Hot News! We just learned that Frankford Arsenal will offer two new reloading presses this year. It may be a while before these two presses arrive on dealers’ shelves but we wanted to give you a preview. Both presses are impressive. The new FX-10 is a TEN-station, auto-indexing progessive press. It will sell for $699.99, what you might pay for a different brand progressive with fewer stations and more limited capabilities. This FX-10 press offers a smooth, gear-driven shellplate, plus dual decapping stations and primer pocket swaging capability. There are optional (extra cost) bullet and case feeders. The press even offers a built-in LED light.
The F-1 is a robust single-stage press offering power, easy (open front) case access, and smooth cycling. The F-1 boasts a linear ball bearing system for smooth operation, an integrated LED light, a fully-contained primer catch system, and precision-machined solid steel construction.
Frankford Arsenal FX-10 Progressive Press
10-Station, Auto-Indexing
Manufacturer’s Product Description:
The Frankford Arsenal FX-10 is a 10-station automatic indexing reloading press purpose-built from the ground up to be the ultimate progressive reloading press. At its core, the FX-10 features rigid steel construction, multiple ball bearings, and a proprietary 10-station, gear-driven, rotating shell plate which all combine to virtually eliminate powder spillage and bullet tipping.
The FX-10 offers innovative improvements like dual de-capping stations to prevent primer drawback, in-line primer pocket swaging capability (for both small and large primers), and the ability to run powder check and case trimming dies. The FX-10 includes a case-actuated powder measure with a positive reset that guarantees you’ll never have to worry about squib loads resulting from a sticking powder measure. When it’s time to swap calibers, the FX-10’s innovative design allows the user the ability to quickly and easily swap-out tool heads and shell plates to reload anything from 9mm to 30-06 Springfield length cartridges. The FX-10 goes further and offers refined details like a roller handle, integrated LED light, and spring-loaded case locator buttons, which allow easy one-handed case feeding and lever operation, making the FX-10 exceptionally smooth and easy to operate. Compatible with our Frankford Arsenal Case Feeder and Bullet Feeder (sold separately), the FX-10 is the ultimate solution for progressive reloading. MSRP for the FX-10 is $699.99.
FRANKFORD ARSENAL FX-10 PROGRESSIVE PRESS FEATURES
OPTIONAL CASE AND BULLET FEEDER
CASE-ACTIVATED POWDER MEASURE
INTEGRATED BEARINGS FOR SMOOTH OPERATION
IN-LINE PRIMER POCKET SWAGING
SPRING-LOADED CASE LOCATOR BUTTONS
LOADS CARTRIDGES UP TO .30-06 SPRG LENGTH
SHELL PLATES FOR POPULAR CALIBERS
Frankford Arsenal F-1 Single-Stage Press
Manufacturer’s Product Description:
The Frankford Arsenal F-1 Single Stage Press is packed with innovative features to help you reload precisely and quickly so you spend less time reloading and more time on the range. At its core, the F-1 features a linear ball bearing system for smooth operation, an integrated LED light, a fully contained primer catch system, and precision-machined solid steel construction. Compatible with standard 7/8″x14 dies, this press will load up to .338 Lapua Magnum size cartridges. MSRP for the F-1 is $149.99.
FRANKFORD ARSENAL F-1 PRESS FEATURES
RAM RIDES IN BALL BEARINGS FOR SMOOTH OPERATION
LOADS UP TO .338 LAPUA Magnum LENGTH CARTRIDGES
INTEGRATED LED LIGHT
COMPATIBLE WITH STANDARD 7/8″ x 14 DIES
USES STANDARD SHELL HOLDERS
NO-MESS PRIMER CATCH USES BOTTLE OR HOSE
SELECTABLE CAM-OVER OR STOP OPERATION
SOLID STEEL ROD FRAME PILLARS
Credit EdLongRange for Frankford Arsenal New Product Tips.
Due to the continued effects from the Covid-19 pandemic the NRA has made multiple adjustments to the 2021 Competitive Shooting Calendar. Notably, the 2021 Collegiate Rifle Championships in March 2021 have been completely cancelled. The NRA states: “We are trying to make the best of the current situation during these difficult times. We share your disappointment that we had to cancel some of our competitions and we look forward to the remainder of the 2021 competitive shooting season.”
• The 2021 NRA Collegiate Rifle Championships, which were scheduled for March 20-22, 2021, have been completely cancelled.
• The 2021 NRA Silhouette Championships will be held and hosted by the Ridgway Rifle Club in Ridgway, Pennsylvania, this summer beginning July 27, 2021 and ending on August 14, 2021. Specific match dates and times will be posted on the NRA Silhouette Championships Website.
• The NRA is now sanctioning the 2021 NRA sectional and regional events. Programs will be posted soon on the NRA’s Competitive Shooting Division website: Competitions.NRA.org
• At this time the NRA will continue to sanction localized NRA competitive shooting tournaments and we will continue to monitor the situation and make additional statements as the Covid-19 pandemic unfolds.
For regular updates on NRA Match schedules, visit the NRA Competitive Shooting Facebook Page. You can also subscribe to the free Shooting Sports USA Insider newsletter for the latest competitive shooting news and information. For specific questions, contact the NRA Competitive Shooting Division at comphelp@nrahq.org.
Although the 2021 SHOT Show was cancelled, you can find many new-for-2021 products online. The NRA’s Shooting Illustrated website has put together a collection of 28 new products including rifles, pistols, shotguns, optics, safety gear and more — all from top manufacturers. Some of the features include test videos, such as a report on a S&W M&P fitted with the new Leupold DeltaPoint Micro red dot optic.
The Shooting Illustrated article reviews 28 products total. Here are two rifles, two pistols, and one shotgun featured in Shooting Illustrated’s New Products Showcase:
Winchester Wildcat .22 LR SR, Suppressor-Ready Model
Winchester has introduced a Wildcat SR, a suppressor-ready version of its popuplar Wildcat 22 semi-auto .22 LR rifle. This new Wildcat SR comes with a 16.5″ barrel threaded 1/2-28 TPI at the muzzle (with muzzle cap). This will allow the Wildcat SR to fit most rimfire suppressors as well as many muzzle brakes. Shooting Illustrated liked the general features of the Wildcat SR: “The rifle… has a rugged polymer upper assembly, lower receiver assembly and ambidextrous skeletonized buttstock for light weight and strength. The rear sight is adjustable for both elevation and windage and there is also a ramped post front sight.” We are pleased to see that the Winchester Wildcat SR boasts an integral Picatinny Rail for mounting optics.
Browning X-Bolt Mountain Pro Carbon
We like the Browning X-Bolt rifles. Browning offers good protective coatings on the barreled actions, and the camo treatments are nicely done. For 2021, Browning has a new line of X-Bolt Mountain Pro rifles. These include a new-generation carbon fiber stock that is even lighter, with noise-dampening foam for added comfort. The X-Bolt Mountain Pros also come with a Recoil Hawg muzzle brake that Browning says can reduce felt recoil by as much as 73%. The stainless steel action and barrel come with a protective Cerakote Burnt Bronze or Tungsten finish. And internally the barrel boasts a “proprietary lapping process” for easier cleaning and quicker break-in times. For that custom touch, the bolt and bolt knob are spiral fluted. These new X-Bolt Mountain Pros are not inexpensive. Browning lists an MSRP of $2,399.99 – $2,459.99. Expect “street price” around $2000.00.
Savage Renegauge Competition 12ga Shotgun
Here’s an impressive new 12 gauge shotgun from Savage. This boast an extended magazine tube that holds 9+1 rounds. The looks are notable, with Red Cerakote on the Receiver and mag tube, with a black melonited fluted barrel with ventilated ridb and HI-VIZ front site. The stock adjusts for LOP, comb height, drop and cast and there is a rod recoil buffer in the buttstock. Shooting Illustrated notes that the Savage has an advanced gas system: “The Savage Renegauge Competition shotgun features the DRIV gas system (Dual Regulating Inline Valve) gas system which ensures excess gas vents before it drives the bolt, resulting in consistent ejection, less felt recoil, and a … fast cyclic rate[.]”
Volquartsen Black Mamba-X .22 LR Pistol
Volquartsen has released its new Black Mamba-X pistol for .22 LR competitors in speed matches. This features a Volquartsen’s LLV-4X 4.5-inch Competition Upper with integral universal red-dot mount. The Black Mamba-X features a push-button takedown configuration. Other standard features include: A ½x28 threaded stainless steel, 4.5″ barrel, Volquartsen Accurizing Kit allowing 2.25-pound trigger pull.
FN America FN 509 LS Edge
This new FN 509 LS Edge pistol has a longer slide with cut-outs, aggressive checkering, and good controls. Shooting Illustrated notes the benefits of FN’s smart signt attachment design: “The real key to the FN 509 LS Edge is the sighting system. It has a high front sight with a green fiber-optic insert and serrated front blade to reduce glare. The rear sight is a deep trough.” This patented rear sight design allows a very low red dot position, which gets “the sight real low in the slide and helps it co-witness perfectly with the iron sights.” Various inserts are available for many types of pistol optics.
Do you know someone getting started in the shooting sports? Or perhaps you know shotgun or rifle shooters who want to improve their handgun skills because they have obtained CCW pistol permits? Then here is a good resource for those shooters-in-training. Smith & Wesson GUNSMARTS is a new video series that covers the key points of firearm ownership, from purchasing a pistol, to shooting techniques, gun safety, and storage. While this 38-part series does include some rifle-centric videos, it is mostly focused on handgun training, as you might expect from Smith & Wesson.
The GUNSMARTS series has 38 different videos covering gun safety, gun operation, marksmanship, maintenance, and secure storage. There are both general videos about gun handling and very specific videos about topics such as sight alignment, magazine loading, optics and more. Here are six of the best videos in the series. You will find 32 more on the Smith & Wesson Gunsmarts Playlist Page.
10 Tips for Your First Visit to the Range
Shooting Fundamentals — Sight Picture and Sight Alignment
Handgun Skills — Grip Pressure
Concealed Carry Positions and Holster/Belt Options
Readers often ask us: “Is there an inexpensive way I can get started in position shooting?” The answer is “yes” — across the country CMP-affiliated clubs host Rimfire Sporter matches. You can use a wide variety of .22 LR rimfire rifles — manual actions (such as a Winchester model 52) or semi-automatics (such as a Ruger 10/22). There are prone, sitting/kneeling, and standing stages. CMP rules provide separate classifications for scoped rifles, open-sighted rifles, and aperature-sighted rifles. The matches are fun, the ammo is inexpensive, and everyone has a good time while improving their marksmanship.
The rapid-fire sitting or kneeling stage of a CMP-sanctioned .22 Sporter Match consists of two, 5-shot strings. A manually-operated or semi-automatic rifle may be used for this match.
This video shows the sitting/kneeling rapid-fire stage of a Rimfire Sporter match.
Our friend Dennis Santiago helps run CMP Rimfire Sporter Matches in Southern California. Dennis observes: “You want something challenging? Well that X-Ring 50 yards away is the diameter of a 50 cent piece, and there are people out there that can womp that thing with iron sights.”
Dennis notes: “There are six (6) stages of fire on a tough little target. Notice the rifles that can be used run the gamut from pump and bolt actions to variations on the semi-auto theme. All still require a good eye and a steady hold to earn one’s bragging rights for the day. A match takes about an hour and a half per relay. The slowest part of the match is initial sighting in. It’ll take longer than the allocated 5 minutes for the typical first timer coming to a club match.”
At Dennis’s Burbank Rifle & Revolver Club (BRRC), procedures are modified a little bit: “What we typically do at BRRC is run two relays. Experienced competitors shoot per the full rulebook. New shooters are afforded a bit more relaxed environment to make the experience more fun and inviting. We do the same thing in our M-1 Garand Clinic/Match series.”
Rimfire Sporter Match Basics
The CMP Rimfire Sporter Rifle Match is an inexpensive, fun-oriented competition using .22 caliber sporter rifles (plinking and small game rifles) commonly owned by most gun enthusiasts. To compete, all you need is a basic rifle, safety gear, and ammunition. No fancy, high-dollar rifles are required.
The event is shot with standard sporter-type, rimfire rifles weighing no more than 7 ½ lbs, with sights and sling. Rifles may be manually-operated or semi-automatic. Shooters with manually-operated actions are given extra time in the rapid-fire stage to compensate for the difference. (See Video).
There are three classes of competition — the standard “O Class” for open-sighted rifles, “T-Class” for telescope-sighted and rear aperture-sighted rifles and “Tactical Rimfire” class, which is a .22 caliber A4 or AR15 style rifle. Firing for all classes is done at 50 and 25 yards on a target with a 1.78″ ten-ring and an 18″ outer one-ring. Even new shooters can get hits on this target, but it’s still tough enough that no one yet has fired a perfect 600×600 score.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has a CMP Guide to Rimfire Sporter Shooting. This FREE, 50-page digital publication covers equipment, positions, course of fire, rules, scoring and much more. You’ll find helpful “how-to” sections on aiming, sight picture, hold control, and trigger control. Reading these instructional sections can benefit any prone or three-position competitive shooter.
NRL22 — a rimfire tactical discipline — is one of the fastest-growing shooting sports in the country. Right now there are more NRL22 matches in one month than there are official rankings-counted PRS matches in a year. It’s easy to understand why. Ammo is cheap, and you can have plenty of challenge even on a 200-yard range. Plus good .22 LR barrels can last 30,000 rounds or more.
For anyone looking to get serious about rimfire competition shooting without the costs of a full-on custom rifle, a new day has dawned. CZ-USA now offers a CZ 457 for rimfire precision matches that has important accuracy upgrades. The CZ Varmint Precision Trainer MTR is now available with the match-grade MTR chamber with tighter tolerances. The MTR chamber has proven itself via the CZ 457 Varmint MTR rifle, which has garnered an excellent reputation for accuracy.
The VPT MTR variant will feature orange accents in the camo finish on the Manners Composite Stock
CZ states: “The MTR variant of the VPT allows shooters to buy an affordable, match-chambered rifle that’s ready to compete right out of the box. This eliminates the perceived need to upgrade any major components[.]” It also lets you compete in rimfire classes restricted to “box stock” 100% factory configuration.
The 457 VPT MTR comes with a cold hammer-forged and lapped 16.2″ barrel with 1/2×28 threads at the muzzle for a suppressor or muzzle device. The barreled action is mounted in a Manners carbon fiber stock. For the new VPT model with MTR chamber, MSRP is $1449.00. Expect “street price” around $1250.00″
Overall Length: 42″
Weight: 7.49 lbs.
Trigger: Adjustable
Sights: Integrated 11MM Dovetail for Optic
Safety: Two-Position, Push to Fire
Misc.: Barrel Threaded 1/2×28 for suppressor
New CZ 457 VPT Replaces 455 VPT — Major Action Changes
The previous CZ 455 VPT was replaced with the new-generation CZ 457 Varmint Precision Trainer, which still boasts a Manners Composite stock, based on the PRS1 design with a more tapered forearm. The new 457 VPT has some very notable upgrades. First, the stamped bottom metal of the 455 is gone, swapped for a two-piece interlocking system. To make scope fitment easier, CZ ditched the 90° bolt rotation in favor of a 60° bolt, allowing for larger ocular bell diameters with lower ring heights. And the 457 VPT now features a trigger adjustable for weight, creep, and over-travel. MSRP for the basics CZ 457 VPT (not the MTR Chamber model) is $1189.00, with street price around $990.00.
Right now reloading presses are in high demand. If you are shopping for a single-stage press, here’s a good press you may still find available at many vendors. The Hornady Iron Press™ features a super-strong, pyramid-style cast-iron frame with an open front. A clever optional “automatic” priming system shuttles primers from a vertical tube in the back to the shell-holder in the front. This is very clever engineering. You really should watch the video — it shows the patented auto-priming system in action. The Auto-Prime system is sold separately or as part of the Iron Press Reloading Kit.
Watch this Video to See Gravity-Fed Shuttle Priming System (00:45, 01:00):
Optional Automatic Priming System
The optional auto-priming system is a real selling point for this new press we think. When you move the press handle rearwards, a horizontal bar toggles back to pick up a primer from the column in the rear of the press. Then this same bar move forwards to place the fresh primer in the center of the shell-holder. Hornady explains: “The available gravity-fed Automatic Priming System (sold separately or with the Lock-N-Load® Iron Press™ Reloading Kit), combined with the Accessory Mounting Deck, increases reloading efficiency by allowing more processes to occur simultaneously. The Iron Press™ is the first of its kind to allow the ability to deprime, pause, and remove the case to chamfer & deburr … then replace and prime.” Do watch the video to see the priming system in action.
The broad top of the beefy (26-lb.) Iron Press can hold case prep tools (such as chamfer tool and case-neck brush) and/or a box for bullets or brass. NOTE: This is NOT a turret press — you can only use one die at a time. However, Hornady offers an accessory “Die Caddy” (sold separately) that can hold up to three (3) more dies. That way you can quickly switch from a sizing die to a seater die (or vice-versa). What Hornady calls the “Accessory Mounting Deck” gives quick access to items such as trays for bullets or cases, chamfer and deburr tools, case neck brushes, primer pocket cleaners and other accessories. The Iron Press comes with the Lock-N-Load® bushing system which allows for rapid die changes.
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. CZ 457 .22 LR Varmint Precision Chassis Rifle, $899.99
⏺ CZ 457 offers good .22 LR accuracy/function with modern chassis stock
NRL22 rimfire tactical matches are hugely popular. You see a lot of press about centerfire PRS. But there are more NRL22 matches every month than official PRS matches every year! If you want to get started in NRL22 competition, here is a great option. Choose either 16.5″ or 24″ barrel. We like the longer barrel for the extra velocity, but either choice works. Palmetto State Armory has the 16.5″ version for $899.99 while Midway USA has both 16″ and 24″ models for the same $899.99 price. Either way, just add an optic and you’re good to go. Top photo by owner MealTeam6ix9ine who is “super impressed by the rifle” which has the 16.5″ barrel with Rugged Oculus suppressor. The optic is a Vortex Gen II Viper 5-25x50mm on a +15 MOA Area 419 base.
2. Natchez — RCBS ChargeMaster Lite, $239.99
⏺ Best Deal on popular, speedy Scale/Dispenser
Do you need an electronic powder scale/dispenser? Most vendors charge $290-$310 for the popular RCBS ChargeMaster Lite. But now you can get it for just $239.99 at Natchez. You save $60.00, about 20%! The ChargeMaster Lite features an easy-to-use LCD touchscreen and claimed precision of plus/minus 0.1 grains. The unit comes with twin check weights and a convenient plastic cover for the powder pan.
⏺ Very good value for Tac Comp Scope; Good Lens Coatings
Do you enjoy PRS and NRL matches? Here is an excellent scope for that task, offered at a huge savings — 31% OFF normal retail. The Sightron S-TAC 4-20x50mm offers good glass, very accurate tracking, and a nearly ideal 4X to 20X power ratio. This FFP MRAD scope works great for tactical matches. It boasts 22.9 MRAD of elevation adjustment plus nice big, easy-to-turn turrets. This scope features a zero stop, throw lever, and side parallax control that works down to 10 yards. The S-TAC 4-20x50mm provides 22.9 MRAD of elevation adjustment. Note: This may say Duplex Reticle, but the Sightron product number 26016 on the Sightron site (and the product description) indicate this scope has the Mil-Hash-4 (MH-4) Illuminated reticle. That’s a good reticle for tactical disciplines.
4. Plano AirGlide Vertical Loading Rifle Case
⏺ Great case for range trips, sadly going out of production
The Plano AirGlide case is our favorite case for regular visits to the range. The rifle drops in from above. There is no pressure put on the scope turrets laterally or from above. This cases are good for rifles up to about 50″ overall (such as a benchrest rifle with a 27″-28″ barrel). We are listing this AirGlide case here because the AirGlide is being discontinued. In fact, it is no longer listed on the Plano website. So get one while you can. Here are two sources, but Airgun Depot is waiting for inventory:
Among injection-molded plastic rifle cases, Plano’s AirGlide™ case is unique in holding a rifle vertically, in foam cradles. This allows ample room for the 3″-wide fore-ends on BR and Varmint rifles. The foam blocks front and rear can even be trimmed for a custom fit, while velcro webbing straps hold the rifle securely. The AirGlide’s hinged top-opening lid provides ample clearance for large target scopes, with no side load on the turrets. Measuring 51 1/2″L x 7 3/4″W x 12 1/4″H, the AirGlide can handle rifles up to 50″ in length. SEE: Airglide Video Review.
5. Grafs.com — Frankford Platinum Case Prep Center
⏺ Versatile, easy to use unit with 4 powered heads
Grafs.com now has the Frankford Platinum Case Prep Center for $89.99 on SALE. This aluminum-body unit features 4 powered tool stations and comes with: (1) inside chamfer tool; (1) outside deburring tool; (1) small primer pocket scraper; and (1) large primer pocket scraper. The machine’s 8-32 threaded output shafts accept a wide variety of aftermarket case prep tools. The 200 RPM shafts are efficient. NOTE: If you want a tool that can TRIM cases, as well as prep cases, check out the Frankford Case Trim & Prep Center for $80 more — $169.95 at MidwayUSA.
6. EuroOptic — Trijicon Tenmile Scope Sale
⏺ These Trijicon optics compare well with NF for much less
Trijicon Tenmile scopes have quickly become popular with F-Class, PRS, and ELR competitors. Check out the Trijicon Tenmile scope sale where you can pick up any of these innovative scopes that feature lit reticles, large 34mm diameter tubes, and many other good features. These are really good scopes for the money. And now’s the time to buy with massive discounts during this sale. For example the Tenmile 4-24x50mm with MRAD ranging is marked down from $1799.00 to $1176.00. And the Tenmile 4.5-30x56mm LR scope is marked down from $2600.00 MSRP to $1699.99 — Save over $900!
7. Amazon — Tipton Best Gun Vise, $87.54
⏺ Versatile, stable, works with all rifles, including ARs
You need a stable platform when cleaning your long guns, but most gun cradles are too light or unstable to do the job properly. If you’re looking upgrade to a better solution, grab the Tipton Best Gun Vise. The vise was designed to accommodate the widest possible array of firearms for cleaning, maintenance, or gunsmithing. This vise is easily configurable to handle bolt-action rifles, break-open shotguns, AR-15s, and handguns. You can also purchase this excellent Gun Vise for $89.99 at Midsouth.
⏺ “Must Have” Upgrade for Harris Bipods — works great, low cost
This lever handle replaces the thumbnut on tilting bipods to make locking them down easier. With the Alpha-Bravo Bipod Lever installed, a quick rotation of the lever allows you to go from easily tiltable to completely locked down. That way you can level your rifle in seconds and then be rock solid. You can also set the tilt resistance to a medium level that holds steady but allows some rifle rotation (L/R tilt) when you want. The Long Model Bipod Lever is on sale now for just $10.99. You can also get a Shorter Lever for $14.99. Both lever handles fit Harris Model S and similar bipods.
⏺ A good deal at twice the price, with above average 27 dB NRR
This Walker’s Ultra Slim Muff and Eyewear Combo Kit is truly a GREAT deal. Buy this inexpensive kit as a spare Muffs/Glasses set to keep in your vehicle or range kit. Each combo kit includes earmuffs along with a nice set of wrap-around shooting glasses. The muffs have an excellent 27 dB Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). And the Z87.1-approved glasses boast impact-resistant, polycarbonate lenses with 99% UV Protection.
10. Amazon — Jialitte Scope Bubble Level, $10.99
⏺ Effective and affordable — works for both 30mm and 1″ tubes
All serious rifle shooters need a scope level. This nicely designed Jialitte Scope Bubble Level features a 30mm milled inside diameter, plus an inner insert ring so it will also fit 1″-diameter main tubes — that dual-diameter versatility is a nice feature. We also like the way the unit is nicely radiused, and has a low profile in the middle. Price is just $10.99 with free shipping. User reviews have been very positive. You could easily pay $35.00 or more for a 30mm scope level.
Probably 95% of all civilian rifle shooting is done from the bench — if you include fun shooting, load development, sight-in sessions, practice days, youth training, as well as actual benchrest and club competitions. If you shoot with iron sights, or a low-power optic, you’ll definitely need a spotting scope to see your shots on target. And if you’re shooting long-range, that spotting scope will help you see mirage, as well as hits on far targets.
It’s not always easy to place a spotting scope near your bench. There are short benchtop tripods, but they take up precious bench-top space and can interfere with your non-favored arm placement/functions. Or you can deploy a complete separate tall tripod, next to the bench, but, frankly, that’s inconvenient, and with some bench structures it’s difficult to get the scope close enough to the shooter’s eye.
Here is a smart solution from Creedmoor Sports — a specialized, clamp-on Spotting Scope Support that mounts directly to the side of your bench. This will work with heavy, thick range benchtops as well as thinner-top portable shooting benches.
Creedmoor Spotting Scope Bench Mount
This mounting system clamps to the bench, allowing your spotting scope to be suspended near your face, with nothing below it to get bumped. If your buddy wants to look through the scope, simply spin the horizontal boom piece away from the bench. This system adjusts up and down and left and right. Set the scope head in any configuration you prefer. The $219.95 kit has everything you need, including all clamps AND the blue adjustable scope head. Select either 3/4″ rod diameter or 1″ rod diameter. (Bigger is better for heavier scopes).
Creedmoor Bench Mount Spotting Scope Stand Features:
1″ or 3/4″ aluminum rods for vertical and horizontal support (18″ in length)
Anti-pivot pins to keep the mount from twisting on the edge of the bench
Includes high-grade Blue anodized adjustable scope head
Durable anti-slip rubber on the clamp
Micro-adjustment clamping stopper
CMP Guide to Target Shooting with Vintage Military Rifles
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has released VMR: Target Shooting With Vintage Military Rifles, a new book by Gary Anderson, Director of Civilian Marksmanship Emeritus. Gary himself was a world-class marksman who earned two Olympic Gold medals in rifle shooting.
The CMP says this 284-page illustrated book is “likely the most comprehensive manuscript ever written about the methods of training and competing with popular American and foreign vintage military rifles.” Fans of vintage military rifles will likely find this 18-chapter book “to be the most complete coverage of the topic, from a competitor’s and historian’s point of view”, said Christie Sewell, CMP Programs Chief.
Anderson definitely has the credentials — he won Olympic Gold Medals in Tokyo and Mexico City in the 1960s. Gary also set multiple U.S. and international records. The originator of the CMP’s competitive vintage rifle program, Anderson set out to present a detailed manual covering all aspects of shooting vintage military rifles. The book covers 1903 Springfield, U.S. Krag, 1917 U.S. Enfield, M1 Garand, M1 Carbine and many more, including rifles from “across the pond.”
Target Shooting With Vintage Military Rifles Topics:
Origins and Fundamentals of Marksmanship
Operation, Cleaning, Loading & Unloading
Sight Adjustment, Zeroing & Fine Tuning
Highpower Rifle Match Procedures
Firing Rifles in Competition
Prone, Sitting and Standing Position Building
Using a Scorebook/Databook
Strategies for Improvement
Critical Value of the Sling
Rifle and Range Safety
Purchase Online at CMP E-Store
This new Gary Anderson book is sold through the CMP E-Store for $29.95. You can also print out and submit the CMP Publications order form (order item NLU # 792, $29.95). The CMP stores in Alabama and Ohio will also carry the new Gary Anderson book.
