Protect Your Hearing — Wear Protection Whenever You Shoot
Noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus are two of the most common afflictions for recreational shooters and hunters. Everyone knows that gunfire is loud, but very few people understand the repercussions that shooting can have on their hearing until it’s too late.
The better quality suppressors can reduce the noise of a gunshot by 20 to 35 decibels (dB). Good muffs or plugs will reduce sound by 23 to 33 dB. By decreasing the overall sound signature, suppressors help to preserve the hearing of recreational shooters and hunters. Even the most effective suppressors, on the smallest and quietest calibers (.22 LR) reduce the peak sound level of a gunshot to between 110 to 120 dB. To put that in perspective, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), that is as loud as a jackhammer (110 dB) or an ambulance siren (120 dB). For normal caliber handguns and rifles, suppressed sound levels routinely exceed 130 dB, just shy of OSHA’s “hearing safe” threshold of 140 dB.
According to Dr. William W. Clark, the current Director of the Washington Univ. School of Medicine’s Audiology/Communication Sciences Program, a “serious threat to hearing comes from recreational hunting or target shooting”. This is in large part due to the fact that many people choose not to use traditional hearing protection devices like earplugs and earmuffs because they want to be able to hear their surroundings. Multiple studies have found that between 70 to 80% of hunters never wear earplugs or earmuffs, and nearly half of all target shooters don’t consistently wear traditional hearing protection. Thus, it should come as no surprise that for every five years of hunting, hunters become seven percent more likely to experience high frequency hearing loss.
This article is based on information from the American Suppressor Association (ASA). Since the ASA’s formation in 2011, three additional states have legalized suppressor ownership and 18 states have legalized suppressor hunting. For more information, visit www.AmericanSuppressorAssociation.com.
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. MidwayUSA — Lyman Products on Sale at Major Discounts
⏺ Major savings on Lyman products — Presses, Tools, Dies and more
Lyman crafts a huge variety of reloading gear — everything from dies to 8-station turret presses and even bullet-casting furnaces. Right now get HUGE savings on Lyman products at MidwayUSA. Save 15-20% on presses, 27% on trigger pull gauge, 25% on Lyman electronic powder dispenser, and up to 53% on dies. This major MidwayUSA sale includes most popular Lyman presses, case trimming tools, scales, tumblers, dies, and much more.
2. Amazon — RCBS Summit Press, $150.35
⏺ Unique compact design, also great for range loading
Do you need a press that can be mounted on a bench with no overhang? The perfect solution is the RCBS Summit Press. With the ability to mount anywhere due to it’s top-down operation this press is compact and versatile. Better yet, it will accommodate 1″ dies which is a rare ability for presses. The Summit’s unique design allows it so be mounted with an extremely small footprint on your bench.
3. KYGUNCO — Benelli Nova Pump Shotgun, $399.99
⏺ Great price on quality pump shotgun with good sights
If you in the market for a well built home defense pump shotgun check out the Benelli Nova. With it’s 18.5″ barrel, easy to use ghost ring sights and it’s ability to cycle everything up to 3-1/2″ shells the Nova is a great shotgun and even better deal for under $400.
4. Creedmoor Sports — Deluxe Padded Shooting Mats on SALE
⏺ Some of the best, most comfortable shooting mats, now on sale
If you shoot prone then you need a good mat to keep you comfortable and stable. You can find a large selection of Shooting Mats at Creedmoor Sports. You’ll find roll-up or 4-part folding mats on sale now. Most of these are customizable with colors and accessories.
5. Bruno’s Shooters Supply — BAT Actions IN STOCK
⏺ Avoid the wait with superb BAT actions in stock now
It’s never taken longer to build a custom rifle than it does in today’s world. Shorten that time a little bit by picking up one of these in stock BAT Actions from Bruno Shooters Supply. Right now Bruno’s has a very large selection of BAT actions, and the best thing is they are ready to ship today.
6. Sportsman’s WHSE — Vortex HD 20-60x85mm Spotter, $799.99
⏺ Very good spotter for the price with outstanding warranty
Vortex has updated its top-of-the-line Razor HD spotting scope, changing from a small-knob focus system to a single large focus ring. Now get the previous model Vortex Razor HD 20-60x85mm Spotting Scope at a huge discount. The $799.99 sale price is $800 less than the current 27-60x85mm Razor HD ($1599.00 on Amazon) — that’s HALF the price! This two-tone $799.99 spotter features premium High Definition (HD) glass for excellent sharpness/resolution with minimal chromatic aberration (color fringing). Verified purchaser reviews have been very positive: “Great spotting scope at a great price”.
7. Amazon — WildShot Cleaning Kit, $34.95
⏺ Cool “Big Cartridge” kit that is also very functional and versatile
Are you looking for a fun gift or maybe a conversation piece for your gun room? Check out this unique WildShot 51-piece Cleaning Kit. This kit features 3 brass cleaning rods, plastic handle, 10 brass wire brushes, 5 mops, 2 brass adaptors, 2 plastic slotted patch holders, 25 cleaning patches, 1 double ended nylon brush, 1 double ended cleaning pick, 1 oil bottle & case. All these cleaning tools are housed in a durable plastic container that looks just like a giant cartridge case.
8. Palmetto SA — Rifle Case, Earmuffs, Shooting Glasses $49.99
⏺ Great bundle deal with Walker Muffs, Glasses, and Carry Case
Here’s a great combo deal for NRL22 competitors and black rifle shooters. Right now, for just $49.99 you can get a “bundle” with PSA 36″ rifle case, Walker’s NRR 27 Slim Muffs, and shooting glasses. The rifle case includes three pockets on the front side plus nice, adjustable shoulder straps on the opposite side. Grab this PSA Case, Muffs, Glasses Bundle while you can! You basically get the muffs and shooting glasses for FREE since the PSA 36″ rifle case by itself costs $49.99!
⏺ 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, now $22.99 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. Hornady says this is effective in spaces up to 333 cubic feet.
10. EuroOptic — Sitka Clothing Closeout Sale, Save 43%
⏺ Sitka makes superb camo gear — now get major discounts
Whether hunting or shooting, being in the cold is no fun when you have the wrong clothes. Stay warm with Sitka Gear and grab some during the EuroOptic Sitka closeout sale. They make some of the best cold weather gear combining wind-resistance and warmth using modern, lightweight yet durable materials.
The late Bill Myers was recognized as one of greatest rimfire smiths who ever lived. Myers crafted many match-winning, record-setting rimfire benchrest rigs. Here we feature one of Bill’s most interesting creations — a clamping action that allows a rimfire barrel to be indexed (rotated) around the bore axis.
Bill was a creative thinker, and his own exhaustive testing has convinced him that barrel indexing can enhance accuracy in rimfire benchrest guns. Myers did acknowledge that, particularly with a very good barrel, the advantages of indexing may be subtle, and extensive testing may be required. Nonetheless, Myers believed that indexing could improve rimfire accuracy.
Indexing with the Myers’ Clamping Action
To index the barrel, Myers simply loosens the three clamping-bolts and rotates the barrel in the action. Because there is no thread to pull the barrel in or out, the headspace stays the same no matter how much the barrel is rotated. In other words you can rotate the barrel to any position on the clockface and the headspace remains unchanged.
The Challenge of Barrel Indexing With a conventional barrel installation, employing a shoulder with a threaded tenon, it is difficult to index the barrel. Even with a cone breech (photo right) that eliminates the problem of extractor cuts, you’d have to use shims to alter the barrel index position, or otherwise re-set the shoulder each time you screwed the barrel in further.
Clamping Action Allows Barrel to Be Rotated to Any Position
Bill has come up with a masterful solution to barrel indexing. He designed and built his own prototype custom action that clamps the barrel rather than holding it with threads. The front section of the action is sliced lengthways, and then clamped down with three bolts. A special bushing (the gold-color piece in photos) fits between the barrel and the action. By using bushings of different inside diameters, Bill can fit any barrel up to an inch or so diameter, so long as it has a straight contour at the breech end. To mount the barrel, Bill simply places the fitted bushing over the barrel end-shank, then slips the “sleeved” barrel into the front end of the action. Tighten three bolts, and the barrel is secure.
Want to learn the basics of position shooting? Then you should check out an article by Gary Anderson, DCM Emeritus, in On the Mark digital magazine (Summer 2014, pp. 6-13). This article covers all the key elements: body position (prone, sitting, standing), sling use/adjustment, sight picture, aiming process, and trigger control. While this 8-page article was specifically written for Rimfire Sporter shooters, the techniques described by Anderson apply to all types of position shooting, whether you shoot air rifles, smallbore rifles, or centerfire rifles.
Here’s what Anderson says about aiming — how to keep your sights steady and get them centered on the middle of the target:
Trigger Contact and Center As soon as aiming at the target begins, the index finger must move from the trigger-guard to contact the trigger. It is important to get initial pressure on the trigger as soon as aiming begins. Then the shooter must focus on the sight picture and centering the sight picture movements over the aiming point. No one, not even champion shooters, can hold the aligned sights perfectly still. The sights are going to move a little bit or a lot, depending on the shooter’s skill level. The secret is to center those sight picture movements over the aiming point on the target (see trace illustration) before pulling the trigger.
When the sight picture movements on the target are centered, the last step in firing the shot is to add… smooth pressure on the trigger until the shot breaks.
Anderson also discusses the 5 Basics of Shot Technique:
Rimfire is hot now. Across the nation, .22 LR rimfire disciplines are now the fastest growing types of rifle competition. And with today’s featured rig, the Competition Machine (Eliseo) Universal Match Rimfire Rifle (UMRR), you can shoot a variety of matches — NRA rimfire, NRL22, NRL22X, PRS Rimfire, local silhouette-style steel matches, even local rimfire benchrest matches (with a bag-rider fitted up front).
Compared to shooting centerfire, rimfire shooting is much less costly. You can get pretty good match ammo for under $8.00 per box. That works out to just 16 cents per round. Compare that to $1.20 or more per round for handloaded centerfire ammunition. And you don’t have to deal with the persistent shortages of powder and primers, or spend hours hand-loading. With rimfire, just open your .22 LR ammo box, load your magazine, and shoot.
Versatile, Accurate, Affordable — Universal Match Rimfire Rifle
If you’re a Palma shooter and want to shoot rimfire with a rifle with identical ergonomics and “feel” as your centerfire tubegun, Gary Eliseo’s new Universal Match Rimfire Rifle (UMRR) is your logical choice. Or if you are looking for a high-quality bolt-action chassis rifle for NRL22 (rimfire tactical) competition, this is a great option. Running a smooth Tikka T1x action, the UMRR offers match-grade performance at an attractive price — $1750.00 for the Sport-Target model with 20″ Tikka factory barrel.*
The Tikka T1x action is a smooth, short-throw action that cycles quickly and easily:
Gary Eliseo, head honcho of Competition Machine in Arizona, explained the features of the UMRR: “Our Universal Match Rimfire Rifle system has all the features of its big brother the Universal Match Rifle System (UMRS) and will accept all the same accessories and attachments. The rimfire UMRR is identical in size to the centerfire version so it’s possible to have your centerfire and rimfire rifles set up exactly alike.” That’s ideal for guys who compete in both centerfire and smallbore matches, and likewise it is ideal for cross-training using lower-cost rimfire ammo.
The UMRR is built around the excellent Tikka T1x platform. Gary notes: “We have accurized and tuned the T1x to give the best possible performance from factory barrel and trigger. The UMRR can also be customized with a high-end match barrel and trigger. By just changing the attachments, the UMRR can be used in multiple shooting disciplines like NRL22 and NRA rimfire competitions.” Gary also noted that Tikka recently updated the T1x bolt and magazine for improved feeding and extraction. See video below.
Sport-Target UMRR Shows Excellent Accuracy with Factory Barrel
Eliseo confirms that the Sport-Target UMRR with factory Tikka barrel and trigger is easily capable of sub-MOA precision. Check out those five-shot groups shot at 50 yards. The smallest group (.210″) works out to 0.40 MOA, while the largest group (0.39″) is 0.74 MOA. Remember this is with Tikka factory barrel!
The Sport-Target UMRR with factory Tikka barrel and trigger is capable of sub-MOA precision.
The Sport-Target version uses the factory 20″ Tikka barrel with threaded muzzle that has been set back and re-chambered so the bullet will engrave the rifling, which increases the precision of the rifle significantly. The excellent Tikka trigger is tuned to a pull weight of one pound. Overall the UMRR is a great choice as an XTC/LR prone trainer or NRL competition rifle at very reasonable cost.
Superb Accuracy from UMRR Match-Target Model
The Match-Target version comes with a top of the line Benchmark match barrel and Eley match chamber with the muzzle configured for your application to accept a front sight, tuner, or threaded, there are several aftermarket single-stage or two-stage match triggers available. Current Eliseo Rifles price for the UMRR Match-Target is $2400.00.*
The Match Target with Benchmark match barrel is capable of competing at the highest level. Shown above are 50-meter sling targets and Lapua 50-meter test center results. The bottom box shows 20 shots with a superb 10.52 average score.
Updates from Tikka Improve the T1x Action and Magazine
Gary noted that Tikka recently made an update to the Tikka bolt and magazine to improve feeding and extraction. Tikka replaced a wire-type system with a solid ejector element in the magazine. Gary says that improves the reliability of both feeding and extraction. Watch the video to see how this works.
Centerfire Accesories Will Work on UMRR
Gary notes that all the centerfire UMRS attachments will fit the UMRR, including handstop, rear balance weights, Picatinny scope rail, ARCA accessory rail, rear bag-rider, bipod mount, and front bag riding attachments. This easy adaptability makes the UMRR a true multi-discipline system for smallbore matches, NRL22/PRS rimfire competition, and cross-training.
Adapt the UMRR Easily to Multiple Shooting Disciplines
The UMRR can be easily configured for NRL, PRS, or NRA rimfire competitions by just changing the attachments. The UMRR is built on the excellent Tikka T1x barreled action that’s been accurized and bonded into the UMRR chassis system. Gary says the UMRR feeds .22 LR rounds flawlessly from the Tikka 10-round magazine, especially with the new, improved magazines. The UMRR is currently available in two basic configurations, both of which can be customized to your specifications.
Two Versions — Sport-Target and Match-Target
The Sport-Target version of the UMRR uses the factory 20″ Tikka barrel with threaded muzzle. Gary can tune the excellent Tikka T1x trigger down to a pull weight of around one pound, though for tactical work he says you may want to leave it stock. Gary tells us the Sport-Target is a great choice as an XTC/LR prone trainer or NRL22 competition rifle.
Match Target UMRR with Benchmark Custom Barrel
The Match-Target version comes with a top-of-the-line Benchmark match barrel and Eley match chamber with the muzzle configured for your application to accept a front sight, tuner, or suppressor. There are several aftermarket single-stage or two-stage match triggers available.
Tikka T1x — Quality Rimfire Technology from Finland
Gary Eliseo’s impressive UMRR is based on the smooth, reliable Tikka T1x rimfire action shown below. Note the nice craftsmanship of action, bolt, mag system, and trigger group. There is an extensive review of the T1x (.17 HMR version) on Britain’s GunMart.net website.
Gary Eliseo of Competition Machine. Here is UMRR designer Gary Eliseo at the 2017 Berger SW Nationals. Gary is a talented rifle marksman who competes in both smallbore and high power disciplines.
* Price is subject to change. Price may be increased based on increased costs of actions, barrels, and components. Contact Eliseo Rifles for current pricing.
Rimfire plinking with reactive targets is FUN and affordable. We always like to include REACTIVE TARGETS during a trip to the range with our .22s. Decent .22 LR rimfire ammo is not expensive, and a wide variety of affordable steel targets are available. Rimfire-class steel is much less costly than the heavy AR500 steel plates used for centerfire rounds. In fact, Birchwood Casey makes a wide variety of reactive steel rimfire targets that retail for under $50.00. These offer great “Bang for the Buck”.
A fast-cycling, semi-auto .22 LR rifle like the Savage A22 is great for shooting reactive targets.
GunsAmerica Digest has reviewed a variety of reactive rimfire target systems from Birchwood Casey. We recommend you read this detailed article Little Targets, Big Fun, by Jordan Michaels. He acquired four different steel target systems and tested them at his Texas range. Michales was impressed: “At $30-$55 a pop, Birchwood-Casey’s targets are small enough to be challenging and cheap enough to buy four or five for the price of one centerfire-rated target. They’re also light, portable, reactive, and easy to set up.”
B/C Gallery
B/C Back Drop
B/C Qualifier Spinner
B/C King of Diamonds
Check out how these Birchwood Casey steel targets perform. These animated GIFs show actual shooting sessions with .22 LR rifles and pistols. The targets hold up well, though the black paint comes off. The reviewer notes: “You shouldn’t worry about durability as long as you stick to .22 LR. I shot the heck out of these targets with rifles and handguns using both standard and high-velocity cartridges, and I didn’t notice any denting or cracking. If the targets are going to be kept outside, however, keep an eye out for rust – the black paint comes off immediately.”
Safety Considerations with Steel Reactive Targets
The tester said the targets worked best with a .22 LR ammo with at least 1000 fps MV at the targets. He tested with .22 LR pistols as close as 7 yards, and .22 LR rifles out to 100 yards. Be advised — when shooting steel targets at relatively close ranges ALWAYS wear full-coverage eye protection because ricochets and splash-backs are definite risks. Also comply with all range rules.
You have probably watched one of the excellent shooting sports videos Ryan Cleckner has done for the NSSF. Ryan’s Understanding Minute of Angle (MOA) video (see below) has been viewed over 3.4 million times! Ryan is noted for his ability to explain complex topics in an easy-to-comprehend manner.
Cleckner has also authored a hugely popular book, the Long Range Shooting Handbook, which expands on the topics covered in his popular video series. This book is the #1 Best Seller on Amazon in its category. You can view Sample Chapters from Ryan’s book — just click “Look Inside” on the Amazon product page.
As a long-range shooting expert, Ryan Cleckner has impressive credentials. Cleckner was a special operations sniper (1/75 Rgr) with multiple combat deployments, and he has served a U.S. Army sniper instructor. Currently he works as a firearms industry executive and attorney.
The Long Range Shooting Handbook is divided into three main categories: What It Is/How It Works, Fundamentals, and How to Use It. “What It Is/How It Works” covers equipment, terminology, and basic principles. “Fundamentals” covers the theory of long range shooting. “How to Use It” gives practical advice on implementing what you’ve learned, so you can progress as a skilled, long range shooter.
Ryan Cleckner’s best-selling Long Range Shooting Handbook is designed as an introduction to important fundamental concepts such as MOA vs. MILs, External Ballistics, and Environmental Effects. Included are personal tips and advice based on Cleckner’s years of experience as a sniper instructor and special operations sniper.
Iain Harrison, editor of Recoil Magazine, said: “Whether you’re looking to dip a toe into the complex world of long range shooting, or you’re a seasoned shooter with years of trigger time, Ryan Cleckner’s book will prove to be excellent reference material. Well written and easy to understand, it covers all the essential topics that a well-rounded shooter needs to master.”
In this video, Ryan Cleckner reviews proper technique for rifle shooters. A stable platform, sight alignment, sight picture, and trigger control are key fundamentals to shooting properly.
The model 1911 pistol, designed by John Moses Browning, is an American classic. Originally manufactured as .45 ACP military pistols, modern 1911s have evolved to be superb competition pistols, and carry pistols. With a Single-Action-Only (SAO) configuration, the 1911 design is different than most modern pistols. You must have the hammer cocked to fire a 1911 — like a single-action revolver. But the positive side of the Single-Action design is than modern 1911 pistols enjoy superb triggers with very positive release and fast reset. There is a reason the 1911 design is the basis for so many modern competition pistols.
In today’s Saturday at the Movies feature, we showcase videos that cover the history, design, and function of 1911-type pistols. We also include videos that explain how to field-strip a 1911 and how to accessorize/upgrade 1911 pistols.
Operation of 1911 Pistol with 3D Animations
Here are two excellent videos that show how a classic 1911-type pistol functions. 3D computer graphics animation offers a X-Ray view inside the pistol, showing how cartridges feed and how the slide cycles during the firing process.
How to Field-Strip and Re-Assemble a 1911 Pistol
There are a few tricks to field-stripping a 1911-type pistols, and it helps to have a couple specialized tools. This helpful TFB-TV (The Firearm Blog) video shows the process of disassembling a 1911 pistol from start to finish, and notes components that require lubrication or special attention.
History of the Classic Model 1911 Pistol
The model of 1911 pistol is an American classic with a long and illustrious history. These two videos cover the interesting origins of the 1911 pistol, and explain how J.M. Browning designed the remarkable 1911 pistol which became the iconic American sidearm of the U.S. Military, the longest-serving pistol in American military history.
A fascinating article by Rock Island Armory covers the complete evolution of the 1911 pistol, including its earlier prototype variants, starting with the model of 1905. SEE: Road to the 1911 Article (with Model 1905, 1907, 1909, and 1910 prototypes).
Over time the 1911 design has evolved into many variants, including the modern “race gun” used in rapid-fire pistol competitions. Here is an STI DVC Open model fitted with a C-More sight, and front compensator.
Pistol Shooting Skills Demonstrated with 1911
How to Grip a 1911 Handgun Properly
World Champion pistol ace (and 18-time Bianchi Cup winner) Doug Koenig demonstrates how to grip a handgun. While the fundamentals are demonstrated on a 1911 pistol they are effective for establishing a proper grip on any handgun.
Trigger Press and Trigger Control
In this video Champion shooter Doug Koenig talks about key techniques that apply to all pistol marksmanship — not just speed shooting “on the clock”. With any handgun, Doug explains, you should focus on consistent trigger control. You want to avoid yanking the trigger or anticipating recoil.
How to Accessorize Your 1911
This six-part series by Brownells provides step-by-step instruction on how to accessorize your 1911. The videos cover changing out the mainspring housing, magazine release, slide release, hammer, guide rod, and installing a group gripper. If you want to upgrade your 1911, these videos are worth watching.
It’s great to be able to access online load data for your cartridges. You can quickly get load data for a particular powder and bullet weight. However, there are times when we prefer to consult old-fashioned printed/bound load manuals. The primary reason is that manuals produced by bullet- and tool-makers will, for a particular cartridge, include data for powders from multiple manufacturers. Having a single source can save you time and trouble. For example, if you want to find 6.5 Creedmoor loads using H4350 (Hodgdon), Reloder 16 (Alliant), and N150 (Vihtavuori) you would have to visit three different powder-maker websites, one after another. OR you can pick up a modern load manual and find everything in one place.
There are many excellent printed load manuals on the market. We have used the Berger Manual, Sierra Manual, Speer Manual, Lyman Manual, and Hornady Manual. We like the Berger and Sierra manuals for match rifle cartridges, and the Lyman and Hornady manuals for hunting loads and pistol cartridges.
The Lyman Reloading Manuals have earn praise over the years:
“Every other reloading book I’ve used favors their own bullets over every other manufacturers. With Lyman you get an honest representation of a wide variety of different… manufacturers. [Lyman has] a ton of reloading data on just about any bullet style you can imagine. I’ve tried a wide range of their recipes and everyone I’ve tried has been spot on. The overall breadth of information this book covers is impressive.” Review by RangetoReal.com.
Nosler #9 Manual Features New Cartridges
If you are looking for up-to-date cartridge/bullet/powder information, in late 2020 Nosler released the Nosler Reloading Guide #9, the latest in a respected series of Nosler load manuals.
This 800-page guide covers 101 cartridge types. New in this edition you’ll find the popular 6mm Creedmoor, 6mm XC, 6.5 PRC, and 7.62×39, along with 20 Nosler, 22 Nosler, 24 Nosler, 27 Nosler and 33 Nosler. This manual is a good resource for PRS shooters and hunters. The Nosler #9 book draws from thousands of hours in the Nosler Ballistic Lab, along with the experience of many respected experts.
The book is available for $24.99 at Midsouth or $29.95 on Amazon. Keep in mind that much of the book’s latest load data is available for free on the Nosler.com online LOAD DATA Center. But to get ALL the data, PLUS all the technical articles, you’ll need to buy the book.
Along with the new Nosler #9 Manual, here are four other recommended Reloading Manuals:
Here Are Four General Instructional Books That Cover Reloading Procedures:
POWDER BURN RATE TABLE
Here is the most recent powder burn rate chart from Hodgdon/IMR that we could find. Click links below to access printable PDF. Note, some readers have suggested a couple powder ranking issues in the table. However, this is the latest official version from the IMR website, released in November 2019.
The 2022 NRA F-Class National Championships commence this weekend at the Ben Avery range in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mid-Range F-Class Nationals commence this Sunday, October 16, with practice on Saturday, October 15. The 1000-yard Long Range match starts on October 20th.
How to Avoid “Train Wrecks” In Competition
In any shooting competition, you must try to avoid major screw-ups that can ruin your day (or your match). In this article, past F-TR National Mid-Range and Long Range Champion Bryan Litz talks about “Train Wrecks”, i.e. those big disasters (such as equipment failures) that can ruin a whole match. Bryan illustrates the types of “train wrecks” that commonly befall competitors, and he explains how to avoid these “unmitigated disasters”.
Urban Dictionary “Train Wreck” Definition: “A total @#$&! disaster … the kind that makes you want to shake your head.”
Success in long range competition depends on many things. Those who aspire to be competitive are usually detail-oriented, and focused on all the small things that might give them an edge. Unfortunately it’s common for shooters lose sight of the big picture — missing the forest for the trees, so to speak.
Consistency is one of the universal principles of successful shooting. The tournament champion is the shooter with the highest average performance over several days, often times not winning a single match. While you can win tournaments without an isolated stellar performance, you cannot win tournaments if you have a single train wreck performance. And this is why it’s important for the detail-oriented shooter to keep an eye out for potential “big picture” problems that can derail the train of success!
Train wrecks can be defined differently by shooters of various skill levels and categories. Anything from problems causing a miss, to problems causing a 3/4-MOA shift in wind zero can manifest as a train wreck, depending on the kind of shooting you’re doing.
Below is a list of common Shooting Match Train Wrecks, and suggestions for avoiding them.
1. Cross-Firing. The fastest and most common way to destroy your score (and any hopes of winning a tournament) is to cross-fire. The cure is obviously basic awareness of your target number on each shot, but you can stack the odds in your favor if you’re smart. For sling shooters, establish your Natural Point of Aim (NPA) and monitor that it doesn’t shift during your course of fire. If you’re doing this right, you’ll always come back on your target naturally, without deliberately checking each time. You should be doing this anyway, but avoiding cross-fires is another incentive for monitoring this important fundamental. In F-Class shooting, pay attention to how the rifle recoils, and where the crosshairs settle. If the crosshairs always settle to the right, either make an adjustment to your bipod, hold, or simply make sure to move back each shot. Also consider your scope. Running super high magnification can leave the number board out of the scope’s field view. That can really increase the risk of cross-firing.
2. Equipment Failure. There are a wide variety of equipment failures you may encounter at a match, from loose sight fasteners, to broken bipods, to high-round-count barrels that that suddenly “go south” (just to mention a few possibilities). Mechanical components can and do fail. The best policy is to put some thought into what the critical failure points are, monitor wear of these parts, and have spares ready. This is where an ounce of prevention can prevent a ton of train wreck. On this note, if you like running hot loads, consider whether that extra 20 fps is worth blowing up a bullet (10 points), sticking a bolt (DNF), or worse yet, causing injury to yourself or someone nearby.
[Editor’s Note: The 2016 F-Class Nationals will employ electronic targets so conventional pit duties won’t be required. However, the following advice does apply for matches with conventional targets.]
3. Scoring/Pit Malfunction. Although not related to your shooting technique, doing things to insure you get at least fair treatment from your scorer and pit puller is a good idea. Try to meet the others on your target so they can associate a face with the shooter for whom they’re pulling. If you learn your scorer is a Democrat, it’s probably best not to tell Obama jokes before you go for record. If your pit puller is elderly, it may be unwise to shoot very rapidly and risk a shot being missed (by the pit worker), or having to call for a mark. Slowing down a second or two between shots might prevent a 5-minute delay and possibly an undeserved miss.
4. Wind Issues. Tricky winds derail many trains. A lot can be written about wind strategies, but here’s a simple tip about how to take the edge off a worse case scenario. You don’t have to start blazing away on the command of “Commence fire”. If the wind is blowing like a bastard when your time starts, just wait! You’re allotted 30 minutes to fire your string in long range slow fire. With average pit service, it might take you 10 minutes if you hustle, less in F-Class. Point being, you have about three times longer than you need. So let everyone else shoot through the storm and look for a window (or windows) of time which are not so adverse. Of course this is a risk, conditions might get worse if you wait. This is where judgment comes in. Just know you have options for managing time and keep an eye on the clock. Saving rounds in a slow fire match is a costly and embarrassing train wreck.
5. Mind Your Physical Health. While traveling for shooting matches, most shooters break their normal patterns of diet, sleep, alcohol consumption, etc. These disruptions to the norm can have detrimental effects on your body and your ability to shoot and even think clearly. If you’re used to an indoor job and eating salads in air-conditioned break rooms and you travel to a week-long rifle match which keeps you on your feet all day in 90-degree heat and high humidity, while eating greasy restaurant food, drinking beer and getting little sleep, then you might as well plan on daily train wrecks. If the match is four hours away, rather than leaving at 3:00 am and drinking five cups of coffee on the morning drive, arrive the night before and get a good night’s sleep.”
Keep focused on the important stuff. You never want to lose sight of the big picture. Keep the important, common sense things in mind as well as the minutia of meplat trimming, weighing powder to the kernel, and cleaning your barrel ’til it’s squeaky clean. Remember, all the little enhancements can’t make up for one big train wreck!
Noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus are two of the most common afflictions for recreational shooters and hunters. Everyone knows that gunfire is loud, but very few people understand the repercussions that shooting can have on their hearing until it’s too late.
With a conventional barrel installation, employing a shoulder with a threaded tenon, it is difficult to index the barrel. Even with a cone breech (photo right) that eliminates the problem of extractor cuts, you’d have to use shims to alter the barrel index position, or otherwise re-set the shoulder each time you screwed the barrel in further.
As soon as aiming at the target begins, the index finger must move from the trigger-guard to contact the trigger. It is important to get initial pressure on the trigger as soon as aiming begins. Then the shooter must focus on the sight picture and centering the sight picture movements over the aiming point. No one, not even champion shooters, can hold the aligned sights perfectly still. The sights are going to move a little bit or a lot, depending on the shooter’s skill level. The secret is to center those sight picture movements over the aiming point on the target (see trace illustration) before pulling the trigger.
Nosler #9 Manual Features New Cartridges
Train Wrecks (and How to Avoid Them)
4. Wind Issues. Tricky winds derail many trains. A lot can be written about wind strategies, but here’s a simple tip about how to take the edge off a worse case scenario. You don’t have to start blazing away on the command of “Commence fire”. If the wind is blowing like a bastard when your time starts, just wait! You’re allotted 30 minutes to fire your string in long range slow fire. With average pit service, it might take you 10 minutes if you hustle, less in F-Class. Point being, you have about three times longer than you need. So let everyone else shoot through the storm and look for a window (or windows) of time which are not so adverse. Of course this is a risk, conditions might get worse if you wait. This is where judgment comes in. Just know you have options for managing time and keep an eye on the clock. Saving rounds in a slow fire match is a costly and embarrassing train wreck.
