Would you like to visit the Walther factory in Germany, and learn all about this German arms-maker? Panteo Productions crafted a 23-minute Walther Factory Tour Video. Panteao Productions takes you to the Walther Arms factory in Ulm, Germany. Product Manager Peter Dallhammer talks about the long history of Walther Arms. Hosted by Larry Vickers, this video showcases Walther products that have influenced modern firearms design. Click arrow on screen below to view.
Watch Other Panteo Videos for 10% Off
Panteo offers a series of high-quality, long-format gun training videos. If you want to subscribe to Panteao’s training videos, you can get 10% off streaming video subscriptions with discount CODE ammoland.
Walther Competition Rifles
Along with rimfire and centerfire handguns, Walther makes competition smallbore and air rifles. Look carefully below — this Walther LG400 Alutec air rifle is different than any gun you’ve ever shot — it has an ELECTRONIC trigger. The LG400’s sophisticated, battery-powered trigger offers a precise, super-light release that is more a “touch” than a “pull”. For top-level Olympic and World Cup competitors, the electronic trigger offers a competitive advantage.
This Walther KK500-E Anatomic .22 LR Smallbore 3P Match Rifle also features an electronic trigger.
Modern Walther Defensive and Sport Pistols
Walther Value 9mm — The Walther Creed at $269.99
While Walther makes premium pistols, such as the steel-frame Q5 shown above, Walther also makes good reliable pistols that cost much less than a Glock or Sig polymer pistol. The Walther Creed offers excellent ergonomics, good accuracy, and well-designed controls for just $269.99 at CDNN Sports. This gun, designed to be a value-leader, emulates Walther’s more expensive PPQ model (MSRP $649.00) at a much lower price. The Creed’s frame size and shape is the same as the PPQ, but the Creed lacks interchangeable backstraps. Slide and trigger are very similar.
About Walther Carl Walther and his son, Fritz, created the first blow-back semi-automatic pistol in 1908. Today, Walther’s innovative spirit continues with the PPK, PPQ, PPS, and Q5 Match Steel Frame series. Military, Police, and other government security groups worldwide utilize Walther firarms. Service and quality continue to be benchmarks of Walther success. For more information, visit www.WaltherArms.com.
Many short-range Benchresters have thought about converting their 6 PPC to shoot a 30BR for score matches, or a Dasher for mid-range (or even 1000-yard) games. That way you have a rifle that does double duty, giving you the most bang for your buck. Though an action with a PPC bolt won’t normally work with 30BR/6BR/Dasher cases with their larger .308-class rim (0.4728″ diameter), there is a pretty easy solution that allows you to cycle these bigger cartridges with a 6PPC-style bolt (designed to fit .220 Russian rims).
“Rebating case rims … lets you shoot a 30BR in score matches using your PPC action. All you need is a new barrel. This saves buying another bolt, receiver, or rifle.” — Butch Lambert
Butch Lambert of ShadeTree Engineering provided this tip. Butch notes that many 6 PPC benchrest group shooters also enjoy shooting in score matches. But to be really competitive in the BR for score game, that means shooting a 30BR, which has a wider, .308-class rim (0.4728″ diameter). Likewise, if you want to compete in 600-yard registered BR events or in varmint matches, you probably want to run a bigger case, such as the 6BR, 6mm Dasher, or 6-6.5×47. Those cartridges also have the larger 0.4728″ rims.
Cutting Head for Rebating Rims
To convert a PPC-boltface action to shoot the bigger cases you can spend a ton of money and buy a new bolt. That can cost hundreds of dollars. The simpler solution is to turn down the diameter of the larger cases on a lathe. Butch explains: “We’ve seen plenty of interest in rebating case rims. This lets you shoot a 30BR in score matches using your PPC action. All you need is a new barrel. This saves buying another bolt, receiver, or rifle if you have a PPC boltface. Anyone who has access to a lathe can do this job pretty easily. Yesterday I turned 150 case in about an hour.” At right is the lathe form tool Butch uses to rebate the case rims.
Problem: NRA Meetings cancelled due to COVID-19 | Solution: RECOIL’s NRA ROADSHOW
RECOIL Magazine has collected dozens of new product videos on its website. This product showcase features many products that were to be unveiled at the 2020 NRA Convention. Right now there are 45 videos on RECOIL’s 2020 Product Showcase, and we expect many more to be added. You’ll find Rifles, Pistols, Optics, Holsters, Ammo, Hearing Protection, and much more. Noteworthy products include the AMP Annealing System, Timney Triggers, Trijicon Optics, and Alien holsters.
Here is one of the Featured Videos, showcasing AMP Annealers…
RECOIL has created a channel on RECOIL-TV to showcase products originally intended to be featured at the 2020 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Nashville. Unfortunately the NRA event was cancelled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. RECOIL-TV’s NRA ROADSHOW channel is currently presenting 45 different new product videos from one to four minutes in length. This should provides some firearms-focused entertainment for our readers stuck at home under Executive health orders.
Kelbly makes outstanding actions, including the Stolle Pandas. In the past 20 years, Pandas have probably won more benchrest matches than any other action (though BATs and Bordens are increasingly in the winning circle). Recently gunsmith Alex Wheeler of Wheeler Accuracy worked his magic on an aluminum Panda, optimizing the “ignition timing” of the action. This involves many small mods to bolt, camming surfaces, trigger, and firing pin: “The whole cam helix and detent shelf is re-cut. The firing pin and cocking piece are modified as well.” When executed properly, Ignition Timing has a number of benefits, including a smoother bolt opening/closing, improved firing pin fall, and enhanced accuracy (though the accuracy improvements can be subtle).
BEFORE Action Timing — Stiff and Clunky
Alex reports: “Normally Panda actions have plenty of firing pin fall. For one reason or another this one was very low. Before timing, firing pin fall was .210 with a Bix’N Andy (BNA) trigger. After trigger timing firing pin fall is .244 with zero cock on close.” Here is how the action functioned before timing work:
CLICK Photo to start VIDEO
Alex notes: “As you can see, after the cocking piece rides out of the detent notch it thenfalls to the trigger and is then re-cocked. This is normal on most un-timed actions.”
AFTER Action Timing — Smooth and Refined
Alex explains the modifications he made for this Panda action: “Moving the trigger back adds cock on close. The whole cam helix and detent shelf is re-cut. The firing pin and cocking piece are modified as well. I do love a timed Panda. In fact, I like aluminum actions, I think there is something to them. But yes, I also recommend Borden as my first choice.’
CLICK Photo to start VIDEO
Fix for Right-Bolt Actions Only
After seeing these videos on Facebook, one poster asked: “I do like my Panda but this is exactly why I bought a Borden action and I love it. It’s good to know you can make a Panda better. Alex, can you time a left bolt Panda?”
Alex replied: “No, the tooling I built is all for right hand actions sorry….”
Story based on Report by Dean Weingarten
The NICS numbers for March 2020 established new, all-time records for both the number of projected guns sales as well as the numbers of NICS background checks done in one month. In March 2020, 3,740,688 NICS checks were done, according to official FBI statistics.
The previous one-month NICS record was set in December of 2015, when 3,314,594 NICS background checks were done. In March of 2020, the FBI recorded 3,740,688 NICS background checks, 12% higher than the previous record. The number of NICS checks always exceeds that actual number of gun sales, because some checks are done for other purposes. The estimated number of recorded long gun, handgun, and other gun sales totaled 2,373,193 in March 2020, 7% higher than the previous sales record in December of 2015.
Guns Sales Driven by Pandemic Fears
According to MSN News, “With most of the nation in isolation to halt the spread of coronavirus … the FBI has seen a 41% increase in background checks compared to this time last year.”
Click Image to Go to MSN to Watch Video (then Click Speaker icon for audio).
Most Background Checks Were for Handguns
In March 2020, most of the purchases were for handguns instead of long guns. The numbers for March were: Handguns, 1,392,677 NICS checks, long guns, 758,073 NICS checks, other (mostly receivers, which could be made into either handguns or long guns) 79,129, and multiple 57,328. Multiple checks are multiplied by 2.5 to approximate the number of gun sales. Carry Permit NICS Checks Rising Faster
Notably, there has been significant growth in the number of NICS checks associated with CCW Carry Permit applications. NICS checks for carry permits and carry permit rechecks have been increasing much faster than checks for firearm sales. While states maintain their own databases for Carry Permits, NICS checks are done in connection with permit applications and renewals.
Total Guns in USA Close to 450,000,000
Using the figures available, there were about 430 million private firearms in the United States at the end of 2018. About 18.6 million have been added since then, putting the USA close to 450 million at this point. According to Dean Weingarten, the United States is on track to reach 500 million privately owned firearms by the end of 2024.
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.
The Ruger Precision Rifle (RPR) is popular with hunters, varminters, and tactical/practical competitors. For RPR fans we’ve found a very good deal — Cabela’s is selling the RPR in 6mm Creedmoor for just $999.97, hundreds less than the rifle sells for at other vendors. This is the latest Gen 3 RPR model with 24″ barrel and hybrid muzzle brake. Right now the 6mm Creedmoor is one of the hottest factory chamberings for PRS and tactical matches.
2. Precision Reloading — All Berger Products on Sale
It’s time to stock up on bullets. Precision Reloading is now discounting ALL Berger products in stock. This sale covers both competition and hunting bullets as well as Berger loaded ammo. Berger bullets are proven winners for all forms of centerfire rifle competition and Berger hunting projectiles are also excellent. Visit Precision Reloading for great deals on Berger products. Sale pricing good through 4/30/2020.
This impressive Weatherby pump-action 12ga shotgun features an 18.5″ barrel, with Fiber Optic front sight and Ghost Ring rear sight. There’s a Picatinny-type rail on top to fit a red dot sight (recommended) or other optic. The Threat Response shotgun holds 5 rounds. With pistol grip stock, good tactical sights, and a rail, this is a great value in a defensive shotgun from a quality company. NOTE: An extension tube (shown in video) can be fitted to increase capacity.
4. Amazon — Wheeler Digital Trigger Pull Gauge, $55.99
Every serious shooter should have a good trigger gauge. The Wheeler digital trigger gauge is precise and repeatable, measuring pull weights up to 12 pounds, making it suitable for all types of firearms. The load cell directly contacts the trigger making it extremely accurate with +/- 0.2 ounce precision. There are two modes: “Peak” and “Live.” Peak mode shows max force for each pull and calculates the minimum, maximum and average pull weights. Live mode continuously shows the force on the sensor. It even has a special adapter for Savage-style triggers with bladed inserts.
TEKMAT makes great products for cleaning long guns. This large 36″ x 12″ vulcanized rubber mat includes a full parts diagram for AR-platform rifles, available in gray, black, and green. Or choose a cool-looking cutaway AR15 illustration on black background. Get either type of 36″ x 12″ mat for just $9.99!. That’s 50% OFF the normal $19.99 price — a GREAT Deal. The oil- and water-resistant surface helps protect your firearm from scratches while the diagrams help with take-down and reassembly. This deal won’t last long.
If you’re looking for a versatile, stable and easy-to-carry field support, check out the BOG-POD SB-2 Bipod. Featuring 21″-40″ adjustable legs, the BOG-POD Bipod can be used while sitting, standing, or kneeling. This really helps when shooting on downslopes or when there are terrain obstacles between you and your target. This unit has a 360° swivel head. The legs adjust independently out to a 60-degree angle with adjustable tension. We’ve used this SB-2 Bipod on ground squirrel hunts and it worked well. Right now MidwayUSA offers the BogPod SB-2 Bipod for just $19.99 — that’s 45% OFF the regular $36.99 price.
7. Brownells — Electronic Muffs, $24.99 (40% Off)
Brownells new, Second Generation Premium Electronic Earmuffs incorporate dual microphones that let you hear range commmand while suppressing harmful noises. These affordable muffs fold for easy storage, and you can plug your smartphone into the 3.5mm input jack. Right now these muffs are discounted from $41.99 to $24.99 — a 40% savings!
8. Brownells — Sellier&Bellot 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo $14.49/20rds
We know many PRS and tactical shooters don’t have time to load large quantities of 6.5 Creedmoor ammo for practice sessions (or even a match). Right now you can purchase 20 rounds of reliable 6.5 Creedmoor loaded ammo for just $14.49 at Brownells. That’s just $0.72 per round. These days you can pay $1.00 or more just for 6.5 Creedmoor brass. This Sellier & Bellot 6.5mm Creedmoor ammo drives 140gr FMJ bullets at 2500+ FPS muzzle velocity.
9. Amazon — 30000 mAh Battery Pack Power Bank, $36.99
These days, we use mobile devices more than ever. It’s easy to run your smart-phone down in a few hours so you should have a back-up USB battery pack. We recommend this Bextoo USB Power Bank, rated at 30000 mAh. We like the red case, which is easy to find in luggage. This $36.69 unit boasts a handy LCD read-out showing remaining capacity. When fully charged, this Bextoo Battery Pack should provide 9 charges for iPhone 11, almost 7 charges for Samsung Galaxy S10, and 2.5 charges for an iPad Mini.
Rimfire plinking with reactive targets is FUN and affordable. Decent .22 LR rimfire ammo is inexpensive, and a wide variety of very affordable steel targets are available. Rimfire steel is much less costly than the 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”.
GunsAmerica Digest recently 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.
Did you know that target shooting (pistol, rifle, shotgun) represents a $16.9 Billion per year industry in America? Or that 20 million Americans enjoy target shooting regularly? In fact, target shooting-related spending contributes more than $46 million per day to the U.S. economy. Plus an estimated 329,000 American jobs are supported by target shooting in the USA. These and other remarkable facts were revealed in a 2019 NSSF report from Southwick Associates.
Not surprisingly, pistol shooting is the most popular form of target shooting, with 13.8 million handgun shooters. The number of rifle target shooters is about 12% less — 12.2 million enthusiasts. Just over 10 million people take part in shotgun sports, and 3.3 million shoot muzzleloading firearms.
Firearms Excise Taxes Support Conservation
Target shooting activities not only support local and national business, but the transactions generate vital revenues for federal, state, and local governments. In fact, target shooting generates, on average, over $14 million dollars per day in total tax revenues (i.e. federal, state, and local). Excise taxes on gun and ammo sales are also key to conservation. 2016, the total excise taxes returned to state wildlife agencies through fireams and ammunition sales totaled over $780 million.
With all the buzz about the 6.5 Creedmoor and its 6mm Creedmoor little brother, some folks forget that we’ve had an outstanding mid-sized, Across-the-Course cartridge for a long time — the 6XC. Pioneered by 11-time National High Power champion David Tubb, the 6XC has won national High Power championships, excelled in mid-range prone matches, and performed great in the varmint fields. It has also been used successfully by many Precision Rifle Series competitors. It’s no wonder — the 6XC has less recoil than a 6.5mm Creedmoor, there is a great selection of superb 6mm bullets, and Peterson 6XC brass is high-quality and reasonably priced ($69/100) from DavidTubb.com. Fine Norma 6XC brass is available from Grafs.com.
PRS Rifle with Modern 6XC II Chamber
Forum member Grimstod posted this new 6XC II rifle in our long-running Pride and Joy Rifle Thread. Grimstod notes: “These 6XC Gen IIs seam to be a hot commodity lately. This one is for PRS. It features a Premier Accuracy Atlas action made by Kelbly. The bolt and heavy-taper, fluted barrel are Cerakoted to match. I really like the ejectors on these Atlas actions. The stock is a KRG X-Ray painted in Premier Accuracy exclusive colors. The Kelbly Atlas action does not have any modifications. So far every Kelbly action we have tried has had perfect timing and trigger fall. We have been supper pleased with them. I look forward to using a lot more of these excellent actions.”
What is the 6XC II you may ask? That designates a 6XC with a chamber dimension optimized for Norma brass. It turns out that Norma brass is a bit bigger at the bottom than the 22-250 brass from which the 6XC originated. Robert Whitley of 6mmAR.com has created two new JGS reamer specs that fit the Norma brass perfectly, improving feeding and extraction. Here is Robert’s Report:
The 6XC II Chamber — Upgraded for Today’s Norma 6XC Brass
by Robert Whitley of 6mmAR.com
The 6XC II Chamber works perfectly with the Norma 6XC brass and resolves the “sticky bolt lift” issue. The original 6XC chambering was designed based off the usage of 22-250 brass which typically has a web diameter in the range of .461″-.463″. The area of the chamber just forward of the web on the original 6XC chambering was .4695″ which left plenty of clearance.
When Norma 6XC brass became available Norma appears to have developed the base of the case from the .308 Winchester line of cases which have a larger web diameter. The web diameter of the Norma brass typically measures right around .4685″ which leaves almost no diameter clearance.
As shooters would use Norma 6XC brass in an original 6XC chamber they typically would experience “sticky bolt lift” due to the lack of clearance and the fact that the large web diameter of the brass prohibited the re-size dies (no matter how small the base diameter was) from squeezing the brass down enough to create sufficient clearance. The 6XC II chamber resolves this issue. You can order 6XC II sizing dies from 6mmAR.com that work perfectly with this re-designed chambering. 6XC II die sets are in stock now — call (215) 348-8789 to order.
6XC II Long Range Reamer (Throated long for 105-115gr Bullets):
The 6XC II-LT reamer below is throated long to keep the full bearing surface of 110-115gr bullets forward of the neck/shoulder junction of the case. Note, 6mmAR.com has also developed a shorter-freebore version for 6mm bullets with shorter bearing surface. SEE shorter 6XC II Reamer Print.
6XC II Chamber and Sizing Die Combo:
- Resolves the “sticky bolt lift” problem shooters experienced using the Norma 6XC Brass in the original 6XC chambers.
– Chamber accepts all 6XC brass or ammo with no modification. Take your existing 6XC brass or ammo and use it without issues.
– Works well with existing Norma 6XC brass, or 6XC brass made from re-formed Winchester and Remington 22-250 brass.
– 6XC II Sizing dies and die sets are available from 6mmAR.com and in stock.
If you are looking for someone to chamber your rifle or re-barrel an existing rifle in the 6XC II chamber, Fred at Sabreco, Inc. in Skippack, PA, (610) 584-8228 can help you. He has the reamers for the cartridge as well as the head space gauges for the cartridge, and has had extensive experience chambering many barrels and rifles.
Here’s a new option for hunters and tactical competitors who want to range targets and call windage/elevation corrections using their spotting scopes. Vortex is now offering Reticle Eyepieces for its Viper HD spotting scopes. Available in both MRAD and MOA versions, these fixed-power 33.5X eyepieces feature ranging reticles with handy hash marks. This allows target ranging, plus competitors can “make accurate shot calls… with subtension lines for holdover and windage corrections.”
Vortex states: “The all-new eyepiece makes measuring target range and calling shot corrections easy, with a diopter ring that allows shooters to get the reticle dialed to their eyes, and level with the horizon line, no matter how their scope is setup.”
Powering the new eyepiece is a fixed, 33.5X magnification ocular lens. This provided plenty of power most hunting and competition scenarios. The eyepiece glass is protected with ArmorTek and XR lens coatings. These easily-installed ranging eyepieces, both MRAD and MOA, are designed for a wide field of view so user won’t miss a single vapor trail or bullet splash.
Ranging MRAD — Hashmarked ranging reticle using MRAD-based subtension lines for ranging, holdover, and windage corrections. Secondary ranging references facilitate rapid range estimating.
Ranging MOA — Hashmarked ranging reticle using MOA-based subtension lines for ranging, holdover, and windage corrections. Secondary ranging references facilitate rapid range estimating.
These eyepieces have fixed, 33.5-power magnification. “Street Price” is about $200.00.
Carl Walther and his son, Fritz, created the first blow-back semi-automatic pistol in 1908. Today, Walther’s innovative spirit continues with the PPK, PPQ, PPS, and Q5 Match Steel Frame series. Military, Police, and other government security groups worldwide utilize Walther firarms. Service and quality continue to be benchmarks of Walther success. For more information, visit www.WaltherArms.com.
