld for every shot. You want your head to be in the same position on the stock each time. This helps ensure proper eye-to-sights/optic alignment and consistent rifle balance.
In this video, Kirsten explains how to find the best position for your head on the stock, which may require adjusting the cheekpiece and/or length of pull. Then Kirsten demonstrates how to maintain consistent cheek weld shot after shot.
Kirsten tells us: “A lot of people don’t think of shooting as a sport, but it absolutely is, and I would even go so far as to say that it is an art form.” We don’t know if this is art, sport, or magic, but very few shooters have the skill or flexibility to make this upside-down shot…
Your Editor has tried many different varieties of ear plugs, both the foam variety and the soft plastic flange-type plugs. I now favor the Howard Leight 
It’s common for new pistoleros to start shooting at cans or clay birds at a public range. That can be fun, but it’s better to start with proper targets, placed at eye level, at 7-10 yards. We like to use targets with large, brightly colored circles. Focus on putting 5 shots in a circle. We recommend targets that have multiple bullseyes or aiming points — that way you don’t have to constantly change your target. There are also special paper targets that can help you diagnose common shooting problems, such as anticipating recoil. 
Happy Thanksgiving folks. Major gun and optics makers, tool crafters, and large outdoor gear vendors are offering great bargains for Black Friday week. Expect discounts from 10% to 30% on a wide range of quality products.
A gifted “natural” shooter, Kirsten started shooting fairly late — at age 16. Despite her relatively late start, she learned very quickly, and managed to earn a place on the University of Nebraska shooting team. That literally opened up a new world for Kirsten: “During the course of my career, I’ve had a lot of success. I’ve gone to World Cups… in Zagreb, Croatia, in Munich, Germany. I’ve won National Championships, and got on to the U.S. Olympic short list, so it’s been a good career.”
