Lyman makes a very handy product for reloaders that can save space on your reloading bench and give you more efficient powder flow into your cases. With common plastic “one size fits all” type powder funnels, the powder sometimes sticks to the sides of the funnel. Or, the fit to the case mouth is less than ideal so some of the kernels end up on the bench.
Precision powder funnels solve those problems. But what if you shoot a wide range of calibers with big and small case mouths? Lyman has the answer: the Brass-Smith Precision Funnel set, now $28.79 at Midsouth. This handy product combines a static-free cast aluminum funnel with a set of SIX (6) CNC-machined inserts that fit cartridges from .22 caliber all the way up to .338 caliber. It is easy to swap the inserts to match the particular cartridge you are loading. In this Ultimate Reloader video, our friend Gavin Gear shows how to use the Lyman Precision Pro Powder Funnel Set with multiple neck-diameter inserts:
Product Description: “The Brass-Smith Precision Funnel set is made to be completely static-free, no more powder clinging to surfaces which can happen with lightweight plastic Funnel. This is no ‘one size fits all’ funnel — the Brass Smith Precision Funnel set uses precision-machined, caliber-specific inserts to properly fit the case neck. CNC-turned aluminum inserts to fit specific cartridge families for calibers 22 to 338. Inserts are laser-marked for caliber identification. The inserts can be quickly and easily installed by simply pushing them into place and then pulling them out when changing calibers. The Funnel comes with inserts for .22, .243/6mm, .25/6.5mm, .270/7mm, .30 and .338 caliber rifle cartridges. A padded storage case neatly stores the funnel and inserts when not in use.”
Forum Member Likes the Lyman Precision Powder Funnel Set
One of our Accurate Shooter Forum members, Garandman, purchased the Lyman Precision Funnel System. He has used it now for multiple cartridge types and is very pleased with the results. Here is his report:
“I wanted to share my good experience with the Lyman powder funnel. First off, with the funnels being aluminum / pot metal, no static charge forms and the powder kernels go right down the funnel into the case with no hang-up.
Also the funnel comes with interchangeable case neck dimension inserts so you get no powder loss outside the case neck. And the funnel is also is less likely to stick to the case neck and pull it out of your loading block. That could spill powder all over the place.”
Overall, the Lyman Precison Funnel Set with case neck inserts has done a great job for Garandman and he suggests you may want to add this tool to your reloading tool collection. Below is a Lyman Precision Funnel Set review from Johnny’s Reloading Bench. This video review has nice close-ups of the six precision inserts from .22 to .338 calibers.
Wilson Combat has introduced a New Ultralight Arms (NULA™) line of bolt-action rifles. These hunting rigs are accurate and very light weight, ranging from 4 lb. 15 oz. to 5 lb. 4 oz., depending on caliber and barrel length. Currently, five chamberings/calibers are offered: .243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Remington, .308 Winchester, and .358 Winchester. Other chamberings will be offered in the future.
With a $3295.00 MSRP, the NULA rifles are expensive. But this modern ultra-light bolt-action rifle seems like a good choice for an avid hunter. NULA rifles have a sub-1″ MOA accuracy guarantee. Weighing about 5 pounds without scope, the NULA is also one of the lightest hunting rifles on the market. On extended hunts, light weight is a huge advantage. No one wants to carry a 10-lb rifle for many miles in the field.
The NULA rifle is a good choice for hunters, given its lightweight design. And the guaranteed sub-MOA accuracy should give hunters confidence. The NULA’s lightweight construction makes it easy to carry and maneuver in the field. Wilson Combat states: “Whether you’re hunting big game or small varmints, this bolt action rifle provides the accuracy and dependability needed to get your trophy quickly and cleanly.”
This top-of-the-line rifle boasts many premium components: Timney Elite Hunter trigger (with 2.75- to 3.25-lb trigger pull), Wilson Combat 416R stainless honed stress-relieved button-rifled barrel, and EDM Cut and machined action made from 4140 bar stock. The barrele action is fitted to an ultra-lightweight carbon fiber stock with reinforced receiver walls for added strength without adding weight.
For its NULA rifle series, Wilson Combat started with a proven Melvin Forbes rifle design and then made several major improvements. The NULA rifles are now produced with advanced manufacturing methods and modern materials including carbon fiber.
Bill Wilson stated: “I feel so fortunate to know Melvin and to have been entrusted with the opportunity to continue his legacy of building the finest and lightest bolt rifles on the market. I’m also deeply humbled and honored that Melvin has put his trust in me and my team at Wilson Combat to continue his life’s work. He is basically turning his ‘baby’ over to us and I assure him and all the past and future customers we won’t let any of you down.”
For hunters in a tree stand, SFC McPhail recommends a position with your weakside leg pulled up and firmly braced on the front rail of the treestand. You can then rest your support arm on your leg. This provides a rock-solid position when shooting from a stand.
Team USA Olympian and ISSF World Cup Winner SFC Michael McPhail is one of the world’s best smallbore rifle shooters. He is also an avid hunter, who enjoys harvesting game with centerfire rifles. In a USAMU video, McPhail shows how competition shooting positions can be adapted for hunters. McPhail shows how well-established positions can provide a more stable platform for hunters in the field. That can help ensure a successful hunt. McPhail demonstrates three positions: kneeling, supported prone, and sitting in a tree-stand.
Watch SFC McPhail Demonstrate Positions for Hunters (Good Video):
McPhail first demonstrates the kneeling position. Michael notes: “I like kneeling. It’s a little bit of an under-utilized position, but it’s almost as stable as prone. It allows you get up off the ground a little bit higher to [compensate for] vegetation. For kneeling start by taking your non-dominant foot and put that towards the target, while at the same time dropping down to a knee on the dominant leg. At the same time … wrap the sling around wrist and fore-arm, lean slightly into the target and take the shot.”
McPhail shows a nice “field expedient” use of your backpack. He shows how the basic prone position can be adapted, using the pack as a front rifle support. McPhail recommends pulling your dominant (strongside) leg forward, bent at the knee. According to Michael, this takes pressure off the abdomen, helps minimizes heart beat effects, and helps with breathing.
Hunting season is coming up, so it’s time to get your rifle squared away. You’ll want to zero that rifle before the hunt, and you need to know how your shots will impact with a cold barrel.
Commonly, hunters won’t have the ability to fire one or two fouling shots before heading out on a hunt. Therefore it’s important that a hunter understands how his rifle shoots with a “cold bore shot”. Both the point of impact (and possibly velocity), may be different with a cold bore than with a barrel that has been warmed and fouled with a series of shots. In this video from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU), you’ll learn how to determine your cold bore point of impact (POI) for a rifle that just been cleaned, as well as the cold bore POI with a barrel that has already been “fouled in”.
SGT Joe Hein of the USAMU shows how to plot cold bore POI with both a clean bore and a fouled bore. Note that the “cold bore” shot from a fouled barrel was closer to the follow-up shots than the cold bore shot from a clean barrel. This is typical of many factory barrels. SGT Hein provides a simple way to understand your rifle’s cold bore performance. Hein’s advice can keep you from missing that long range shot at that big buck on opening day. A little time spent on the range before that critical first shot will help ensure you have meat in the freezer this season.
This is the biggest sale day of the year for hunters. MidwayUSA’s Camo Tuesday is a once-a-year event with some of the best deals you’ll find on hunting clothing, rifles, optics, trail cams, boots, backpacks, ammo, rangefinders, binoculars, GPS units, knives, and everything else a hunter could need. There are 270 items on sale plus up to 65% OFF on hunting clothing. Along with great Camo Tuesday bargains, you can get FREE Shipping for orders over $75 with Code CAMOTUES23.
CAMO TUESDAY Hunting Gear Sale at MidwayUSA
Camo Tuesday only happens once a year. It is more than just another hunting sale — it’s the ultimate shopping day for the fall hunting season. You can get huge savings on select hunting gear, plus free shipping. MidwayUSA offers big discounts on camouflage clothing as well as hunting boots, rifles, shotguns, crossbows, ammunition, optics, rangefinders, trails cams and more. Here are just a few of the deals:
Camo Tuesday Sweepstakes — Many Prizes
Along with the sale discounts, MidwayUSA is running a Camo Tuesday Hunting Gear Sweepstakes with prizes totaling $4,623.02 in value. No purchase is necessary, but MidwayUSA requires entrants’ email address and telephone number.
Camo Tuesday Sweepstakes Prizes
$1,000 dollars of MidwayUSA hunting clothing
4 Cuddeback Cuddelink L-Series Trail Cameras
Scent Crusher Halo Series Transport Bag
Crispi Nevada GTX Hunting Boots
YETI Roadie 60 Coolerand more!
Enter online for a chance to win the full Prize Package with a $4,623.02 Total Value. CLICK HERE for contest entry page.
Do primer types make a significant difference in accuracy or vertical dispersion at long range? The answer is “maybe”. Here’s one anecdotal study that tracked vertical variance among six different primer types. The tester is a good shooter with a very accurate rifle — four of the six 4-shot groups were under 2″ at 500 yards. This test doesn’t settle the question, but does suggest that it may be worth trying a few different primer types with your match ammo.
Here is a very interesting test for the 6 BRA (6mmBR Ackley) cartridge. Forum member James Phillips, a talented long-range benchrest shooter, tested SIX different primer types from three different manufacturers. To help determine vertical dispersion, James set his target out at 500 yards. He then proceeded to shoot 4-shot groups, in order, with each primer type. Velocities were recorded with a chrono. The photo above shows the results. James says: “I’ll retest the best two for accuracy and consistency with 10 shots each”. CLICK HERE for full-screen target photo.
As you can see, ALL the groups are pretty impressive. The smallest groups, 1.253″, was shot with CCI 400 primers. Next best (and very close) was CCI BR4, at 1.275″ for four shots. The “flat line” winner was the Remington 7.5, at upper left. There was almost no vertical. If you are intrigued by this interesting primer test, you can join the discussion in this Primer Test FORUM THREAD.
Primer Brand
Group Size
Velocity
Extreme Spread
Std Deviation
Remington 7.5
1.985″ 4 shot
2955 FPS
8 FPS
4.0 FPS
Federal 205M
2.200″ 4 shot
2951 FPS
11 FPS
4.8 FPS
Sellier Bellot SR
1.673″ 4 shot
2950 FPS
14 FPS
5.9 FPS
CCI 450M
2.341″ 4 shot
2947 FPS
14 FPS
6.6 FPS
CCI 400
1.253″ 4 shot
2950 FPS
3 FPS
1.3 FPS
CCI BR4
1.275″ 4 shot
2949 FPS
15 FPS
6.9 FPS
CARTRIDGE: 6mmBR Ackley, aka 6 BRA. Parent case is 6mmBR Norma. The 6 BRA is fire-formed to create a 40-degree shoulder and less body taper. Capacity is increased, but the neck is longer than a 6mm Dasher. The capacity is enough to get to the 2950+ FPS accuracy node. Some shooters say the 6 BRA is more forgiving than the 6mm Dasher. The 6 BRA is certainly easier to fire-form.
TEST REPORT — Conditions, Shooting Method, Loading Method
Tester James Phillips posted this report in ourShooters’ Forum:
Conditions: The testing was done in the morning over flags. The flags never moved or even twitched. I had as perfect conditions as I could have asked for. It was overcast so no mirage and no wind. There were no other shooters, just me.
Test Procedure: Each shot was precisely shot at my pace and centered the best possible using my Nightforce 15-55X scope. I did not use the round-robin method. Each four-shot group with the same was shot at one time. Then I moved onto the next primer. Everything felt right for each and every shot fired today. Of course I could repeat the test tomorrow and it could be exact opposite of today’s test. We can chase this forever. But [soon] I’m going to test the BR4 and 400 primer… for best accuracy and consistency for 10 shots each.
How Rounds Were Loaded: Each load was weighed to one (1) kernel of powder. So I know that’s as good as I can weigh them. Each bullet seating force was within 1# on my 21st Century hydraulic arbor press.
Previous Initial Load Testing: All groups were shot with 31.1 grains of H4895. During initial load testing I settled in on the Sellier & Bellot primer to finalize everything as it showed more promise over the CCI 450 Magnum I also tried. I was actually surprised to have seen the higher ES and SD from that primer today along with the vertical shown. [Editor: Look carefully — one shot from the CCI 450 is right in the center black diamond, stretching the vertical. By contrast the Rem 7.5 had almost no vertical.]
Velocity and NODE Considerations: I was about 5-6 FPS above what appeared to been my optimum velocity of 2943-2945 FPS, so I’ll test 5 shots of 31.0 and 5 of 31.1 and see what happens from there. I can only assume my velocities where higher due to the higher humidity and of course temps were 5 degrees warmer this morning as well. It wasn’t far off but I noticed it.
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. Palmetto SA — Labor Day Sale, Deals on Optics, ARs, and More
⏺ Major savings on dozens of popular guns and products
Palmetto State Armory (PSA) is running a major Labor Day Sale with huge discounts on guns, optics, ammunition, AR components and more. We feature three of the best deals above, but there are hundreds more items on sale now.
2. KYGUNCO — CZ 600 AL Alpha Rifle, $399.99 after $100 Rebate
⏺ Price after rebate is very low for a quality hunting rifle
Here’s a great bargain on a good CZ hunting rifle. The CZ 600 Alpha rifle series is on sale now at KYGUNCO for $499.99. Plus there is a $100.00 CZ-USA rebate. This rifle is offered in five popular chamberings for the same $499.99 sale price ($399.99 after factory rebate): .223 Remington (AL1), 6.5 Creedmoor (AL2), .308 Winchester (AL2), .30-06 Springfield (AL3), and .300 Winchester Magnum (AL3).
Note: The CZ-USA website currently shows a $50 Rebate, but KYGUNCO says the rebate is $100 for purchases made in September. SEE above video.
3. EuroOptic — Vortex Optics Close-Outs, Save 40-60%
⏺ Great deals on high-quality scopes with superb warranty
Right now EuroOptic has huge discounts on Vortex optics as part of the Vortex Close-Out Sale. Save on Vortex Viper, Diamondback, Ranger, and Strike Eagle scopes. If you need an affordable scope for your fall hunt, check out the Vortex 3-9x40mm Diamondback VM-1, at just $129.99. The $150 discount represents a 54% savings off the regular price.
4. Midsouth — Large Selection of Primers IN STOCK
⏺ Huge selection of primers including popular CCI, Federal, and Remington
For the past few years, primers have been hard to find at reasonable prices. Now we are finally seeing ample inventory. Right now you can get a wide range of Rifle and Pistol Primers at Midsouth starting at $69.99/1000. In stock now are leading US-made brands CCI, Federal, Remington, and Winchester. In addition, Midsouth has large inventories of Aguila, Fiocchi, and Unis primers. We have used all these brands with success. CCI 450 primers (our #1 choice for 6BR/Dasher) are $89.99 at Midsouth.
5. RCBS Buy Green Get Green Rebates, $25 – $75
⏺ Money Back programs for all RCBS products — effectively save 16-25%
With the RCBS Buy Green Get Green promo, you get a rebate if you spend at least $100 on ANY RCBS products. There’s no restricted list of “qualifying” products. Yes this applies to reloading presses, electronic powder dispensers, ultrasonic machines, beam scales, dies — everything RCBS makes. Buy from Midsouth or other retailer. The more you spend, the more you get back — up to $75.00 total. You can submit the Rebate form by mail or you can apply online for the Rebate.
6. Powder Valley — 20% Off Winchester Hunting Ammo
⏺ Hefty 20% ammo discount right in time for hunting season
Get a 20% off rebate on Winchester hunting ammunition — Winchester Power-Point, Deer Season XP, and/or Copper Impact. This rebate comes in the form of a prepaid giftcard, with a max $50 value. Ammo must be purchased before September 30, 2023 and the Winchester Rebate Redemption Form (with receipts) must be postmarked by October 16, 2023. Buy from Powder Valley or other major vendors.
7. MidwayUSA — Walker’s Quad Connect 26 dB NRR Bluetooth Electronic Muffs, $59.99
⏺ Comfortable with excellent 26 dB NRR plus Bluetooth connectivity
These Walker Electronic Quad muffs have an exceptionally high 26dB noise reduction rating (NRR). Some other electronic muffs are rated at just 20 or 21 dB NRR, a huge difference. These are equipped with Bluetooth so you can receive calls and audio from your smartphone. These muffs boast FOUR Omni Directional Microphones, twin volume controls, adjustable frequency tuning, integrated voice mic, and really fast reaction time. If you want something thinner, the Walker’s NRR 23 Razor Slim Muffs are also on sale, for just $39.99, 33% Off.
8. MidwayUSA — Gripper Shooting Rest Bag, $29.99
⏺ Very good deal on a large, stable media-filled support bag
Here’s a versatile front rifle support bag that can be used by hunters as well as PRS/NRL competitors. Normally $42.99, this black nylon media-filled support bag is now just $29.99 at MidwayUSA. This Gripper Shooting Rest Bag has removable top straps that can hold the bag on your rifle for multi-position PRS stages. This bag works well as a front support for zeroing a hunting rifle. The bottom two legs can be manipulated to raise or lower your rifle. The Shooting Rest Bag also includes a shoulder strap.
9. Powder Valley — CCI 9mm Pistol Ammo, $12.79 for 50 Rds
⏺ Quality, USA-made brass-cased 9mm ammo at great low price
The 9mm Luger (9x19mm) is the most popular cartridge for CCW, gun games, and handgun training. Right now you can get excellent CCI Blazer 9mm FMJ ammo for just $12.79/box at Powder Valley. Chose either 115 grain or 124 grsom FMJ for the same $12.79 price for a 50-rd box. We have used this brass-cased ammo in SIGs, HKs, and Glocks and it proved 100% reliable with good accuracy.
10. Amazon — XAegis Tactical Eyewear, $18.99
⏺ Under $20 for versatile, multi-lens Eye Protection
All shooters need quality eye protection when operating firearms. XAegis Tactical Eyewear is a versatile and affordable option. These ANSI Z87+ rated shooting glasses come with three different interchangeable lenses (Clear, Yellow, Gray). You also get a transport case, lanyard, and cleaning cloth. Choose from three frame colors, each for $18.99: Black, Khaki, or Green. For under $20 these are hard to beat. It’s nice to have the color lens options for different weather conditions, and indoors/outdoors.
The digital archives of Shooting Sports USA magazine (SSUSA) features an Expert Forum on Wind Reading. This outstanding article on wind reading starts off with a section by ballistics guru Bryan Litz, author of Applied Ballistics for Long-Range Shooting. Then four of the greatest American shooters in history share their personal wind wisdom. Lanny Basham (Olympic Gold Medalist, author, Winning in the Wind), Nancy Tompkins (Past National HP Champion, author, Prone and Long-Range Rifle Shooting), David Tubb (11-Time Camp Perry National Champion), and Lones Wigger (Olympic Hall of Fame) all offer practical wind-reading lessons learned during their shooting careers.
Whether you shoot paper at Perry or prairie dogs in the Dakotas, this is a certified “must-read” resource on reading the wind. Here is a sample selection from the article:
Shooting Sports USA magazine (SSUSA) has a modern, mobile-friendly website with tons of great content. Log on to www.ssusa.org. There you’ll find current news stories as well as popular articles from the SSUSA archives. The SSUSA website also includes match reports, gear reviews, reloading advice, plus expert marksmanship tips from the USAMU.
Here is beautiful F-Open rig crafted by Forum member CigarCop of KW Precision LLC. It features a laminated wood stock with stunning figured walnut on the outside.
One of the most popular items in our Shooters’ Forum is the ongoing “Pride and Joy” thread. Since 2009, Forum members have posted photos and descriptions of their most prized rifles. Here are some of the most popule “Pride and Joy” rifles showcased in our Forum. Do you have a gun you’d like to see featured there? Just Register for the Forum and you can add your favorite gun to the list. You’ll enjoy the Forum, which recently hit the 70,000-member mark!
600/1000 Benchrest Light Gun for Richard Schatz in 6 BRA
This blue benchrest rig was crafted by Alex Wheeler for ace benchrest competitor Richard Schatz, a past 600-yard IBS Shooter of the Year. Richard’s new 600/1000-yard Light Gun features a Krieger barrel chambered in 6 BRA (40° Ackley version of 6mmBR Norma). That Krieger is mated to a 1.550″ BAT B action, ignition-timed for smooth bolt close and increased accuracy. The trigger is the sophisticated Bix’n Andy. Schatz’s BAT is glued and screwed into a Wheeler LRB stock, with aluminum rails and adjustable metal “tracking rudder” on the toe of the stock. The rudder can be adjusted side to side to ensure optimal tracking, while the rudder’s vertical angle can be adjusted slightly with shims.
Hand-Crafted Thumbhole-Stocked Rifle Chambered in 6 PPC
Forum Member Grimstod offered this handsome 6 PPC custom with a beautiful, hand-made thumbhole stock: “This was fully accurized with Premier Accuracy recoil lug installed. Really makes these shoot a lot better. It features a Kelbly Panda action with Hart barrel and glass bedding. Trigger fall was perfect to start and we have to give Ian Kelbly big thumbs up for making every action perfectly timed.” On top is a March competition scope. See more photos at www.premieraccuracy.com.
A Wicked Accurate Big Dawg in 28 Nosler
This 28 Nosler Benchrest rifle looks good and shoots even better — check out that 20-shot target shot at 200 yards! You can’t argue with that…
Belonging to Forum member LA50Shooter, this rig is chambered in 28 Nosler, with metal work by Gre-Tan Rifles. The action is a BAT Model “L” 1.650 Octagon with a 30 MOA scope rail, running a Jewell BR Trigger. The stock, from D&B Supply, is a Shehane Big Dawg Tracker with 5″ fore-end. Color scheme is “Field & Stream” Rutland laminate. This big rig boasts FOUR 34″ Benchmark barrels (1.5″ for seven inches tapering to 1.225″ at muzzle).
A Pair of Score Benchrest Beauties
Forum member JimPag showcased two new Benchrest-for-Score rifles. The rig on the left, smithed by Dwight Scott, features a Farley Black Widow RBLPRE (with Bix’n Andy trigger). It features Pistachio and Carbon Terry Leonard stock glued and screwed by Sid Goodling. The barrel is a Krieger 23.5″ chambered in 30BR with a Mike Ezell tuner. It’s topped with a Goodling-built 1-piece Davidson base and a Nightforce 42X Comp scope. The rifle on the right, smithed by Sid Goodling, features a Marsh Saguaro RBLPRE Action with Bix’n Andy trigger, and March 36-55X scope. This rifle boasts a rare Screwbean Mesquite and carbon stock by Terry Leonard. The 23″ Lilja bbl is chambered in 30 Thrasher with a Goodling tuner. (30 Thrasher is longer 30 BR case developed by Joe Entrekin). Jim also has two other barrels for this action in 30 BR and 6 BRAI. On top is a Sid Goodling-built one-piece Davidson base with a March 36-55X scope.
6BRA with BAT Action, Brux Barrel — The Blue Beauty
Next is a blue 6BRA beauty from Forum Member RiflePainter: “This is my brand new 6BRA Light Gun built by Jason Danley at Danley Precision! Jason did all of the work including paint. Brass was done by Darrel Jones at DJ’s brass service.” This features a Johnny Byers stock painted in HOK Custom Oriental Blue Candy mix. The action is a BAT DS Left-load, Right-eject, Right bolt fitted to a 1.5 oz. Jewell trigger. The barrel is a 28″ Brux HV 1:8″-twist chambered for the 6BRA (6mmBR Ackley) and fitted with a Harrell’s radial muzzle brake. On top is a Sightron SIII 10-50x60mm optic riding in BAT 1-piece scope rings.
Rem 700 in Manners Stock — .284 Winchester for Hunting
Here’s a Rem 700 enhanced with a Manners Elite TA stock and other upgrades. Forum Member NickB1075 says: “Here is a rifle I finished for hunting this year. It’s a bit heavy for New York woods carry but it just shoots great. Maybe I will have to get one of those fancy Proof Research barrels to lighten it up a bit.” Nick is running a Benchmark 1:8.5″-twist barrel chambered in .284 Win with 0.315 neck for shooting 150gr Barnes bullets. Nick added a Jewell trigger and on top is a U.S. Optics B10 Scope.
When Only the Biggest and Boldest Will Do — .50 BMG
No “Pride and Joy” feature would be complete without a Big Boomer. This impressive .50 BMG, “61 inches of big bore goodness”, weighs a whopping 49 pounds (95 lbs. complete with case and accessories). This rifle’s proud owner, forum member 6MT, says everything on this black beast is jumbo-sized: “Yes, I can stick my finger clear through the ports in the muzzle brake!” The rifle boasts a U.S. Ordnance 31″ heavy-contour barrel fitted to Barnard GP action. The stock is a “Big Mac” from McMillan. No optics yet — 6MT says he is “looking at an ATACR 7-35x56mm with a Spuhr mount… As soon as my wallet recovers!”
Hunting season has already started in some states, and is right around the corner in other locations. For readers who plan to hunt game this fall, we recommend you brush up on hunter safety and learn the laws in your jurisdiction. This article provides links to key resources for hunters, including links for state-by-state hunting regulation. In addition, we provide key hunting safety tips. Before you go out on a hunt, provide the exact location to family members, and it’s wise to have some kind of geo-location device if you are venturing far into the backcountry.
Visit WhereToHunt.org
There’s a great online resource for hunters that will help you find game locations in your state and ensure you have all the proper permits and game tags. WheretoHunt.org features an interactive map of the country. For all 50 states, the NSSF has compiled information about hunting license and permits, where to hunt, hunter education classes, laws and regulations and more. For each state you’ll also find a link for required applications and license forms.
Click Map to Get State-by-State Hunting INFO
Hunter Safety Tips NRAFamily.org has a good article listing six salient safety tips for hunters. Anyone preparing for a fall hunt should read this article before heading into the field. Here are three key bits of advice:
1. Be Positive of Your Target before Shooting
This might sound overly simplistic, but the fact remains that, every year during whitetail season, farmers everywhere are forced to spray-paint their cattle or risk having them “harvested” by hunters who don’t bother confirming the species of the large ungulate in their sights. Why does this happen? The most likely explanation is “buck fever,” meaning that the hunter wants so badly to see a nice big buck that sometimes his eyes deceive him into thinking that there’s one there. When in doubt, don’t shoot.
2. Scopes Are Not Binoculars
Never use a riflescope as a substitute for binoculars. The temptation to do so is real, but when one does this, one is by definition pointing the muzzle of the gun at unknown targets.
3. Know When to Unload
When finished hunting, unload your firearm before returning to camp. You should also unload your gun before attempting to climb a steep bank or travel across slippery ground.
Hunting Affiliation Groups
There are many good organizations dedicated to promoting hunting and preserving our hunting habitats. These groups all offer valuable information for hunters:
Team USA Olympian and 
