Powder Valley Outdoors (“Powder Valley”) is one of the leading reloading component and shooting supplies vendors in the country. Powder Valley has also been a strong supporter of AccurateShooter.com for over a decade. However, as you may have heard, Powder Valley suffered a warehouse fire recently. Thankfully no one was injured and Powder Valley is now fulfilling orders for customers.
Powder Valley is making great progress after the warehouse fire. The company now has a variety of products back in stock — powder, primers, brass, bullets, and more — and Powder Valley is fulfilling orders through trusted industry partners while Powder Valley gets its own warehouse back up and running. Orders can be placed now through the Powder Valley website. The staff at Powder Valley tells us: “Powder Valley would like to say thank you to the entire community for their incredible support and prayers through this time.” To support Powder Valley and place an order, visit PowderValley.com.
Powder Valley: Rising from the Ashes
When a devastating fire tore through Powder Valley’s main warehouse and offices, the loss was total. Everything melted, burned, and destroyed. But through it all, the Powder Valley team is standing strong — grateful that everyone is safe and determined to come back better than ever.
In the immediate aftermath, the team rallied to take care of customers. Kim and Kort from Customer Service worked to make sure orders and support didn’t stop. Jacob, laptop in hand, quickly transitioned to remote operations. Beau jumped in to handle inventory assessments in what was left of the office area. Owners Bryan and Noel Richardson also stepped forward, sharing their story with local news outlets about the impact of the fire and what Powder Valley means to their family and community.
The damage to the facility was extreme, and while Powder Valley is insured, dealing with insurance will take time. In the meantime, the company has partnered with trusted industry allies to fulfill orders, ensuring customers can still get what they need while keeping revenue flowing to sustain operations.
“Right now, working with industry partners was the fastest way to get back up and running,” the team explained. “It allows us to continue serving our customers and keep business moving while we navigate insurance and begin planning for our long-term home.”
The road ahead will be long — finding or building a new facility, reorganizing operations, and reestablishing full capacity. But the Richardson family and the entire Powder Valley team are unwavering in their commitment to the shooting sports community. “We’re going to get up and we’re going to keep swinging. We’re going to keep swinging”, Bryan said.
For now, every order placed with Powder Valley helps keep the lights on and supports the rebuild. And the company couldn’t be more grateful for the overwhelming outpouring of support from shooters and reloaders across the country. “This incredible community has given us strength and optimism to keep forging ahead,” the team shared. “From the bottom of our hearts — thank you.”
Proper eye protection is ‘must-have’ gear for shooting sports. In addition to providing reliable impact protection, good shooting glasses should be comfortable, fog-free, and not interfere with your preferred hearing protection. Those who require corrective lenses also need to consider the various options available. In a past episode of their Weekly Gear Review, the 6.5 Guys discuss a variety of shooting glasses they have tried, including examples from DeCot, Oakley, and Wiley-X. Ed and Steve outline the key considerations when choosing eye protection, and then review practical aspects of eyewear design and construction that enhance comfort and functionality in the field.
The 6.5 Guys (Ed and Steve) offer a number of smart tips consider safety eyewear, helping you select the most effective safety glasses at an affordable price. Here are the 6.5 Guys’ KEY Take-aways when choosing shooting glasses, including prescription eyewear:
Key Things To Consider When Choosing Eye Protection
1. Avoid polarized lenses or lenses that reduce light transmission significantly (except for action shooting in very bright conditions with large, close targets).
2. Avoid frame designs that interfere with prone shooting.
3. Avoid designs that easily fog.
4. Avoid frame designs with thicker temples that are uncomfortable to wear underneath hearing protection.
5. Select lenses with an appropriate degree of ballistic protection. CLICK HERE to learn more about eyewear safety standards.
6. When you get your prescription, be sure your ophthalmologist includes the interpupillary distance. This is a critical measurement particularly for heavier prescriptions.
7. If you have a complicated prescription select a vendor who will actually spend time with you to address any concerns.
Horrific .50 BMG Kaboom — Eye Saved by Protective Eyewear
Think you don’t need eye protection? Watch this video starting at 4:10. The screw-on barrel “cap” (chamber closure) of the .50 BMG action flies into the shooter’s face. Without eye protection the shooter would have definitely lost his right eye. (See video at 5:20 for analysis).
Safety First — Your Eyes Are Irreplaceable Accurate shooting begins and ends with the human eye. Your career as a marksman could be cut short if you don’t use good eye protection every time you go to the range and/or handle a firearm.
Every year, over 1,000,000 people suffer serious eye injuries. Shooting is hazardous; it is estimated that there are 30,000 firearms-related eye injuries each year (if you include paintball sports.) After paintball, general hunting accidents comprise most firearms-related eye injuries.
Quality eye protection need not be expensive. You can find comfortable, ANSI Z87.1-certified shooting glasses for under $10.00.
If you select shooting glasses carefully, and ensure that your eyewear is safety-certified, inexpensive shooting glasses can perform very well. But you need to avoid cheap, soft-plastic lenses that claim “impact resistance” without satisfying a testing standard.
Nobody likes to spend hours manually chamfering cases and cleaning primer pockets. There are simple hand tools that will perform these tasks, but the process is time-consuming and tedious after a couple dozen cases. To speed up case prep duties, you can get one of the large, powered case prep centers. These function well, but frankly we didn’t want to give up that much precious space on our reloading bench. One good solution is Hornady’s compact Lock-N-Load Case Prep Trio (item 050160). This triple-threat tool packs a lot of functionality in a small package.
This cleverly-designed powered tool has a small footprint, yet it can perform three tasks as well as much more expensive, tower-style case prep units. The Hornady Case Prep Trio $139.99 at Midsouth, $144.65 at Precision Reloading, and $146.99 on Amazon. We’ve used this machine and it works well. The only negative is that you will get metal shavings on your bench (unlike some of the larger case prep centers). We’ve seen some guys put a small pan under the power head — then you can just dump the shavings out of the pan.
With three active stations, you can chamfer, deburr and clean primer pockets without having to change tools. The Case Prep Trio ships with inside chamfer, outside chamfer, and deburr tools. You can also use the machine with other optional 8/32 threaded accessories such as primer pocket reamers, primer pocket uniformers, and case neck brushes. CLICK HERE to see all tool options. Conveniently, the Case Prep Trio has on-board storage for your tool-heads. User reviews have been very positive.
Hunting season is coming soon in most parts of the country. As part of NRA Women TV, hunting guide Kristy Titus hosts a series of videos that explain important strategies and shooting skills for hunters. These videos can help you prepare for a fall hunt. Titus is a certified instructor who has hunted around the globe. She grew up in the outdoors, running pack mules in Oregon with her father. In these videos, Kristy discusses demonstrates field positions that can be employed during a hunt. She also explains preparation for a hunt, including fitness training.
Click each link below to watch other Kristy Titus Hunting Videos.
Kristy says: “When it comes to bolt-action rifle fit, there is no ‘one size fits all’. When picking out your rifle [consider options] after the purchase to ensure you are as comfortable as possible.”
Here is a simple but effective product that can benefit varminters and game-hunters. The slip-on, padded RRR (“triple R”) gun rest cushions your rifle on any surface and helps eliminate noise when shifting the gun from one shooting position to another. The RRR slip-on rest is made of neoprene (wet suit material) with a built-in, thick Armaflex foam cushion on the bottom. This $26.95 sleeve protects the finish of your rifle, while providing a cushioned layer between your rifle and the supporting surface.
Key Benefits of the RRR Slip-On Padded Fore-Arm Rest
1. The RRR sleeve cushions your rifle. This helps to keep the shot from going high even when the rifle is placed on a hard surface.
2. The RRR sleeve quiets the gun. The padded, neoprene covering acts like a sound deadener even when you set the gun on a metal frame or hard surface.
3. The RRR protects the finish on the stock of your rifle from scratches when resting on hard surfaces.
This 12″ Bullseye Pistol Diagnostic Target helps improve handgun marksmanship. The target diagnoses common problems with one-handed shooting based on shot impact zones. While this target is designed for righties, left-handed shooters can use the target too. Just observe the opposite tips.
Do you know someone who wants to get started in pistol shooting? Here’s a helpful resource. The NRA now offers its Basics of Pistol Shooting Course in an online format. That makes it easy to cover the “classroom” phase of the course on your own time. The $60.00 online course includes 11 step-by-step lessons (to be followed by live range training). CLICK HERE to enroll in online Pistol Training Course.
Train Online, Then Register for a Range Session
For the NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting course, Phase 1 is conducted in an online environment, completed on your own time (cost is $60.00, non-refundable). After successfully completing the online exam, students can register for Phase 2, the instructor-led training session. Phase 2 is conducted at your local range with an NRA-Certified Instructor. NOTE: There will normally be an additional fee for Phase 2. You must successfully complete BOTH Phase 1 and Phase 2 in order to receive your NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting course certificate.
Designed and developed by experts to accommodate busy schedules, the web-based course takes a blended learning approach to firearms training with both online and physical components. Students have 90 days to work through 11 online lessons before registering for Phase 2, the NRA Certified Instructor-led phase at a local range.
“Thanks to our online courses and network of more than 125,000 NRA Certified Instructors, it has never been easier to learn basic firearm skills,” said Kyle Weaver, NRA General Operations Exec. Director. The NRA offers other online training courses at Onlinetraining.nra.org. Along with pistol course, these offerings include Rifle Training, Shotgun Training, a Range Safety Office (RSO) course, and a Range Development and Operations course.
Know someone getting started with handguns? Here is a useful video focusing on safety:
Have you ever wondered how Olympic-class position shooters hold their aim so steady? Those bulky shooting coats help, but there is a lot of bio-mechanics involved also. Top shooters employ their body structure to help support the weight of their rifles, and to steady their aim. This interesting video, produced by GOnra Media, demonstrates rifle hold and body alignment for prone, standing, sitting, and kneeling positions. Olympic Gold Medalist Jamie Corkish (formerly Jamie Gray) demonstrates the proper stance and position of arms and legs for each of the positions.
Ideally, in all of the shooting positions, the shooter takes advantage of skeletal support. The shooter should align the bones of his/her arms and legs to provide a solid foundation. A shooter’s legs and arms form vertical planes helping the body remain stable in the shooting position.
Jamie Corkish, London 2012 Gold Medalist in Women’s 3 X 20, has retired from top-level competitive shooting. However, Jamie remains involved in the shooting sports as a Public Relations/Marketing representative for ELEY, a leading maker of rimfire ammunition. Jamie also works with shooting clubs and educational institutions to promote smallbore target shooting.
Images are stills from GOnraMedia video linked above.
High-Tech Rimfire Rigs
If you watched the smallbore position and prone shooters at recent Olympic Games, you couldn’t help but notice the exotic rifles competitors were shooting. There were wood stocks, metal stocks, factory-built rifles and customized specials. Why are there are so many different design features and stock types? To answer this question, the NRAblog’s editors called on Jessie McClain of the NRA Competitive Shooting Division.
“The customized rifles, like the Anschütz you showed me, can make a real difference in a shooter’s performance,” explained McClain. “I went from a decent shooter to making the varsity shooting team my freshman year because of the rifle.” As Jessie explained, one new feature out there is the adjustable stock, which she called the Porsche of the shooting world. Fully adjustable from the butt plate to the check piece to the hand stop and risers and bolt knobs, this component is fully customizable to the athlete … which can be a huge advantage. “Every person is different … a customizable rifle fits anyone. A rifle team can purchase four of these and field a shooting team for years.”
The Modern Anschütz Position Rifle
Smallbore match rifle makers are using modern materials in response to the need for greater adjustability (and enhanced accuracy). One of the popular new designs is the Anschütz model 1913 position rifle with a “1918 ALU Precise” brushed aluminum stock. This looks like it has been crafted in an aircraft plant.
Do you often carry a concealed handgun? Then you can benefit from Beretta’s FREE 15-page e-book, Ten Essential Tips for CCW Holders. This eBook, in handy PDF format, helps gun owners select an appropriate handgun (and holster), understand legal obligations and responsibilities, and train effectively with the firearm. This short PDF eBook offers many useful tips to consider, in particular for gun owners who are contemplating the pros and cons of everyday carry for themselves.
As the Beretta CCW booklet says, “Carrying a concealed handgun requires a certain amount of confidence. You need to be confident in your knowledge of laws and regulations. You have to have confidence in your accuracy, and you need to trust that you can carry a gun effectively, securely and comfortably. If a gun is a burden for you to carry, you probably won’t.”
Surprising Facts About Actual Defensive Handgun Use
You may be surprised to learn when and how handguns are actually used for self-defense. Most defensive uses are at very short range and the incident only lasts a matter of seconds. You need to be prepared, and train to be proficient drawing and aiming your weapon. And remember, shooting is a last resort, when a safe retreat is not available.
55% of gunfights take place in 0-5 feet.
20% of gunfights take place in 5-10 feet.
20% of gunfights take place in 10-21 feet.
95% of gunfights take place in 0-21 feet. (Source: FBI)
The average man can cover 21 feet of ground in 1.5 seconds.
The average gunfight is over in 3-5 seconds.
3 to 4 shots are usually fired.
Most gunfights take place in low-light conditions.
On average, one shot in four strikes someone.
Here are two (2) sample pages from Beretta’s CCW eBook.
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. EuroOptic — Tikka T3x Hunting Rifle Sale, Major Savings
⏺️ » Save up to 39% on quality rifles with accuracy guarantees
The Tikka T3x is a quality hunting rifle at an affordable price. Currently EuroOptic is running a major closeout sale, offering T3x bolt-action rifles with a wide variety of chamberings and stock styles. At $580 you can get a T3x Lite, a very good deal. If you prefer a wood stock, that’s offered in the T3x Hunter for $730. At the top end, consider the $1100 Tikka T3x Roughtech Cerca which adds some serious upgrades. The stock is composed of Roughtech material, and is modular, with an interchangeable pistol grip allowing the angle to be modified for different shooting positions.
2. Amazon — Caldwell Stable Table Deluxe, $191.48
⏺️ » Positive user reviews — good set-up for varminting and home ranges
If you want a good supported shooting option that can be transported in your vehicle, check out the Caldwell Stable Table Deluxe (#ad). Now discounted 42% to $191.48, this rotating range bench is stable and comfortable. The seat and tabletop pivot (rotate) around a center axis as a single unit so you can easily swing laterally from one target to the next — that’s great for P-dog adventures. A bolt in the base allows angle adjustment of a single leg, letting you align the top parallel with the horizon. This is great unit for varmint hunting with very positive owner reviews.
3. Amazon — Lyman Turret Press Kit, $699.99
⏺️ » Complete reloading system with 8-station turret press
The Lyman Ultimate Reloading System is a very complete multi-product kit with all the tools required to accomplish all steps in the reloading process. On sale for $699.99 ($225 discount), this combo kit includes the excellent Lyman Brass Smith 8-Station turret press ($365 MSRP), Lyman Gen 6 Electronic Scale/Dispenser ($320 MSRP), Universal Case Trimmer, Pro 1200 Turbo Tumbler, and case prep tools and more. This is a great package deal for someone getting starting in reloading.
4. Graf’s — Sightron SIII Scope Sale, MOA and MIL, Save 25%
⏺️ » Major discounts on excellent competition scopes
If you need a new competition scope, definitely check out the Sightron SIII Scope Sale at Graf & Sons. There are a wide variety of scopes on sale including 45X fixed power, 6-25x50mm, 8-32x50mm, and 10-50x60mm. Many offer precision 1/8 MOA adjustments. For short-range benchrest, 600- and 1000-yard benchrest, F-Class, and PRS/NRL matches you’ll find a good scope on sale, with your choice of MOA and MIL reticles and MOA or MIL clicks. Most scopes are now 25% off, so you can save $300 to $440.
⏺️ » Very affordable combo for hunters and varminters
Here’s a good Vortex FFP scope plus rangefinder combo for matches, varmint hunting, and more. The Vortex Venom 5-25x56mm scope features a 34mm main tube, ample turret travel, and RevStop Zero System. The First Focal Plane EBR-7C reticle gives you accurate holds at any magnification. This $499.99 combo includes a Vortex Crossfire HD 1400 Laser Rangefinder, a handy, reliable unit. Right now you save $200 on this scope/LRF combo with this MidwayUSA sale.
⏺️ » Popular spotting scope favored by competitors
The Kowa 82SV Spotting Scope is favored by many top competitors. The 82mm lens is bright and sharp and the glass is multicoated, ensuring sharp images and a clear visual range. This combo comes with an excellent 20-60 zoom eyepiece. This Kowa 82SV spotter offers optical performance as good or better than many other spotting scopes costing much more. This Kowa spotter ships with a nice Creedmoor Sports padded cover. Save $100 now with this deal.
7. Midsouth — Nosler Ballistic Tip Ammo Sale
⏺️ » Major savings on ballistic tip hunting ammo
Need good ammo for your fall hunt? Consider picking up some Nosler Ballistic Tip Ammunition, offered for a wide selection of hunting cartridge types including .260 Rem, .270 Win, .308 Win, .30-06 Springfield, and .300 WinMag (and more). The Nosler bullets in this ammo have a heavily-jacketed base that ensures wide expansion while the boat-tail design enhances long-range accuracy. These quality hunting rounds deliver the accuracy and down-range punch required for clean kills in the field.
8. Amazon — Wheeler F.A.T. Stix, $90.00
⏺️ » Unique tool set for setting torque precisely
Proper torque settings for your scope rings and action are critical for accuracy. For this, we like the Wheeler F.A.T. Stix (#ad) with 12 screwdriver bits, 5 torque limiters, and storage case. This compact torque wrench set, now 24% off, takes the guesswork out of setting the correct torque. Simply attach the preset torque limiter to the t-handle, insert the desired bit, and set your screw to the right specs.
9. Amazon — Pro Shot 7mm/.38 500ct Patches, $11.99
⏺️ » 500 patches good for rifles and pistols
Cleaning barrels properly requires good patches (and plenty of them). Right now you can get 500 Pro-Shot Rifle Patches for just $11.99 on Amazon (#ad). These American-made 100%-cotton patches work great. The 100% cotton flannel fabric holds solvent well and is finished on both sides for optimal cleaning of powder and carbon residue. These patches can also be used to clean inside actions and muzzle brakes.
10. Amazon — Caldwell High Caliber AR500 Steel Targets, $19.35
⏺️ » Good, durable Steel gong target under $20
Available in a variety of shapes and sizes, Caldwell Gong targets are made of tough AR500 steel. These bright yellow steel targets can withstand thousands of rounds. Rated up to 3000 FPS impact velocity these will work with most common rifle types. Right now the 5″ Gong (3/8″ thick steel), is just $19.35, a 19% savings. A wide variety of other Caldwell AR500 steel targets are available including 8″ Gong, 10″ Coffin, 13″ Octagon, and Full-size IPSC.
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In the immediate aftermath, the team rallied to take care of customers. Kim and Kort from Customer Service worked to make sure orders and support didn’t stop. Jacob, laptop in hand, quickly transitioned to remote operations. Beau jumped in to handle inventory assessments in what was left of the office area. Owners Bryan and Noel Richardson also stepped forward, sharing their story with local news outlets about the impact of the fire and what Powder Valley means to their family and community.
The road ahead will be long — finding or building a new facility, reorganizing operations, and reestablishing full capacity. But the Richardson family and the entire Powder Valley team are unwavering in their commitment to the shooting sports community. “We’re going to get up and we’re going to keep swinging. We’re going to keep swinging”, Bryan said.
Accurate shooting begins and ends with the human eye. Your career as a marksman could be cut short if you don’t use good eye protection every time you go to the range and/or handle a firearm.
High-Tech Rimfire Rigs
