There’s a new service for firearms aficionados who want to fill their gun safes with an impressive collection of pistols, rifle, and shotguns, for a few dollars a day. The new SafeQueen service offers gun guys a wide selection of replica arms at a fraction of the cost of the real thing. These can be exchanged for new “toys” every year, and you can quickly build your collection through a low-cost monthly subscription. “It’s like a Book-of-the-Month Club, but for guns” said one SafeQueen subscriber.
While SafeQueen “faux firearms” are non-functional, it turns out that doesn’t matter to the vast majority of gun collectors, who rarely (if ever) shoot their firearms. “It’s all about pride of ownership” said a satisfied SafeQueen customer. “I wanted to fill up my safe quickly with a lot of bling. SafeQueen lets me do that. To be honest, I like looking at my collection more than shooting real guns. This way I never have to drive to the range, and better yet, never have to buy or load ammo. It’s the best of both worlds — I get to enjoy the look and feel of guns, with none of the responsibilities. Thank you SafeQueen!”
SafeQueen Founded to Enhance Gun Ownership Experience
Josh Ryder, founder of SafeQueen Inc., started his company after determining that the vast majority of gun guys are much more into the ownership experience than into actual shooting. “We found that 98% of firearms are total ‘Safe Queens’ that never get used, and never leave the house. When we realized this, a light bulb when off — why not provide ‘faux firearms’ that look and feel like the real thing, but can be acquired, at low cost, without FFLs, waiting periods, or background checks. That’s how SafeQueen Inc. got started. And it has been hugely popular.”
Can’t afford a beautiful match rifle like this right now? Safequeen has you covered. With an affordable SafeQueen membership, you can fill your gun vault with an impressive collection of beautiful (faux) firearms for a fraction of the cost of the real thing. Order a new gun every month, or swap out items for just the cost of return shipping. SafeQueen offers all kinds of rifles (tactical, hunting, F-Class) plus shotguns, and pistols.
How about a Barrett Model 82A1 .50 BMG — that will earn you some serious respect. But the real thing would cost nearly nine thousand dollars. Sign up for the SafeQueen service you can lease a look-a-like Barrett for a few dollars a week.
We talked with Josh Ryder, SafeQueen’s President (and founder). He explained that most firearms are rarely if ever shot, but gun-owners enjoy acquiring new products and building their collections: “Our research revealed that over 98% of firearms are never shot. Yet their owners continue to purchase more guns, at considerable expense. Those owners enjoy the process of collecting, and they feel genuine pride filling up their gun safes. It’s a bit like a woman who has 100+ pairs of shoes — of course she doesn’t need them all, but she enjoys buying shoes and admiring her collection. We wanted to make it easier to build a large collection of gun-type toys, AND allow the collector to trade in items without the hassle and expense typically associated with transferring real guns.”
SafeQueen offers impressive faux handguns as well as replica rifles. This faux Colt Python can be leased for a small fraction of the cost of the real thing.
Wish you had a super-deluxe shotgun in your safe, but don’t want to fork over $10,000 or more? With SafeQueen you can add a stunning scattergun to your collection for a few dollars a week.
SafeQueen Gun Lease Services Start at $99/month
SafeQueen offers various subscription plans starting at just $99.00 per month (for four faux rifles and four faux pistols — 8 total). And you can lease other faux firearms for just $99 each per year. These SafeQueen guns look every bit like the real thing. However, because they are not capable of firing live rounds they are not actually considered firearms by the ATF or local authorities. Therefore, SafeQueen can deliver the faux firearms straight to your front door — no FFL involved. And there is no problem with shipping, waiting periods, or background checks.
In recent years, the California Legislature has passed a series of laws restricting the rights of California gun owners. The latest example of anti-gun legislation will hit gun owners in their pocketbooks….
If you want to practice your marksmanship in California from now on, get ready to open your wallet and pay the taxman. With the passage of AB 211, recently signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown, California shooters who use paper targets at indoor ranges will have to pay a fee for every hole they put in paper — literally. This new law, codified in the California Penal Code, states that commercial gun ranges must collect a charge of $0.38 per shot, as established by holes made in approved paper targets. This fee, the “Target Tax”, can be raised in the future at the discretion of the California Dept. of Justice.
Here’s how it will work, starting June 1, 2018, when the new Target Tax law goes into effect at California indoor ranges. First, all shooters must purchase California DOJ-approved paper targets (you may no longer bring your own). When you purchase a certified target at an indoor range, your name and the number of targets you have purchased will be recorded in a state database. Then, after your shooting session, the targets must be scanned, with the number of shot holes recorded. A charge of $0.38 per scanned hole will be added as a line item for your range session, along with the DOJ target-processing fee of $5.00 per target.
With 30 holes, the new California target tax on this left target would be 30 x $0.38 or $11.40. Conversely, the tax on the target on the right would be just 38 cents, because there is only one hole, though five shots went through the same hole. Obviously, exceptional marksmanship skills can help reduce your target tax liabilities.
California Targets Must Be Culturally Tolerant and Non-Discriminatory
AB 211 also includes a series of provisions which specify the types of targets which may be purchased. First, as you might expect, all targets must be printed on recycled paper. Second, no target may contain any “hate speech” or “micro-aggressions”. Third, while targets may still show human silhouette-style outlines, any targets which depict a protected minority type or non-binary gender type are forbidden. Likewise, any target that shows discernable culture, religion, or national origin are forbidden. So, a target showing a bearded male wearing a turban would be forbidden. If you had such a target, the range owner would be required, under AB 211, to confiscate it. Shown below are two types of targets that would be illegal in California under AB 211. NOTE: It is unclear whether a zombie target would be allowed, if the Zombie is unknown gender, ethnicity, or culture.
Practical/Tactical shooting disciplines such as the Precision Rifle Series are today’s fastest-growing forms of rifle shooting competition. More and more shooters are enjoying the fun of tactical-style matches shot “on the clock” from a host of challenging positions. PRS competitors must rapidly engage a number of reactive and steel targets, while shooting offhand, prone, behind barricades, off tripods, and from a wide range of other positions.
The popularity of the original centerfire PRS format, which now draws hundreds of competitors at major matches, spawned a PRS spin-off for rimfire shooters. A year ago, the Precision Rimfire Challenge (PRC) was launched. Modeled on centerfire PRS competition, the PRC is a new .22 LR rimfire shooting game. Call it “PRS Lite” — a practical-style, multi-stage match shot with .22 LR bolt-action and self-loading rimfire rifles.
With the success of rimfire tac comps, the PRS has decided it’s time for air-gunners to join the fun. Starting in May 2018, the PRS will offer airgun side-matches at the most popular PRS events, including the High Mountain Shootout (June), Heatstroke Open (July), and GAP Grind (October). Sponsored by AirGun WareHouse, the new PRS airgun side-matches will be run as a new, season-long Precision Rifle AirSoft Series (PRASS). Competitors can use a variety of pneumatic airguns from makers such as Beretta, Crosman, FN Airsoft, and KWA Airsoft.
“The Precision Rifle AirSoft Series (PRASS) is perfect for newcomers to the tactical game who want to start with a low-cost, ultra-safe competitive experience that still offers the look and feel of the PRS tactical lifestyle. It’s great for young people as well as individuals who may be wary of real firearms. This may prove ideal for Millenials.” — PRS Competition Committee
If PRS (PR-“Es”) costs too much, try PRASS (PR-“Ass”), the AirSoft version. With AirSoft rifles costing less than $150.00, PRASS is way more affordable!
PRS Marketing VP Jeff Wilson expects the AirSoft Series to be a huge success: “We know that most purchasers of tactical-style rifles rarely, if ever, actually shoot their guns because it takes too much time to train, and the cost of ammo is prohibitive. In addition, many new shooters are sensitive to the noise and recoil of actual firearms. And, let’s face it, some guys want to look tough, but they’re really just weenies. Our AirSoft Series addresses all those concerns. The guns are inexpensive, the ‘ammo’ costs pennies, and the air is always free!” Wilson also noted that airguns provide an ideal introduction to the shooting sports for newcomers: “Airguns are easy to shoot, and they can be purchased without background checks or waiting periods. They are great starter tools for new shooters. You can experience our full PRS tactical lifestyle at a fraction of the price. While these days PRS is just too costly for many, PRASS will be affordable for all!”
The AGM MK96 AirSoft Rifle looks just like the real thing. Yet it costs just $131.95 with optic. That’s less than 5% of what a good centerfire PRS rig would cost! CLICK HERE to order — No FFL Required!
The Precision Rifle AirSoft Series (PRASS) Offers Low-Cost Tactical Fun:
Believe it or not, here is a cartridge that makes a .338 Lapua Magnum look like a toy. The 14.5x114mm cartridge was designed as a MG and rifle-fired anti-materiel round. To translate from the metric system to caliber and inches, the round is a mammoth .57 caliber which measures 4.49 inches to the case mouth, and 6.13 inches overall. That jumbo-sized case holds a whopping 655 grains of powder. Commonly-loaded projectiles weigh 920-1030 grains. The 993gr armor-piercing projectile has a muzzle velocity of approximately 1006 meters per second (3300 fps) and can penetrate 30-32 millimeters of RHA steel at a range of 500 meters.
The top photo comes from Elardus De Lang, a Forum member who works at the Truvelo Manufacturers Armoury in South Africa. Elardus also provided an impressive video showing the massive 14.5x114mm being shot from prone with a Truvelo-built bolt-action rifle. Elardus tells us: “Here is a video, with a slow-motion ending, of our 14.5x114mm anti-materiel rifle being fired in our indoor testing facility. This caliber is a true beast! It propels a 993gr Armor-Piercing Incendiary bullet to 3300 fps, burning 480 grains of powder in the process. [This shows] that rifles of that power level can actually be shootable. The concussion indoors is something to experience……every shot feels like you are being punched in the face, and the heat from the muzzle flash actually hits you like a wave!”
14.5x114mm Cartridge Design and Dimensions
The 14.5×114mm has 42.53 ml (655 grains H2O) cartridge case capacity. The exterior shape of the case was designed to promote reliable case feeding and extraction in bolt action rifles and machine guns alike, under extreme conditions. Cartridges typically use lacquered steel cases, but some countries also use brass cases.
All dimensions are in millimeters (mm). Americans would define the shoulder angle at alpha/2, or 22.5 degrees. The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 455 mm (1:17.91″) with eight lands/grooves. According to official guidelines, the 14.5×114mm can handle up to 360 MPa (52,213 psi) piezo pressure.
14.5x114mm Cartridge History
The 14.5×114mm (.57 Cal) is a heavy machine gun and anti-materiel rifle cartridge used by the Soviet Union, the former Warsaw Pact, modern Russia, and other countries. It was originally developed for the PTRS and PTRD anti-tank rifles, but was later used as the basis for the KPV heavy machine gun that formed the basis of the ZPU series anti-aircraft guns that is also the main armament of the BTR series of armoured personnel carriers from the BTR-60 to the BTR-80 and for heavy anti-material sniper rifles. The cartridge was designed in 1939 and first issued in 1941.
CZ has a new rifle that should appeal to varminters and target shooters. The new CZ 527 Varmint MTR (Match Target Rifle) is designed to provide enhanced accuracy with a heavy-profile barrel and stock that works well from bench or bipod. The MTR features a fast Mini-Mauser action with a trigger that adjusts from 2.25 to 4.95 lbs (10 to 22 N).
Click above photo for full-screen image with legible notations.
We wish we could tell you how the CZ 527 Varmint MTR shoots, but this rifle is so new that test samples haven’t made it to the USA yet. Based on experience with other CZ 527 models, we would expect about 1.2 MOA accuracy with decent factory ammo. With handloads you might get closer to 0.7 MOA for three shots. Sorry no USA price is available yet. However, the older CZ 527 Varmint, with a lesser-grade stock, has an MSRP of $725.00, so we expect the CZ 527 Varmint MTR to retail for around $875.00. We note that the latest model CZ 557 Varmint with similar, ergonomic Turkish Walnut stock has an $865.00 MSRP as listed in the 2018 CZ-USA Catalog.
CZ 527 Varmint MTR Features:
— Match-type stock design with wider, straight fore-end for good tracking on front rest.
— Slanted buttstock toe to adjust height in rear shooting bag
— Match-type ergonomic grip design with palm swell
— High-quality Turkish Walnut wood with oil finish
— Adjustable trigger pull from 2.25 to 4.95 lbs (10 to 22 N)
— Detachable 5-round all-metal magazine
— Heavy-contour 25.6″ (650 mm) hammer-forged barrel with threaded muzzle
Here is the manufacturer’s product description: “Thanks to the tried and tested CZ 527 system, the rifle is comfortable, reliable and fast to control. The trigger pull and pull weight may be set in the range between 10 and 22 N. Crucial for the high accuracy is the thick-walled 650 mm long barrel with a target pattern muzzle end and a thread for the attachment of accessories. The ergonomic walnut stock in oil finish is suitable for hunting as well as sport shooting. All users will also appreciate the superb ballistic properties of the 6.5 Grendel cartridge.”
.009″ — The Record That Stood for 40 Years.
In 1973 Mac McMillan shot an amazing 100-yard, .009″ five-shot group in a benchrest match. The .009″ group was measured with a 60x microscope for verification. Mac McMillan shot the group using a handbuilt prototype McMillan rifle with an early McMillan stock.
Mac’s .009″ group was the “Holy Grail” of rifle accuracy. This .009″ record was considered by many to be unbreakable, a record that would “stand for all time”. Well, it took 40 years, but someone finally broke Mac’s record with an even smaller group. In 2013, Mike Stinnett shot a .0077″ five-shot group using a 30 Stewart, a .30 caliber wildcat based on the 6.5 Grendel. Stinnett’s .0077″ group now stands as the smallest 100-yard group ever shot in registered benchrest competition.* Read About .0077″ group HERE.
Stinnett’s success doesn’t diminish the significance of Mac McMillan’s .009″ group in the history of benchrest competition. For four decades Mac’s group stood as the ultimate standard of rifle accuracy*. For those of you who have never seen Mac McMillan’s .009″ group, here it is, along with the NBRSA World Record certificate. The target now hangs in the McMillan Family Museum.
*Somebody else might claim a smaller group, but unless moving backers or electronic targets were used, it cannot be verified. Moving target backers are used at registered benchrest matches to ensure that five (5) shots are actually fired in each group. That eliminates any doubt.
Here’s a new product that should please shooters who wet-tumble their brass with stainless media, or use ultrasonic cleaning machines to clean cartridge brass (and gun parts). Employing forced hot air circulation, the new Lyman Cyclone Case Dryer will dry a large quantity of brass in under two hours. Internal racks provide five drying levels. With “street price” under $60.00, the Cyclone Case Dryer is a very affordable and effective addition to an ultrasonic or rotary-tumbler cleaning system.
The Lyman Cyclone Case Dryer works fast. No need to wait overnight (or longer) to air-dry your brass. Lyman states that “The forced heated air circulation of the Cyclone will dry your brass inside and out within an hour or two, with no unsightly water spots.” The handy individual trays keep different types of brass separate. The dryer can also be used for gun parts that have been ultrasonically cleaned.
Lyman Cyclone Case Dryer Features:
• Holds up to 1000 .223 Rem cases or 2000 9x19mm Luger cases
• Works with cartridge brass cases or gun parts
• Fast drying time — Typically 1 to 2 hours
• Timer control can be set up to 3 hours
• Durable ABS trays with recessed handles
Watch How Cyclone Case Dryer Functions with both Cartridge Brass and Gun Parts
Cyclone Case Dryer 115V (Part #7631560) MSRP: $69.95
Cyclone Case Dryer 230V (Part #7631561) MSRP: $69.95
Registration is open for the 2018 Crosman All-American Field Target Championship to be held July 20-22, 2018 in upstate New York. The Crosman All-American Field Target Championship will be held once again at the Rochester Brooks Gun Club, 962 Honeoye Falls #6 Road, Rush, NY 14543. Visit the Crosman website for Match Info and Schedule, or go directly to the Registration Page.
The event runs under American Airgun Field Target Association rules. Competitors attempt to knock down a variety of steel targets set at distances ranging from 15 to 50 yards. “The Crosman All-American Field Target Championship is one of the must-attend events for Field Target airgunners. We will have every level of competitor from the novice just getting started, to the world class competitor”, says Mark DeBoard, Manager of Shooting Services for Crosman.
The three-day competition features multiple shooting matches including the main two-day rifle event. There are five divisions for competitors: Open, Hunter, WFTF, Freestyle, and Pistol. In addition to the main rifle event, this year will also feature a pistol match, the Quigley Bucket Match and the Pyramyd Air Gunslinger match. The Bucket match re-creates famous scene in the movie “Quigley Down Under” in which the lead character shoots a bucket at 700 yards. Here the distances are scaled down a wee bit (wink). Competitors, using iron sights only, get 5 shots at a 1.75″ bucket placed at 55 yards.
This 2013 Video Explains the Field Target Discipline and Air Gun Classes
“Spots are limited, so please register soon,” says Crosman’s Mark DeBoard. “Field target is a fun event for all skill levels. Participants will benefit by shooting alongside members of Team USA and other [top shooters] from across the country.
Tech Talk: Why the Big Side-Wheels on the Scopes?
Field Target rifles shoot pellets propelled by compressed air. These light-weight, low-BC projectiles drop very quickly, with a looping trajectory. In order to hit targets at distances out to 50 yards or so, you have to adjust your scope to compensate for pellet drop. But you can’t set the scope correctly without knowing the precise range to the target. This is the function of the big wheels on the side of the scope. Field Target Competitors use the parallax adjustment on high-magnification scopes to determine target range. The big wheel allows quick, yet precise parallax adjustment. Markings on the wheel show the shooter the scope settings required for the distance “dialed-in” via the over-size parallax wheel.
Fans of Heavy Artillery should head over to the updated and enhanced Fifty Caliber Shooters Association (FCSA) Image Gallery website. There you’ll find photo collections and animated slide-shows (there also a separate Video Collection) On the photo gallery page, you’ll find a map. Click on any gray range link to see images from that venue. There are also a series of articles covering FCSA competition along with the “care and feeding” of the big 50-caliber rifles.
The FCSA will host its 1000/600 Yard World Championship July 5 through 7, 2018 at the Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico. This will follow the 2018 King of 2 Miles Competition at Raton, which runs July 2-4, 2018. CLICK HERE to Register for FCSA 2018 Championship.
About the FCSA
Founded in 1985, the FCSA is an international organization with members in 22 countries. Headquartered in Monroe, Utah, the FCSA has a membership of approximately 4000. While the FCSA provides a service to military and law enforcement with research and instruction as well as an active liaison in both communities, the primary charter of the FCSA is the promotion of the sporting use of the 50 BMG cartridge and its wildcat derivatives. The FCSA and its members have lead the way in refining .50-caliber cartridges, rifles, and 1000-yard plus shooting know-how. Members enjoy a quarterly magazine, a suppliers directory, a very active website, and access to literally the best repository of 50 BMG information on the planet. If you are interested in Mr. John Browning’s big 50, you should seriously consider joining the FCSA.
Story tip by EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
We are sad to announce that pro shooter and USPSA past President Michael Voigt has died after a battle with cancer. Michael passed away peacefully at home on March 24th in Corona, California. He is survived by his wife, Maggie Reese Voigt and his daughters. Michael has been one of the world’s top action shooters for the past 30+ years. Michael won dozens of major titles during his three decades of pistol, shotgun, and rifle competition. Voigt’s notable titles include: IPSC World Individual Championship (3 times), IPSC World Team Championship (7 times), IPSC Continental Shotgun title (2 times), and IPSC Continental Handgun title (2 times). He also won the USPSA Multi-Gun title numerous times.
Michael was President of the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) from 2000 to 2012. After 12 years leading USPSA, he then devoted his time and talents to advancing the firearms industry and training elite military and law enforcement forces around the world. The USPSA noted: “Michael has been a friend and mentor to many of us and has always been there to coach or help anyone along the way, he will be truly missed.”
As a National and World Champion shooter, Michael has been featured on 3-Gun Nation television series, NBC Sports, Versus, Pursuit, Sportsman’s and Outdoor Channel. He was one of the original Team Safariland competitive shooters and served on the team for 25 years along with Team Surefire.
Here is Michael Voigt with his wife, Maggie Reese Voigt.
Michael’s wife, Maggie, also a pro shooter, posted this message on Facebook: “Dear Friends, my heart is broken. The love of my life, my soulmate, my precious husband Michael Voigt passed away after a long battle with cancer. We have been together for 11 years… I know we will be together forever.” Services and interment will be held Saturday, April 14th at 3:00 pm at Rose Hills Memorial Park, 3888 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, CA 90601. All are welcome to attend. Maggie added: “In lieu of flowers, I ask that you support the great passion of his life by donating to the USPSA Junior Program.”
Michael Voigt shared his knowledge in many ways, including this video.
Rest in Peace, Michael, we will miss you…
.009″ — The Record That Stood for 40 Years.
Fans of Heavy Artillery should head over to the updated and enhanced 
