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September 8th, 2023

Creedmoor Sports Has Berger Bullets Back in Stock Now

Creedmoor Sports berger match vld hybrid bullet sale discount stock

If you need high-quality .224, 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, and/or .308 match or hunting bullets, head over to Creedmoor Sports. This leading vendor recently received a very large supply of Berger Bullets in a wide variety of bullet weights and calibers. And Creedmoor has promotional pricing on many of these Berger Bullets. Don’t delay, as the most popular bullet types could sell out soon. For example, the 6mm 105gr Hybrids just sold out this morning, as we were writing this story. Also the promotional pricing can change.

Shown below are examples of the popular Berger Bullets now in stock. Click on any photo to go to the Creedmoor Sports sale page for those particular bullets.

Creedmoor Sports berger match vld hybrid bullet sale discount stock Creedmoor Sports berger match vld hybrid bullet sale discount stock Creedmoor Sports berger match vld hybrid bullet sale discount stock
Creedmoor Sports berger match vld hybrid bullet sale discount stock Creedmoor Sports berger match vld hybrid bullet sale discount stock Creedmoor Sports berger match vld hybrid bullet sale discount stock
Creedmoor Sports berger match vld hybrid bullet sale discount stock Creedmoor Sports berger match vld hybrid bullet sale discount stock Creedmoor Sports berger match vld hybrid bullet sale discount stock
Permalink Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Hot Deals No Comments »
July 8th, 2023

Ballistics and Bullet TECH — FREE Applied Ballistics Articles

Want to improve your understanding of Ballistics, Bullet Design, Bullet Pointing, and other shooting-related tech topics? Well here’s a treasure trove of gun expertise. Applied Ballistics offers dozens of FREE tech articles on its website. Curious about Coriolis? — You’ll find answers. Want to understand the difference between G1 and G7 BC? — There’s an article about that.

“Doc” Beech, technical support specialist at Applied Ballistics says these articles can help shooters working with ballistics programs: “One of the biggest issues I have seen is the misunderstanding… about a bullet’s ballistic coefficient (BC) and what it really means. Several papers on ballistic coefficient are available for shooters to review on the website.”

Litz applied ballistics PDF articles

Credit Shooting Sports USA Editor John Parker for finding this great resource. John writes: “Our friends at Applied Ballistics have a real gold mine of articles on the science of accurate shooting on their website. This is a fantastic source for precision shooting information[.] Topics presented are wide-ranging — from ballistic coefficients to bullet analysis.”

READ All Applied Ballistics Articles HERE »

Here are six (6) of our favorite Applied Ballistics articles, available for FREE to read online. There are dozens more, all available on the Applied Ballistics Education Webpage. After Clicking link, select Plus (+) Symbol for “White Papers”, then find the article(s) you want in the list. For each selection, then click “Download” in the right column. This will send a PDF version to your device.

Permalink - Articles, Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Competition, Shooting Skills No Comments »
May 20th, 2023

Excellent Applied Ballistics TECH Articles — Access for FREE

Want to improve your understanding of Ballistics, Bullet Design, Bullet Pointing, and other shooting-related tech topics? Well here’s a treasure trove of gun expertise. Applied Ballistics offers dozens of FREE tech articles on its website. Curious about Coriolis? — You’ll find answers. Want to understand the difference between G1 and G7 BC? — There’s an article about that.

“Doc” Beech, technical support specialist at Applied Ballistics says these articles can help shooters working with ballistics programs: “One of the biggest issues I have seen is the misunderstanding… about a bullet’s ballistic coefficient (BC) and what it really means. Several papers on ballistic coefficient are available for shooters to review on the website.”

Litz applied ballistics PDF articles

Credit Shooting Sports USA Editor John Parker for finding this great resource. John writes: “Our friends at Applied Ballistics have a real gold mine of articles on the science of accurate shooting on their website. This is a fantastic source for precision shooting information[.] Topics presented are wide-ranging — from ballistic coefficients to bullet analysis.”

READ All Applied Ballistics Articles HERE »

Here are six (6) of our favorite Applied Ballistics articles, available for FREE to read online. There are dozens more, all available on the Applied Ballistics Education Webpage. After Clicking link, select Plus (+) Symbol for “White Papers”, then find the article(s) you want in the list. For each selection, then click “Download” in the right column. This will send a PDF version to your device.

Permalink - Articles, Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Tech Tip No Comments »
March 19th, 2023

GRID Targets For Load Development and Accuracy Testing

sight=in target amazon EZ-AIM shoot-n-cee box to bench grid bullseye

AccurateShooter.com offers a dozens of free, printable targets in our Target Collection. However, we know that sometimes shooters may prefer a commercially-printed specialty target. These may offer unique designs, hi-viz colors, splatter effect, or special functions (such as scope checking). Here are a variety of excellent commercial grid targets you can buy via Amazon or the target-maker’s website.

EZ-AIM 12″x12″ Grid with Orange Bullseyes — $6.99 for 13-pack

sight=in target amazon EZ-AIM

We like this EZ-Aim Sight-in Grid Target for sighting-in, load development. and general practice. The full 12″x12″ target is covered with a precise black-lined grid on white background. There is a large center orange bullseye, plus four additional bulls, one in each corner. Right now this target is a bargain. You can get a 13-pack of targets for just $6.99.

Freedom Targets — Bullseye Sight-In Grid Target, 25 for $12.95

freedom gun target bullseye bull grid target

Here’s a great Bullseye Sight-in Grid Target. This target provides a central bull on a 1″ grid pattern. There 8 additional small orange dot aim points, plus helpful numbers on the central vertical and horizontal lines. The outer four orange aim points are set inside heavier black lines to help align your scope crosshairs. This target is nicely printed, with sharp lines and bright orange circles. You get a pack of 25 targets for $12.95 — that’s $0.52 per target.

Birchwood Casey Grid — Black on White Splatter, 10 for $11.07

Sight-in 12

We’ve all seen conventional splatter targets with a black bullseye or grid. When a shot hits the target, a halo (usually neon yellow) appears around the bullet hole. Here is another kind of splatter target that creates a black circle on a white background. This can be very effective for spotting your hits at long range. This Birchwood-Casey White Grid Target is $11.07 for a 10-pack. These Shoot-N-C Sight-In Targets have a self-adhesive backing, making for easy put up and take down. In addition, the target pack comes with corner pasters to cover holes or use as additional aim points.

High-Viz Option — Yellow on Black Grid with Yellow Halos

If you prefer seeing ultra-high-contrast yellow/green “halos” for your hits, Birchwood Casey also makes adhesive grid targets with five yellow-edged diamonds. Red circles provide precise aiming points in the middle of each box. You can quickly estimate group size or dial-in your zero using the hi-viz yellow 1″ grid lines. These yellow-on-black targets are available in three sizes: 8″ square, 12″ square, and 17.5″ square. These yellow-on-black grid targets start at $7.60 for an 8″ six-pack.

shoot-n-c sight-in-target white black halo

B-2-B Precision LR Load Dev & Scope Tracking Target — 3 for $22

Box 2 Bench Precision B2B target dots Milrad Mil Scope checking target

Here is one BIG target that handles a myriad of important tasks at the range: Zeroing, Load Development, Click Value Verification, and Click Tracking Repeatability Tests. Box to Bench Precision (B2B) offers the most versatile (and biggest) precision targets ever developed. With precise grid geometry, and razor-sharp printing, B2B’s targets are probably the most advanced shooting targets ever created.

B2B’s 100 Yard Long Range Load Development and Scope Tracking Target performs many functions. This big, 30″ x 23.5″ target has specific aiming points for various tasks. In the upper left, there are 11 small orange circles for precision load testing. Over on the upper right are 7 more small, orange circles for doing a Seating Depth Comparison test. The bottom half of the target has larger black-on-white circles that serve multiple functions. Use the corner circles to do a “Box Test” to confirm scope tracking. On the bottom row is one B/W circle to confirm zero and another to use for velocity testing. There’s another great feature on this target — running up the center of the target is a tall line that shows elevation in both MILs and MOA. That helps you confirm the TRUE click values of your optic. Get a precision 100-yard 3-Pack for $22.00, or the 100m version 3-Pack for $13.00.

This content Copyright 2023. Any republication on any other site is a violation of Federal Copyright laws and gives rise to penalties and damages.

Permalink Gear Review, Shooting Skills No Comments »
January 12th, 2023

New Lapua Hunt App Now Available for FREE Download

lapua hunt app hunting ballistics free download Android iOS smartphone tablet software

Lapua, producer of premium-quality bullets, brass, and ammo, has released a very impressive new mobile App for hunters. The FREE Lapua Hunt App is available now for Android and iOS (Apple) smartphones and tablets. This Hunt App can be downloaded for FREE via Google Play and the Apple iOS iStore.

GET Lapua Hunt for Android » | GET Lapua Hunt for iOS (Apple) »

CLICK HERE for Lapua Hunt App INSTRUCTIONS for Use »

The App provides ballistics plus mapping and weather reporting. Lapua Hunt really combines the features of other popular hunting Apps with a very sophisticated 6DOF ballistics programs. Lapua Hunt incorporates the product data and advanced ballistics calculator from the excellent Lapua Ballistics App. Lapua states: “Lapua Hunt is the new digital solver for hunters that appreciate ethical hunting, accuracy, and safety. Add your own rifle and reticle, select the best ammo and game category, and you are ready to enjoy your hunting success harvesting game of all sizes.” The basic Hunt App is FREE with all essential functionality. However, additional bonus features are offered for “In-App” purchase.

lapua hunt app hunting ballistics free download Android iOS smartphone tablet software

In Lapua Hunt’s basic calculator view, you can log the wind speed and direction (red needle in the circle), the shooting angle, and the distance to target/prey. In addition, you can easily log weather information including temperature, air pressure, and relative humidity (enter manually or get info from nearby weather station). Additional paid features allow cartography/map view, and the ability to setup a hunting team.

Key Features of Lapua Hunt App
– Utilizes 6DOF, the most accurate ballistics calculation method*
– Includes the latest Lapua cartridge and bullet information
– Maximum target distance 300 meters / 320 yards
– Choose metric or imperial values
– Several result outputs available depending on your needs: map, numerical, reticle, and table views
– Create your own teams and see the location of members on the map
– Compass helps to set the wind direction
– Measure distances in map view**
– Get the weather parameters from nearest weather station
– Safety elements: map view, own location, team member location, compass, maximum and current range for selected ammo

* 6DOF tracks both the pitch, yaw and roll as well as the up/down, left/right, and forwards/backwards movement of the bullet.
** In the map view, it is also possible to measure distances, verify the current and optimal maximum range and sweep area, and view the current and forecasted scent direction in the area.

Create and maintain your own profiles for Game, Rifle, Cartridges:
– Select game category
– Create profiles for your hunting rifles, with scope/reticle info, and ammunition types
– Define custom cartridges (calculations based on G1 or G7 BC and Siacci method)
– Access and share your data from multiple devices.

lapua hunt app hunting ballistics free download Android iOS smartphone tablet software

The Lapua Ballistics App is available for Android and iOS smart phones and mobile devices free of charge. For more info, visit www.lapua.com/support/lapua-hunt-app.

Bonus Feature Set Available as In-App purchases

Basic Hunter: All free features + the ability to create custom cartridges.
Basic Hunter+: All free features + the ability to create custom cartridges, plus Ballistic map view.
Advanced Hunter: All free features + the ability to create custom cartridges; Ballistic map and Advanced map views; 5 day wind direction.
Pro Hunter: All free features + the ability to create custom cartridges; Ballistic map and Advanced map views; 5 day wind direction; Teams feature.

Permalink Gear Review, Hunting/Varminting, Shooting Skills, Tech Tip No Comments »
July 14th, 2022

Long Range Shooting Tips from Ballistics Guru Bryan Litz

NRA F-Class F-TR F-Open Nationals National Championships Bryan Litz

Berger SW Nationals Bryan LitzThe 2022 NRA Long Range National Matches and Palma Matches at Camp Atterbury, Indiana kick off soon. The NRA’s Long Range matches will run July 24-29, 2022. In addition, the CMP’s National Long Range Matches will run August 9-13, 2022 at Camp Perry in Ohio.

Today we share some smart tips from a past F-Class and Sling Champion who is both a great shooter AND a ballistics wizard. In 2015, Bryan Litz won the F-TR Mid-Range AND Long-Range National Championships hosted at Ben Avery. And at the 2014 Berger SW Nationals (SWN), Bryan took top honors among all sling shooters. If you only know Bryan Litz from his Applied Ballistics Books and DVDs, you may not realize that this guy is a also great marksman along with being an actual rocket scientist!

Given his impressive track record in both F-Class and Palma (Fullbore) out to 1000 yards, we asked Bryan if he had any advice for other long-range competitors.

First Bryan provided three tips concerning Ballistics, his special area of expertise. Next Bryan offered three more general tips about long-range competition — how to analyze your shooting, how to choose your ‘wind strategy’, and how to avoid the most costly mistakes, i.e. how to avoid the “train-wrecks”.

Bryan Litz won the 2015 F-TR Mid-Range and Long-Range Championships with this sleek rig:
NRA F-Class F-TR F-Open Nationals National Championships Bryan Litz

Litz Ballistics Tips

Ballistics TIP ONE. If you’re having trouble getting your ballistic software to match actual drops, you need to look at a number of possible reasons. Here are some common issues that can cause problems.

Click Values Are Not Exact. Scopes and iron sights don’t always produce accurate adjustments. In other words, if your ballistics program predicts 30 MOA of drop, and you dial 30 MOA but hit low, it might be that your sight actually only moved 28 MOA (for example). To see if your sight is adjusting accurately, shoot a tall target at 100 yards and measure group separation when dialing your sight.

Barometric vs. Station Pressure. This is a commonly misunderstood input to ballistics programs. You can avoid this pitfall by remembering the following: station pressure is the actual measured pressure at your location, and you don’t need to tell the program your altitude when using station pressure. Barometric pressure is corrected for sea level. If you’re using barometric pressure, you also have to input your altitude.

Muzzle Velocity. Chronographs are not always as accurate as shooters think they are — your true MV may be off by 10-20 fps (or more). If your drop is different than predicted at long range, it might be because your muzzle velocity input is wrong.

Mixing Up BC (G1 vs. G7). Knowledgeable long range shooters know that the G7 standard is a more representative standard for modern LR bullets. However, using G7 BCs isn’t just a matter of clicking the ‘G7′ option in the program. The numeric value of the BC is different for G1 and G7. For example, the G1 BC of the Berger 155.5 grain Fullbore bullet is .464 but the G7 BC is .237. If you were to enter .464 but click on G7, the results would be way off.

Ballistics TIP TWO. A properly installed level is absolutely essential for long range shooting. Without a good level reference, your long range wind zero will be off due to minor canting of the rifle from side to side. You can verify that your level is installed correctly on a 100-yard ‘tall target’. Draw a plumb line straight up the target and verify that your groups track straight up this line as you go up in elevation.

Ballistics TIP THREE. If your long range ballistic predictions aren’t tracking, always come back and verify your 100-yard zero. Sometimes a simple zero shift can be misconstrued as errors in long range ballistics predictions.

Bryan Litz Tips

Litz Competition Shooting Tips

Competition TIP ONE. Improving your scores in long range competition is a constant process of self-assessment. After each match, carefully analyze how you lost points and make a plan to improve. Beginning shooters will lose a lot of points to fundamental things like sight alignment and trigger control. Veteran shooters will lose far fewer points to a smaller list of mistakes. At every step along the way, always ask yourself why you’re losing points and address the issues. Sometimes the weak links that you need to work on aren’t your favorite thing to do, and success will take work in these areas as well.

CMP Long range camp Perry Nationals National Championships Bryan Litz

Competition TIP TWO. Select your wind shooting strategy carefully. For beginners and veterans, most points are typically lost to wind. Successful shooters put a lot of thought into their approach to wind shooting. Sometimes it’s best to shoot fast and minimize the changes you’ll have to navigate. Other times it’s best to wait out a condition which may take several minutes. Develop a comfortable rest position so you have an easier time waiting when you should be waiting.

Competition TIP THREE. Actively avoid major train wrecks. Sounds obvious but it happens a lot. Select equipment that is reliable, get comfortable with it and have back-ups for important things. Don’t load on the verge of max pressure, don’t go to an important match with a barrel that’s near shot out, physically check tightness of all important screws prior to shooting each string. Observe what train wrecks you and others experience, and put measures in place to avoid them.

NRA F-Class F-TR F-Open Nationals National Championships Bryan Litz

Electronic High Power Targets for 2022 at Camp Atterbury
This year, for the first time, electronic targets will be used at Camp Atterbury during the NRA High Power National Championships. NRA Competitive Shooting Deputy Director Aaron Farmer posted: “We will have up to 40 targets using Silver Mountain electronic target systems. Competitors will be squadded on a target and then continue to shoot on the same target all week. The only thing that will change is the starting relay for the day. We will be running three relays. No pit duty!”

Photos by Steve Fiorenzo

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July 10th, 2022

Great Professional Grid Targets — Regular and Splatterburst

sight=in target amazon EZ-AIM shoot-n-cee box to bench grid bullseye

AccurateShooter.com offers a dozens of free, printable targets in our Target Collection. However, we know that sometimes shooters may prefer a commercially-printed specialty target. These may offer unique designs, hi-viz colors, splatter effect, or special functions (such as scope checking). Here are a variety of excellent commercial grid targets you can buy via Amazon or the target-maker’s website.

EZ-AIM 12″x12″ Grid with Orange Bullseyes — $5.78 for 13-pack

sight=in target amazon EZ-AIM

We like this EZ-Aim Sight-in Grid Target for sighting-in, load development. and general practice. The full 12″x12″ target is covered with a precise black-lined grid on white background. There is a large center orange bullseye, plus four additional bulls, one in each corner. Right now this target is a bargain. You can get a 13-pack of targets for $5.78 — about 44 cents per target.

Freedom Targets — Bullseye Sight-In Grid Target, 25 for $11.98

freedom gun target bullseye bull grid target

Here’s a great Bullseye Sight-in Grid Target. This target provides a central bull on a 1″ grid pattern. There 8 additional small orange dot aim points, plus helpful numbers on the central vertical and horizontal lines. The outer four orange aim points are set inside heavier black lines to help align your scope crosshairs. This target is nicely printed, with sharp lines and bright orange circles. You get a pack of 25 targets for $11.98 — that’s $0.48 per target.

Birchwood Casey Grid — Black on White Splatter, 10 for $8.99

Sight-in 12

We’ve all seen conventional splatter targets with a black bullseye or grid. When a shot hits the target, a halo (usually neon yellow) appears around the bullet hole. Here is another kind of splatter target that creates a black circle on a white background. This can be very effective for spotting your hits at long range. This Birchwood-Casey White Grid Target is $8.99 for a 10-pack. These Shoot-N-C Sight-In Targets have a self-adhesive backing, making for easy put up and take down. In addition, the target pack comes with corner pasters to cover holes or use as additional aim points.

High-Viz Option — Yellow on Black Grid with Yellow Halos

If you prefer seeing ultra-high-contrast yellow/green “halos” for your hits, Birchwood Casey also makes adhesive grid targets with five yellow-edged diamonds. Red circles provide precise aiming points in the middle of each box. You can quickly estimate group size or dial-in your zero using the Hi-Viz yellow 1″ grid lines. These yellow-on-black targets are available in three sizes: 8″ square, 12″ square, and 17.5″ square. These yellow-on-black grid targets start at $4.99 for an 8″ six-pack.

shoot-n-c sight-in-target white black halo

B-2-B Precision LR Load Dev & Scope Tracking Target — 3 for $22

Box 2 Bench Precision B2B target dots Milrad Mil Scope checking target

Here is one BIG target that handles a myriad of important tasks at the range: Zeroing, Load Development, Click Value Verification, and Click Tracking Repeatability Tests. Box to Bench Precision (B2B) offers the most versatile (and biggest) precision targets ever developed. With precise grid geometry, and razor-sharp printing, B2B’s targets are probably the most advanced shooting targets ever created.

B2B’s 100 Yard Long Range Load Development and Scope Tracking Target performs many functions. This big, 30″ x 23.5″ target has specific aiming points for various tasks. In the upper left, there are 11 small orange circles for precision load testing. Over on the upper right are 7 more small, orange circles for doing a Seating Depth Comparison test. The bottom half of the target has larger black-on-white circles that serve multiple functions. Use the corner circles to do a “Box Test” to confirm scope tracking. On the bottom row is one B/W circle to confirm zero and another to use for velocity testing. There’s another great feature on this target — running up the center of the target is a tall line that shows elevation in both MILs and MOA. That helps you confirm the TRUE click values of your optic. Get a precision 100-yard 3-Pack for $22.00, or the 100m version 3-Pack for $13.00.

Splatterburst — 12″ x 12″ Splatter Grid Targets, 10 for $10.99

Sight-in 12

This 12″x12″ Splatterburst Target combines splatter shot marking with a grid background, with five aiming points. The bright neon shot circles make it easy to see your shots. And the handy grid lets you quickly estimate your group size. Get a 10-pack for $10.99, or a 25-pack for $19.99 (better deal). This particular target has earned rave reviews — 87% of verified buyers gave this a FIVE-Star rating. One example: “Excellent quality and durability. The adhesive is really strong and the splatter contrast is [great].”

This video shows how Splatterburst Targets work:

Permalink Competition, Gear Review, Shooting Skills No Comments »
April 2nd, 2022

Saturday at the Movies: Litz on Long Range Shooting + Ballistics

Bryan Litz Elements Long Range Shooting NSSF Ballistics Coeffecient Atmospherics

Want to learn more about Long Range Shooting? Check out the NSFF “Elements of Long Range Shooting” videos hosted by ballistics guru Bryan Litz of Applied Ballistics. In this multi-part series, Bryan covers a variety of topics of interest to precision shooters. For today’s Saturday at the Movies special, we feature seven of Bryan’s videos. Watch other informative Long Range Shooting and Ballistics videos with Bryan Litz on the NSSF YouTube Channel.

Litz NSSF Video Elements long range shooting Raton NM ELR

Atmospherics and Density Altitude

Bryan Litz explains: “An important element in calculating an accurate firing solution for long-range shooting is understanding the effects of atmospherics on a projectile.” Atmospherics include air pressure, air temperature, and humidity. Bryan notes: “Temperature, pressure, and humidity all affect the air density… that the bullet is flying through. You can combine all those factors into one variable called ‘Density Altitude’.” Density Altitude is used by the ballistic solver to account for variables that affect bullet flight.

Bullet Ballistic Coefficients

A bullet’s ballistic coefficient (BC) basically expresses how well the bullet flies through the air. Higher BC bullets have less aerodynamic drag than lower BC projectiles. You will see BCs listed as either G1 and G7 numbers. These correspond to different bullet shape models. Generally speaking, the G7 model works better for the long, boat-tail bullets used for long-range shooting. Notably, a bullet’s drag is NOT constant in flight. The true BC can vary over the course of the trajectory as the bullet velocity degrades. In other words, “BC is dynamic”. That said, you can make very accurate drop charts using the BCs provided by major bullet-makers, as plugged into solvers. However, long-range competitors may want to record “real world” drop numbers at various distances. For example, we’ve seen trajectories be higher than predicted at 500 yards, yet lower than predicted at 1000.

Transonic Range

When considering your rifle’s long-range performance, you need to understand the limit of your bullet’s supersonic range. As the bullet slows below the speed of sound, it enters the transonic zone. This can be accompanied by variations in stability as well as BC changes. Bryan explains “once your bullet slows done below supersonic and you get into transonic effects, there are a lot more considerations that come into play. The drag of the bullet becomes less certain, the stability of the bullet can be challenged, and things related to long times of flight, such as Coriolis and Spin Drift, come into play. So whenever you are shooting long range you need to where your bullet slows down to about 1340 fps.”

Ballistics Solvers — Many Options

Bryan Litz observes: “When we talk about the elements of long range shooting, obviously a very important element is a getting a fire solution, using a ballistic solver. There are a lot of ballistic solvers out there… Applied Ballistics has smartphone Apps. Applied Ballistics has integrated the ballistic solver directly into a Kestral, and the same solver runs (manually) on the Accuracy Solutions Wiz-Wheel. The point is, if it is an Applied Ballistics device it is running the same solutions across the board.”

Bullet Stability and Twist Rates

In this video, Bryan Litz talks about bullet in-flight stability and how to calculate barrel twist-rate requirements for long-range bullets. Bryan explains that bullet stability (for conventional projectiles) is basically provided by the spinning of the bullet. But this spin rate is a function of BOTH the nominal twist rate of the barrel AND the velocity of the projectile. Thus, when shooting the same bullet, a very high-speed cartridge may work with a slower barrel twist rate than is required for a lower-speed (less powerful) cartridge. For match bullets, shot at ranges to 1000 yards and beyond, Bryan recommends a twist rate that offers good stability.

Scope Tracking — Tall Target Test

Scope Click Verify Elevation Tall Target Bryan Litz NSSF test turret MOA MIL

Have you recently purchased a new scope? Then you should verify the actual click value of the turrets before you use the optic in competition. While a scope may have listed click values of 1/4-MOA, 1/8-MOA or 0.1 Mils, the reality may be slightly different. Many scopes have actual click values that are slightly higher or lower than the value claimed by the manufacturer. The small variance adds up when you click through a wide range of elevation. In this video, Bryan Litz shows how to verify your true click values using a “Tall Target Test”. The idea is to start at the bottom end of a vertical line, and then click up 30 MOA or so. Multiply the number of clicked MOA by 1.047 to get the claimed value in inches. For example, at 100 yards, 30 MOA is exactly 31.41 inches. Then measure the difference in your actual point of impact.

Coriolis Effect

The Coriolis Effect comes into play with extreme long-range shots. The rotation of the earth actually moves the target a small distance (in space) during the long duration of the bullet’s flight. Bryan Litz notes that, in most common shooting situations inside 1K, Coriolis is not significant. At 1000 yards, the Effect represents less than one click (for most cartridge types). Even well past 1000 yards, in windy conditions, the Coriolis Effect may well be “lost in the noise”. But in very calm conditions, when shooting at extreme ranges, Bryan says you can benefit from adjusting your ballistics solution for Coriolis: “The Coriolis Effect… has to do with the spin of the earth. The consequence of that is that, if the flight time of the bullet gets significantly long, the bullet can have an apparent drift from its intended target. The amount [of apparent drift] is very small — it depends on your latitude and azimuth of fire on the planet.”

About Bryan Litz
Bryan began his career as a rocket scientist, quite literally. He then started Applied Ballistics, the leading company focusing on ballistics science for rifle shooting. A past F-TR Long-Range National Champion and Chief Ballistician for Berger Bullets, knows his stuff. His Applied Ballistics squad was the winning team at the 2017 King of 2 Miles event, and Applied Ballistics has earned major U.S. defense contracts.

Permalink - Videos, Competition, Shooting Skills, Tech Tip 1 Comment »
February 7th, 2022

Bargain Finder 333: 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.

1. Midsouth — 6mm 108gr ELD Bullets, $105.99/250

Midsouth Hornady ELD 6mm .243 Bullets bulk sale
Good 6mm bullet choice for PRS/NRL and club matches

Midsouth now offers the 6mm .243 Diameter 108 grain ELD (Extremely Low Drag) Match bullets in a convenient 250-count bag for $105.99. The 108gr ELD Match has a high quality, uniform jacket for good accuracy. The plastic tips boost BCs for flatter trajectories and less wind drift. The impressively high BCS are: 0.536 (G1), and 0.270 (G7). NOTE: These are brand new bullets delivered from Hornady and re-packaged into secure clear polymer tube-style bags. These “bulk breakdown: bullets are exactly the same as the Factory-boxed bullets, just less expensive for Midsouth customers.

2. Amazon — RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme, $174.97

rcbs rock chucker single stage press rockchucker
Strong, versatile full-size press with lifetime warranty

With the shortages of good factory ammo, more shooters are hand-loading than ever before. That means that good reloading presses have been hard to find at reasonable prices. But here’s a good deal on a great press. Right now Amazon has the legendary RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme for just $174.97. This strong, capable press and allows you to do myriad reloading tasks: decapping, neck-sizing, FL-sizing, crimping, and even swaging bullets. RCBS offers a rock-solid lifetime warranty. This is a very good deal — the Rock Chucker sells elsewhere for $210.

3. Palmetto SA — 6.5 Grendel Upper with Vortex Scope, $579.99

PSA 6.5 Grendel AR complete upper vortex scope
6.5 Grendel is good option for Deer Hunting with AR

Here’s a great deal if you want an AR-platform rifle for hunting or tactical use and you want something more powerful than a .223 Rem. This PSA 6.5 Grendel Upper features a 416R stainless, 1:8″-twist 6.5 mm barrel chambered for the accurate 6.5 Grendel cartridge. On top the upper ships with a mounted Vortex Sonora 4-12x44mm scope. This upper includes a 15″ M-Lok free float handguard with extended rail. The total price, including the scope, is just $579.99 — a great deal that’s $240 off the regular $818.99 price.

4. Amazon — TradeSmart Muffs, Safety Glasses, Carry Kit, $42.99

tradesmart ear muffs safety glasses shooting safety kit Amazon Valentine's day lady womens

For Valentine’s Day — nice eye and ear protection set with carry kit

Valentine’s day is just one week away. Perhaps you’d like to take your significant other to the range on February 14th. Well here’s a great combo kit that can protect your lady’s eyes and ears. The TradeSmart muffs/eyewear kit includes an excellent 28dB NRR set of muffs, TWO sets of ANSI Z87.1 safety glass, plus a dozen pink NRR33 earplugs. And all this comes with a nice, fitted carry case. This Kit is offered with two (2) sets of safety glasses (clear + tinted) for $42.99 on Amazon, or with clear eyewear only for $37.99. Either way, for the price, this is a great kit that your lady will appreciate. In addition to hot pink, this kit is offered with blue, grey, bright yellow, and purple color highlights.

5. Costco — Cannon CS72 Gun Safe, $1099.99

Cannon executive 72 gun large capacity gun safe
Very large capacity safe at $200 discount — excellent deal

Got lots of guns? Here’s a very large safe at an very good price. Rated to hold 72 firearms, this 48.8 cubic-foot safe measures 59″H x 45″W x 28″D and weighs 696 pounds. Now through 10/24/21 this Cannon safe is $1099.99 at Costco, $200 off the normal price. And yes, this $1099.99 price includes curbside delivery to your home or business! Strength/security features include UL-Listed electronic lock, patented TRUlock internal hinges, a triple hard plate to shield against drill attacks, six 4” locking bolts, and 14 gauge steel through the body. The CS72 safe has a 60 minute fire rating. Sale price good through 2/21/2022.

6. CDNN Sports — Savage Rascal .22 LR Patriotic Rifle, $239.99

.22 LR savage rascal single shot youth rifle american flag red white blue
Great patriotic choice as First Rifle for young shooter

Here’s a very good choice for a young family member’s first rifle. We like the patriotic American flag pattern red, white, and blue synthetic stock. And Savage calls this .22 LR Rascal rifle “the industry’s safest micro rimfire”. Shooters cock the rifle by lifting the bolt and unload without pulling the trigger. This eye-catching rimfire rifle features adjustable peep sights and user-adjustable AccuTrigger.

7. EuroOptic — Athlon Talos 20-60x80mm Spotter, $119.99

athlon talos spotting scope sale eurooptic
athlon talos spotting scope sale eurooptic
Good reviews for budget spotter, now discounted $180 (53%)

The Athlon Talos 20-60x80mm is a solid, affordable spotting scope. And right now you can save $180.00 (53%) with the EuroOptic Athlon Sale. This spotting scope has multi-coated lenses and is fog-proof and waterproof. Verified purchaser reviews have been positive: “This scope is a GREAT value for the money” and “I really like this scope … it is better than most spotting scopes below about $400.” This spotter is also available with tan scope body for the same $119.99 price.

8. Amazon — Caldwell The Rock BR Rest, $131.99

caldwell rock rest
Good basic rest for varmint work and sighting-in rifles

Right now the green-framed Caldwell Rests are deeply discounted on Amazon. If you’re looking for something you could use in competition as well as varminting, check out the Caldwell Rock BR at $131.00. The Rock BR model is stable and works well for varmint shooting. If you want something lighter and more basic, the Rock Deluxe at $75.19 is an excellent value. Or if you prefer a compact, lightweight front rest for basic rifle and pistol work, consider a Rock Jr. at $32.99.

9. Amazon — Neiko Digital Calipers, $26.99

Amazon Neiko Digital Caliper 6 inch
Very popular calipers — good for numerous reloading tasks

Even if you have a good set of calipers, you may want to get one of these Neiko 01407A Digital Calipers. A top-selling digital caliper on Amazon for many years, this Neiko tool features a large LCD Screen and measures up to 6.0 inches. With over 16,000 customer reviews, this product has earned an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. It’s hard to go wrong for $26.99, even if you just use these as a spare set for measuring group sizes and case trim lengths.

10. CDNN Sports — Mack’s Ultra Soft Earplugs, 10 Pair $1.99

mack's nrr32 32db ultra soft foam earplugs sale CDNN pairs
Great deal on very comfortable, Doctor-recommended earplugs

These are excellent earplugs. Our Forum members say these Mack’s Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs are considerably more comfortable than most earplugs, and they offer an excellent 32dB Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). Right now you can get ten pairs of Mack’s Ultra Soft Plugs for $1.99 at CDNN Sports. And if you need more, you can get 50 pairs of Mack’s NRR32 Ultra Soft plugs for just $8.99 on Amazon. For maximum protection we also recommend the Howard Leight Max-1 NRR33 flared earplugs.

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November 19th, 2021

Print Handy “Cheat Sheet” Ballistics Drop Chart for Your Rifle

Hornady Ballistics Calculator

Hornady Ballistics CalculatorNeed a simple, easy-to-use drop chart for your rifle? Something you can tape right to the buttstock? Then check out Hornady’s handy Online Ballistics Calculator. This user-friendly calculator will compute your drops accurately, and output a handy “Cheat Sheet” you can print and attach to your rifle.

Here’s how it works. From the Ballistics Calculator Page, first select 4DOF or Standard. Then simply input G1 or G7 BC values, muzzle velocity, bullet weight, zero range, and a few other variables.

Click “Calculate” to view the full chart (shown below). Then click “View Cheatsheet” and the simpler, 4-line Drop Chart (shown above) appears. Click “Print” and you’re done!

The online ballistics caculator is easy to use. You can select the basic version, or an advanced version with more data fields for environmental variables (altitude, temperature, air pressure, and humidity). You can also get wind drift numbers by inputing wind speed and wind angle.

Conveniently, on the trajectory output, come-ups are listed in both MOA and Mils — so this will work with either MOA clicks or Mil-based clicks. There are more sophisticated ballistics solvers available on the web (such as the outstanding Applied Ballistics Online Calculator), but the Hornady Calculator is very simple and easy to use. If you just want a basic drop chart, you may want to check this out.

Hornady Ballistics Calculator

Permalink Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Tech Tip 1 Comment »
September 27th, 2021

Bargain Finder 314: 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.

1. Palmetto State Armory — Ruger American Camo Rifles, $599.99

ruger predator rifle sale
Excellent deer rifle with brake — save $100 with this deal

Hunting season is here. If you need a reliable deer rifle at a good price check out the Ruger American Rifle GO Wild edition. This popular Ruger rifle boasts a great “GO Wild” camo finish and the barreled action is coated for durability. The 22″ barrel is fitted with a factory muzzle brake for reduced recoil. The 3-lug bolt with 70° throw provides good scope clearance and dual cocking cams aid smooth cycling. This rifle is on sale now in 6.5 Creedmoor for $599.99 or 7mm-08 Rem for $599.99. That’s $100 off the regular price. Or get the 450 Bushmaster version for $549.99. Ruger offers this camo-stocked Ruger American in many other chamberings including .243 Win, 6.5 PRC, .25-06, .308 Win, .30-06 Sprg, and .300 Win Mag.

2. MidwayUSA — RCBS MatchMaster, $649 net w/ $250 Gift Cert.

rcbs matchmaster sale
Buy advanced RCBS MatchMaster, get $250 Midway Gift Certificate

Want to upgrade to a more advanced, sophisticated powder scale/dispenser? Here’s a great deal from MidwayUSA. If you purchase a RCBS MatchMaster for $899, MidwayUSA kicks in a $250 gift certificate. Spend that $250 on dies, tools, ammo, optics — anything MidwayUSA sells. With the certificate providing an effective $250 price reduction, this is the best deal we’ve seen on the MatchMaster, which offers twin dispensing tubes and multiple modes.

3. Amazon — Kestrel 5700 Weather Meter with LiNK, $399.00

kestrel wind meter sale
Kestrel with LiNK is “must have” for serious long range shooters

The excellent Kestrel 5700 Ballistics Weather Meter with LiNK offers wind measuring PLUS ballistics calculation. The Kestrel 5700 Ballistics Weather Meter measures wind, altitude, and all critical weather and ballistic variables to calculate an accurate aim point for long-range shooting. No more DOPE cards, re-zeroing or guessing at the wind. This compact tool combines onsite environmental measurements with a powerful G1/G7 ballistics calculator to deliver precise elevation and windage solutions.

4. Bruno Shooters Supply — Sierra MatchKing Bullet Sale

bruno shooters sierra SMK matchking 7mm .284 .30 caliber .308 .22
Excellent prices on hard-to-find .224, 7mm, and .30-Cal match bullets

Sierra MatchKing Bullets have won many championships and set records. Right now Bruno’s is offering big savings on popular .224, .284 (7mm), and .308 caliber Sierra Matchkings. Hot deals include 100ct box of 7mm 197gr Matchkings for just $47.65, 500ct box of 7mm 180gr MatchKings for $201.80, 100ct box of .308 175gr MatchKings for $38.95, and 500ct box of .224 77gr MatchKings for $135.00. Competition Tip — These 7mm bullets have worked great for F-Open shooters and the .30-Cal SMKs are excellent for M1 Garands and 1903 Springfields. Tipped MatchKings are also on sale at great prices.

5. Midsouth — Meopta Scope Sale

meopta scope sale
Meopta scopes offer excellent value for the money

When you think of quality scopes do you think of Meopta? If you don’t you should because they make great scopes that fit a number of price ranges. Check out the Meopta Scope Sale over at Midsouth where you can find scopes for just about any use at some great prices.

6. Amazon — Caldwell E-Max Shadows, $69.99

electronic hearing production
Compact NRR23 electronic plugs protect without interfering with cheek weld

Electronic earmuffs are effective, but they are bulky and can be awkward to use with some rifles. Conventional ear plugs provide great sound blocking, but you will have trouble hearing range commands and/or spotter’s shot calls. Get good protection and convenience with Caldwell E-Max Shadows Electronic Hearing Protection devices. These slick earbud-style units feature NRR23 noise reduction, quality stereo sound, illuminated on/off indicator, 4-hour auto-shutoff, and multiple foam insert tips for custom fit.

7. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Wet/Dry Media Separator, $42.99

Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Wet/Dry Media Separator
Durable, high-capacity media separator at bargain price

Whether you tumble wet or tumble dry, separating your brass from the tumbling media is critical. For separation duties, the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Wet/Dry Media Separator kit works great. This kit, now just $42.99 at Amazon, includes everything you need to easily remove all types of media from your brass. The kit even has a built-in strainer to catch stainless media before it ends up on the floor or sink.

8. Amazon — Hornady Rechargeable Dehumidifier, $27.92

hornady dehumidifer
Protect gun collection in your safe with advanced dehumidifier

Gun owners need to control the humidity levels in their gun safes and storage vaults. One efficient, modern tool for this task is the Hornady Rechargeable Dehumidifier, on sale now for $27.92 on Amazon. This electrical unit helps control humidity to help prevent rust and mildew. Simply charge the unit and place in your safe to draw unwanted moisture away from your valuables. When the moisture-control crystals change color, then recharge the unit with a 110v outlet.

9. Amazon — 7-Point Temp Labels, $22.36 (10-pack reversible )

temperature strips for shooting
Monitor Barrel temps precisely with adhesive strips

As you shoot, your barrel gets hot and that’s not good for barrel life or accuracy. One of the best ways to monitor barrel heat is with Digi-Sense Reversible 7-Point Horizontal Temperature Labels which attach directly to your barrel(s). These will display a range of 86 to 140 degrees F. That covers the majority of barrel heat ranges you’ll encounter. To measure higher temperatures, there is also a high-range Digi-Sense Temp strip that covers 140 to 194 degrees F.

10. Midsouth — Tula .223 Rem 55gr 1000rd Case, $469.99

223 ammo sale
Great value for reliable 55gr .223 Rem Tula ammunition

Ammo prices are finally starting to come back down. For someone looking for affordable basic .223 Remington ammunition, here is the best deal we’ve found in recent weeks. Midsouth Shooters is selling a 1000rd Case of Tula .223 Rem ammo for just $469.99. That’s just 47 cents per round for reliable 55gr FMJ ammo. NOTE: This is steel-cased, NON-reloadable ammo.

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August 27th, 2021

Get Smart — Read FREE Applied Ballistics TECH Articles

Want to improve your understanding of Ballistics, Bullet Design, Bullet Pointing, and other shooting-related tech topics? Well here’s a treasure trove of gun expertise. Applied Ballistics offers dozens of FREE tech articles on its website. Curious about Coriolis? — You’ll find answers. Want to understand the difference between G1 and G7 BC? — There’s an article about that.

“Doc” Beech, technical support specialist at Applied Ballistics says these articles can help shooters working with ballistics programs: “One of the biggest issues I have seen is the misunderstanding… about a bullet’s ballistic coefficient (BC) and what it really means. Several papers on ballistic coefficient are available for shooters to review on the website.”

Litz applied ballistics PDF articles

Credit Shooting Sports USA Editor John Parker for finding this great resource. John writes: “Our friends at Applied Ballistics have a real gold mine of articles on the science of accurate shooting on their website. This is a fantastic source for precision shooting information[.] Topics presented are wide-ranging — from ballistic coefficients to bullet analysis.”

READ All Applied Ballistics Articles HERE »

Here are six (6) of our favorite Applied Ballistics articles, available for FREE to read online. There are dozens more, all available on the Applied Ballistics Education Webpage. After Clicking link, select Plus (+) Symbol for “White Papers”, then find the article(s) you want in the list. For each selection, then click “Download” in the right column. This will send a PDF version to your device.

Permalink - Articles, Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Reloading, Tech Tip 2 Comments »