Do you know how gun primers are made — how the explosive elements are applied into those tiny cups? Find out by watching this video filmed at a Federal ammunition factory. It starts out with empty primer cups loaded, 1000 at a time, into trays using vibration (0:05 time-mark). While much of the process is automated, there is still a significant role played by production workers who apply a green, paste-like charging compound to the inside of hundreds of primer cups.
At the 0:17-second time-mark you can see the factory worker “charging” the primers with the priming compound. After the cups are filled, then the plate of cups “mates up with a plate of anvils” (0:40 time-mark). Then the primers are unloaded from trays and inspected.
Primer “Mysteries and Misconceptions” Article
There is an excellent article about primers on the Shooting Times website. This authoritative Shooting Times article explains the fine points of primer design and construction. The author reveals some little-known facts about primers and corrects common misconceptions. Here are some highlights:
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.
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.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.
1. Natchez — Weaver Optics Sale
⏺️ » Major savings on Weaver scopes, spotting scopes, binocs and more
Are you putting together a new build and need optics that won’t break the bank? Then check out the Weaver Optics Sale at Natchez. You’ll find competition scopes, hunting scopes, red dots, and binoculars at prices up to 60% off. A 3-9x40mm hunting scope is now just $89.99, and a 6-24x50mm SFP Weaver Classic scope is just $199.99. If you need a new optic, you can save big bucks this week at Natchez.
2. Midsouth — Federal Gold Medal Primers on Sale
⏺️ » Great prices on top-quality primers including 205M.
For quite some time, top-quality American-made primers have been in short supply, or have been extremely expensive. Take heart, you can get great primers at good prices with Midsouth’s Federal Gold Medal Match Primer Sale. Offering optimum ignition and great consistency, Federal Premium Gold Medal primers are the choice of match shooters everywhere. These are some of the best primers on the market at prices lower than we’ve seen in years.
3. Creedmoor Sports — TriggerTech Trigger Sale
⏺️ » Good prices on triggers for bolt-actions and ARs.
If you need to replace a factory trigger in your AR or Rem 700 action-type rifles, TriggerTech Triggers are tough to beat for the price. With a very crisp break and adjustable pull weight, these easy-to-install triggers are an affordable upgrade that can improve your on-target results.
4. Graf & Sons — Shooter’s World Powders In Stock, Good Value
⏺️ » Positive field reports on these powders — good value, good ES/SD
If you need very good propellants at reasonable prices consider Shooters World Powders. Customers report these powders rival top Hodgdon and Alliant brands delivering good accuracy, temp stability, and low ES/SD. With its wide range of powders, Shooters World offers good choices for most popular cartridge types — small to magnum. Best of all, these Shooters World Powders are IN STOCK now at great prices.
5. Palmetto State Armory — Walther PPQ .22 LR, $269.99
⏺️ » Affordable .22 LR pistol with good trigger, great ergonomics.
When developing handgun skills, we recommend starting with a .22 LR pistol. The mild recoil helps with follow-up shots, and ammo is inexpensive. It’s also fun to shoot a .22 LR at reactive targets. If you’re shopping for a rimfire pistol, check out the Walther PPQ .22 LR 4″ PISTOL on sale now for just $269.99. The PPQ .22 delivers advanced design and ergonomics with the cost savings of .22 rimfire. The sculpted grip is comfortable and the trigger is very good — crisp and reasonably light.
6. Amazon — RCBS Auto Priming Tool, $129.99
⏺️ » Excellent benchmounted tool with primer dispensing tube
Are your hands tired of hand priming and you’d like an alternative? Consider the RCBS Automatic Priming Tool. This bench-mounted Automatic Priming Tool is fast, accurate and highly sensitive due to its single-stage lever system. Primers feed through the auto primer feed tube one by one, preventing potential contamination by oily fingers. Two primer rod assemblies and two primer feed tubes are included.
7. Amazon — Caldwell Wind Wizard II, $35.99
⏺️ » Good, reliable and affordable wind gauge
To calculate precision ballistics you need the current wind speed and ambient temperature. The Caldwell Wind Wizard II can provide that key information (wind speed and temp) at a very modest $35.99 price. The Caldwell Wind Wizard II Wind Meter may well be the best value wind meter on the market. It reads wind speed quickly and accurately, with various unit options (e.g. Mph, km/hr). A easy-to-grip rubber sleeve helps protect the unit and ensure a firm grip.
8. Amazon — Lyman Case Prep Tool, $26.99
⏺️ » Handy double-ended tool with internal parts storage
Do you need a simple but effective tool to help with case prep? We like the Lyman Case Prep Multi-Tool which has essential case prep accessories in one compact, double-ended tool. This handy tool can perform key case prep tasks (e.g. neck chamfering/deburring) on rifle and pistol brass from .17-.45 caliber. Both handle ends of the handle are threaded so two tool heads can be used simultaneously. In addition the Case Prep multi-Tool can be used with any other standard case prep tools and brushes.
9. Amazon — Rifle Storage Rods, Assorted Packages
⏺️ » Handy rods help organize in-safe storage
Need to fit more long guns in your safe? Want them to be secure and not lean on each other? Gun Storage Solutions Rifle Rodscan help you store more long guns more securely. A 5-rod set is just $21.95 (orange) and $20.70 (black). There are also rod sets with 10, 20, 30, or 40 rods. These Rifle Rods utilize a hook & loop (Velcro-type) system to stabilize long guns in the upright position. These rod sets work great with a variety of gun safes and come complete with the nylon loop fabric placed on the underside of shelves.
As an Amazon affiliate, this site can earn revenues through sales commissions.
Do primer types make a significant difference in accuracy or vertical dispersion at long range? The answer is “maybe”. Here’s one anecdotal study that tracked vertical variance among six different primer types. The tester is a good shooter with a very accurate rifle — four of the six 4-shot groups were under 2″ at 500 yards. This test doesn’t settle the question, but does suggest that it may be worth trying a few different primer types with your match ammo.
Here is a very interesting test for the 6 BRA (6mmBR Ackley) cartridge. Forum member James Phillips, a talented long-range benchrest shooter, tested SIX different primer types from three different manufacturers. To help determine vertical dispersion, James set his target out at 500 yards. He then proceeded to shoot 4-shot groups, in order, with each primer type. Velocities were recorded with a chrono. The photo above shows the results. James says: “I’ll retest the best two for accuracy and consistency with 10 shots each”. CLICK HERE for full-screen target photo.
As you can see, ALL the groups are pretty impressive. The smallest groups, 1.253″, was shot with CCI 400 primers. Next best (and very close) was CCI BR4, at 1.275″ for four shots. The “flat line” winner was the Remington 7.5, at upper left. There was almost no vertical. If you are intrigued by this interesting primer test, you can join the discussion in this Primer Test FORUM THREAD.
Primer Brand
Group Size
Velocity
Extreme Spread
Std Deviation
Remington 7.5
1.985″ 4 shot
2955 FPS
8 FPS
4.0 FPS
Federal 205M
2.200″ 4 shot
2951 FPS
11 FPS
4.8 FPS
Sellier Bellot SR
1.673″ 4 shot
2950 FPS
14 FPS
5.9 FPS
CCI 450M
2.341″ 4 shot
2947 FPS
14 FPS
6.6 FPS
CCI 400
1.253″ 4 shot
2950 FPS
3 FPS
1.3 FPS
CCI BR4
1.275″ 4 shot
2949 FPS
15 FPS
6.9 FPS
CARTRIDGE: 6mmBR Ackley, aka 6 BRA. Parent case is 6mmBR Norma. The 6 BRA is fire-formed to create a 40-degree shoulder and less body taper. Capacity is increased, but the neck is longer than a 6mm Dasher. The capacity is enough to get to the 2950+ FPS accuracy node. Some shooters say the 6 BRA is more forgiving than the 6mm Dasher. The 6 BRA is certainly easier to fire-form.
TEST REPORT — Conditions, Shooting Method, Loading Method
Tester James Phillips posted this report in ourShooters’ Forum:
Conditions: The testing was done in the morning over flags. The flags never moved or even twitched. I had as perfect conditions as I could have asked for. It was overcast so no mirage and no wind. There were no other shooters, just me.
Test Procedure: Each shot was precisely shot at my pace and centered the best possible using my Nightforce 15-55X scope. I did not use the round-robin method. Each four-shot group with the same was shot at one time. Then I moved onto the next primer. Everything felt right for each and every shot fired today. Of course I could repeat the test tomorrow and it could be exact opposite of today’s test. We can chase this forever. But [soon] I’m going to test the BR4 and 400 primer… for best accuracy and consistency for 10 shots each.
How Rounds Were Loaded: Each load was weighed to one (1) kernel of powder. So I know that’s as good as I can weigh them. Each bullet seating force was within 1# on my 21st Century hydraulic arbor press.
Previous Initial Load Testing: All groups were shot with 31.1 grains of H4895. During initial load testing I settled in on the Sellier & Bellot primer to finalize everything as it showed more promise over the CCI 450 Magnum I also tried. I was actually surprised to have seen the higher ES and SD from that primer today along with the vertical shown. [Editor: Look carefully — one shot from the CCI 450 is right in the center black diamond, stretching the vertical. By contrast the Rem 7.5 had almost no vertical.]
Velocity and NODE Considerations: I was about 5-6 FPS above what appeared to been my optimum velocity of 2943-2945 FPS, so I’ll test 5 shots of 31.0 and 5 of 31.1 and see what happens from there. I can only assume my velocities where higher due to the higher humidity and of course temps were 5 degrees warmer this morning as well. It wasn’t far off but I noticed it.
Do you know how gun primers are made — how the explosive elements are applied into those tiny cups? Find out by watching this video filmed at a Federal ammunition factory. It starts out with empty primer cups loaded, 1000 at a time, into trays using vibration (0:05 time-mark). While much of the process is automated, there is still a significant role played by production workers who apply a green, paste-like charging compound to the inside of hundreds of primer cups.
At the 0:17-second time-mark you can see the factory worker “charging” the primers with the priming compound. After the cups are filled, then the plate of cups “mates up with a plate of anvils” (0:40 time-mark). Then the primers are unloaded from trays and inspected.
Primer “Mysteries and Misconceptions” Article
There is an excellent article about primers on the Shooting Times website. This authoritative Shooting Times article explains the fine points of primer design and construction. The author reveals some little-known facts about primers and corrects common misconceptions. Here are some highlights:
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.
Powder Valley, a leading distributor of reloading supplies, is pleased to announce the launch of a major update and enhancement to its PowderValley.com website. The enhanced website now has a completely updated look, improved search and browse features, along with a streamlined checkout experience. The updated website is also mobile-friendly so it works great with smartphones and mobile devices. And right now the Powder Valley website features special discounts, with some items up to 50% Off. For big savings, click the Weekly Deals tag on the home page.
There are convenient, one-click product category links for:
“We’re excited to provide our customers with a new website that is fast, easy to navigate, and helps them make an informed buying decision” said Bill Clinton, CEO of Powder Valley. “The new website is the first step in a series of strategic changes at Powder Valley which will improve our ability to implement significant improvement in how we serve customers, from enhanced product information to increased breadth and depth of our product offering.”
To learn more about Powder Valley and its full lineup of reloading supplies, visit PowderValley.com. On the updated website, as you scroll down the home page, you’ll see convenient major feature categories for:
1. Sales and Clearance | 2. New Arrivals | 3. Popular Products
About Powder Valley
Powder Valley began in 1984 as Dexter Automotive, the first master distributor of Accurate brand powder. In 2000, Bryan and Noel Richardson purchased the company and moved operations to Winfield, Kansas. Since then Powder Valley has become the single largest distributor of canister powder in the USA, stocking nearly every brand of Smokeless and Black Powder offered in the nation. Powder brands include Hodgdon, IMR, Vihtavuori, Alliant, Ramshot, Winchester, Hornady, Shooters World, Goex, Schuetzen, Swiss and more, along with an ever-expanding offering of bullets, brass, wads, shot, gun care items, and reloading equipment. Powder Valley also carries a wide selection of rifle, pistol, and shotgun primers.
Do you know how gun primers are made — how the explosive elements are applied into those tiny cups? Find out by watching this video filmed at a Federal ammunition factory. It starts out with empty primer cups loaded, 1000 at a time, into trays using vibration (0:05 time-mark). While much of the process is automated, there is still a significant role played by production workers who apply a green, paste-like charging compound to the inside of hundreds of primer cups.
At the 0:17-second time-mark you can see the factory worker “charging” the primers with the priming compound. After the cups are filled, then the plate of cups “mates up with a plate of anvils” (0:40 time-mark). Then the primers are unloaded from trays and inspected.
Primer “Mysteries and Misconceptions” Article
There is an excellent article about primers on the Shooting Times website. This authoritative Shooting Times article explains the fine points of primer design and construction. The author reveals some little-known facts about primers and corrects common misconceptions. Here are some highlights:
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.
Do you know how gun primers are made — how the explosive elements are applied into those tiny cups? Find out by watching this video filmed at a Federal ammunition factory. It starts out with empty primer cups loaded, 1000 at a time, into trays using vibration (0:05 time-mark). While much of the process is automated, there is still a significant role played by production workers who apply a green, paste-like charging compound to the inside of hundreds of primer cups.
At the 0:17-second time-mark you can see the factory worker “charging” the primers with the priming compound. After the cups are filled, then the plate of cups “mates up with a plate of anvils” (0:40 time-mark). Then the primers are unloaded from trays and inspected.
Primer “Mysteries and Misconceptions” Article
There is an excellent article about primers on the Shooting Times website. This authoritative Shooting Times article explains the fine points of primer design and construction. The author reveals some little-known facts about primers and corrects common misconceptions. Here are some highlights:
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.
Gander Outdoors in Kenosha, WI — reader-submitted photo on GMToday.com
The ammo and primer shortage is real, and it’s here to stay — well into 2021. That’s what industry experts tell us: “With [ammunition] demand far outstripping supply and inventory levels in the channel at all-time lows, we see strong demand continuing[.]” — Christopher Metz, CEO of Vista Outdoor
Certain types of ammunition, 9mm Luger for example, are very difficult to find these days. And what IS available is often marked up 300-400% over 2019 prices. Demand has far exceeded supply. And the ammo shortage won’t end any time soon. Vista Outdoor’s CEO Metz added: “Despite us producing flat-out for six months, there is no buildup of inventory at any of our customers. In fact, every one of them would like significantly more. Simply put, consumer demand continues to outpace our ability to supply.”
Ammunition Shortage Impacts Primer Supply
Rifle and pistol primers are nearly sold out everywhere, with some less-than-reputable vendors now charging 4-5 times the normal price. So what’s going on here — why can’t you find primers? One reason is that primer producers such as Federal and CCI are using the vast majority of the primers they make to complete their loaded ammunition, which is flying off the shelves.
What is causing the ammo panic buying and primer shortage?
There are a number of key reasons:
1. Concerns over the recent election and potential Democratic Party control of U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, and the White House;
2. General worry and paranoia caused by the COVID-19 pandemic;
3. Fear of new legislation banning guns and restricting ammunition purchases;
4. Social unrest and rioting led by BLM and left-wing activists and tolerated/encouraged by Blue State government officials; and perhaps most importantly,
5. The vast increase in the number of new gun buyers.
Huge Increase in Gun Purchasing in 2020
2020 will probably set an all-time record for gun purchasing in the USA. This spike in gun buying has been propelled by the greatest annual increase in gun ownership in U.S. history. According to data from the NSSF, roughly 6.2 million Americans purchased their first firearm in 2020. A NSSF dealer survey estimates that 40% of all gun sales were conducted to purchasers who have never previously owned a firearm. And women accounted for 40.2% of first-time gun purchases. We’ve never seen that kind of spike in gun ownership in a single year. This is unprecedented.
Ammo Shortage Will Continue for Many Months, Well into 2021
What are the prospects for greater availabilty of loaded ammo in the months ahead? Not so good according to Vista Outdoor CEO Christopher Metz whose company operates Federal, CCI, RCBS, Alliant, Blazer and many other shooting industry brands. Metz declared: “We currently have over a year’s worth of orders for ammunition.” That value of those back-orders exceeds ONE BILLION dollars. “This is unprecedented for our company. With demand far outstripping supply and inventory levels in the channel at all-time lows, we see strong demand continuing[.]”
There is some good news however — the former Remington ammo factory will start cranking out ammunition again. The American Rifleman reports: “Vista Outdoor has purchased the [Remington Outdoor] ammunition factory in Lonoke, Arkansas [and will resume] production at or near full capacity. The Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette reports 300 employees furloughed by the former owner of the plant will soon be recalled to join nearly 400 still working at the facility.”
Do primer types make a significant difference in accuracy or vertical dispersion at long range? The answer is “maybe”. Here’s one anecdotal study that tracked vertical variance among six different primer types. The tester is a good shooter with a very accurate rifle — four of the six 4-shot groups were under 2″ at 500 yards. This test doesn’t settle the question, but does suggest that it may be worth trying a few different primer types with your match ammo.
Here is a very interesting test for the 6 BRA (6mmBR Ackley) cartridge. Forum member James Phillips, a talented long-range benchrest shooter, tested SIX different primer types from three different manufacturers. To help determine vertical dispersion, James set his target out at 500 yards. He then proceeded to shoot 4-shot groups, in order, with each primer type. Velocities were recorded with a chrono. The photo above shows the results. James says: “I’ll retest the best two for accuracy and consistency with 10 shots each”. CLICK HERE for full-screen target photo.
As you can see, ALL the groups are pretty impressive. The smallest groups, 1.253″, was shot with CCI 400 primers. Next best (and very close) was CCI BR4, at 1.275″ for four shots. The “flat line” winner was the Remington 7.5, at upper left. There was almost no vertical. If you are intrigued by this interesting primer test, you can join the discussion in this Primer Test FORUM THREAD.
Primer Brand
Group Size
Velocity
Extreme Spread
Std Deviation
Remington 7.5
1.985″ 4 shot
2955 FPS
8 FPS
4.0 FPS
Federal 205M
2.200″ 4 shot
2951 FPS
11 FPS
4.8 FPS
Sellier Bellot SR
1.673″ 4 shot
2950 FPS
14 FPS
5.9 FPS
CCI 450M
2.341″ 4 shot
2947 FPS
14 FPS
6.6 FPS
CCI 400
1.253″ 4 shot
2950 FPS
3 FPS
1.3 FPS
CCI BR4
1.275″ 4 shot
2949 FPS
15 FPS
6.9 FPS
CARTRIDGE: 6mmBR Ackley, aka 6 BRA. Parent case is 6mmBR Norma. The 6 BRA is fire-formed to create a 40-degree shoulder and less body taper. Capacity is increased, but the neck is longer than a 6mm Dasher. The capacity is enough to get to the 2950+ FPS accuracy node. Some shooters say the 6 BRA is more forgiving than the 6mm Dasher. The 6 BRA is certainly easier to fire-form.
TEST REPORT — Conditions, Shooting Method, Loading Method
Tester James Phillips posted this report in ourShooters’ Forum:
Conditions: The testing was done in the morning over flags. The flags never moved or even twitched. I had as perfect conditions as I could have asked for. It was overcast so no mirage and no wind. There were no other shooters, just me.
Test Procedure: Each shot was precisely shot at my pace and centered the best possible using my Nightforce 15-55X scope. I did not use the round-robin method. Each four-shot group with the same was shot at one time. Then I moved onto the next primer. Everything felt right for each and every shot fired today. Of course I could repeat the test tomorrow and it could be exact opposite of today’s test. We can chase this forever. But [soon] I’m going to test the BR4 and 400 primer… for best accuracy and consistency for 10 shots each.
How Rounds Were Loaded: Each load was weighed to one (1) kernel of powder. So I know that’s as good as I can weigh them. Each bullet seating force was within 1# on my 21st Century hydraulic arbor press.
Previous Initial Load Testing: All groups were shot with 31.1 grains of H4895. During initial load testing I settled in on the Sellier & Bellot primer to finalize everything as it showed more promise over the CCI 450 Magnum I also tried. I was actually surprised to have seen the higher ES and SD from that primer today along with the vertical shown. [Editor: Look carefully — one shot from the CCI 450 is right in the center black diamond, stretching the vertical. By contrast the Rem 7.5 had almost no vertical.]
Groups Shot at 500 Yards with 6 BRA
Velocity and NODE Considerations: I was about 5-6 FPS above what appeared to been my optimum velocity of 2943-2945 FPS, so I’ll test 5 shots of 31.0 and 5 of 31.1 and see what happens from there. I can only assume my velocities where higher due to the higher humidity and of course temps were 5 degrees warmer this morning as well. It wasn’t far off but I noticed it.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. Camera Land — Kestrel Sportsman Weather Meter, $249.99
All shooters need accurate wind velocity and direction info. One of the best wind tools is the Kestrel. Forum member Knotwild found an amazing deal on the excellent Kestrel Sportsman Ballistics Weather Meter. This unit features the enhanced Applied Ballistics G1/G7 solver, including Aerodynamic Jump, Spin Drift, and Coriolis corrections for accurate long-range shots. Grab the Kestrel Sportsman for just $249.99. This same Kestrel Sportsman costs up to $500 elsewhere.
2. MidwayUSA — Swarovski – Kahles Demo & Refurbished Sale
Swarovski and Kahles scopes are often considered top-of-the-line but are rarely found at a discount. Head over to MidwayUSA and check out the Swarovski & Kahles Demo and Refurbished Sale. There’s a great selection of rifle optics and spotting scopes for just about every discipline. If you’re looking to save serious $$ on top-notch glass for that new rig you’re building, here’s your chance.
3. Amazon — BOG DeathGrip Tripod, $124.99
Whether out in the field, at the range or shooting a PRS match, keeping your rifle stable in varying conditions is a must. If you’re tired of carrying a monopod and bags around, here’s your chance to replace them with something more practical and functional. Grab the BOG DeathGrip Tripod and you’ll have a stable platform to shoot from any position. It features a 3-position leg lock for use in prone, kneeling, sitting and standing positions. This stable shooting platform features an adjustment knob that controls up to 50 degrees of tilt and a clamping head that pans 360 degrees with tension adjustment.
4. Bruno Shooters Supply — Savage Action Sale
Many shooters want a custom gun but balk at the $1000+ cost of a custom action. They may settle for factory Rem 700 action but forget about Savage. Savage makes a really solid action on which you can build a very accurate varmint or match rifle. The founder of this site shot a Savage-action 6BR at 600-yard steel matches for many years. With a Pac-Nor barrel, that Poor Man’s Hammer 6BR delivered solid quarter-MOA accuracy and held a range record for many years. For a good price on a Savage Match action complete with trigger, check out Bruno’s Savage action sale.
5. Natchez and Midsouth– RCBS Reloading Kit Sale
Given pandemic concerns, many folks have decided to start loading ammo in larger quantities. For those just getting started in reloading, here are two excellent kits from RCBS. The RCBS AR Tactical Reloading Kit offers their Reloader Special 5 press and even comes with AR Series Dies: 5.56/.223, .308/7.62, .300 AAC Blackout, 7.62×39. Or you can choose the Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit if you’re looking for a stronger press and more commonly sought-after accessories. Either way these are excellent starter kits, offering great value for money.
6. Midsouth Shooters — Lee APP Press, $54.88
Sorry folks — this was such a great deal, the Lee APP Press sold out on Monday. However, the Deluxe version of the APP press, which includes a case-feeder, is still available for $75.49. The Deluxe APP Press features an innovative case/bullet feeder with Jaws that automatically open and grasp the bullet or case and move then into operating position.
Processing brass is a necessary evil in the reloading world. Many processing chores are best done with a dedicated press, but that can get expensive. Lee saw the need for a inexpensive yet efficient processing press and brought out the Lee APP Automatic Processing Press. This can efficiently handle tasks such as decapping, case sizing, and primer pocket swagging. Here are two videos that show how this unique Lee APP press operates.
7. Amazon — Frankford Arsenal Vibra Prime, $56.19
Filling primer tubes can be time consuming and hard on the hands. If you’re looking to fill those tube faster and with less effort check out the Frankford Arsenal Vibra Prime. With the ability to fill just about any brand of tube in less than one minute, this is a great time saver. This editor uses this tool all the time — and considers it a “must have” for every reloading bench.
8. Powder Valley — CCI & Federal Rifle Primers
Reloading components have been a tough to find commodity lately especially primers. If you’re on the hunt for standard or magnum rifle primers we found CCI 450 Small Rifle Magnum primers as well as the Federal GM205M Small Rifle MatchGrade primers at Powder Valley and with a limit of 5 per person that’ll still get you more than enough primers for the rest of the year. Powder Valley also has large rifle primers in stock at good prices.
Here’s a very compact, easy-to-conceal carry gun that can fit in pants pockets and small purses. All edges are smooth and rounded for ease of carry, with minimal “printing”. These Taurus Spectrum .380 ACPs are available in four color combos: Black/gray, Black/tan, Black/green, and a stylish White/blue/gray combo. We tried these pistols at SHOT Show. They are comfortable in the hand and the trigger is decent. Right now this Taurus Spectrum pistol is just $179.99 at CDNN Sports, making it one of the least expensive handguns on the market.
10. Graf and Sons — Hinged Rifle Ammo Box Sale
It can be hard to find good compact ammo boxes for rifle ammo loaded with long match bullets. We like these Frankford Arsenal 50-round and 100-round hinged rifle ammo boxes. These are slightly taller than most plastic ammo boxes, so they are better suited for longer, match-length ammo. These Frankford boxes hold match ammo securely without taking up a lot of space like the big, green ammo carriers with handles.
Size Matters
