Gun-makers and barrel builders have adopted aerospace technology, using carbon fiber in their stocks and composite barrels. At SHOT Show 2018, we saw carbon applications on dozens of rifle brands. Some rifles sported full carbon stocks AND carbon-wrapped barrels. Others sported a carbon stock with steel barrel, or a carbon-wrapped barrel in a conventional stock. Carbon is definitely here to stay. This advanced material allows rifles to be lighter yet stronger. The advantages for the hunter in the field are real — a carbon-wrapped barrel can save quite a few pounds. Here are some of the most notable carbon applications we saw at SHOT Show.
Sako 85 Carbon Wolf
Possibly the best-looking carbon-stocked rifle at SHOT Show was the Sako 85 Carbon Wolf, featured in our Top Photo. New for 2018, this rifle features a full carbon composite stock, with the signature carbon fiber weave visible throughout. We found this new-for-2018 rig very ergonomic and nice to handle. The advanced-design RTW carbon fiber stock offers quick, push-button adjustments for comb height and LOP. Though not carbon-wrapped, the conventional 24″ blued steel barrel is fluted, reducing the overall weight of the rifle. Without optics, this rifle weighs well under 8 pounds. We were impressed by the Carbon Wolf, but choked on the steep $3600.00 MSRP. Street price will be lower — EuroOptic.com is listing a $3148.00 price for the Sako 85 Carbon Wolf.
The Firearm Blog says: “The stock features Soft Touch coating. Is is not at all slippery or loud like some carbon stocks can be. The barrels are factory threaded as well. Both the weight and the balance of the Carbon Wolf rifle felt perfect. I may have to add one to my Finnish rifle collection.” This is offered in 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win, .30-06 Sprg, 7mm Mag, and .300 Win Mag.
Nosler M48 Long-Range Carbon Rifle
Nosler recently introduced the M48 Long-Range Carbon rifle with the addition of a PROOF Research, carbon fiber-wrapped, match-grade barrel that significantly reduces the overall weight of the rifle. The carbon-wrapped Proof barrel is mated to a trued M48 receiver and bedded in a Manners MCS-T carbon fiber-strengthened stock. Nosler says: “The Model 48 Long-Range Carbon is an excellent choice for mountain hunting, backcountry excursions and long range competition where weight is a concern.” Initially, this rifle will be offered for 6.5 Creedmoor, 26 Nosler, 28 Nosler, 30 Nosler, .300 Win Mag, and 33 Nosler.
Christensen Arms TFM — Carbon Galore for 7.3-lb Rifle
As you can see there’s a whole lot of carbon fiber in the Christensen Arms TFM rifle. With a carbon-wrapped barrel and full carbon-fiber stock, this handsome rig weighs just 7.3 pounds (short action) or 7.8 pounds (long action). The carbon-wrapped stainless barrel and fully-adjustable Aerograde carbon-fiber stock are mated to a precision-machined action via integrated carbon fiber pillars. In addition, the TFM includes an integrated, 20-MOA optics rail, detachable magazine, and a titanium side-port brake. Impressively, Christensen Arms guarantees 0.5 MOA (half-MOA) accuracy.
Manners Full-Carbon F-Class Stock
For many years now, Manners Composite Stocks has offered an ultra-stiff, Low-Profile ‘Fish Belly’ F-Class Stock. The shell is 100% carbon fiber with a very long, stiff fore-end. From the back of the action to the tip of the fore-end the stock measures 27″ long which is around 7 1/2″ longer than the Manners T4 stock. The idea is to provide a longer wheelbase to better balance the long, 30-32″ barrels favored by many F-Class competitors. The front half of the fore-end is very thin (from top to bottom) to achieve a low profile on the bags. Much thought has gone into controlling fore-end flex. The stock achieves greater vertical rigidity (less deflection under load) through an innovative “fish belly” design. The rounded undersection, like a canoe hull, strengthens the fore-end considerably.
Weatherby Mark V with Carbon-Wrapped Barrel
Weatherby now offers rifles with Proof Research carbon fiber-wrapped barrels. The aerospace-grade carbon fiber in the Mark V Carbon barrel makes the barrel up to 64% lighter than traditional steel barrels of the same contour. Weatherby claims the carbon-fiber technology improves heat dissipation — so the barrel does not heat up as quickly with extended strings of fire. The 26” #4 contour carbon-wrapped barrel has a cut-rifled, hand-lapped 416R grade stainless steel core with a flush thread cap and 5/8-24 muzzle threads. It’s finished in tactical grey Cerakote. The Mark V Carbon carries Weatherby’s SUB-MOA (at 100 yards) accuracy guarantee when used with Weatherby factory or premium ammunition.
Carbon Edge from Fierce Firearms
Fierce Firearms also offers a long-range hunting rig with a carbon-wrapped barrel. This is an extremely light rig. Without scope or optional muzzle brake, the short-action version weighs just 6.4 pounds. It is available in Black/gray, Green/black and a variety of Camo finishes including Kryptec Highlander and Typhon patterns. All this lightweight tech doesn’t come cheap. The Carbon Edge retails for $3250.00 and a left-hand version is $250.00 more. Fierce does offer a 0.5 MOA (half-MOA) accuracy guarantee, which is something.
How Good Are Proof Research Barrels? — Commentary by Mike Davis
Over the past 15 years Davis Custom Rifle has installed barrels from most major barrel manufacturers. We are very fortunate to have such quality barrel makers. I think Proof Research falls into that top-of-the-line category. Proof Research carbon-wrapped steel barrels are super light-weight, yet offer rigidity and superb accuracy. I have used them for 22-250, 6mm/6.5mm Creedmoor, .308 Win builds and multiple long range hunting rifles in .280, .280 AI, .300 WSM, .300 Win Mag, 28 Nosler, and 30 Nosler. These builds with Proof Research barrels typically deliver quarter-MOA accuracy or better.
The Proof Research technology allows us to build lighter rifles with outstanding accuracy, easy cleaning, and the ability to shoot long strings without point of impact shift. It’s not hard to understand why hunting rifles with these capabilities are in high demand. Combined with other light-weight components (such as Titanium actions), it’s not difficult to get these rifles down to 6.25 to 7 pounds total weight before optics.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every 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. Stocky’s — LR Stocks with Aluminum Bedding Block, $179.99
Here’s a good deal on a versatile Stocky’s Long Range Stock with aluminum V-block bedding system. For just $179.99 (unpainted), order this for Rem/Rem Clone long actions or short actions, with either narrow or wide (varmint/tactical) barrel channel. This would be a good choice for a varmint rifle. This is also offered with handsome hydrographic or web-pattern baked-on textured finishes for $199.99.
2. CDNN — Noreen 34″ Barrel .50 BMG Long Range Rifle
No personal rifle collection is complete without a .50 BMG — the big boy. The single-shot, bolt-action Noreen is one of the most affordable Fifties. This 32-pound beast boasts a 34″ barrel with a massive muzzle brake. The Noreen’s bolt is stout, sporting a large diameter bolt body. This jumbo-sized rifle comes with Timney trigger and AR-type pistol grip (which can be exchanged by purchaser). The wide bipod is included with the rifle. CDNN now offers the Noreen .50 BMG in either Matte Black or Desert Camo for the same $2049.99 price. You can also purchase this rig directly from Noreen Firearms, with a choice of four calibers: .338 Lapua Magnum, .408 CheyTac, .416 Barrett, and .50 BMG.
3. Midsouth — New Western Powders Reloading Manual, $27.99
This is a very impressive new resource book, which we perused at length at SHOT Show. We were very impressed. Western’s new Reloading Manual is richly illustrated, with large clear diagrams, and hundreds of color photos. There are many well-written, informative articles on reloading tasks by knowledgeable experts. The reloading data tables are easier to read than most other reloading manuals. The “how-to” section of this new reloading manual is probably the best we’ve seen in terms of layout and organization. Western has a real winner here in our opinion. With up-to-date info on modern cartridges, it is a great combination of Numbers (load data) and Knowledge (how-to articles) for users of Western powders.
4. EuroOptic — Free $100 Gift Card with $559 Leica 2000-B
Leica has long been a leader in the Laser RangeFinder market and the model CRF 2000-B is highly regarded among hunters. Now you can get this popular model for just $559.00 at EuroOptic.com, a very good value ($69 cheaper than Amazon). And, when you buy from EuroOptic you’ll get a $100.00 gift card. This lowers your effective price to just $459.00 — a heck of a deal for the “gold standard” in super compact laser rangefinders. The Leica 2000-B is small enough to carry in your pocket.
Sometimes less is more. In this case, if you are looking for a good basic zoom optic for a varmint rifle, the 6-24x42mm Weaver fits the bill. You have plenty of power to see small varmints at long range. The 1″ tube allows you to fit less expensive rings. The front objective parallax is more fool-proof than many side-focus systems. And the Ballistic-X reticle gives you multiple hold points — helpful when you are moving near to far and back again in a P-Dog field. At $259.99 this is an exceptional bargain. We wouldn’t hesitate to run this scope on a varmint rig.
6. Brownells — Lyman Case Prep Express, $94.99
We’ve always liked Lyman’s Case Prep Express. It has five powered stations, allowing you to do all important case prep operations: Primer Pocket Cleaning, Primer Pocket Uniforming, Inside Chamfering, Outside Chamfering, Inside Neck Cleaning. The unit is easy to clean, with a removable tray to hold brass shavings. Brownells has the Case Prep Express on sale now for $94.99. Very good price — that’s $24 cheaper than Amazon. Plus Brownells is now offering free shipping with Checkout CODE M7R.
7. MidwayUSA — Norma Match-22 500 Rounds, $39.99
This Norma Match-22 ammunition is good stuff. In many rifles it shoots as well as $8/box products from other makers. But now you can get Match-22 for the equivalent of $4 per 50-ct box when you buy 500 rounds. MidwayUSA is selling a 500-round case (10 boxes) of Norma Match-22 for just $39.99. That works out to just 8 cents per round. Or you can get 1500 rounds (three 500-round cases) plus an ammo can for just $124.99. We think you’ll be happy with this ammo. It is a good choice for tactical cross-training, rimfire silhouette, and fun shooting.
8. Sportsman’s Guide — Stevens 320 12 GA Shotgun, $179.99
Every ranch, farm, or household can use a defensive 12 Gauge shotgun. We like ghost ring sights on our self-defense scatterguns, and this Stevens 320 Security model has that feature. This shotgun is a steal — get one now for the amazingly low price of $179.99 ($170.99 Buyer’s Club price). You won’t find a quality, American-made, ghost-ring 12 gauge pump for less money. At this price you can afford to buy two or three. This Stevens 320 Security shotgun is made by Savage Arms.
We like reactive targets. It’s fun to “ring steel” and see a target move instantly when hit. For just twenty bucks (including shipping), it’s hard to go wrong with this 8″ AR500 Steel Gong. The 8″-diameter size is big enough for zeroing at 200 yards, yet offers a nice challenge at 500 yards and beyond. There is also a 6″-diameter model for just $14.00.
A past F-TR National Champion, James “Jimmy” Crofts is one of America’s top F-Class competitors. And now this F-TR ace has a stunning new rifle in his arsenal. AccurateShooter Forum member CigarCop, head honcho of KW Precision LLC, recently completed a new F-TR rig for Crofts. This handsome, state-of-the-art rifle features top-tier components: Borden action, twin Brux barrels, Cerus RifleWorks F-TR Stock, and Jewell trigger, all resting on a wide-base Phoenix Bipod.
James Crofts photo by Kent Reeve.
Have a good look at these photos below. Yes, envy is the appropriate reaction. With the smooth operation of the Borden action and the predictable accuracy of Brux barrels, we bet James’s new rig will shoot as good as it looks.
CigarCop actually chambered two barrels for James, with different fluting patterns — conventional linear flutes for one tube, and lines of staggered ovals for the other. Finished length for both barrels is 30″. Yes it looks cool, but the fluting was done mainly to save weight with the 30″-long lengths. CigarCop tells us the complete rifle, without scope and rings, weighs just under 15 pounds. Max allowed weight for an F-TR rifle, with scope, is 18.18 pounds (8.25 kg).
One of the most commonly-asked questions on our Shooters Forum is “what diameter bushing should I use with my neck-sizing die?” While we recommend that users obtain at least two bushings, you still have to know where to start. For hunting ammo and gas guns, we still recommend choosing a bushing that is 2 or 3 thousandths smaller than the neck diameter of a loaded round. However, in a bolt-action benchrest gun, you may well get superior accuracy with less neck tension. A while back Larry Isenhour set a spectacular 50-5X, 600-yard IBS record using very light tension — Larry employed a .268″ bushing for a .2695″ loaded round.
How to Select the Right Neck Bushing for your Cartridge Brass:
A while back, we discussed neck bushings during a visit to the Redding Reloading booth at the NRA Annual Meeting. In the video above, Patrick Ryan of Redding explains how to measure your cartridge brass and select the proper bushing diameter. Please note that Redding has changed its recommendations for benchrest neck sizing in recent years. Redding now recommends that benchresters start with a bushing that yields slightly less grip on the bullet.
Weatherby Inc., a major name in the rifle business, is abandoning California, leaving the Golden State for friendlier climes in Wyoming. Based in Paso Robles, CA for many decades, Weatherby announced last week that it will relocate its production facilities and headquarters to Sheridan, Wyoming. The respected rifle manufacturer, founded in 1945, was welcomed by Wyoming state officials. In fact Wyoming Governor Matt Mead was present for Weatherby’s announcement, made at Shot Show 2018. By contrast, California’s state leaders, given their anti-gun bias, are no doubt happy to see Weatherby leave. The Democratic Party now controls both houses of California’s State Legislature, as well as the Governor’s office. Weatherby’s departure is just the latest exodus of a major firearms industry company from California. In the past year, Berger Bullets, now part of Capstone Precision Group, relocated from Southern California to Arizona.
“We wanted a place where we could retain a great workforce, and where our employees could live an outdoor lifestyle”, said Adam Weatherby, Chief Executive Officer. “We wanted to move to a state where we can grow into our brand. Wyoming means new opportunities. We are not interested in [just] maintaining — we are growing.”
Weatherby Leaves Hostile Political Environment
Is Weatherby’s Wyoming move all about dollars and cents? Not entirely. California has become increasingly hostile to firearms manufacturers. TheFireamRack.com’s Dan Zimmerman observes: “[Weatherby] wanted to do business in a state that isn’t at war with the very products they make. A state that respects the Second Amendment and won’t try to claw back every single cent it can wring out of businesses located there. So Weatherby made the entirely rational choice to take their company to a place that values what they do.”
The Wyoming Business Council heralded Weatherby’s relocation: “The move is expected to create 70 to 90 jobs and more than $5 million annually in payroll in the next five years.” Recognizing the benefits to Wyoming, Governor Matt Mead and the Business Council began recruiting Weatherby a year ago. Governor Mead declared: “Wyoming is a great place to do business and is excited to welcome Weatherby to Sheridan. For over 70 years, Weatherby has been an innovator in firearms design and manufacturing. The company will add to our manufacturing base and fit well with our diversification objectives.”
Weatherby will locate its new production facility in Sheridan, Wyoming. Sheridan is a beautiful location in Northern Wyoming, a verdant plain with mountains to the West. Sheridan has just under 18,000 residents. But there will be another 100 or so soon. Local County10 News reports: “Sources shared with County 10 that Weatherby, located in California since the mid 1940s, has been considering locating in a state with a more favorable pro-firearms industry culture and citing a frustration with California’s tax structure.”
Top Five Reasons Firearms Businesses Leave California
1. High California Taxes. California’s Corporate Tax Rate is 8.84% — among the highest in the nation. Wyoming, by contrast, has ZERO state corporate taxes. California Sales Tax starts at 8% while Wyoming Sales Tax ranges from 4-6%. California was ranked 48th overall (third worst) in Tax Climate by the Tax Foundation. Wyoming was rated Number One Overall (best). This ranking considers corporate tax, personal income tax, sales tax, and property tax.
2. High Cost of Living in California (all factors). It is expensive to live in California. One Cost-of-Living index rated Paso Robles, CA 144.5 compared to 101.8 for Sheridan, Wyoming (higher is worse). Another Cost of Living Calculator states that, including housing, Paso Robles, CA is 41.9% more expensive than Sheridan, WY. Ironically, howevever, median income in the two cities is not that different: $28,358.00 for Paso Robles (CA) vs. $26,491.00 for Sheridan (WY). Money definitely goes farther in Wyoming. In terms of buying power, one study suggests a $35,535/year salary in Sheridan, WY equates to a $50,000/year salary in Paso Robles, CA.
3. Bad Roads and Infrastructure in California. Among all states, California has the fourth worst roads in the country with 50% of roads in “poor condition”. In fact, the Los Angeles Regional area road system has been deemed the worst in the nation according to a Federal Highway Administration Report. By contrast, Wyoming’s highway system was ranked number one, best in the USA, in the 21st Annual Reason.org Highway Report. And this was despite the fact that state gas taxes per gallon are much less in Wyoming than in California*. California’s roads and infrastructure are only going to get worse as the population grows.
4. Anti-Business California State Government. California is now a one-party state, with the Democratic Party controlling the State Senate, State Assembly, AND the Governor’s office. This has created an anti-business governmental culture, with a left-leaning bias. California also has many more business regulations, and more restrictive gun and ammo laws. The situation is unlikely to change because there is undeniable evidence of massive voter fraud in California which favors Democratic candidates. For example, in Los Angeles County “the total number of registered voters now stands at a number that is a whopping 144% of the total number of resident citizens of voting age”, according to Judicial Watch. 10 other California counties have significantly more registered voters than voting-age citizens. (SOURCE: Judicial Watch Report.)
5. Out-of-Control California Housing Costs. Coastal counties in California have some of the highest average home prices in the country. The median home price in Paso Robles, CA is $486,100. By contrast, the median home price in Sheridan, WY is $217,100 — well under HALF the California price! And rental housing is cheaper in Wyoming too. Median Rent in Paso Robles, CA is $2150.00 per month, while Median Rent in Sheridan, WY is $1250.00 per month.
* All five of the top-ranked states for highway system performance (Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, South Carolina and Kansas) have state gasoline taxes at or below the national average. Source: Los Angeles Times.
Digital editions of SHOT Daily, the magazine distributed each day of SHOT Show, are available free in Web eZine formats. Two digital editions are available right now, and others should be released soon. You’ll find many product features plus articles that can benefit shooting club directors and range managers. Definitely check out the Day One issue’s extensive coverage of new-for-2018 firearms. SHOT Daily is produced for NSSF by Bonnier Corp., publishers of Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, and many other magazines.
Highlights Day 2: New Optics, New Ammunition, Starline Brass, Outerwear, Cerakote Mossbergs.
SHOT SHOW TV Day 2 Headlines
SHOT Show Product Spotlights
SafeShoot — Downrange Risk Detection Technology
The SafeShoot system is advanced technology that can detect the presence of humans downrange, even in darkness. A sensor attached to a rifle, shotgun, or spotting scope “scans” downrange looking for human profiles. If it “sees” a human in the direction the firearm/spotting scope is pointed, a light in the front sensor unit flashes red. We checked out the system, and the technology really works. This could be very beneficial for anyone shooting on undeveloped land or unsupervised ranges, particularly during hunting season. This SafeShoot technology was developed by experts who have worked with the Israeli military. We think this technology holds much promise.
.224 Valkyrie from Barrett Firearms
The SHOT Show TV crew visits Barrett to check out the Barrett Fieldcraft and REC7 rifles chambered in .224 Valkyrie. This video also previews Barrett’s law enforcement and military products. The .224 Valkyrie is a new cartridge from Federal based on a 6.8 SPC necked down to .224 caliber. It offers excellent long-range performance with the new high-BC .22-caliber bullets (such as Sierra 90gr and 95gr SMK), while still fitting and functioning in a standard AR-15 magazine. We’ve shot the .224 Valkyrie and like it. The round looks like a scaled down 6.5 Creedmoor.
CLICK HERE for more 2018 SHOT Show Product Videos.
EDITOR: Given the flood of SHOT Show product reporting this week, we thought a little comic relief was in order this Friday, the last day of SHOT Show 2018. This clever video pokes fun of some of the oddballs you’ll find at shooting ranges. Crack open a cold one and have a laugh…
This very funny video that should put a smile on your face — especially if you’ve ever competed in action shooting events. This tongue-in-cheek video from the SuperSetCA team identifies seven (7) annoying/insufferable types of shooters you’ll find at shooting matches. You can’t help but chuckle watching this video. The satire is “dead on” — we’ve all met these kind of clowns at one time or another.
Among the personality types lampooned by the video are the “way too serious” type, the completely unprepared type, the “Hollywood” show-off, the “always an excuse” type, and of course the “I’m too old for this” competitor. As a shooter past age sixty, this Editor might even fall into that category — at least when it comes to “run and gun” games. When I’m asked to gallop around a range carrying heavy gear, yes I’ve been known to mutter: “I’m too [insert swear word] old for this….”
Here’s an extra challenge for you. According to the video’s producers, there are several TV and/or Movie references sprinkled throughout. Can you name them all (with run-times)? (Hint, look for Lethal Weapon and Matrix spoofs).
The most eye-catching display at SHOT Show 2018 was a 3D Hologram animation of the new SAR 9 pistol. Showing the pistol assembling itself in mid-air, the hologram was mesmerizing.
So many products — so little time. We saw some very interesting new products including new Berger Ammunition on our second day at SHOT Show. There were many interesting tools on displays as well as cool new rifles for hunters, varminters, long-range shooters, and tactical marksmen. We also met some old friends on Day Two, including the legend himself — Jerry Miculek.
To give you a feel for SHOT Show, here’s a nice teaser video filmed last year. This shows both Media Day and the events inside the Sands Convention Center. Though this is a year old, we definitely recommend it. Plus is has a LOT of pretty ladies. You won’t be disappointed — honest.
This Video is from 2017, But You Should Definitely Watch It — Lots of Pretty Ladies!
NEW — Berger Branded Ammunition in Lapua Brass
Berger Bullets + Lapua Brass in factory-loaded ammo. You asked for it. Now it’s here. The new line of Berger Ammunition was unveiled at SHOT Show this week at the Capstone Precision Group booth. Berger, Lapua, Vihtavuori, and SK Ammo are now all owned by Nammo Lapua, so we can have these great American-made bullets packaged with superior, European-made Lapua brass*. This is an exciting development. There will be three (3) lines of Berger Ammunition: Match Grade Target, Match Grade Hunting, and Match Grade Tactical. We’ll have a full report with field tests this spring.
NEW and IMPROVED — Lyman Higher Rez Borecam
Better. Sharper. Higher Resolution. The new, upgraded Lyman Borecam® Digital Borescope is a serious candidate for best gunroom tool of the year. We really liked the original Borecam and recommended it highly. But now the new version is a LOT better. Now offering 300k resolution, you can really see finer details inside your bore. Trust us — the difference is VERY Noticeable. We could see very fine detail as never before. We like the fact that the lens wand is marked like a ruler so you can see your insertion depth and the handle has an indexing mark so you can keep track of your rotation. Great product. NOTE: The 300K means the camera delivers 300,000 pixels, i.e. 0.3 megapixel. For a square this is about 550×550. For a standard aspect ratio, this is similar to 640×480 resolution.
NEW — Walther KK500 .22 LR 3P Competition Rifle
Walther unveiled a handsome new smallbore (.22 LR) competition rifle, the KK500. This is more compact, with a shorter length of pull, so it’s a great choice for smaller-framed competitors — women and junior. The new Walther KK500 position rifle features bold red/gray laminated grip and fore-end block, plus an eye-catching red bolt handle. Very nice rimfire rifle for serious 3P smallbore shooters.
NEW — RCBS 6-Station Brass Boss
We tried out the new Brass Boss from RCBS. This new machine features SIX (6) powered tool heads, plus brushes. Four of the tool heads run at variable speeds up to 350 rpm. Two other high-speed tool heads run up to 550 RPM. There is a convenient speed control knob on the side of the unit. This is a great feature — you can run at high RPM for hard jobs like removing military primer crimps, and then slow way down to do more precise tasks such as inside chamfering. We like the Brass Boss. It is a definite upgrade over the previous RCBS Trim-Mate. The new Brass Boss includes tools for all six stations: inside VLD chamfering tool, outside deburring tool, primer pocket cleaners (small/large), military crimp removers (small/large), primer pocket uniformers (small/large), case neck brushes (four diameters), and a tub of dry case neck lubricant. MSRP for the Brass Boss is $189.95. We expect “street price” to be around $155.00.
COOL — World’s Biggest Cutaway Cartridge?
At the Vista Outdoor booth, we saw a 4-foot tall replica rifle cartridge. This was a real eye-catcher. Many folks looking at the giant-sized mock cartridge had never seen a 3-D cutaway like this showing the construction of the primer along with the core and jacket of the bullet. Note to Vista Outdoor — Please send one of these jumbo cutaways for our AccurateShooter.com “Man-Cave”.
WILD — $18,000 Janz Plasma Finish Revolver
Holy Mother of Mercy. This stunning Janz pistol costs $18,000. You can buy an entry-level Honda Civic for that! But does that Honda have a rainbow-colored Plasma finish like the Janz? And can the Civic swap barrel and cylinder assemblies to shoot multiple calibers? These top-of-the line Janz wheelguns are crafted in Germany in very small numbers. Just remember, beauty doesn’t come cheap.
NEW — Leica HD-B 3000 Geovid Rangefinder Binoculars
When we looked through the new HD-B 3000 Leica Geovids we were stunned. Superb clarity and sharpness. And the laser ranging was instantaneous — amazingly fast. The new Geovid HD-B 3000 delivers linear distance determination up to 3,000 yards (2,750 meters). This combo binocular/LRF has an ABC® ballistic brain inside which can output holdover, click adjustment, and equivalent horizontal range (EHR). Barometric pressure, temperature and angle are also included in the measurements. Impressive.
FUN — Selfie Time with Jerry Miculek — The Man, the Legend
Where else but SHOT Show in Las Vegas can you get a selfie with the world’s greatest revolver shooter, the legendary Jerry Miculek. Jerry was signing autographs at the Hornady booth. Of course Jerry’s not just a wheelgun ace. He has been a top 3-Gun competitor and, at last year’s 2017 Industry Day at the Range, Jerry set a world rifle speed record shooting a S&W M&P15.
NEW — Lyman Brass Smith C-Frame Press
Lyman has three new cast-iron presses on display: an O-Frame Single Stage, and 8-station Turret, and this compact Brass Smith C-Frame Ideal open front press. We liked them all but we think this new C-Frame press is an exceptional value. With beefy cast-iron construction, it is much stiffer than other presses in this category. The compound linkage is smooth. The base is big enough to provide good stability. For someone looking for a second press, or a smaller press to take to the range, the new Lyman may be the right solution. Thumbs up.
WEIRD — Virtual Reality Self-Defense Simulator
At the NRA Booth, CarryGuard, the NRA’s insurance program, had a half-dozen high-tech Virtual Reality simulators. Visitors could put on a pair of VR goggles, and then experience a variety of threat scenarios. This helps gun owners recognize true threats and respond in a proper manner. We like the cool Virtual Reality technology, but it still seemed weird to see grown men wearing goofy VR headgear and waving their arms around like circus clowns.
BAD ASS — Victrix Heavy Metal Tactical Rifles
Victrix is an Italian rifle-maker that shows that has proven that the USA doesn’t have a monopoly on seriously “Bad Ass” weaponry. We saw a trio of Victrix Minerva Tactical rifles that look tough enough to survive the Zombie Apocalypse with ease. The Minerva’s beefy carry handle under the fore-end is an interesting feature — something similar might come in handy for big ELR rigs.
SMART — Burris Spotting Scope with Accessory Red Dot
Can you see an extra feature fitted to this Burris Signature HD Spotting Scope. Yep, that’s a Burris Red Dot Sight on the left side near the eyepiece. Smart idea — this helps you align the spotter quickly, particularly in low-light situations. After seeing this rig, we’re wondering how we might attach a red dot to our older spotting scopes. Hats off to Burris for this clever optics upgrade.
NEW and TEMPTING — Tikka T1x Rifle in .17 HMR
When we first revealed the impressive new Tikka T1x rimfire rifle in .22 LR, some readers said: “Well the .22 LR version is nice but will it be available in .17 HMR? That’s what I really want”. Well ladies and gentlemen, Tikka WILL sell a 17 HMR version of the T1x (see above). We saw this on display at SHOT Show and smiled. This gun has a very nice trigger, smooth running bolt, and the magazine is easy to seat (unlike some other recent rimfire rigs). Fitted with a nice 3-18X scope and bipod, this could be a great carry-around varmint rifle. We hope to test one this spring.
* NOTE: With some cartridge types for which Lapua brass is not currently made, other brands of brass may be used. However, most Berger Ammunition will feature Lapua brass.
There is an excellent article about primers on the Shooting Times website. We strongly recommend you read Mysteries And Misconceptions Of The All-Important Primer, written by Allan Jones. Mr. Jones is a bona fide expert — he served as the manager of technical publications for CCI Ammunition and Speer Bullets and Jones authored three editions of the Speer Reloading Manual.
This authoritative Shooting Times article explains the fine points of primer design and construction. Jones also reveals some little-known facts about primers and he corrects common misconceptions. Here are some highlights from the article:
Size Matters
Useful Trivia — even though Small Rifle and Small Pistol primer pockets share the same depth specification, Large Rifle and Large Pistol primers do not. The standard pocket for a Large Pistol primer is somewhat shallower than its Large Rifle counterpart, specifically, 0.008 to 0.009 inch less.
Magnum Primers
There are two ways to make a Magnum primer — either use more of the standard chemical mix to provide a longer-burning flame or change the mix to one with more aggressive burn characteristics. Prior to 1989, CCI used the first option in Magnum Rifle primers. After that, we switched to a mix optimized for spherical propellants that produced a 24% increase in flame temperature and a 16% boost in gas volume.
Foiled Again
Most component primers have a little disk of paper between the anvil and the priming mix. It is called “foil paper” not because it’s made of foil but because it replaces the true metal foil used to seal early percussion caps. The reason this little disk exists is strictly a manufacturing convenience. Wet primer pellets are smaller than the inside diameter of the cup when inserted and must be compacted to achieve their proper diameter and height. Without the foil paper, the wet mix would stick to the compaction pins and jam up the assembly process.
We had a great time on Day One of SHOT show. We saw some amazing products, including a remarkable upgrade to the Annealing Made Perfect system — a computer-controlled automated case feeder. We met with legendary Champions Carl Bernosky and David Tubb. David’s son-in-law Nate Stallter recently set a World Record at the first-ever ELR Challenge match, hitting 3 of 3 shots at 2011 yards with no sighters. We also attended a seminar with Bryan Litz and saw a host of new rifles and pistols which we will showcase in the next few days.
New ELR World Record Holder Nate Stallter with David Tubb
We met with Nate Stallter, the young marksman who dominated the first-ever ELR Record match held January 21, 2018 in Nevada. Shooting a Tubb LR rifle chambered for the .375 CheyTac cartridge, Nate went 3 for 3 at 2011 yards, after doing the same at one mile. Nate’s spotter was his father-in-law David Tubb, 11-time National High Power Champion. We recorded a long interview with Nate and David that provides many interesting insights into the ELR game.
AMP Induction Annealer — New Automated Power Feeding System
The micro-processor controlled AMP Annealer, already the most advanced personal annealing system on the planet, is now even better. The Annealing Made Perfect team of Alex (father) and Matt (son) Findlay showcased the new automated case-feeding option for AMP owners. This can load brass from a hopper, completely processing each case in about 10 seconds. We filmed video we’ll run in a follow-up story. There is also an important new software upgrade that allows AMP owners to precisely determine the right setting for their brass.
Kelly McMillan Shows Off ‘The Beast’
At the McMillan Stocks booth, we met with Company President Kelly McMillan. We talked about the growing popularity of Extreme Long Range (ELR) shooting. Kelly showed us the stock McMillan has developed for the ELR discipline, fittingly named ‘The Beast 2′. This is a very long stock designed to tame the recoil of big cartridges like the .375 CheyTac and .338 Lapua Magnum.
TargetVision Offers New High-Rez and 2-Mile TargetCam Systems
We talked at length with Clay Rhoden, the talented young owner of TargetVision, producers of the most highly-rated target cam systems on the market. Clay showed us his best $899 high-end systems, the UltraHD targetcam, along with the new Extreme Long Range product rated for two miles. TargetVision, which outputs WiFi signal directly to your smartphone or tablet, is the official Target Camera of the U.S. F-TR Rifle team.
Litz Talks Kestrels and ELR
At the Kestrel booth, Bryan Litz of Applied Ballistics, along with firearms trainer Todd Hodnett, gave a short seminar on Kestrel features/capabilities, ballistics, and bullet design. We asked Bryan “Should competitive shooters tip their bullets?” He answered “It depends…”. Bryan explained that if the bullets are very uniform, with small meplats out of the box, the benefits of tipping may not be so obvious.
Wheelguns Galore at the Smith & Wesson Booth
No SHOT Show experience would be complete without a stop at the Smith & Wesson booth. There were some new Performance Center revolvers on display. The long-barreled wheelguns in the foreground below are chambered for the mighty 500 S&W Magnum cartridge.
Sierra Bullets Has New High-BC MatchKings
We visited the Sierra Bullets booth to pick up samples of the new High-BC 95gr .224 MatchKing and 150gr 6.5mm MatchKing. While there we spotted this stunning F-Class rig decked out in Sierra Green livery. This beautiful rifle was crafted by Kelbly’s. It has a Panda action and a stunning green, metal-flake paint finish.
Peterson Brass Showcases New Cartridge Brass Peterson Cartridge Company showcased a quartet of new brass products that will enter production later this year. Peterson is expanding its line of American-made cartridge brass to include 6mm Creedmoor (both large and small primer), 6XC (both large and small primer), .270 WSM, and .300 WSM. We like the availability of 6XC in with a small primer pocket option. This should be very popular with the PRS crowd. Peterson’s .270 and .300 Win Short Mag brass gives hunters and target shooters new options.
New Faster-Reacting Electronic Muffs from Howard Leight
We wanted to take home these new Howard Light electronic muffs with advanced, faster internal circuitry. Offered in a variety of colors, the new Impact Sport Bolt muffs offer a lighting-fast 0.5 millisecond reaction time, plus improved digital sound compression and wind noise reduction. These new muffs carry a 22 db total noise reduction rating (NRR).
This is a very impressive new resource book, which we perused at length at SHOT Show. We were very impressed. Western’s new Reloading Manual is richly illustrated, with large clear diagrams, and hundreds of color photos. There are many well-written, informative articles on reloading tasks by knowledgeable experts. The reloading data tables are easier to read than most other reloading manuals. The “how-to” section of this new reloading manual is probably the best we’ve seen in terms of layout and organization. Western has a real winner here in our opinion. With up-to-date info on modern cartridges, it is a great combination of Numbers (load data) and Knowledge (how-to articles) for users of Western powders.
1. High California Taxes. California’s Corporate Tax Rate is 8.84% — among the highest in the nation. Wyoming, by contrast, has ZERO state corporate taxes. California Sales Tax starts at 8% while Wyoming Sales Tax ranges from 4-6%. California was ranked 48th overall (third worst) in Tax Climate by the 
