A number of interesting jobs in the firearms industry have become available in recent weeks. The NSSF maintains a regularly-updated listing of employment opportunities with gun-makers and shooting sports organizations. On the NSSF Career Center right now there are executive openings, engineering jobs, tech placements, account manager positions, sales and marketing positions, and digital media opportunities. Here are some of the jobs we found this week posted on the NSSF Website. CLICK HERE to visit the NSSF Career Center with all current listings.
Firearms Industry Jobs — Current Openings
The gun industry needs skilled personnel! The total number of full-time equivalent jobs in the firearms industry rose from approximately 166,000 in 2008 to almost 342,330 in 2020, a 106% increase. Here are some current job openings posted on the NSSF Career Center:
The 10th Annual GA Precision/Elite Tactical GAP Grind PRO-AM was held September 30 through October 2, 2022 at the K&M Shooting Complex in Tennessee. The GAP Grind, the largest, most popular PRS match in the world, drew hundreds of amateur and pro shooters from across the USA and from many other nations. Recognized as the premier PRO-AM precision rifle match with individual and team competition, the GAP Grind has introduced thousands of new shooters to the sport since its inception. It was great to see the GAP Grind successfully mark its 10th Anniversary.
In overall standings, Daniel Hereid (photo below) finished first among Pro shooters, while Toby Phillips was top Amateur Overall. The Top Five Pros and Amateurs, along with Top Five Teams are listed overall below. There were four hardware-based divisions: Gas Gun, Open, Production, and Tactical. Pro shooter Robert Brantley led the Tactical Division and pro Ryan Kerr topped the Production Division. Notably, both Brantley and Kerr were running Bushnell Elite Tactical XRS3 riflescopes.
1st – Daniel Hereid
2nd – Francis Colon
3rd – Chad Heckler
4th – Chris Simmons
5th – Nathan Cushman
Top 5 Amateurs:
1st – Toby Phillips
2nd – Tyler Yauch
3rd – Jeff Johnson
4th – Ryder Smith
5th – Caleb Purinton
Top 5 Pro/Am Teams:
1st – Tate Streater + Toby Phillips
2nd – Chad Heckler + Jacob Strutt
3rd – Joey McConnell + Ryder Smith
4th – Daniel Herald + Vince Yarling
5th – Troy Livesay + Rick Lovely
Excellent Attendance at 10th Annual GAP Grind Event
The year’s largest PRS match drew hundreds of attendees, and more than 80,000 rounds were fired throughout the three-day event. In addition to competition stages, the GAP Grind featured a vendor area, live music and entertainment. Bushnell gave out $5,000 to the top place finishers and added over $5,000 worth of product to the prize table.
The PRS website explains how the GAP Grind is conducted and scored: “Competitors will compete as individuals and as a team; scores will be maintained for both. Trophies will be awarded to the top 5 teams, top 5 professionals, and to the top 5 amateurs. Each team member will shoot a similar course of fire with slight modifications for the Amateurs. Professionals will shoot first and unassisted. The Amateur will shoot each stage with the Professional’s assistance. Scores for both days will count toward team standings and individual standings. This allows Precision Rifle Series shooters the ability to earn 2 day PRO Series points for this match. Amateurs … may earn PRS Regional Series points.”
In this video Eagle Eye Shooting Shares Highlights from the 2022 GAP Grind
Lots of Action, with 20+ Stages
The GAP Grind is a challenging, “high tempo” match with minimal down-time between stages. Over the course of 20+ stages, competitors will fire 200+ shots at a variety of steel, paper, moving, and reactive targets out to 1,200 yards. Targets vary in size/difficulty based on the shooter’s position, distance, and time allotted. Most stages include “stressors” — i.e. time limits or required movement(s).
This extensive, 45-minute video shows many of the 2022 GAP Grind Stages
“Sponsoring the GAP Grind is always a privilege, and this 10-year mark made it especially fun,” said Matt Rice, Bushnell senior media relations manager. “GAP Grind is all about giving both experienced and new shooters a welcoming place to test and hone their skills, and our partners at K&M, G.A. Precision and PRS have done a fantastic job of making that goal a reality.”
Creedmoor Sports produces premium precision shooting equipment, and is a major online vendor of ammo, reloading supplies, optics, tools, triggers, targets, rimfire rifles, and shooting accessories. It offers some of the best range carts, mats, shooting coats, and other shooting gear on the market. To assist its operations, Creedmoor Sports recently completed the purchase of four acres immediately adjacent to its current Alabama facility. The acquisition will support Creedmoor Sports’ “long-term growth objectives” and allow for facility expansion in the future.
Creedmoor Sports’ facilities are located on the grounds of historic Fort McClellan in Anniston, Alabama. The former U.S. Army installation is now home to a mix of private industry, government, and military training facilities. Since relocating to Alabama in 2013, Creedmoor Sports has enjoyed strong business growth. The company has recently become more vertically integrated by expanding its in-house manufacturing capabilities. This additional acreage will provide the infrastructure for further expansion in the areas of manufacturing, product development, and retail distribution operations.
“Expanding our operational footprint has been a key element of our long-term growth plan for quite some time” said Bill Gravatt, Creedmoor Sports President. “The efforts of our hard-working, talented Creedmoor Sports team in areas such as product development, marketing, and operational efficiencies have created this need to expand. We’ve outgrown our current space, and to support our growth in current and new markets, we need to expand our campus. The fact we can do so right here on McClellan is really an honor. The historical significance of the area is appreciated by all of us at Creedmoor[.]”
“Our growth just over the past two years has us really pushing the limits of our current facility,” said John Teachey, V.P. of Operations and Marketing. “Bill touched on a critical point that the real impetus behind this endeavor has been our investment in growing the company; and that investment is working. Fueling this growth are aggressive new product development programs and market expansion plans which will push this need even greater in the not-to-distant future. Continuing to provide our best-in-class customer service, and delivering the products our customers want requires expansion”, added Teachey.
Tour of Current Creedmoor Sports Production/Warehousing Facilities
The 2022 United States F-Class National Championships commence Sunday, October 16, 2022 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility (BASF) in Phoenix. There’s a “hybrid” format this year. (The range should be open for practice on Saturday 10/15/2022). For 2022, the Nationals combine both Mid-Range and Long-Range competitions in one extended mega-match. The Mid-Range U.S. F-Class Nationals take place October 16-19, 2022, with all shooting at 600-yard targets. The Long Range F-Class National Championships then run Thursday, October 20 through Sunday October 23, 2022. All Long Range matches are at 1000 yards. The competitions will have two different divisions: F-Open and F-TR (Target Rifle). Registration is now closed for both Mid-Range and Long-Range Championships.*
Located on 1,650 acres in north Phoenix, Ben Avery is one of the nation’s largest publicly operated shooting facilities. A City of Phoenix “Point of Pride,” the facility has received a five-star rating from the National Association of Shooting Ranges. A camping area is available for competitors. Contact Ben Avery Shooting Range Camping to reserve a camping spot.
Firing line at 2015 F-Class Nationals at Ben Avery Shooting Facility.
You’ll see some serious hardware on the firing line at Ben Avery. Here’s a modern F-Open rig with a handsome maple stock. The gun, belonging to David Mann of Texas, shoots as good as it looks.
RULES: Current NRA F-Class Rules shall apply. TARGETS: MR-1FC at 600 yards and LRFC at 1000 yards. TARGET SERVICE: Competitors will pull their own targets. SCORING: Competitors will score. Any competitor failing to perform his scoring duties may be disqualified. SQUADDING: All matches will be squadded. Squadding tickets for individual matches will be issued at the Stat. Office starting at 6:30 AM Sunday 16 October. Any competitor who fails to obtain his squadding ticket by 7:30 AM will only be squadded to fill up vacancies. CLASSIFICATION: NRA F-Class Classifications will be used. Those competitors unclassified or without proof of a lower classification, will be required to compete in the Master class. Please indicate classification on the registration and entry form. EMPTY CHAMBER INDICATOR (ECI): Approved NRA empty chamber indicators are required to be used at all times except during the preparation period time and firing.
* Registration officially ended on Monday, October 10, 2022. Entries after this time are considered late entries and may be accepted to fill vacancies on existing relays only. An additional $20.00 will be charged for late entries.
Here is a cool video that shows the entire production process for a SilencerCo Octane pistol suppressor start to finish. Beginning with the raw materials, this video shows a wide variety of cutting, milling, drilling, burnishing, fitting, metal bathing, surface finishing, and laser etching processes.
If you have any interest in production methods you’ll want to watch this video all the way through, and maybe a second time.
SilencerCo states: “From cutting metal to chemical baths, to extensive quality control every step of the way, our streamlined process is more than just a few steps.” We think you may be surprised by how many steps are involved in producing this silencer (aka “suppressor”).
The Octane is a user-maintainable, multi-caliber centerfire pistol silencer featuring a modular mounting system for use across a wide range of hosts. High strength, stainless steel CTA™ (Click Together Assembly) baffles are easily disassembled for cleaning. This design makes the Octane one of the most durable small-caliber suppressors on the market.
In its Octane 45 review, SilencerShop notes: “When it comes to ease of maintenance, the Octane 45 is probably the simplest .45 suppressor on the market. It uses the new click-together baffle system from Silencerco/SWR – which allows the suppressor to come apart like a monocore suppressor, while providing performance that is closer to a K-Baffle design.””
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 — RCBS Sitewide SALE — Over 1200 Items on Sale
⏺ Save on ALL RCBS products now — Dies, Presses, Tools and more
Are you in the market for new reloading gear or a press? Right now Graf’s is running a huge sale on ALL RCBS Reloading Equipment. Virtually every RCBS product in stock is on sale at 10% OFF. Get everything from a set of dies to a full progressive reloading press all at 10% Off with no limit.
⏺ Leupold scopes, spotters, LRFs, binocs on sale plus valuable GIFT Cards
Leupold makes fine optics but you rarely see a big sale on all Leupold product lines. Head over to Sportsman’s Warehouse for the exclusive Leupold Gold Event. You’ll find Leupold riflescopes, spotting scopes, rangefinders, binoculars, and more — with dozens of items on sale. Plus, you can get a valuable bonus for each Leupold purchase. Buyers get a $10 Sportsman’s Warehouse Gift Card for every $100 spent on Leupold products. Plus you can enter a Gold Event Contest with a $16,000 prize package.
⏺ Very good price on a solid, versatile CZ 457 rimfire rifle
Whether for NRL-22 matches or getting rid of critters around the property, a good .22 LR rifle is something every gun guy should have. CZ makes excellent rimfire rifles with smooth actions and good triggers. Right now you can get the .22 LR CZ 457 Scout for a bargain $349.99 price. This is a great deal — this very same 457 Scout rifle sells for $493.16 elsewhere. With the CZ 457’s quick, 60-degree bolt throw, nice sights, and compact magazines, this rifle is a handy shooter that can excel at multiple tasks.
4. K&M Precision — 20% Off K&M Expander Mandrel Systems
⏺ Superb expand mandrels — precise dimensions and see-through die body
Optimize bullet tension with K&M expander mandrels for precision case neck sizing. Use code 4BT1FREE to get 20% OFF bullet tension expand mandrels from an industry leader trusted by precision shooters for optimizing accuracy when reloading. Mandrels are precision ground in .0005″ increments and controlled to +/- 50 millionths (.00005″). Simply select your caliber, desired bullet tension*, optional etched mandrel holder, and corresponding gage pin to confirm size. Every expand mandrel shank is laser-etched with the caliber and the bullet tension for easy identification.
5. Amazon — Midland-EX37VP Radio Kit (Set of 2), $49.99
⏺ Quality Walkie-Talkies with good range and special Emergency functions
Having a good 2-way communication system is vital when hunting or wilderness hiking. And a pair of walkie-talkies really helps during shooting practices when a buddy goes downrange to set targets. A very good 2-Way radio system is the Midland-EX37VP E+Ready Emergency Two-Way Radio Kit. These walkie-talkies have a 26 mile range and feature 22 FRS (Family Radio Service) channels, along with channel scan. With this kit you get vital E+Ready Emergency functionality, plus NOAA weather alerts — important in the event of a natural disaster.
⏺ Self-resetting targets made from good AR500 steel
Shooting at reactive targets is ton of fun, but no one likes trekking down range to reset them. Here’s the answer — sturdy, self-resetting AR 500 steel targets. These come complete with frames that raise them off the ground. Grab the Caldwell Prairie Dog Popper Target or the Caldwell Pepper Popper Target. Both these targets tilt when hit for instant confirmation. Then the built-in, automatic spring reset eliminates the need to go down range.
7. Amazon — Lyman Universal Press Stand, $59.99
⏺ Excellent stand offers better ergonomics and adds storage levels
Do you have a reloading press but wish you could mount it higher than bench level? We recommend the Lyman Universal Press Stand. This heavy-duty steel stand comes with two mounting plates pre-drilled for nearly all single-station, turret, or progressive press. The stand raises your press 9.25″ for a clear view of reloading operations. The top plates adapt to most popular presses, and there is also an area where you can drill mounting holes. The stand base can be bolted to your bench or secured with C-Clamps.
8. Midsouth — Fiocchi 9mm Pistol Ammo, $349.99 for 1000 Rds
⏺ Good ammo — grab a case now at this super-low price
The 9mm Luger (9x19mm) is the most popular centerfire pistol cartridge. Every handgunner should keep a good supply of 9mm ammo on hand for days at the range. Here’s a great deal on quality, major-manufacturer 9mm FMJ pistol ammunition. Get 1000 rounds of Fiocchi 9mm 115gr FMJ ammo for just $349.99. That works out to just $17.50 per 50 count box, or $0.35 per round — a great deal.
9. Amazon — Hornady Powder Funnel, $46.99
⏺ Good funnel kit has 9 cartridge adapters and handy wide mouth
Every serious handloader needs a good powder funnel, preferably one that fits multiple rim diameters. One of our favorite funnel systems is the Hornady Premium Powder Funnel Kit. This includes an anti-static aluminum funnel PLUS 9 caliber-specific adapters, all housed in a handy, padded storage case. This easy-to-use reloading funnel boasts a large diameter mouth (less prone to spillage) and squared rim design that will not roll off the table.
⏺ Very good muffs for the price with a good 26db SNR
We say it all the time but don’t ever shoot without quality hearing protection. Consider these Vanderfield folding ear muffs. These come in a variety of colors (blue, brown, green, gray, black, red, purple, pink) so you can easily tell yours apart from others. The 26db SNR sound protection rating is above average for compact muffs. For maximum protection use plugs under the muffs. (FYI, “SNR” or Single Number Rating, is the EURO equivalent of the NRR noise rating in the USA.)
* K&M Bullet tension expand mandrels are ground to account for spring-back of brass based on nominal anneal – spring back can vary by manufacture, number of reloads before annealing, and other factors. K&M recommends getting three mandrels, including a size above and below target bullet tension.
Ammoland is a popular website hosting tons of gun-related content. Every day Ammoland releases multiple stories about new firearms, gun industry trends, and important Second Amendment legal and political developments. Along with gun news, Ammoland now offers regular tests of new rifles and pistols. Here are four recent Ammoland video reviews of new-for-2022 handguns, two 9x19mm pistols, and two rimfire handguns (one .22 LR and one .22 WMR). Ammoland feature articles supplement all four videos.
SIG Sauer P365 X-Macro 9mm
AmmoLand recently tested the 17-round Sig Sauer P365 X-Macro pistol. It determined that this is a very good pistol, as are other P365 variants, including the basic P365 and the P365XL. Ammoland’s tester, Jim Grant, was very impressed: “The P365 X-Macro 9mm is just a great all-around handgun. In my opinion, the new SIG P365 X-Macro is a must-have concealed carry piece for shooters who still carry either a micro sub-compact and want more rounds or guys who carry the larger P320 9mm pistol. The Macro is a level-up upgrade over SIG’s other concealed carry guns yet still allows shooters to customize it to meet their exact needs completely.” CLICK HERE for full review on Ammoland.com.
Kel-Tec PMR-30 .22 WMR Pistol
Kel-Tec’s innovative PMR-30 .22 WMR pistol has a huge 30-round capacity. You read that right — this new semi-auto rimfire holds THIRTY rounds. Ammoland’s reviewer, Jim Grant, notes: “While a firearm chambered in the low-recoil .22 Win Magnum Rimfire will never have the fight-stopping ballistic efficacy of a big-bore caliber… the capacity of the rimfire round shouldn’t be discounted either. That’s why Kel-Tec’s introduction of both PMR-30 and CMR-30 is so revolutionary. It makes short work of any varmints within range and is a great pistol for teaching new shooters that isn’t terribly expensive to shoot and has very soft felt recoil.” CLICK HERE for full review on Ammoland.com.
Taurus GX4XL T.O.R.O. 9mm
The Taurus GX4XL T.O.R.O. 9mm pistol boasts a low price, good ergonomics, and high capacity. Ammoland notes: “On paper, it should be the go-to concealed carry gun — but in a market saturated with solid alternative carry pistols, can Taurus’ latest iteration of its GX series of handguns hold its own?” Tester Jim Grant concluded: “So, is the new Taurus GX4XL T.O.R.O. EDC worth its $420 MSRP? If you already own the original Taurus GX4, no. The XL is harder to conceal and, while easier to shoot, doesn’t increase performance to a large enough extent to warrant buying a new pistol. But if you don’t have a good subcompact pistol and aren’t flush with cash, the GX4 XL will do the job.” CLICK HERE for full review on Ammoland.com.
Hands-On P322 Testing by Ammoland’s Jim Grant
Ammoland’s Jim Grant did a very thorough review of SIG’s P322 rimfire pistol. Grant shot hundreds of rounds both with and without a suppressor. He concluded that the P322 was extremely reliable and fun to shoot: “SIG P322 Verdict — Is the SIG P322 worth a buy? Abso-freaking-lutely yes. The P322 ships with two mags, a threaded barrel, two triggers, and an optic cut. That is an already impressive package but add… that the gun is literally peerless in terms of reliability and you have a recipe for total market dominance. What’s even better is that the gun has a MAP of $399.” CLICK HERE for full review on Ammoland.com.
The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) has published a series of reloading “how-to” article on the USAMU Facebook page. In this article, the USAMU’s reloading gurus address a question frequently asked by prospective handloaders: “Should I buy a single-stage press, or a progressive?” The USAMU says the best answer is Solomon-esque in both its wisdom and simplicity: “Get BOTH!” However, there is definitely more to the issue, as the USAMU explains below.
Bottom line, the USAMU recommends that novice handloaders start with a single-stage press. That press will always be useful for many tasks, even if a multi-station progressive is later acquired.
Progressive Press Safety Considerationsby USAMU Staff
Many are the beginning handloaders who have asked a friend about their “setting up” a progressive press for them. The idea is that the newbie could then just feed in components and crank out buckets of practice ammo without needing to really learn much about handloading. Tempting though this might be, that’s simply not how it works. Such an approach might be ok if there were never a malfunction with either press or operator, but that’s unrealistic. Our hypothetical newbie would then lack the knowledge to problem-solve most situations.
Worse yet, several different handloading operations would be occurring at different stations on the progressive press at the same time. It takes an experienced operator to keep track of, and truly understand the significance of, all those potential mini-problems. Loading without this experience is a recipe for potential disaster — such as a double powder charge (especially with pistol cartridges) dropped while the loader was attending to some other function, etc. Progressives are an animal unto themselves, and while they offer many benefits, they do take some getting used to – even by experienced handloaders!
ILLUSTRATIVE HORROR STORY
Here, enter a 40-year veteran handloader who decided to jump onto the progressive bandwagon late in his career, having used only single-stage presses all his life. A High Master NRA High Power Rifle competitor, he had no background in competitive pistol shooting, where historically most progressive presses are found.
Experienced Action Pistol shooters have typically encountered multiple episodes in which shooters “skipped” a powder charge for some reason, leading to a squib round and a bullet possibly lodged in the bore. Thus, at matches, it’s reflexive for them to yell “STOP!” in unison if they see a shooter get a “click” vs. a “bang”, and rack the slide to keep firing. This writer has personally seen several pistols saved in just such scenarios over the years.
Better Safe Than Sorry — the RCBS Lock-Out Die
RCBS Makes a “Lock-Out Die” that senses the powder charge. This will halt the Progressive press if you have a double charge, or an undercharge. Your Editor has the Lock-Out Die on his RCBS Pro 2000. It has “saved his bacon” a half-dozen times over the years. It can be used on Dillon and Hornady progressives as well as RCBS machines.
Click No Bang — What NOT to Do
Our High Master set up a popular progressive press and began turning out .223 Rem 100-yard practice ammo with abandon. He was using a moly-coated 52gr match bullet and an economical, fast-burning surplus powder that gave great accuracy. Once on the range, he began practicing strings of rapid-fire. All was well, until he heard “Click!” rather than “Boom”.
Lacking the above experience or onlookers to halt him, he reflexively operated the charging handle on his expensive, custom NM AR15 Service Rifle, and the next trigger squeeze reportedly registered on seismographs over at least a three-state radius. He sat, uninjured but bewildered, until the hail of expensive bits and pieces quit raining down around him.
When the smoke cleared, he immediately cursed the horrid, evil, demonically-possessed progressive press for this, his first-ever reloading mishap. His $1400 NM upper was ruined, but thankfully, his $800 pre-ban lower… and he had escaped injury.
This tale is told not to discourage the use of progressive presses, but to emphasize the need to EASILY and IMMEDIATELY KNOW what is happening with the press at each station, every time the handle is cranked. Not to do so is, as they say, “bad ju-ju.”
It illustrates why we at the USAMU Handloading Shop agree in recommending that new handloaders should begin with a single-stage press. Once one thoroughly learns the steps in each phase of handloading by repeated experience, then one will be qualified to move on to a progressive press.
The single-stage press will REMAIN virtually indispensable for one’s entire handloading career, even after having purchased a progressive press (or two). There are endless small projects that are best handled on a single-stage press, and a poll of USAMU’s Handloading staff reveals that not one would willingly be without his single-stage press, despite owning at least one progressive.
In our Shooters’ Forum, there’s an interesting thread about a very light hunting rifle. Featuring a Defiance ultra-light all-steel action, this 6.5×57 Lapua lightweight tips the scales at just 4.93 pounds including scope and rings! For reference, a half-gallon of milk weighs 4.3 pounds, so this rifle is LIGHT! Here’s a report from the proud owner who built the rifle for a future Kodiak Island Alaska mountain goat hunt.
Ultralight Rifle Report by Forum Member Dave
I decided I wanted the challenge of a Mountain Goat hunt after I turn 60. It was the perfect excuse to put together an ultralight, something I had wanted to do for years. I wanted to see how light a bolt action rifle could actually be. My goal was to stay under 5 pounds, without going to a Titanium action, including rings and scope. I knew this would be difficult but I did manage to achieve the goal.
I started with a Defiance anTi model Rem Model 7 short action. This is an extremely smooth action that weighs just 19.2 ounces in this size. I had Carson Lilja of Lilja Barrels program a barrel taper to my dimensions for a 6.5mm 1:8″-twist stainless, 3-groove 22″ barrel. As fitted in the rifle, the barrel is free-floated except for the first inch or so forward of the action.
Other rifle components are: Bix n Andy Dakota trigger, aluminum trigger guard, blind magazine with an aluminum follower, titanium action screws, and a Leupold 3-9X lightweight optic in Talley rings. I also had an aluminum adapter installed in the for-end to accept a magnetic mount Javelin carbon fiber bipod.
The rifle was chambered up in 6.5×47 Lapua by my friends at Sportsman’s Outfitters in Knox, Pennsylvania. Then I sent the barreled action to Wayne at Oregunsmithing (Pendleton, OR) to have a Kevlar stock built. The stock weighs a whopping 14 ounces! When it came back I had everything Cerakoted (see bottom photo before coating). This stock was a full custom, built around my barreled action. Wayne’s work was reasonably priced with a 3-month turn around.
Excellent Accuracy — 5/8″ Three-Shot Groups at 100 Yards
Now it was time to shoot the rifle and I was not disappointed. It shoots both Barnes TTSX 100s or Swift Scirocco II 130s into 5/8″ at 100 yards. Off a bipod at 400 yards, three go into 3″ or so. This thing is crazy light even though it wears a 22″ barrel.
Without scope and rings, before Cerakoting the action and barrel, this 6.5×47 rifle tipped the scales at a mere 4.20 pounds (67.2 ounces). Check it out:
I have seen it time and time again, shooters on the line wrestling with their rifle trying to get the bolt closed while the wind is switching. They were too focused trying to get their bolt to close and getting their rifle settled back on the bags that they missed the wind switch. Bang… Eight! The straw that broke the camel’s back for me was at the 2017 Canadian Nationals. I was paired up with a young girl and she would try really hard to close the bolt on her rifle. The majority of the time she would get it to close, but often times she could not even get the round to chamber. She was focused on her rifle the entire time rather than on the conditions. When we completed our strings, she had five rounds that did not chamber our of 15! That is way too many!. I told her she needed to think about Full-length sizing with 0.002″ shoulder bump, or Controlled Full-length Sizing like I call it. I told her not to worry about losing accuracy. I told her that I full-length size all my rounds and asked if she noticed how smooth my bolt was and noticed my score. She said yes, they were both great!
Controlled Full-length Sizing Does NOT Harm Accuracy
I have found that Controlled Full-length Sizing does NOT hurt accuracy or shorten brass life. I find that I can focus much more on the conditions when I don’t have to think about chambering a round nor extracting it. It has become second nature. After firing, I keep my head welded to the stock, I open the bolt by placing my thumb on top of stock and rotating hand upwards. I reach in and retrieve spent case, place it back in ammo box, and pick up another loaded round and put in chamber. I verify conditions and when ready, I push the bolt in and close it with my index and middle finger.
With Controlled Full-length Sizing you “bump” the shoulder around .002″ for bolt guns.* Image courtesy Sinclair International which carries a variety of Full-length dies.
Whidden Full-Length Sizing Dies by AccurateShooter.com Editor
For proper Full-length sizing, you want a quality die that’s a very good match to your chamber. For our project rifles we usually turn to Whidden Gunworks which offers both bushing and non-bushing FL dies. And if you want the hot new option, check out Whidden’s patent-pending, click-adjustable FL-sizing die. This gives instant, precise control over shoulder bump. It works great.
*With gas guns, such as the AR10, you may want to increase shoulder bump to .003″ or more. With some benchrest cartridges, .0015″ bump may prove optimal. But .002″ is a good starting point.
A number of interesting jobs in the firearms industry have become available in recent weeks. The NSSF maintains a regularly-updated listing of employment opportunities with gun-makers and shooting sports organizations. On the NSSF Career Center right now there are executive openings, engineering jobs, tech placements, account manager positions, sales and marketing positions, and digital media opportunities. Here are some of the jobs we found this week posted on the NSSF Website. CLICK HERE to visit the NSSF Career Center with all current listings.
