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February 11th, 2011
Pistol shooters take heed. Federal Cartridge Company has issued a recall on 45 Auto (.45 ACP) ammo, stating: “Certain lots of recently manufactured 45 Auto ammunition may contain an incorrect propellant charge. Use of product from these lots may result in firearm damage and possible serious injury.” CLICK HERE for 45 Auto (.45 ACP) Warning Flyer.
THIS WARNING APPLIES ONLY TO THE LOTS LISTED ABOVE.
If you possess ammunition from any of these lots, or have questions concerning this warning, please contact us at 1-800-831-0850 or 1-800-322-2342 and ask for Product Service. Federal will provide replacement product and will cover the cost of returning the affected product. Return recalled 45 Auto (.45 ACP) ammo to:
FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY
900 Bob Ehlen Drive
Anoka, MN 55303
Toll Free Phone: 1-800-322-2342
Story Sourced by Edlongrange.
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January 18th, 2011
 Report by C.D. Michel
In a dramatic ruling giving gun owners a win in an National Rifle Association / California Rifle and Pistol (CRPA) Foundation lawsuit, this morning Fresno Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Hamilton ruled that AB 962, the hotly contested statute that would have banned mail order ammunition sales and required all purchases of so-called “handgun ammunition” to be registered, was unconstitutionally vague on its face.
The trial Court enjoined enforcement of the statute, so mail order ammunition sales to California can continue unabated, and ammunition sales need not be registered under the law.
The lawsuit was prompted in part by the many objections and questions raised by confused police, ammunition purchasers, and sellers about what ammunition is covered by the new laws created by AB 962. In a highly unusual move that reflects growing law enforcement opposition to ineffective gun control laws, Tehama County Sheriff Clay Parker is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. Other plaintiffs include the CRPA Foundation, Herb Bauer Sporting Goods, ammunition shipper Able’s Ammo, collectible ammunition shipper RTG Sporting Collectibles, and individual Steven Stonecipher. Mendocino Sheriff Tom Allman also supported the lawsuit.
The ruling comes just days before the portion of the law that bans mail order sales of so-called “handgun ammunition” was set to take effect on February 1, 2011. The lawsuit, Parker v. California, is funded exclusively by the NRA and the CRPA Foundation. If it had gone into effect, AB 962 would have imposed burdensome and ill-conceived restrictions on the sales of ammunition. AB 962 required that “handgun ammunition” be stored out of the reach of customers, that ammunition vendors collect ammunition sales registration information and thumb-prints from purchasers, and conduct transactions face-to-face for all deliveries and transfers of “handgun ammunition.” The lawsuit successfully sought the declaration from the Court that the statute was unconstitutional, and successfully sought the injunctive relief prohibiting law enforcement from enforcing the new laws.
Trial Court Agrees that Ammo Ban is Unconstitutionally Vague
The lawsuit alleged, and the Court agreed, that AB 962 is unconstitutionally vague on its face because it fails to provide sufficient legal notice of what ammunition cartridges are “principally for use in a handgun,” and thus is considered “handgun ammunition” that is regulated under AB 962. It is practically impossible, both for those subject to the law and for those who must enforce it, to determine whether any of the thousands of different types of ammunition cartridges that can be used in handguns are actually “principally for use in” or used more often in, a handgun. The proportional usage of any given cartridge is impossible to determine, and in any event changes with market demands.
Decision Will Probably Be Appealed but Law Will Still Be Suspended
Constitutional vagueness challenges to state laws are extremely difficult to win, particularly in California firearms litigation, so this success is particularly noteworthy. Even so, an appeal by the State is likely, but the Court’s Order enjoining enforcement of the law is effective immediately, regardless [of the possibility of appeal]. Editor’s Note: An injunction against the application of AB 962s provision will remain in effect until such time as it is vacated by an appellate court. But for the time being, mail-order ammo sales to California can proceed without restriction, as if AB 962 were never signed into law. Until a higher court rules otherwise, the contested provisions of AB 962 are rendered a nullity.
This report provided by C.D. Michel Michel of Michel & Associates, counsel for the NRA in the litigation challenging the California mail-order ammo ban.
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January 14th, 2011
 In case you haven’t heard, February 1, 2011 is the last day you can legally purchase handgun ammunition in California, without providing a fingerprint and personal contact information. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the same law that mandates “print and ID” to purchase, also prohibits handgun ammunition sales that are not “face to face”. That effectively bans online and mail-order handgun ammo sales from any source. All these changes were enacted into law with the passage of AB 962 last year.
Given California’s tough new ammo law, most online ammo vendors, including Ammoman.com, Cabelas.com, Grafs.com, and MidsouthShootersSupply.com have announced order deadlines in January. To allow for packing and transit times, these vendors will stop taking handgun ammo orders from California customers 10-17 days before the new law goes into effect.
So when are the Vendor-imposed Deadlines for ammo purchases? Well today, February 14 is the last day Californians can purchase handgun ammunition from Grafs.com. MidsouthShootersSupply is cutting off orders on January 20th. You have another day if you order from Cabelas.com — it will continue to take handgun ammo orders from Californians through January 21, 2011.
Grafs.com Notice — Deadline 1/14/2011
Midsouth Shooters Supply Notice — Deadline 1/20/2011
Cabela’s Notice — Deadline 1/21/2011
Smallbore Rifle Shooters Will Be Affected by New Law
Unfortunately, AB 962’s definition of “handgun ammunition” is vague, and California’s Department of Justice has failed to provide any meaningful clarification. This means that mail-order ammo vendors will have to halt shipments of ammo that could be used in both rifles and pistols. Take .223 Remington for example. Most people would consider that a rifle cartridge. However, Keltec and other manufacturers make pistols chambered for the .223 Rem. Most importantly, virtually all rimfire ammo will be embargoed because 17 Mach 2, 17 HMR, .22 LR, and .22 WMR are all used in pistols. So, you Californians needing .223 Rem, or rimfire ammo for your rifles better place your orders soon.
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December 27th, 2010
 A legal challenge proceeds against a new California law (AB962) slated to go into effect February 1, 2011. As of that date, California will require buyers of handgun ammunition to provide personal information and a fingerprint with every ammo purchase. In addition, the new law would effectively ban mail-order and internet ammo sales, since AB962 requires that all “handgun ammunition” sales be conducted through “face-to-face” transactions. Right now it looks like “handgun ammunition” will be interpreted broadly, and this could include .223 Rem, .30-30, 7.62×39 — basically anything that has ever been shot in a handgun (even the single-shot variety).
Not surprisingly, the California Department of Justice has not created any regulations to better define what constitutes “handgun ammunition” under AB 962. Currently, the Department of Justice is involved in litigation challenging the constitutionality of AB 962. The case, Parker et al. v. State of California, et al., is expected to go to trial January 18, 2011. The judge has indicated he intends to render a ruling before February 1. Meanwhile, the California Department of Justice has refused to provide any practical guidance that would better enable industry members to comply with the law’s vaguely worded definition of “handgun ammunition.”
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December 27th, 2010
Story by Larry Keane, NSSF
 Since the early 1970s, ammunition being shipped in the United States has been classified under “Other Regulated Materials” — class D (ORM-D) regulations. This precludes the need for hazardous material (HazMat) shipping charges and other expensive handling requirements. The savings to the industry has been estimated at more than $300 million per year.
The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI) recognized a potential risk of losing ORM-D status due to the emerging “global harmonization” of shipping regulations. Simply put, the U.S. was likely to adopt United Nations (UN) regulations in an attempt to help ease the global shipping process by adhering to one uniform policy. The problem with shifting to UN regulations is that there is no “ORM-D” status, so if/when this happened, ammunition would have to be shipped under the UN 1.4s category — a category that includes HazMat fees.
 SAAMI petitioned the world body to change its shipping regulations to allow for a Limited Quantity (LQ) exemption for class 1.4s products that meet certain testing criteria. Then, SAAMI proved that ammunition meets these criteria. The LQ exemption for loaded ammunition would allow countries to adopt regulations very similar to the current U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) ORM-D classification, yet still be in alignment with global shipping regulations.
‘LQ’ Ammo Shipping Class Will Replace ‘ORM-D’
The UN has adopted SAAMI’s petition and the new international regulation have become final. In the meantime, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation (DOT) has announced sweeping changes to U.S. regulations that will harmonize them with the international regulations. Included in these upcoming changes are the elimination of ORM-D status and the addition of the LQ exemption for ammunition . The net result is that while the regulations will change, shipment of ammunition in the U.S will continue without additional fees and handling requirements. So you will still be able to ship loaded ammo with NO Haz-Mat Fees, but in the future, the ORM-D status will change to LQ exempt status.
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December 23rd, 2010
 Starting February 1, 2011, a new law goes into effect in California that will block mail-order sales of any loaded ammo that can be used in a pistol. That, of course, includes .22LR, 30-30, .223 Remington, 6mmBR and other popular rifle rounds that have been adapted for pistols. In the fall of 2009, when AB962 was first passed by the California legislature, we reported on this restrictive new legislation. The new law IS being challenged in court, but it is still set to go into effect on February 1st, 2011.
CLICK HERE for Full Text of AB 962
In response to California’s imminent mail-order ammo ban, ammunition vendors are gearing up for a rush of ammo sales in the next five weeks. Here is Cabela’s Ammo Sale Notice:
Related Articles
California Legislature Passes AB 962
Schwarzenegger Terminates Mail-Order Ammo Sales in California
Lawsuit Challenges California Ammo Ban
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December 16th, 2010
 Richard M. Hammett, Olin Corporation Vice President and President of Olin’s Winchester division, plans to retire effective February 28, 2011. Thomas J. O’Keefe assumes responsibilities as President of Winchester, effective January 1, 2011.
 Hammett spent 42 years with Olin Corporation in a variety of finance, marketing and senior management roles. He has served as President of Olin’s Winchester Division since September 2002. An active sportsman and industry leader, Hammett is a board member and treasurer for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). He also serves on the board of the Small Arms and Ammunition Manufacturing Institute (SAAMI).
Incoming Winchester President Thomas J. O’Keefe, who holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Metallurgical Engineering, has plenty of experience in ammunition production. O’Keefe held positions in the manufacturing and engineering organization of Olin’s Brass division, and was appointed VP, Manufacturing and Engineering for the division in 2001. In 2006, O’Keefe was appointed VP, Manufacturing Operations for Winchester and assumed additional responsibility for Business Planning in 2008. For more info about Winchester Ammunition and its complete line of products visit www.Winchester.com.
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December 8th, 2010
The folks at Personal Armament Podcast have come up with Holiday Gift Guide for Yuppie Shooters. While that story title mocks shooters who may have more money than skill, the list actually contains some interesting new gear. Here are a few examples:
Technoframes Ammo Carriers and Display Cases.
These CNC-machined display boxes look great. There are many varieties to choose from, including wood, metal, and plexiglass. We like the fact that many of the boxes are lockable.
 
 
Custom Tool for Loading and Unloading Revolver Moon Clips
This unique moon/de-moon tool set retails for $80 and is available from Randell Kenner, 3111 Lien Street, Rapid City, SD 57702, (605) 605-348-3538, bmtmooner@rushmore.com.
Moon Clip Tool photos courtesy www.ApexTactical.com.
Faux Guitar Case Gun Bag
This Ultimate Discrete Rifle Case, produced for LWRC Int’l by Blue Force Gear, stows a tactical carbine inside what appears to be a guitar case. Looks nicely made, but when you think about it, why pay $149.99 for the “Ultimate Discrete Rifle Case” when, for forty bucks or less on eBay, you can buy a real “previously-owned” guitar case that will do the same job — and be even more stealthy.
Check Out the Podcasts from PersonalArmament.com
You should visit the Personal Armament Podcast Site. Launched in 2009, this website features dozens of podcast interviews with interesting folks, including 2010 National Long-Range Champion John Whidden, Chris Hodgdon of Hodgdon/IMR Powders, and Kevin Thomas from Nammo Lapua.
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November 1st, 2010
Nosler is running a “Buy Two, Get One Free” promotion on certain NoslerCustom® Trophy Grade™ hunting and varmint ammunition. This promo, known as the Sportsman’s Stimulus Plan, starts on November 15 and runs through May 15, 2011. The FIVE Sportsman’s Stimulus Plan ammo choices are:
1. (60001) 223 Remington 40gr Ballistic Tip®
2. (60003) 22-250 Remington 55gr Ballistic Tip®
3. (60049) 308 Winchester 165gr AccuBond®
4. (60054) 308 Winchester Match 168gr Custom Competition™
5. (60057) 30-06 Springfield 165gr AccuBond®
Nosler Ammo Promotion — How it Works
Buyers must purchase a minimum of two boxes of identical ammunition from the five choices above, and submit the original dated receipt with store name, and the bar codes (or copy thereof) from each box along with a return shipping address to Nosler, Inc., Attn: Sales Department, P.O Box 671, Bend, OR 97709. Then, an additional box of ammo will be sent to the customer at no charge.
Direct Purchases via Nosler.com
If purchasing from www.nosler.com, just enter in the number of boxes wished to be purchased from the promotional list and the free box(es) of ammunition will be automatically added to the order.
Deadline is May 15, 2011
All receipts and internet orders must be received by Nosler no later than May 15, 2011. Nosler will not ship ammunition to P.O. Box addresses or to persons younger than 18 years of age. For more information go to www.Nosler.com/stimulus.
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September 17th, 2010
A new web vendor for loaded ammunition has just opened its doors to the online public. BulkAmmo.com launched its new secure web-store earlier this month. To celebrate its grand opening, BulkAmmo.com is offering our readers a special promotion: $25 off their first order over $200. To take advantage of this special offer, use Coupon CODE “GrandOpening” during check-out.
Steven, one of the BulkAmmo.com principals tells us: “We have a lot of inventory available and it’s all ready to ship.” BulkAmmo.com currently stocks major brands including Aguilla, CCI, Federal, Fiocchi, PMC, Remington, Tula, Winchester, and Wolf. You’ll find a wide selection of pistol, rimfire, and centerfire rifle ammo, plus shotgun shells. Brands of .308 Win brass-cased ammo include: Hornady (Interlock), Federal (GMM), and PMC.
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September 6th, 2010
 Applied Ballistics, run by top Palma shooter Bryan Litz, now offers extremely high-quality loaded match ammunition for .308 Fullbore (Palma) shooters. The new Applied Ballistics “FULLBORE” ammo, priced at $38.00/box, is unlike anything on the market. It features the best available components, with individually-weighed charges. Independent testing shows this ammo offers extremely low ES and SD with accuracy comparable to precision hand-loaded cartridges.
Bryan Litz tells us: “Applied Ballistics’ FULLBORE ammunition is not just another ‘factory ammo’ option. This ammo is loaded specifically for the rifles and chambers commonly used in international-style Palma and Fullbore shooting.” Bryan cited the important qualities which make his FULLBORE ammo unique:
- AB FULLBORE is the only .308 Win Ammo with Individually-Weighed Charges.
- AB FULLBORE is the only .308 Win Ammo with Berger Bullets AND Lapua Brass.
- AB FULLBORE is the only .308 Win Ammo Optimized for Int’l Fullbore Competition.
- AB FULLBORE is the only .308 Win Ammo with Independently-Verified Single-Digit SD.
What Makes Applied Ballistics’ FULLBORE Ammo Special
Unlike most factory ammo, AB FULLBORE powder charges are carefully weighed, not metered, which helps to minimize muzzle velocity variation. Velocity averages over 3000 fps from 30″ barrels with Standard Deviation (SD) typically under 10 fps. Components are the best available, according to Bryan: “The ammo is loaded with Berger 155.5 grain bullets and Lapua brass. These are the same components I’ve had success with for years. The brass preparation, loading techniques, and QC steps that I’ve implemented for larger-scale production insure this ammo is good enough to win at the highest levels.”
Applied Ballistics FULLBORE Ammo Already Proven in Competition
Can this pre-loaded FULLBORE ammo really rival handloads in competition? Yes it can, according to Bryan: “I’ve been prototyping and testing ammo this past year and have had very good results. One notable achievement was a 150-15X fired at 900 yards during a coached team match in Lodi, WI during the Midwest Palma Tournament.”
Brian adds: “This ammo is the perfect option for someone who doesn’t enjoy handloading but still wants the accuracy, consistency and performance of handloaded ammunition. It’s also a good option for beginners who haven’t learned how to reload and/or don’t yet have the equipment but want to train and compete with quality ammunition.”
Tierney Tests New FULLBORE Ammo and Rates It Highly
Jerry Tierney, past NBRSA 600-yard and 1000-yard Champion and skilled Palma shooter, has tested the new ammo extensively. In comparison tests with Jerry’s own .308 Win handloads, the Applied Ballistics FULLBORE ammo shot great. Jerry concluded: “The Applied Ballistics 155.5 grain FULLBORE loads matched the best I can do hand loading. They fit the new 2011 fullbore chamber very well. I would not hesitate to use this FULLBORE ammo in any match anywhere.”
Notably, the Applied Ballistics ammo had a lower ES and SD than Jerry’s handloads. One five-shot group of the FULLBORE ammo had an ES of 7 fps and SD of 2 fps — that’s remarkably low. Four groups shot with Tierney’s handloads at 300 yards averaged 0.449 MOA, vs. 0.498 MOA for two groups of the Applied Ballistics ammo, so the accuracy is very close to the best precision handloads.
Click Here for complete Jerry Tierney Applied Ballistics Ammo Test Results (PDF file).
Coming Next — Applied Ballistics Tactical .308 Win and .338 Lapua Magnum Ammo
Applied Ballistics plans to release more types of high-quality loaded ammo in the months ahead. Bryan reports: “Future plans include a .308 load optimized for tactical applications. This will be a magazine-length round probably with a 175 grain bullet with favorable transonic stability. Eventually I’d like to offer a .338 Lapua Magnum tactical/hunting round loaded with Berger’s 300 grain Hybrid bullet.”
Bryan explains that he is developing .308 Win tactical ammo, because the FULLBORE product is made specifically for Palma work: “The fact that the FULLBORE ammo is optimized for the target application means it’s not necessarily ideal for other uses. For example, the rounds are too long to feed through standard-length magazines so they’re not of much use for tactical shooters. Also the seating depth is optimized for the chambers typically used in custom target rifles so it’s not the best option for factory (SAAMI) chambers.”
To order Applied Ballistics’ .308 Win FULLBORE ammo, visit Bryan’s AppliedBallisticsLLC.com website, which features secure online ordering. Currently, .308 Win FULLBORE ammo is priced at $38.00 per 20-round box (shipping extra).
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August 10th, 2010
 Young Entrepreneurs Launch LuckyGunner.com
What happens when two dedicated sport shooters, one of whom is an IT specialist, find they aren’t able to source the ammo and reloading supplies they need? Well, they start their own company! The acute ammo/component shortages of the past two years inspired the creation of LuckyGunner.com. LuckyGunner.com’s story is like most American success stories: a combination of hard work, entrepreneurial innovation, and some good fortune. The co-founders, both under age 30, successfully navigated the Obama-induced ammunition shortage, the Great Recession, and the normal challenges faced by all small-business owners to transform their idea into a shooting supplies website generating over $3,200,000 of revenue in its first twelve months.
 Among ammunition and component vendors, LuckyGunner.com is somewhat unique — it “doesn’t do back-orders”. Through an advanced “real-time” inventory system, everything that displays on the LuckyGunner.com website is guaranteed to be in stock. LuckyGunner.com also ships orders fast — normally all orders placed before 3:00 pm EST will ship that same day or on the following business day.
Extensive In-Stock Ammo Inventory
Most of the loaded ammunition carried by LuckyGunner.com is for handguns, but the company is building up its selection of name-brand rifle ammo in popular calibers: .308 Win, .223 Rem, .243 Win, 30-06, 7.62×39 and more. And of course LuckyGunner.com maintains a huge supply of 22LR and 17HMR rimfire ammo in stock. Hand-loaders will be pleased to note that Luckygunner.com has plenty of primers in stock, of all flavors: CCI, Federal, Fiocchi, Remington, Winchester, Wolf.
Frustrations with Other Vendors Inspired Creation of LuckyGunner.com
Luckygunner’s founders had themselves experienced the frustration of waiting long periods for merchandise: “We were already customers of other online retailers and simply realized that all our normal sources were chronically out-of-stock.” This frustration was compounded by the common industry practice of accepting orders for out-of-stock product and then notifying frustrated customers only days later that the order could not be fulfilled for several weeks or months.
A New Business Model Based on Fast Shipping with No Back Orders
LuckyGunner.com was created to “deliver the goods” without long wait times. One of the company’s founders told us: “We are built exclusively on the twin ideas of fast-shipping and not doing back-orders — ever. The Obama-induced ammo rush prompted us to open our online doors because we just couldn’t find what we needed on a regular basis…and when we did find what we were looking for, we couldn’t be sure that the [other vendor] actually had it in stock or just hadn’t updated their website. Hence, the on-site live inventory counter next to each product listing. So far, our customers have responded really positively to this focus on fast shipping with no back-orders.”
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