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November 11th, 2022

Veterans Day — November 11th — Honor All Who Served

Memorial Veterans Day Vet Army Navy Marines WWII WWI

On that day, let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting and enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.

– 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Veterans Day proclamation.

104 Years Later…
On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month of 1918, bugle calls signaled the ‘cease fire’ ending the First World War. (The official Armistice was signed earlier that morning.) To those who endured it, WWI was the “Great War”, “the War to End All Wars.” Tragically, an even greater conflict consumed the world just two decades later.

Today, 104 years after the end of WWI, Americans mark the anniversary of the WWI Armistice as “Veterans Day”. In Canada it is known as Remembrance Day. On this solemn occasion we honor all those who have served in the military in times of war and peace.

Memorial Veterans Day Vet Army Navy Marines WWII

While more veterans pass away each year, there are still about 19 million veterans in the United States. Take time today to honor those soldiers, sailors, and airmen who have served their nation with pride. Today we remember that… “All gave some, and some gave all.” History of Veterans Day.

Memorial Veterans Day Vet Army Navy Marines WWII Pearl harbor

Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James Peake asked Americans to recognize the nation’s 19 million living veterans and the generations before them who fought to protect freedom and democracy: “While our foremost thoughts are with those in distant war zones today, Veterans Day is an opportunity for Americans to pay their respects to all who answered the nation’s call to military service.”

On Veterans Day we especially need to remember the seriously wounded combat veterans. These men and women summon great courage every day to overcome the lasting injuries they suffered in battle. Some of these soldiers have lost limbs, yet volunteered to return to combat duty. That is dedication beyond measure — true patriotism.

Memorial Veterans Day Vet Army Navy Marines WWII


CLICK HERE to Find Regional Veterans Day Ceremonies »

Memorial Veterans Day Vet Army Navy Marines WWII WWI
Photo Sgt. Ken Scar, U.S. Army.

Memorial Veterans Day Vet Army Navy Marines WWII Pearl harbor

Memorial Veterans Day Vet Army Navy Marines WWII Pearl harbor

See more Veterans Day images at Dept. of Defense — Honoring our Veterans.

National Veterans Day Ceremony
The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations. The ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Major regional ceremonies and events are also held throughout the country.

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November 11th, 2022

Puzzling Vertical Flyers? Check Firing Pin and Ignition System

USAMU Handloading vertical dispersion ignition rimfire accuracy firing pin
Top to bottom – Remington firing pin assembly with ISS, Tubb SpeedLock alloy-composite system without ISS (current versions have dual, opposite-wound springs), and Remington short action firing pin assembly without ISS.

The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit regularly publishes technical articles on the USAMU Facebook page. One informative USAMU article covered mechanical issues and related ignition irregularities that can cause vertical fliers even with good ammunition in an otherwise excellent rifle. We highly recommend you read this article, which offers some important tech tips.

USAMU handloading hump day

Vertical Dispersion: Mechanical/Ignition Issues?

Poor or inconsistent ignition has long been known to be one of the “usual suspects” when one encounters vertical fliers that just shouldn’t be there. By having a sense of some of the basic principles involved, and a few basic areas to check, the shooter may avoid colsiderable frustration, not to mention time, expensive loading components and barrel wear.

USAMU Handloading vertical dispersion ignition rimfire accuracy firing pinIs your well-built rifle of high-quality components plagued with vertical fliers across more than 1-3 handload combinations? Consider the bedding, crown and scope/sight mounts. Are they correct? If so, then you might check for ignition issues before boldly undertaking an extensive, expensive, and quite possibly fruitless quest for the “magic handload”.

SEEING IS BELIEVING: While the author had been aware for many years that poor ignition should be considered and ruled out when dealing with vertical fliers in an otherwise-excellent rifle, actually seeing the problem and its almost instantaneous cure really drove the lesson home.

He was working with a “dot” rifle – a .22 LR match rifle that really stacked bullets into little piles at 50 yards and beyond. With one lot of ELEY Tenex, it produced consistent “bughole” groups at 50, but with another, selected lot of Tenex, similar groups were regularly ruined by single, vertical fliers that did not appear in other rifles. Rather than spending days burning up expensive, select ammunition looking for “magic lots”, he contacted a well-respected rimfire gunsmith and explained the situation.

Without so much as batting an eye, the highly-experienced ‘smith tore into the rifle’s action, and quickly found the cause(s) of the problem. He discovered a demonstrably weak firing pin spring, plus a chip out of the face of the firing pin where it contacted the cartridge rim.

After replacing and tuning the offending parts, the rifle immediately began shooting tiny, bughole groups with the previously “unacceptable” lot of Tenex. Centerfire rifles can also benefit from ensuring positive, consistent ignition. A wise riflesmith is literally worth his weight in gold!

So, what are some issues we as shooters can inspect in our rifles to help determine if ignition woes could be part of our problem? At the club level, ask yourself if that “experienced” Remington, Winchester 70, or even Springfield-based match bolt gun you’re using is still running its’ original 40-80 year-old factory striker spring? If so, a new replacement is cheap insurance against current or future problems. (And BTW, it might be best to stick to the normal, factory-spec spring weight. A super-powerful spring can cause vertical, just as a weak one one can.) Along with that, a routine check for proper firing-pin protrusion is a quick preventive measure that can rule out potential issues.

Other areas to consider are the centering and consistency of the firing pin’s operation in the bolt. Admittedly, with the increasing use of precision-machined custom actions, this is becoming less an issue every day. Below is the firing pin assembly from a custom BAT action:

USAMU Handloading vertical dispersion ignition rimfire accuracy firing pin

However, particularly with factory actions, a very quick and easy check is to remove the bolt, let the firing pin go forward, and look at the firing pin tip through the firing pin hole. Is the tip off-center in the hole, and possibly striking it as it moves forward? Is the hole out-of-round or burred from being struck repeatedly? If so, a trip to the riflesmith is likely in order.

Similarly, machining issues in the bolt/firing pin system can lead to rough and erratic firing pin movement, in which the firing pin drags against an internal surface of the bolt. In high-quality rifles these issues are relatively rare, but not unheard-of, and it takes mere minutes to rule them out. It may be worthwhile to remove the cocking piece/firing pin/spring assembly and look for any unusual gouges, dings, peening, burrs or signs of abnormal wear.

This task is especially easy with Winchester 70s, Springfields, and the similar Mauser 98s, involving little more than the push of a button and unscrewing the cocking piece assembly. This is just one of the many reasons these tried-and-true actions have earned such a loyal following in the field, among hunters who must maintain their rifles away from a shop.

USAMU Handloading vertical dispersion ignition rimfire accuracy firing pin

Particularly with older rifles, watch for and remove excess grease (or even Cosmoline!) from both the firing pin assembly and inside the bolt. This can help improve firing pin speed and consistency. Other bolt-action designs may need a take-down tool or other measures.

As part of this inspection, AFTER ENSURING THE RIFLE IS UNLOADED, slowly cock the rifle, dry-fire, and repeat several times. Listen carefully near the action for inconsistency in the sounds it generates. Does the striker falling make the same sound each time? Do you hear or feel grinding upon operation? If so, where?

Be sure to check the operation of the cocking piece (bolt shroud), firing pin within the bolt shroud, the cocking piece cam and the rear of the bolt body where the cocking piece cam operates. As with our examination for abnormal wear marks discussed above, look for marks indicating roughness or a possible need for light polishing. Then, clean and lightly grease the bearing surfaces while you’re at it.

Remington 700 bolt shroud and cocking cam
Rem 700 bolt cocking cam

These are relatively easy checks that shooters can undertake to perform a preliminary inspection on their own. Other mechanical issues can also cause ignition issues, chiefly centered around the action of the trigger, sear and sear spring. If these are suspected, a trip to an experienced, qualified riflesmith for diagnosis is recommended. We hope you find this information helpful! Join us again next week, and in the meantime, enjoy the shooting sports safely!

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November 11th, 2022

Use Wind Flags — Don’t Throw Away Accuracy


Forest of Windflags at World Benchrest Championships in France in 2011

There’s a simple, inexpensive “miracle device” that can cut your groups in half. If you’re not using this device, you’re giving away accuracy. The “miracle device” to which we refer is a simple wind indicator aka “windflag”. Using windflags may actually improve your accuracy on target much more than weighing charges to the kernel, or spending your life savings on the “latest and greatest” hardware.

Remarkably, many shooters who spend $3000.00 or more on a precision rifle never bother to set up windflags, or even simple wood stakes with some ribbon to show the wind. Whether you’re a competitive shooter, a varminter, or someone who just likes to punch small groups, you should always take a set of windflags (or some kind of wind indicators) when you head to the range or the prairie dog fields. And yes, if you pay attention to your windflags, you can easily cut your group sizes in half. Here’s proof…

Miss a 5 mph Shift and You Could DOUBLE Your Group Size

The table below records the effect of a 5 mph crosswind at 100, 200, and 300 yards. You may be thinking, “well, I’d never miss a 5 mph let-off.” Consider this — if a gentle 2.5 mph breeze switches from 3 o’clock (R to L) to 9 o’clock (L to R), you’ve just missed a 5 mph net change. What will that do to your group? Look at the table to find out.

shooting wind flags
Values from Point Blank Ballistics software for 500′ elevation and 70° temperature.

Imagine you have a 6mm rifle that shoots half-MOA consistently in no-wind conditions. What happens if you miss a 5 mph shift (the equivalent of a full reversal of a 2.5 mph crosswind)? Well, if you’re shooting a 68gr flatbase bullet, your shot is going to move about 0.49″ at 100 yards, nearly doubling your group size. With a 105gr VLD, the bullet moves 0.28″ … not as much to be sure, but still enough to ruin a nice small group. What about an AR15, shooting 55-grainers at 3300 fps? Well, if you miss that same 5 mph shift, your low-BC bullet moves 0.68″. That pushes a half-inch group well past an inch. If you had a half-MOA capable AR, now it’s shooting worse than 1 MOA. And, as you might expect, the wind effects at 200 and 300 yards are even more dramatic. If you miss a 5 mph, full-value wind change, your 300-yard group could easily expand by 2.5″ or more.

If you’ve already invested in an accurate rifle with a good barrel, you are “throwing away” accuracy if you shoot without wind flags. You can spend a ton of money on fancy shooting accessories (such as expensive front rests and spotting scopes) but, dollar for dollar, nothing will potentially improve your shooting as much as a good set of windflags, used religiously.

Windflags Sources and Options

Which Windflag to buy? There are many vendors selling windflags of various types, some with daisy wheels others without. You may want to go to a match and see what types works best for you. CLICK HERE for the Benchrest Central Classifieds with multiple windflag types and accessories for sale. Here is a sample:

shooting wind flags

Aussie Windflag photo courtesy BenchRestTraining.com (Stuart and Annie Elliot).

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November 10th, 2022

Coping with Semi-Auto Pistol Malfunctions — CTD Blog

pistol handguns semi-auto hang fire misfeed double feed stovepipe squib load

The Cheaper Than Dirt Shooter’s Log has a very helpful article for pistol shooters. This CTD article identifies five common malfunctions in semi-auto pistols, and explains how to deal with the five issues safely.

This can be very important — even life-saving. For example, with a hang fire, i.e. a round that does not fire immediately, it is vital to keep the gun pointed DOWN-RANGE. And with a squib load, which may have left a round inside the barrel, it is vital to UNLOAD and NOT take another shot! If you did, the gun could blow up in your hand when the second, full-charge bullet hits the trapped bullet.

The Five Topics Covered Are:

Misfeed (aka Tip-Up)
Double Feed

Stovepipe (Failure to Extract)
Misfire / Hangfire

Squib Load

1. Misfeed or Tip-Up: With any misfeed you should stop firing. With the muzzle pointed safely down-range, remove the magazine, then pull the slide back and remove the round that did not feed. Check the slide for dirt, debris, and check the round that did not feed. After re-inserting the magazine, make sure the mag is seated properly.

2. Double-Feed: This is a fairly common issue with some gun types with worn springs or cheap magazines. Again you want to remove the magazine. CTD states: “Remove the magazine and cycle the action until your double-fed rounds fall out — always keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction[.]”

3. Stove-Pipe: This occurs when the case of a fired round does not eject fully. There can be many causes — damaged extractor, low-pressure powder charge, dirty chamber, or greasy cartridge brass. In addition the issue is common with old, worn-out recoil springs. To avoid Stove-Pipes, replace the recoil spring every 4000 rounds, and make sure your chamber is clean and the extractor is not chipped or damaged.

4. Misfires and Hang-Fires: There are multiple causes for misfires (“click no bang”) and hang-fires (slow ignition). There can be a defective primer, the firing pin could be damaged, the powder many have been bad, or the case not filled properly. With a misfire, keep the gun pointed down-range at least one minute. If the case does not fire, eject it but leave it on the ground. With a hang-fire (delayed ignition after firing pin strike), keep the gun pointed down-range, then drop the magazine and eject the (new) unfired cartridge in the chamber and inspect the gun when completely empty.

5. Squib Load: A squib load is when the gun fires, but the actual case ignition is very light with little noise, smoke, or recoil. This can be because the case had a primer but no powder. Or it can be because the powder did not ignite. Squib loads can be very dangerous in rapid-fire situations. If you EVER get a squib load STOP immediately! Do NOT fire another round! This is because the squib may have left a bullet inside the barrel.

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November 9th, 2022

Bart Sauter Wins Tack Driver III Match in South Carolina

tackdriver tack driver showdown III Bart Sauter 6PPC 300m rifle competition south carolina

Bullet-maker Bart Sauter is the king of 300 meters, winning his second straight Tack Driver III multi-discipline match in South Carolina. For the second year in a row, Bart won the Tack Driver Grand Agg, after finishing sixth in Group shooting and first in Score shooting. Finishing second overall was short-range Benchrest ace Wayne Campbell. Wayne finished first in the Group-shooting phase and took eighth place in score shooting. Third overall was Jeff Peinhardt who, interestingly, was fifth in Group AND fifth in Score — that’s consistency. According to reports, 6mm PPCs dominated this year’s Tack Driver III match held November 5-6, 2022. We believe 6 or 7 out of the top 10 finishers shot a 6PPC. For decades the 6PPC has been the leading chambering for 100/200-yard benchrest-for-group competition.

tackdriver III Bart Sauter 6PPC 300m rifle competition south carolina

The Tack Driver Showdown is a one-of-a-kind “all comers” rifle match. This unique multi-discipline match, with both SCORE and GROUP targets, reveals what rifle types are truly the MOST accurate, at least out to 300 meters. The Tack Driver Showdown III match took place last weekend, November 5-6, 2022 at the Mid-Carolina Gun Club in Orangeburg, South Carolina. The organizers invited virtually any type of rifle (except railguns) to compete at 300 meters for group and score honors. No organization membership is required. There were 89 competitors this year.

tackdriver tack driver III Bart Sauter 6PPC 300m rifle competition south carolina

Unlike any other rifle match in the world, on the Tack Driver firing line you might see 6 PPC LV/HV rifles, 30 BR score rigs, and 17-lb 600-yard and 1000-yard benchrest guns together all lined up together. There may also be a few F-Class rifles, a PRS rifles, and maybe even an AR15 or two. But in 2022, nearly all the competitors had benchrest-style rifles, the majority designed for the 100/200 yard score and group games. That’s not surprising, as low-profile, smooth-recoiling BR rifles rule the roost at 100, 200, and 600 yards. Here are the list of rifles that competed this year according to cartridge type:

6PPC — 33
30 BR — 20
6BRA — 11
BR — 6 (mostly 6mm)
30 Dasher — 6
6mm Dasher — 3
6GT — 3
6.5 Creedmoor — 2
.284 — 1 (type unknown)
30×47 — 1
30WW — 1
BRW — 1 (caliber unknown)

Tack Driver III targets were placed at 300 meters (328 yards). That’s not even “mid-range” by benchrest standards, but it is far enough that higher-BC bullets should have an advantage in windy or rapidly changing conditions. This year, however, the 6PPCs shooting lighter-weight 6mm bullets dominated.

tackdriver III Bart Sauter 6PPC 300m rifle competition south carolina

Commentary by Tack Driver III Winner Bart Sauter

Winning Equipment — I shot a 6PPC with a .273 no-turn neck, Bartlein 1:13.5″-twist barrel, BAT DS action, Jewell trigger, Harris tuner, and Scarborough stock. On top was a great big ole 10-60X Valdada “Precision” scope with 40mm tube. I also used Vihtavuori N133 powder and my 68gr boat-tail bullets.

Shooter vs. the Gun — The long and the short of it is… you’re only as good as your equipment and the equipment can only perform up to the ability of the shooter. It’s a system. I’ve won it last year with a 6BRA and now with a 6PPC. I’m telling you, caliber-wise, there are a lot of different cartridges and combinations that can win. Jeff Godfrey (of the Piedmont Mafia) brought his 6BRX (I believe), and it shot like a laser. Jeff was in second place at the end of Day 1. If not for a couple of “Orangeburg Gotchas” Jeff would have been right there for the win.

Rifle and Cartridge Choice — Why did I shoot the 6PPC? It’s simple — the goal for this year was to try to make the benchrest World Team. So my resources were directed towards barrels for the 6PPC. I didn’t buy a single long range barrel this year. I used the last of my competitive long range gear for the 600- and 1000-yard Nationals. If I had both the 6BRA and 6PPC working, for this match I’d pick the 6BRA EVERY TIME and TWICE ON SUNDAY.”

Video of Bart Explaining Rest/Bag Set-Up and Showing Shooting Technique

Editor’s Note: 2022 has been a good year for Bart Sauter. He also won the 2022 NBRSA 3-Gun Short Range National Championship shooting his no-turn-neck 6PPC.

Comments by Forum Members:

“Congratulations Bart for your second Tack Driver win! Bart is no doubt a great shooter. He has [the ability] to prepare for a match to the Nth degree, then adapt and overcome changes that arise during a match. Not many have his skill, knowledge, and dedication! Congratulations to all that were there. You are all winners… I hear it was a great time had by all competitors!” — Samuel Hall (Past IBS Champion)

“While the Tack Driver concept is designed to attract shooters from Short Range Group, Short Range Score, F Class, PRS, and all of the other disciplines that require the ultimate in rifle accuracy, it is still a Benchrest match, run under Benchrest rules. Downrange ballistics such as a bullet’s ability to buck conditions take a back seat to a combination’s overall Agging capability. That includes the bullets, the barrel, the tune, the bench equipment[.]” — Jackie Schmidt

“What [the Tack Driver match] shows is the domination of the 6mm bore and small cases. It is a great event to showcase precision bench shooting [with] different disciplines coming together. Good job to Mr. Cline and all those involved including the shooters.” — Jeff PPC

Basic Information on the Tack Driver Shoot:
There are two divisions — bolt-action rifles and semi-auto gas guns. There are no specific design limits other than a 22-lb maximum weight, and a .338 maximum caliber. Past IBS President Jeff Stover tells us: “We envision the full array of the world’s most accurate rifles on the line: short and long range benchrest rifles, F-Class, AR, other tactical, egg-shoot rifles, whatever…[.]” Semi-autos required chamber flags, otherwise bolts must be out at all times.

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November 9th, 2022

Precision Practical AirGun Challenge on Shooting USA This Week

Shooting USA TV Rocky Mountain Air-gun Challenge Provo Utah

Shooting USA TV has a very good show released today. Shooting USA’s Wednesday Night episode features an interesting tactical-style airgun competition, and then there’s a sequence from Julie Golob on how to use video recordings to improve your pistol handling and marksmanship. For fans of military firearms, this week’s episode also features a notable WWII German rifle — the Gewehr 43.

Shooting USA SHOW TIMES: This Shooting USA Episode airs Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific; 8:00 PM Central. If you miss the regular broadcast, you can stream the show online at any time on Vimeo for $0.99 per episode.

The Rocky Mountain Airgun Challenge

Shooting USA TV Rocky Mountain Air-gun Challenge Provo Utah

The 2022 Rocky Mountain Airgun Challenge in Provo, Utah attracted top shooters with over $100,000 worth of prizes. The stages look like what you’d see at PRS/NRL events, but the targets are smaller, the range is shorter, and the power behind each shot is air. Practical Air-Gun competition has a well-established community that spans the globe, and recently competitors from other shooting disciplines, the powder burners, beginning to take notice. Air-Gun practical competition is fun and inexpensive — you are paying pennies a round vs. a $1.25 or more for premium centerfire ammo. The Rocky Mountain Airgun Challenge is leading the way in this interesting air-powered shooting discipline. This multi-day event featured a variety of events on multiple stages.

Germany’s Answer to the M1 Garand — the Gewehr 43

Shooting USA TV Rocky Mountain Air-gun Challenge Provo Utah

The Gewehr is now one of History’s Guns on Shooting USA. When the legendary M1 Garand served as the US standard issue rifle in WWII the impact on the battlefield was undeniable. And the effectiveness of the Garand was not lost on the German military, armed with bolt-action Mausers that dated back to the first world war. For Nazi Germany the pressure was on to develop a semi-automatic battle rifle that could match the repeating firepower of the M1. The result was the Gewehr 43 was created to serve the German armed forces.

Using Video to Improve Your Shooting — S&W Pro Tip

Shooting USA TV Rocky Mountain Air-gun Challenge Provo Utah

The talented Julie Golob has another Smith & Wesson Pro Tip on using video to improve your shooting. Julie states: “Did you know that one of the best tools for self-diagnosing technique is your smart phone? You can set up your smartphone to record your shooting and coach yourself through valuable skills. In this Pro Tip I am going to walk you through three different ways to use your [smartphone’s video camera] to become a better shot. READ FULL STORY with More TIPs and 14 Photos.

Shooting USA TV Rocky Mountain Air-gun Challenge Provo Utah

When setting up the shot for the draw you can use either landscape or portrait, that doesn’t matter. A small tripod is useful, or you can use a larger one.

One last tip when we’re using video is to use the pause function and drag the frames along so that you can stop frame-for-frame so you can see exactly your positioning when you draw, reload, or shoot positions and your footwork. Until the next one be safe and have fun.

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November 8th, 2022

VOTE! Today is Election Day — Let Your Voice Be Heard

2020 Voter Vote National Presidential election day ballot

VOTE Today.

Today, November 8, 2022, is election day. Control of Congress is at stake, and many state Governorships are being decided. With oppressive inflation and record illegal immigration, the nation is at a crossroads. This is a very important juncture in our nation’s history. In many respects the future of individual American freedoms and the Second Amendment will turn on the results of this election. YOUR VOTE COUNTS.

If you have not already voted — either by mail or via early in-person voting, VOTE today.

— If you are set to vote in-person, drive to the polling place and VOTE.

— If you have a vote-by-mail ballot, be sure to fill it out, verify it (as required) and take it to the Post Office or official ballot pick-up location in your area.

There are many tight races in the nation — the Senate races in Pennsylvania and Georgia as examples. In many states, a few thousand votes could decide the outcomes. So your vote CAN make a difference.

2020 Voter Vote National Presidential election day ballot

Election Day Voting 2016Who Should You Vote For?
Every American should vote for the candidates he or she believes are best qualified to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and state legislatures. In making that decision, VOTE for POLICIES not personalities. Who supports the Constitution? Who will defend the southern border? Who supports the Second Amendment? Who supports religious freedom? Who supports U.S. energy independence and lower fuel costs? Who supports the rights of parents of school kids? Who supports lower taxes? Who opposes the weaponization of the FBI and DHS?

Let Your Voice Be Heard — VOTE TODAY.

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November 8th, 2022

Get Official Targets: Air Rifle, Rimfire, Benchrest, F-Class, High Power, and Pistol

official shooting IBS NBRSA NRA rifle shooting targets paper bullseye benchrest

Do you need targets — not just any old targets, but the correctly-sized targets for specific shooting disciplines (such as NRA Smallbore, F-Class, and 1K Benchrest)? Well you won’t find them at your neighborhood gun store. Precise, dimensionally-correct competition targets are produced by a half-dozen specialty printers. In this article we provide links to the leading target sellers, with a chart showing “who’s got what”. Look for your particular discipline and the vendors will be specified.

Sources for Official Shooting Competition Targets:

ALCO Target Company

American Target Company

Creedmoor Sports

National Target Company

Pistoleer.com

U.S. Target Company

AccurateShooter.com offers dozens of FREE, printable targets for target practice, load development, and fun shooting. We also offer a few of the most popular NRA Bullseye targets. One or more of these printable targets should work for most training purposes. However, some readers have asked: “Where can we get the real targets… exactly like the ones used in NRA, IBS, and NBRSA shooting matches?”

Official targets NRA IBS NBRSA

All these vendors carry nearly all the NRA High Power and Smallbore targets, including the smaller F-Class targets. National Target has the F-Class and High Power targets, including 100-yard reductions of the 200, 300, and 600-yard military targets.

NRA Target IBS Hunter Rifle Target

Orrville Printing currently sells IBS targets for rimfire (50 yard) benchrest, short-range centerfire Benchrest (100, 200, 300 yards), Hunter BR Rifle (100, 200, 300 yards), plus the official 600-yard and 1000-yard IBS targets. National Target Company also has most of the IBS targets. NBRSA short-range, 600-yard, and 1000-yard benchrest targets are available directly from the NBRSA Business Office. Send an email to nbrsa@icloud.com or call (434) 993-9201.

Available Official Competition Targets
Vendor NRA High Power F-Class NRA Smallbore Air Rifle/Pistol IBS NBRSA Other
ALCO Target
Company
Yes, All No Yes Yes No No Archery, IDPA, IPSC, Police, Realistic, Shoot-N-C, Silhouette, Fun Targets, Pasters.
American Target
Company
Yes, All Yes Yes, All Yes No No USBR, Sight-in, Muzzle-Loading, Police Silhouette
Creedmoor Sports Yes, Some Yes, Some Yes, All Yes No No NMAR, Repair Centers, Police Silhouette, Sighting Targets, Shoot-N-C Grid
Domagron Targets Yes, Some No Yes, Some Yes No No NRA, Air Gun, Reactive, Fun Targets
National Target
Company
Yes, Nearly All Yes Yes, All Yes Yes* No IDPA, IPSC, FBI, Police Silhouette, Sight-in, Target Backers, Pasters
Pistoleer.com Yes Yes Yes, most and color training Yes Yes No Bianchi, FBI, IBS, IDPA, IPSC, Silhouette, Archery, Pasters
U.S. Target, Inc. Yes Yes Yes, All Yes No No Bianchi, FBI, Police Silhouette, IPSC, Realistic Silhouette, Varmint

Alco Target silhouette paper cardboard

Need Steel, Cardboard Silhouettes or specialty targets? ALCO Target Company in Duarte, California is the USA’s leading producer of the full spectrum of shooting targets including paper targets, cardboard targets, steel targets, and target stands.

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November 8th, 2022

Tipton Cleaning Rod Rack — Handy Organizer for Reloading Room

Tipton Cleaning Rod Rack 100335

Cleaning Rod Rack Costs Just $7.99
Looking to better organize your reloading room (aka “man cave”)? Here’s a handy, affordable product that will help you organize gear in your reloading room or “man cave”. Tipton’s Cleaning Rod Rack (Tipton #100335) can accommodate up to six rods with various size handles. The wall-mounted Rod Rack also has horizontal studs on either end for additional accessories. These are useful for hanging the Tico Tool shotgun cleaning wands that stow in a tube with a plastic hook on the top.

Tipton Cleaning Rod Racks come complete with mounting screws (and screw slots are molded-in). You’ll find Tipton Cleaning Rod racks for under $9.00 at most vendors. They are $7.99 at MidwayUSA, while Amazon.com offers the racks for just $9.99 with free shipping for Amazon Prime Members.

Tipton Cleaning Rod Rack 100335

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November 7th, 2022

BargainFinder 372: AccurateShooter’s Deals of the Week

AccurateShooter Deals of the Week Weekly Bargain Finder Sale Discount Savings

At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.

NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.

1. Grafs.com — Sightron Scope Sale, Save up to 26%

sightron graf grafs.com scope sale discount F-Class 10-50x60 SIII
Sightrons offer great performance for the price and now save more

Sightron makes excellent scopes for benchrest, F-Class, PRS, hunting and other disciplines. The latest generation of Sightrons compete very strongly with scopes that might cost 50-80% more. And right now you can save 15-26% on a wide variety of Sightron scopes.

2. Locked & Loaded — Savage A22 FV-SR, $278.37

savage A22 semi-auto rifle sale NRL22

Great deal on reliable, semi-auto .22 LR rimfire rifle

NRL22 and PRS 22 disciplines are America’s fastest-growing forms of rifle competitions. If you want to try your hand at NRL22 without sinking a fortune, check out the Savage A22 FV-SR now on sale for $278.37, 20% OFF. This semi-auto rifle has shown good accuracy, and it comes complete with a Picatinny rail on top. The .22 LR Savage FV-SR model upgrades the original A22 platform with a button-rifled, 16.5″ medium-contour barrel, and threaded muzzle. The A22 FV-SR features a user-adjustable AccuTrigger and reliable straight blowback semi-auto action for fast follow-up shots.

3. Palmetto State Armory — Norma Tac-22 .22 LR 500rds, $39.99

tac 22 ammo sale
Very good .22 LR ammo at extremely low price — GREAT VALUE

If you love .22 LR rimfires and want quality ammo at an ultra-low price, grab some Norma TAC-22. At only $4 per 50-ct box, this is a true bargain, yet the TAC-22 is good enough for NRL22 matches as well as fun target shooting. We’ve shot this Norma ammo and been very satisfied. You’ll be hard-pressed to find better .22 LR ammo at anywhere near this price. Don’t delay ordering — at this price, we expect this TAC-22 ammo will sell out very soon. If the TAC-22 sells out, Midsouth has a big sale right now on CCI .22 LR ammunition.

4. Midsouth — Starline .223 Remington Brass, $34.99/100

Starling .223 Rem Remington cartridge brass Midsouth sale
Consistent brass good for bolt guns and ARs

If you are a varmint hunter in the prairie dog fields, or a service rifle competitor, you need lots of .223 Rem brass. Starline offers very consistent, good-quality .223 Rem brass at modest prices. Right now Midsouth is offering 100 Starline .223 Rem cases for just $34.99, shipped in a bag. This brass has earned a 4.9 star rating (out of 5) from actual buyers. By purchasing new brass you avoid the hassle of removing primer crimps on mil-surp 5.56 brass.

5. MidwayUSA — Tipton Best Gun Vise + Wheeler Gunsmithing Screwdriver Set, both for $89.99

tipton best gun vise wheeler gunsmithing screwdriver set
Outstanding gun vise PLUS a 43-piece gunsmithing driver set

This is a great combo kit for working on rifles and shotguns. And right now you can save $50! The Tipton Best Gun Vise is stable, and offers plenty of storage for solvents, patches, small tools and parts. The vise can adapt to hold a variety of long guns, including ARs. Along with the Best Vise, you get a full 43-piece Wheeler screwdriver kit that has 40 bit options: standard (flat) (21), Phillips (4), Allen (10), and Torx (5). The adjustable driver handle is nicely designed and comfortable.

6. K&M Shooting — 20% Off Veterans Special (Nov. 6-12, 2022)

K&M precision veterans day sale 20% off military discount
For a full week Veterans save 20% on orders over $65

Here’s a good deal for those who have served in the U.S. Military. K&M is offering 20% off most of its products during Veterans Day week. Veterans get 20% off purchases of $65 or more at KMshooting.com the week of Veterans Day, November 6-12, 2022. Start saving by sending your proof-of-service to sales@kmshooting.com and K&M will create a checkout code for your e-mail. This promotion excludes Mitutoyo products, Arbor Press Case, and Benchtop machines. The promo cannot be combined with any other offer and there is no discount on shipping fees. The sale ends at 11:59 pm ET on 11/12/2022.

7. Dick’s Sporting Goods — Fortress Safes on Sale

shotgun home defense 12ga 12 gauge semi-auto
Great prices on Fortress safes — the big safe is a real bargain

Here are two great gun safe deals. The jumbo-sized Fortress 64+4 Gun Safe will hold up to 64 guns in the main interior, plus four more on the door. It is current $200 off, discounted to $999.99. With scoped guns, or those with wide forearms or pistol grips, knock that max number down to about 35 guns. That’s still an impressive capacity. This big Fortress-brand safe weighs 545 lbs., measures 56.5″ H x 41″ W x 25″ D, and is fire-rated at 1400°F for 30 minutes. If you are looking for a smaller, secondary safe, the Fortress 12-gun Fire Safe is currently $499.98 on sale ($100 off). This weighs 247 lbs. and is 55.1″ H x 19″ W x 15.3″ D. It is fire-rated at 1200°F for 30 minutes.

8. CDNN Sports — 12ga Silver Eagle Semi-Auto Shotgun, $199.99

shotgun home defense 12ga 12 gauge semi-auto
Consistent brass good for bolt guns and ARs

If you need a home defense shotgun, but have a tight budget, check out this TR Imports Silver Eagle Inertia One 12ga semi-auto with 18.5″ barrel. This has all the key features you need — fitted sights (adjustable rear, Fiber Optic front), Picatinny rail on top of the action, and pistol grip. This shotgun even comes with a convenient case with four choke tubes. Capacity is 4+1, Weight is 7.8 lbs, and OAL is 38.5″.

9. Harbor Freight — 105-piece Tool Kit with Box, $44.99


Very complete kit with wrenches, sockets, drivers and handy tool chest

This 105-piece Pittsburg Tool Kit from Harbor Frieght is an amazing deal. You get 105 different tools and items, SAE and Metric, plus a 4-drawer storage chest. Normally $59.99, this set is now just $44.99 with the Discount coupon. CLICK HERE to get the discounted $44.99 price. NOTE: If this does not appear with the $44.99 price for you, go to the Early Black Friday coupon page, scroll down, and click on the coupon or enter coupon code 51804213 during checkout. There are dozens of other great deals on that page.

10. MidwayUSA — Wipeout Foam Cleaner, $11.99

wipeout cleaner
Great product we use — helps clean with less brushing

At major F-Class matches, one cleaning product was mentioned over and over again and for good reason. Sharp Shoot R Wipe-Out foaming bore cleaner is a no-nonsense, easy-to-use bore cleaner that does a great job. We get best results with two applications of Wipe-Out after some wet patches. If you’re tired of long brushing sessions, give Wipe-Out a try — it really reduces brushing required. This is a very good deal. The same 5 oz. can sells for up to $20 elsewhere.

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November 7th, 2022

Vote in the November 2022 Election — Let Your Voice Be Heard

2022 mid-term election vote voting booth CCW Rules Register gunvote.org

Tomorrow, November 8, 2022, is the last day to vote in most states. Make sure to vote in person or by mail.

Let your voice be heard. These are challenging times for firearms owners. There are many groups and politicians in this country who want to ban most handguns, ban all semi-automatic rifles, and yes, even repeal the Second Amendment. If you believe in the Constitution, believe in the Second Amendment, it is vital that you get to the polls and cast your vote.

The NSSF’s Gunvote.org website makes it simple to find your polling place. Gunvote.org has helpful links that provide information on registration and voting in all 50 states. Use that site to find out WHERE and WHEN you can vote in your jurisdiction.

Your Vote Is Your Voice

The NRA Institute for Legislative Action states: “Our Second Amendment rights are being threatened by the anti-gun forces like never before. If you have been following the news, more than likely you have seen the fervor with which our opponents are pushing their agenda. We need America’s Second Amendment supporters to speak out by using their vote on Election Day to reject this anti-freedom agenda and elect lawmakers to office who support the Second Amendment.”

2018 November fall election President Trump Congress voting vote cast ballot

Firearms Rules at Polling Places

Do you carry a firearm? Are you concerned about carry restrictions at polling places? U.S. LawShield provides a helpful Guide for Firearms at Polling Places. This lists each state’s regulations in a dropdown menu. Be aware that some states, such as California, allow local jurisdictions to “enact carry laws that may be more restrictive than state law”. If you are not 100% sure about ALL local regulations, it is better to leave your firearm locked in your vehicle.

2022 mid-term election vote voting booth CCW Rules Register gunvote.org

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November 7th, 2022

Amazing Flying Drone Video at SIG SAUER Experience Center

sig sauer academy experience center drone fly movie vies first person view fly-through

SIG SAUER Academy has released a remarkable FPV (First Person View) fly-through drone video recorded at the new SIG SAUER Experience Center in New Hampshire. This modern 40,000-square-foot facility includes the SIG SAUER Flagship Store, the SIG SAUER Academy Shooting Center/Indoor Range, the SIG SAUER Museum, plus a Conference/Events Center. Watch this video below:

Guys, take the 3.5-minutes to watch! Amazing indoor rage sequence starts at 2:30 time-mark:

Viewers have raved about this video. Here are some comments:

“As a professional drone pilot, long-time firearm instructor, and proud Sig (P226, P365) owner, this is fantastic! Well done!”

“Excellent! What an amazing video! Incredible job that that was done in one take. Kudos to … that drone operator. The facility is magnificent! Almost makes me want to leave retirement and Florida.”

“That was the best FPV video tour I have ever had! That was awesome. Can’t believe everyone kept a straight face as that thing was whipping through there. Some serious skills flying like that too.”

Training Courses at SIG SAUER Academy in New Hampshire
SIG SAUER Academy offers a comprehensive course schedule that caters to all types of shooters from beginner to expert for handgun, rifle, shotgun, and hunting. Visit sigsaueracademy.com to review the 2023 course schedule at the SIG SAUER Academy in Epping, New Hampshire and SIG SAUER Academy Outpost locations in Florida or California.

SIG SAUER Academy Seminars cover a wide variety of subjects from Concealed Carry to Wilderness Survival. Seminars run 2-6 hours, typically cost $30, and require no equipment to participate.

To learn more about SIG Experience Center programs contact secevents [at] sigsauer.com or call 603-610-3456. The SIG SAUER Academy Campus and SIG Experience Center are located at 231 Exeter Road in Epping, New Hampshire and open daily from 8:00 am to 7:30 pm.

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