One of the biggest combined vintage military, service rifle, High Power, and pistol matches of the year, the CMP’s Talladega 600 takes place next week at the Talladega Marksmanship Park in Alabama. The event has been designed to appeal to rifle and pistol enthusiasts alike, providing a wide variety of marksmanship opportunities for competitors from around the country. Informational clinics, including the GSM Master Instructor Course and a Rifle Marksmanship 101 (with M16 EIC Match), offer an educational experience for both new and advanced marksmen.
The Talladega 600 will include a wide variety of popular CMP Matches:
BENCHREST GARAND MATCH
RIFLE MARKSMANSHIP 101/M16 MATCH
PISTOL MARKSMANSHIP 101/M9 MATCH
GARAND/SPRINGFIELD/VINTAGE/MODMIL MATCH
CONGRESSIONAL 30
RIFLE EIC MATCH
4-MAN TEAM MATCH
CARBINE MATCH
RIMFIRE SPORTER BENCHREST MATCH
HIGH POWER DIXIE DOUBLE MATCH
VINTAGE SNIPER TEAM MATCH
RIMFIRE SPORTER MATCH
M1A MATCH
CMP MATCH PISTOL 2700
CMP AS-ISSUED 1911 PISTOL MATCH
MILITARY & POLICE PISTOL MATCH
CMP .22 RIMFIRE PISTOL EIC MATCH
EIC PISTOL MATCH
Additional events include versions of prestigious National Trophy Matches, such as the Congressional 30 (with the same Course of Fire as the President’s 100 Match) and the Dixie Double Highpower Match (mirrored off of the Hearst Doubles Match).
This video has interesting aerial drone footage of the Talladega Marksmanship Park
Two Benchrest matches will be held during the Talladega 600 — a Benchrest Garand Match and a new Rimfire Sporter Benchrest Match.
Pistol Matches Are Always Popular
Many participants enjoy the Talladega 600 because they can compete with pistols between rifle matches. More Guns = More Fun. The Talladega 600 includes .22 Rimfire EIC and Service Pistol EIC matches, along with As-Issued 1911 and Military & Police pistol matches.
Advanced Electronic Target Systems — So No Pit Duty Required
Kongsberg target systems are used at the Talladega Marksmanship Park. Each firing point of the 500-acre facility is equipped with a state-of-the-art KTS electronic target and scoring monitor. This speeds up relays and eliminates the need for competitors to do pit duty to pull and mark targets. Located beside the shooter on the firing line, each monitor allows the competitor to see his/her shot location and score immediately.
Remington Firearms (RemArms), America’s oldest firearms manufacturer, will locate its global headquarters and open a new advanced manufacturing operation as well as a world-class research and development center in LaGrange, Georgia. Through these projects, RemArms will invest $100 million and create 856 jobs over a five-year period in Troup County, Georgia. In making the move, Remington will leave New York for good. RemArms is turning its back on the state of New York, with its governmental bias against the firearms industry, high taxes, and executive incompetence.
Report from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp:
“Georgia’s firearms industry is responsible for thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of investment in our communities,” said Governor Kemp. “I am a proud owner of some of Remington’s first-class product, and now, I am excited to welcome them to their new home in the Peach State. As yet another big manufacturing win for our state, I look forward to seeing the oldest firearms manufacturer in America thrive in Georgia’s pro-business environment.”
Founded in 1816, Remington Firearms is one of the United States’ largest domestic producers of shotguns and rifles. Several of the company’s strategic products will be manufactured in Georgia. The new headquarters will also become home to an innovative research and development center.
“We are very excited to come to Georgia, a state that not only welcomes business but enthusiastically supports and welcomes companies in the firearms industry,” said Ken D’Arcy, RemArms CEO. “… Everyone involved in this process has shown how important business is to the state and how welcoming they are to all business, including the firearms industry.”
The company will be hiring for positions in production, operations, engineering, and management, as well as careers in HR, finance, and administration in Remington’s onsite executive offices. For more information, please visit www.Remarms.com.
“For more than two centuries, Remington Arms has been a part of the fabric of our country, and for many of us who grew up with a strong connection to the outdoors and a love of outdoor sports, a trusted brand like Remington has been interwoven into our lives,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson.
“I am thrilled to welcome Remington Firearms to the growing list of manufacturers who call LaGrange home,” added Mayor of LaGrange Jim Thornton. “The Remington name has long been associated with great products, and I know they will continue that tradition and be very successful here.”
Remington Has a Storied History
Founded in 1816 by Eliphalet Remington in New York, Remington is the oldest continuously-operating gun manufacturer in the United States. Prior to the re-organization, Remington sold more sporting rifles and shotguns than any other American company. Remington has developed more cartridges than any other U.S. company. And for decades Remington was the only American company that sells firearms AND ammunition under its own name. Now Remington ammo is produced in Arkansas, as a separate business. Remington’s ammunition business was acquired by Vista Outdoor, parent of CCI, Federal, RCBS and other major shooting/outdoor industry brands.
Brownells will donate a percentage of sales during Veterans Day week to Special Operations Wounded Warriors (SOWW), a 501(c)3 charity dedicated to helping Purple Heart recipients of the Special Operations community. Donations to the SOWW organization will be generated by virtually all purchases this week from Brownells, including Current Sale Items.
Starting Monday, November 8, and lasting through Sunday, November 14 (11:59 pm CST), Brownells will track purchases made at www.Brownells.com and give 4% of those sales to the veterans’ charity, up to a total donation amount of $175,000.
How SOWW Benefits Wounded Veterans and Active Duty Personnel
SOWW’s main mission is to provide therapeutic outdoor experiences to wounded veterans from the various Special Operations forces of the United States military. SOWW also offers other services and counseling to both Special Operations veterans and their families. SOWW is a not-for-profit group that provides outdoor experiences and therapeutic retreats, as well as assistance with medical, physical, and mental therapies for both veterans and active-duty members of the U.S. Special Operations Forces who have been wounded in action. SOWW is funded by donations and is run and operated by unpaid volunteers. Its low operating costs mean over 93% of all donations directly support the veterans and active duty personnel SOWW serves.
“SOWW does great work to help people who have put everything on the line for us and our country,” said Vice President of Marketing Ryan Repp. “Brownells has supported SOWW for a long time, and we are proud to keep finding ways to help them help our Special Operations veterans.”
To learn more, and see short video interviews with veterans who have benefited from SOWW’s efforts, visit the Brownells SOWW page.
About Special Operations Wounded Warriors (SOWW)
SOWW (Special Operations Wounded Warriors), a 501(c)(3) charity, was formed in August of 2012 for the distinct purpose of providing outdoor experiences to a select group of both active duty and veteran U.S. Military Special Operations Forces, that have received wounds in battle, and have received our country’s prestigious Purple Heart Medal. To donate or to get more information, visit www.sowwcharity.org.
SOWW President Jud Kuhn Talks about His Organization:
High-Quality Portable Base for LabRadar Chronograph
If you currently own a LabRadar, or plan to buy one soon, there’s a smart new accessory you should consider buying. Matt Owens of ArkcoMachine.com offers a great, compact Quad Base for the LabRadar that works better than the flat, orange baseplate offered by the manufacturer.
Matt, aka “Arkcomatt”, explains: “These are machined from aluminum and put together with stainless steel screws. The rubber feet are held on with screws also. No more coming off. The legs have nylon washers between them and the base for smooth operation. The screws are torqued and thread locker applied. One of the best things is, with the standard attachment, it will fit in the case with the unit. No more having to take apart! Just fold the legs. It takes up less room on the bench and allows you to get it closer to the rifle. It is very stable and holds up very well in high winds.” ORDER BASE HERE.
Arkco Machine’s folding Quad Base costs $89.95. The base offers better stability than the LabRadar factory mount, and is also easier to transport because it folds. This makes your LabRadar easier to deploy on a bench or when shooting prone.
Arkco Machine now offers handy swivel (ball) mounts for mounting your LabRadar to Arkco’s Quad Base. Choose either the Quick-Release Heavy-Duty Swivel Mount ($24.95, see photo at right) or the basic Light-Duty Ball Mount, just $10 (shown below). We like the Heavy-Duty unit because it can also be used for spotting scopes.
Arkco Machine also offers stainless spike feet for use when prone shooting. The spikes (shown below) screw in the same holes as the rubber feet.
Forum Member Praise Arkco Machine’s LabRadar Folding Base:
You can read user reviews of the LabRadar Quad Base in this Forum Thread.
Bullet-maker Bart Sauter has one of these bases now and he endorses it: “These bases are great for the LabRadar. Stable and compact — completely grab and go!”
Forum member Peterson1 agrees: “This is more stable than the Labradar base for my use–off a concrete BR bench, yet takes up less space. Also easier/quicker to set unit up and aimed at target. Never take the unit off for transport in LabRadar case. Only negative — you can’t trade in the factory LabRadar base toward purchase of this base. So buy smart the first time!”
Forum Member SkiUtah02 uses the base with optional spiked feet: “Met up with Matt at the Sierra Cup and bought my base with … spikes for the feet to put into the ground. Just had a chance to test it today and it worked great. I removed the rubber feet, and screwed in the four spiked feet, added a threaded-rod-coupling nut onto the bolt so that I could mount an old photography lighting stand swivel head to the base! Worked perfectly. Thanks Matt!”
Our take on Bore-Store Gun sleeves is simple: They work great, so buy them and use them — for ALL your valuable firearms.
Winter’s right around the corner, so many readers will be putting their guns in the safe for the season. For winter storage, we recommend Bore-Stores. These thick, synthetic-fleece sacks cushion your guns, preventing nicks and scratches. The breathable fabric wicks away moisture, and the fibers are coating with corrosion inhibitors. I personally use Bore-Stores for in-safe storage with all my guns, and I have never had one of my guns rust inside a Bore-Store, even when I lived a stone’s throw from the ocean.
Bore-Stores are offered in a range of sizes to fit everything from a snub-nosed revolver to a 33″-barrelled Black Powder Rifle. Bore-Stores can be purchased for $9.97 – $28.97 from Borestores.com. For most scoped rifles, we recommend the 10″x46″ SCR-1 case ($25.97). The Bore-Store manufacturer, Big Spring Enterprises will also craft custom sizes on request. For a long-barreled F-Class or ELR rig you may need a custom length. Or you can remove the scope and use the 7″x60″ MUS-1 Musket Bore-Store ($28.97).
Triple-Layer Sealed Bags — Affordable and Effective
Consider Military-Style, Triple-Layer Bags for Long-Term Storage
While we prefer Bore-Stores for regularly-used guns, if you have heirloom firearms that will be kept in storage for very long periods without seeing any use, you may want to grease them up and place them in the thin, but rugged three-layer storage bags sold by Brownells. The bags are made from a three-layer laminate of polyester, aluminum, and polyethylene film, with a shiny silver exterior. Though the laminate is thin, the Brownells storage bags are puncture-resistant, and have a 0% moisture transmission rating so moisture can’t get inside. These bags are also resistant to petroleum-based chemicals and they won’t break down even in contact with soil or moisture.
Here’s one VITAL bit of advice for using these bags. Be absolutely sure, before you seal up the bags, that your guns are DRY and that all metal surfaces have been coated with an effective anti-corrosive, such as BoeShield T9 or Eezox. Brownells’ storage bags are inexpensive. A three-pak of 12″x 60″ rifle sacks (item 083-055-003WB) costs just $19.99 — under seven bucks a gun. That’s cheap insurance for rifles and shotguns that may cost thousands of dollars.
Get Your Guns Out of Foam-lined Cases — They Are Rust Magnets
Just about the worst thing you can do for long-term storage (short of leaving your rifle outside in the rain) is to store firearms in tight, foam-padded cases. The foam in these cases actually collects and retains moisture from the air, acting as the perfect breeding ground for rust. Even in warm summer months, humid air can leave moisture in the foam.
Remember, those plastic-shelled cases with foam interiors are for transport, not for long-term storage. Don’t repeat the mistake of a wealthy gun collector I know. He stored four valuable Colt Single Action Army (SAA) revolvers in individual foam-padded cases, and locked these away in his gun safe. A year later, every one of his precious SAAs had rusted, some badly.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. SIGHTRON — Holiday Instant Savings, $250 or $800 Off
⏺ Major savings on very high-quality scopes, proven in competition
Sightron is offering “instant holiday savings” on the SIII Precision Long Range (PLR) models as well as the SVIII ED FFP tactical scope. These are high-end optics, ready for competition. Save $250 on SIII PLR scopes and a whopping $800 on the SVIII ED. It’s rare to see these kind of discounts on high-end optics. Sightron’s 2021 holiday sales event runs through December 31, 2021. Visit an authorized Sightron retailer or online vendor such as Creedmoor Sports to take advantage of these big discounts. For more information visit: Sightron.com/collections/holiday-instant-savings.
2. Bullet Central — Lapua Brass in Stock, Many Types
⏺ Superb Lapua brass in stock for many popular case types
If you have a new rifle (or a barrel with a new chambering) you’ll need brass. Or perhaps your current brass is worn out. If you need brass, head over to Bullet Central. You’ll find that nearly every type of premium Lapua brass is in stock and ready to ship. From 6mm BR to .300 PRC, you’ll find what you need, with prices lower than most other vendors are charging now.
⏺ High-quality .22 LR with full-size AR ergonomics
Looking for an AR-clone .22 LR rimfire rifle for cross-training, NRL22 matches, and fun shooting? This .22 LR Walther Hammerli Tac R1 offers full-size AR ergonomics with good accuracy, and nice build quality. It features a 5-position adjustable stock, 10-rd magazine, aluminum upper and lower receiver, flip-up sights, and a matte black finish.
4. Tipton — Sitewide Sale Up to 45% OFF
⏺ Major savings on Gun Vises, Tools, Jag Kits, Bore Guides and more
Tipton gun cleaning products are some of the best out there. From gun vises to bore guides, Tipton has just about everything you need to get the job done. If you need cleaning/maintenance tools or supplies, then check out the Tipton sitewide sale. Everything on Tipton’s website is now on sale with discounts up to 45%. This is a once-a-year sale so grab what you need now before it’s all gone.
5. Amazon — Lyman 8-Station Turret Press, $219.99
⏺ Quality Turret press with 8 stations and handy priming system
If you need a new press to load multiple pistol and rifle cartridge types, consider a turret. With their ability to hold multiple dies, turret presses offer great flexibility and efficiency. One of the best, reasonably-priced turrets on the market is the Lyman All American 8 Turret Press. Boasting EIGHT stations, this press hold up to four 2-die sets or eight individual dies. The press features a heavy-duty, cast-iron frame, plus a straight-line primer feed system with large and small primer tubes.
6. Brownells — iGaging Digital Micrometer, $65.99
⏺ Save 39% on precision digital micrometer with data output
For precision reloading, a micrometer is important. A micrometer offers greater resolution than calipers and is ideal for measuring certain cartridge and brass dimensions. If you’ve been wanting to get a precision micrometer without breaking the bank, check out the iGaging SpeedMic Quick Action Micrometer from Brownells. This high-quality micrometer is now 39% off, making it an affordable addition to your tool kit. Equipped with a data-output module, this SpeedMic micrometer enables precision measurements to be ported instantly to any computer.
7. Midsouth — Hornady RFID Rapid Access Gun Safe Sale
⏺ Rapid Access handgun safes, vehicle lock boxes, gunlockers on sale
Gun safety is everyone’s responsibility and that starts with the gun owner. If you need an effective way to lock up your guns either at home or in your vehicle, check out the Hornady gun safe sale. For a limited time, you’ll find rapid access safes for the home, vehicle, or office at very good prices. NOTE, along with the handgun safes, Midsouth offers Hornady’s Rapid Access RFID AR GunLocker, which is great for home defense long guns. The wireless RFID technology allows you to instantly unlock the safe with a card or token you carry.
8. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Hand Deprimer Tool, $39.99
⏺ Deprime fired cartridge brass anywhere — no press needed
Decapping brass can be a tedious, time-consuming, and messy chore. Simplify the task (and avoid messing up your reloading area) with the Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Hand Deprimer Tool. This device lets you remove spent primers anywhere — no press needed and all the mess (cups/anvils/residue) stays in the capture chamber. You can deprime cases while watching TV. This tool features a Universal collet that works with all case types. With good leverage, this tool is easy on the hands too.
9. Palmetto State Armory — Taurus G3 Pistol, $279.99
⏺ Great price on reliable compact 9mm carry gun with comfortable grip
Palmetto State Armory is running a great special on the Taurus G3 9mm pistol. Priced at just $279.99, this Taurus G3 costs less than HALF what most dealers charge for a compact Glock 9mm. The grip ergonomics are (in our opinion) much superior to the Glock (for most people), and the Taurus G3’s 6-lb. trigger is better than that of many compact 9mm pistols. The Taurus G3 is a dual-stack 9mm with 17+1 capacity. With a strong warranty, the Taurus G3 offers great value for the price.
10. Amazon — Allen Window and Fence Gun Rest Bag, $10.99
⏺ Handy accessory for hunters and varminters
Sometimes you want to take a shot at a critter, but don’t have time to set up a shooting bench, a tripod, or a mat with bipod. With this simple bag you can make that varmint shot from the window of a vehicle. This cleverly-designed bag can also be used on a fence rail. The Allen Filled Window Mount Gun Rest is a great value at just $10.99. With its unique design you can easily flop it over just about anything to stabilize yourself or just lay it down flat on the floor. It features a textured top surface and non-slip bottom. It comes pre-filled with inert polyester beads.
To win in competitive shooting you need an accurate rifle, excellent ammo, good sights/optics, and good physical fitness. But in addition, there is the “mental game”. You need to be mentally prepared for the match. You should be focused yet relaxed, and be able to deal with stresses from a bad shot or rapid wind change. Experts say you also want to visualize the perfect shot.
One great Shooting Sports USA article, Shooting is 90% Mental, was penned by Chip Lohman (SSUSA’s former Editor). With the help of two very smart Ph.D types, Judy Tant and Mike Keyes, Lohman examines the mental processes involved in the shooting sports. Chip’s co-authors have impressive credentials. Dr. Judy Tant is a Clinical Psychologist and National Bullseye Pistol Champion. Dr. Michael J. Keyes, is a licensed Psychiatrist and former physician for the U.S. Shooting Team. CLICK HERE to read article.
Recommended Books to Focus Your Mental Game and Improve Your Shooting
Along with the article above, there are a number of good books than can help you improve your mental game and perform better in competition. Here are seven recommended books that can help your mental game and shooting skills. These are available from Creedmoor Sports and Amazon.com.
The Bullseye Mind
Bullseye Mind is the first mental training book written specifically for sport shooters.
Mental Training in Shooting
Mental training in Shooting” is a practical book packed with good, straightforward advice about techniques and mental preparation.
Mental Game and Marksmanship Books on Amazon
Mental Preparation for Shooting Matches
Advice from Emil Praslick
Along with these books we offer some smart advice from Emil Praslick III, former USAMU coach. Considered one of the best wind readers on the planet, Praslick also was known for his ability to help his shooters master the “mental game”. Here is an article from the CMP Archives in which Praslick explains how to focus your mind to achieve greater success.
Thinking Your Way to Success by Emil Praslick
Why does it seem that the same small group of shooters wins the majority of the matches? What is the difference among shooters who are technically equal? Confidence. A confident shooter is free to execute his shots without the fear of failure, i.e. shooting a poor shot.
Negative thoughts (can’t, won’t be able to, etc.) will destroy a skilled performance. The mind’s focus will not be on executing the task, but on projecting fear and self-doubt. Fear is the enemy, confidence is the cure. How does a shooter on the eve of an important match … attain the confidence needed to perform up to his potential? A pre-competition mental plan can assist in acquiring that positive mental state. The plan can be broken down into a few phases.
Build a feeling of preparedness. Developing and executing a plan to organize your equipment and pre-match routine will aid you in feeling prepared on match day.
Avoid negative and stressful thoughts. Focusing on “winning” the match or shooting for a specific score (like making the “cut” or making the President’s 100) can cause undue stress. Good shooters focus on aspects that are within their control: their sight picture, their sight alignment, their position. Each shot should be treated as an individual event.
Train stage-specific tasks during your practice sessions. Instead of shooting matches or practice matches only, include some drills that focus on your problem areas. Training in this manner will assist your level of confidence.
As part of your pre-match routine, imagine yourself shooting perfect shots. Visualize getting into the perfect position, acquiring a perfect sight picture, and perfect trigger control.
Be prepared to have your mind blown by Max Michel. This guy is FAST. In this video he puts 18 shots on three targets with two (2) reloads, in a total of 4.79 seconds. That’s right, drawing from holster, he sends 18 rounds in under five seconds, with two mag changes in the process. That works out to a rate of fire of 225 rounds per minute. Consider this — Max shoots faster than a 19th-century Gatling Gun (which had a rate of fire of roughly 200 rounds per minute). And Max is accurate as well as speedy — 16 of Max’s 18 shots were in the targets’ A-Zones, with the other two just barely outside.
Click Speaker Icon to hear sound (audio) — it’s even more impressive with sound!
At age 39, Max Michel is a legend within the world of competitive shooting. A four-time World Speed Shooting Champion, six-time USPSA National Champion, and three-time US National Steel Champion, Max is a dominant force in pistol shooting sports. Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Max began shooting when he was just five years old. In 1999 Max joined the USAMU’s Action Pistol Team and served in the U.S. Army for 10 years as an Army shooter and trainer. Today, Max is recognized worldwide as a top-tier athlete and instructor.
Back in 2015, the firearms collection of famed gun writer Elmer Keith went to auction. The Keith Estate auction drew interest from around the globe, and bidding was strong. When the dust settled, and all the individual lots were totaled, Keith’s remarkable collection sold to various bidders for $1,905,458!
High-priced highlights from the auction are shown below. NOTE: You can see more than 60 other Elmer Keith firearms, along with a list of final auction prices. The Guns & Ammo website has a detailed, illustrated report on the Elmer Keith auction with dozens of high-quality photos.
Elmer Keith was an American rancher, firearms enthusiast, and author. Keith was instrumental in the development of the first magnum revolver cartridge, the .357 Magnum, as well as the later .44 Magnum and .41 Magnum cartridges, credited by Roy G. Jinks as “the father of big bore handgunning.” These videos recount Keith’s personal history and his influence on the design of modern Magnum cartridges.
Lot 1038: Colonel Jim Corbett’s .450/.400 “Tiger Rifle” (Sold for $264,500.00)
Dangerous Game Rifles in Collection
The legendary “Corbett Tiger Rifle”, a Jeffery boxlock .450/400 was used by famed hunter Edward James “Jim” Corbett. This rifle was featured in Corbett’s book Man-Eaters of Kumaon. Two of the man-eating tigers Corbett hunted were believed to have killed over 800 humans in the Kumaon Hills of India.
Lot 1005: Colt SAA No. 5 .44 Special “The Last Word in Sixguns” (Sold for $80,500.00)
This famous revolver started as a Colt SAA, but then was heavily modified. The top strap of the frame was welded up into a flat-top target configuration, with an adjustable rear sight added. The hammer was modified with a Bisley-type target spur. The unique grip of the Number Five was created by marrying a modified Bisley backstrap to a Single Action Army trigger guard. His most famous pistol, Keith called this handgun “The last word in fine six-guns”.
This video showcases this rare Colt SAA revolver, as viewed at the auction:
Lot 1060: Pachmayar Custom Model 70 .375 H&H (Sold for $22,425.00)
This may be one of the most beautiful model 70 Winchesters ever created. Listed as “Pachmayar Custom M70 .375 H&H with Full Coverage Engraving and Exhibition Wood” this rifle sold for $22,425.00 at the Elmer Keith Estate Collection auction. Look at the figure in that wood! The detailed engraving on the action and barrel is fantastic, as is the checkering on the grip.
Lot 1041: Westley Richards Droplock .476 NE (Sold for $69,000.00)
Used by Elmer Keith on safari in Tanzania, this was Keith’s preferred Elephant Rifle.
Lot 1020: Smith & Wesson Triple Lock Target Revolvers. (Sold for $39,100.00)
This rare set belonged to Gerrit Forbes and Ed McGivern before being acquired by Elmer Keith.
Photos courtesy of James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fairfield, Maine.
When Annealing Made Perfect (AMP), a New Zealand-based company, first unveiled its original induction annealing machine at SHOT Show 2015, it was big news in the reloading world. This was a real breakthrough — an induction annealer running on electricity that was fully programmable. No more flames to fuss with. The advent of the AMP annealer was a true “game-changer” for the shooting enthusiasts who reloaded their ammo.
The AMP system is based on smart science and modern technology. Right from the start, AMP invested in advanced lab equipment (such as gear for Micro-Vickers hardness testing). AMP also worked with independent outside metallurgical laboratories. And AMP invited shooters from around the world to send in sample cartridge cases. AMP accumulated a huge archive of cartridges from .17 Hornet to an array of .50 BMG wildcats and everything in-between. AMP’s archive includes multiple brands and even different lot numbers of the same cartridge. AMP now offers the most highly developed and precise consumer annealing system on the planet. That is because of the amazing amount of R&D behind the product, plus the use of advanced technologies.
Annealing Under the Microscope — Informative Articles
Alex and Matt Findlay have produced a series of articles called “Annealing Under the Microscope”. The first of these was released in July 2017. Part 1 was a general explanation of annealing, and busted a number of myths. It examined the repeatability of annealing over multiple reloads, and conducted a series of tensile bullet pull tests.
Annealing Different Brands of Brass
Part 2 of Annealing Under the Microscope covered an important topic — annealing for different brands of brass. This article examines the reasons why different brands of the same cartridge can require different annealing settings. The article also reveals that lot to lot variations of the same brand of brass can make a big difference.
AZTEC Annealing System — AMP Annealers become Smart Machines
In late 2017, Alex and Matt started the development of their revolutionary AZTEC system, which in effect transformed AMP annealers into SMART annealers. It meant that individual customers could analyse their own cases with laboratory grade accuracy without the need to send samples to the AMP lab for calibration.
Part 3 of Annealing Under the Microscope was released in July 2018 after nearly 12 months of R&D on AZTEC. It focused on how to best utilize this new self-calibration capability. It also highlighted the difference between several “premium” brands of brass compared to cheaper alternatives.
Benefits of Precision Annealing — Accuracy and Repeatability
Part 4 of the series was released in September 2019. It focused on the true benefits of accurate annealing, and the arguments for annealing every reload. The study identified sizing accuracy and repeatability as the key factor. This article also revealed the first prototype of AMP’s new auto bullet seater with seating pressure data capture.
Proof on the Target — Down-Range Benefits of Annealing
In Part 5 of the series, AMP’s experts focus on the real world, down-range benefits of annealing, turned out to be a much more complex process than AMP initially planned. Accordingly, Part 5 was conducted in three stages, with three detailed write-ups.
The Part 5, Stage 1 paper examined sizing accuracy of annealed vs un-annealed cases, taking two sets of three identical Peterson Cartridge .308 Winchester cases through twenty (20) reloading cycles. For every cycle, cases were measured both fire-formed and as re-sized. With each cycle the cases were measured for case length, shoulder bump, neck OD, and head OD.
Field Testing in Tennessee — Proof on Target
The Part 5, Stage 2 article covered detailed ballistic testing using multiple rifles, cartridges, and shooters at the Strategic Edge range in Tennessee.
The Tennessee testing sessions accumulated a wealth of data on velocity spreads and group sizes right out to 1,000 yards. The evidence showed a clear advantage for annealed brass, both for average group size and average Extreme Spread for the groups shot with AMP-annealed cases.
Underground Testing with Lou Murdica
Lastly, AMP’s Part 5, Stage 3 paper featured testing by Lou Murdica at an underground range in California. We have previously shown a video of Lou shooting one case, then reloading it and shooting the same case into the same hole at 100 yards.
This time he repeated the feat, shooting one un-annealed case twenty times into the one hole. Then Lou produced another even smaller 20-shot group, shot with a case which he annealed before every shot.
Enjoy These Technical Articles from AMP Annealing
Collectively AMP’s “Annealing Under the Microscope” series represents a remarkable body of outstanding work. Whether you anneal your cartridge brass now, or just want to learn more about the benefits of annealing, we recommend you take a look at this series of informative articles.
Arkco Machine’s 
Here’s one VITAL bit of advice for using these bags. Be absolutely sure, before you seal up the bags, that your guns are DRY and that all metal surfaces have been coated with an effective anti-corrosive, such as BoeShield T9 or Eezox. Brownells’ storage bags are inexpensive. A 
Remember, those plastic-shelled cases with foam interiors are for transport, not for long-term storage. Don’t repeat the mistake of a wealthy gun collector I know. He stored four valuable Colt Single Action Army (SAA) revolvers in individual foam-padded cases, and locked these away in his gun safe. A year later, every one of his precious SAAs had rusted, some badly.
