The Shooting Sports USA website includes two excellent articles about the basics of metallic cartridge reloading. These two articles provide an excellent summary of the key procedures. If you are new to reloading, we recommend you read both articles:
Part II is particularly helpful because it explains the entire reloading process step-by-step, with 14 listed steps. The author notes: “In this, the second installment on metallic cartridge reloading, we’ll follow the sequence of steps involved in reloading a rifle cartridge and refining a metallic cartridge load. These steps are based on the use of a single-stage reloading press and a separate priming tool.”
Much important advice is provided as this article runs through the 14 Steps of Reloading. For example, when explaining Step 13, Bullet Seating, the article states:
“Proper seating depth is critical. Too much bullet protrusion and the cartridge may not work through the gun’s magazine, or it may fail to chamber. Too little and the bullet intrudes excessively into the powder chamber, decreasing volume and raising pressure. Neck tension is also important; any bullet that fails to seat with some resistance may be held only loosely by the neck and may be driven back into the case when the round is chambered, especially in semi-automatic arms.”
Important Guide to Detecting Over-Pressure Signs in Brass
As an example of the invaluable advice provided in these two articles, here’s a sample from Part II that explains how to determine if your load is over-pressure. We recommend that EVERY reader read this twice. There are more things to consider than a stiff bolt lift. You need to inspect cartridges very carefully:
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This evening, Shooting USA TV will feature a major U.S. Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) competition — the USPSA Production Class Nationals. Watch the broadcast at 9:00 pm Eastern/Pacific, 8:00 PM Central on the Outdoor Channel. SEE Shooting USA info. This week’s show also features a review of the new ZEISS Conquest HD Binoculars — great for hunters.
The USPSA Production division is easily the most approachable in terms of equipment. These are virtually out of the box guns with minimal enhancements. Even so the national championship chase is highly contested and the level of competition is extremely high.
Broadcast Times: Wednesday 9:00 PM Eastern/Pacific, 8:00 PM Central on Outdoor Channel.
You can also subscribe for $1.99/month to watch broadcasts “on demand” at any time on Vimeo: vimeo.com/ondemand/shootingusa
About the USPSA — Active Sports Group Nationwide
The United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) is a leading competitive shooting organization dedicated to promoting safe, fair, and fun practical shooting sports. Members engage in dynamic and challenging courses of fire, where speed, accuracy, and power are equally tested. USPSA shooters of all skill levels can enjoy shooting on the clock at steel and reactive targets. Whether you’re a seasoned shooter or new to the sport, USPSA offers fun and well-run competitions.
Hit Factor Scoring Based on Time AND Accuracy
Scoring is more complicated than fixed time events or steel shooting where your time is your score. In USPSA and IPSC each stage is worth a specific number of points. After a competitor completes a stage, the total score they shoot on the targets is divided by the time it takes to finish the stage. This establishes their hit factor. The competitor with the highest hit factor wins the stage and earns the total number of points available for that specific course of fire. The remaining competitors receive a percentage of the stage points based on their hit factors.
Top photo credit: Paul Erhardt, U.S. Air Force, Public Domain, Wikimedia.org.
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The NRL Precision Hunter Challenge features a multi-distance, walk-around shooting course similar in some ways to PRS/NRL, but limitations on weight and cost of equipment make this more affordable and more practical. This relatively new discipline is part of a series of very popular NRL Hunter events held around the nation. There were 24 NRL Hunter matches this year, culminating in the NRL Hunter Grand Slam held August 9-11 in Decorah, Iowa. CLICK HERE for NRL Hunter match information.
Shooting USA SHOW TIMES on Outdoor Channel:
The 2023 Hornady NRL Hunter Challenge is featured this week on Shooting USA television. This Shooting USA Episode airs Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific; 8:00 PM Central on the Outdoor Channel. If you miss the regular broadcast, you can stream the show online on Vimeo for $0.99 per episode.
121 Shooters from all over the country competed in 23 challenging stages with both animal shapes and conventional square/diamond targets. The course of fire consisted of 160+ rounds with hiking between stages at the North Springs Shooting Complex. The Precision Hunter Challenge featured target distances from 200-850 yards, and angled shots between 0-10°. At the North Springs Shooting Complex, there were natural terrain obstacles and tree stands. Competitors had to navigate the terrain to establish their shooting positions — very much the opposite of a benchrest match.
This event is an opportunity to work on hunting situation shots, where hunters may expect natural terrain obstacles and thick cedars to navigate around and find shooting positions.
“The NRL HUNTER Series is designed to help educate new and seasoned hunters about their skills, gear, and personal limitations. The Hornady Precision Hunter Challenge did just that!” said Travis Ishida, President of the NRL. “With a well-designed course of fire that was both challenging and fun, this match encompassed everything we are looking for…” he added. Along with Hornady, notable sponsors included Kestrel, Magnetospeed, ThunderBeast Arms, SIG Sauer, Leupold, Vortex, Nightforce, Savage, Seekins Precision and many other companies.
This video features highlights from the 2022 Hornady Precision Hunter Challenge:
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Armageddon Gear (“AG”) produces outstanding support bags, gun cases, slings, suppressor covers, and personal gear for PRS/NRL shooters. Along with its tactical competition items, Armageddon Gear also offers an extensive line of products for hunters. AG’s Products for Hunters include hunting support bags, rifle cases, chest packs, slings, travel bags, and apparel.
Armageddon Gear hunting products are featured this week on Shooting USA Television. You’ll get a first hand look at the popular hunting products such as chest rigs, travel cases, hats, and more. AG states: “All our products are made from the best domestically sourced materials, crafted to stand the test of time, and designed to keep you more organized and ready when afield.”
Shooting USA SHOW TIMES: This Shooting USA Episode airs Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific; 8:00 PM Central. If you miss the regular broadcast, you can stream the show online at any time on Vimeo for $0.99 per episode or $1.99/mo for unlimited streaming.
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This Week on Shooting USA – The 2024 SHOT Show
Today Shooting USA features notable products from SHOT Show 2024, a huge event attracting over 2,500 exhibitors. This year was the biggest SHOT Show ever, with exhibits occupying 800,000+ square feet in the Venetian EXPO and Caesars Forum. Thousands of new products were on display.
If you watch just one episode of Shooting USA TV this year, this might well be a top choice. This episode has good coverage of products from leading manufacturers including Colt, Smith & Wesson, Hogue, Hornady, Ruger, Mossberg and more. CLICK HERE for 5/29/24 SHOT Show episode highlights.
USA AIR TIMES: Wednesday 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific, 8:00 PM Central on Outdoor Channel.
More Featured Products on Today’s Episode of Shooting USA
Colt Python Revolver
Hornady Reloading Scale
S&W 1854 Lever Action Rifle
Hogue Knives
Hornady Mobilis Safe
Trijicon RCR Optic
Shooting USA SHOW TIMES: This Shooting USA Episode airs Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific; 8:00 PM Central on the Outdoor Channel. If you miss the regular broadcast, you can stream the show online at any time on Vimeo for $0.99 per episode.
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The NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits event kicks off today in Dallas, Texas. Today we look at a fun form of rifle competition — varmint silhouette matches. Shooting steel at long range is both fun and challenging.
If you like accurate rifles and reactive targets, you’ll enjoy this 48-minute video from Shooting USA TV, which features long-range varmint silhouette competition in Texas, the Lone Star State. We have participated in these kind of matches on the West Coast — they are definitely a ton of fun. The sport combines the pure accuracy of benchrest competition with the fun of knocking down critter targets. These are smaller than standard silhouettes, so it’s quite a challenge to hit them at 300 yards and beyond.
In this episode, host John Scoutten competes with his 6.5 Creedmoor PRS rifle. He found that 1-MOA-sized steel Coyotes offered plenty of challenge at 385 meters! Most shooters use benchrest-grade rifles with premium front rests.
Full 48-Minute Episode of Shooting USA featuring Texas Varmint Silhouette:
5″x4″ Hogs — 500 Meters
Chickens (on Swingers) — 600 Yards
Pigs (on Swingers) — 750 Yards
EDITOR: We strongly recommend you take the time to watch this Shooting USA feature — it shows some top-flight benchrest rifles, and also covers the origins of benchrest varmint silhouette in Pennsylvania. There are even some AccurateShooter Forum members on screen. John Scoutten also does nice job explaining the challenges of shooting this discipline with a PRS rig. We think any benchrest or tactical shooter will really enjoy watching this video.
Travis Frazier, who created steel targets with Field & Cave Outfitters, says shooters love the reactive targets: “The most exciting thing is seeing your hits — these [targets] really go airborne”. Yep, that’s the best thing about Varmint Silhouette matches — hits deliver instant gratification. Travis designs and produces these steel targets.
This Texas match features multiple target shapes, 10 at each distance: Tiny Prairie Dogs at 200m, 3″x3″ Armadillos at 300m; 3″x5″ Coyotes at 385m; 5″x4″ Hogs at 500m; Chickens (on swingers) at 600 yards; and Pigs (on Swingers) at 750 yards. Competitors are allowed 10 rounds and 10 minutes to hit each set of targets.
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The Shooting Sports USA website includes two excellent articles about the basics of metallic cartridge reloading. These two articles provide an excellent summary of the key procedures. If you are new to reloading, we recommend you read both articles:
Part II is particularly helpful because it explains the entire reloading process step-by-step, with 14 listed steps. The author notes: “In this, the second installment on metallic cartridge reloading, we’ll follow the sequence of steps involved in reloading a rifle cartridge and refining a metallic cartridge load. These steps are based on the use of a single-stage reloading press and a separate priming tool.”
Much important advice is provided as this article runs through the 14 Steps of Reloading. For example, when explaining Step 13, Bullet Seating, the article states:
“Proper seating depth is critical. Too much bullet protrusion and the cartridge may not work through the gun’s magazine, or it may fail to chamber. Too little and the bullet intrudes excessively into the powder chamber, decreasing volume and raising pressure. Neck tension is also important; any bullet that fails to seat with some resistance may be held only loosely by the neck and may be driven back into the case when the round is chambered, especially in semi-automatic arms.”
Important Guide to Detecting Over-Pressure Signs in Brass
As an example of the invaluable advice provided in these two articles, here’s a sample from Part II that explains how to determine if your load is over-pressure. We recommend that EVERY reader read this twice. There are more things to consider than a stiff bolt lift. You need to inspect cartridges very carefully:
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Precision Rifle fans should watch Shooting USA this week. On Wednesday, March 27, 2024 Shooting USA offers a special edition devoted to the 2023 Armageddon Gear (AG) Cup Invitational. The AG Cup posts the biggest cash money match in Precision Rifle Competition. It’s an elimination format shot over three days of challenging competition on stages of fire created at K and M Precision’s ranges in West Tennessee. On the final day, the top competitors face ten courses of fire to determine who will claim the Armageddon Gear AG Cup. This is the fifth year of the invitation-only match for America’s top Precision Rifle shooters, with the potential reward of huge cash prizes.
This 2023 AG Cup video has good footage of the stages and views downrange.
It’s the fifth year for the richest rifle tournament in the world. The AG Cup is the brainchild of Tom Fuller, the owner of Armageddon Gear, and to say it’s a success is a bit of an understatement. Over $70,000 in prize money was up for grabs, with a huge cash prize for the overall match winner.
Shooting USA runs on the Outdoor Channel Wednesdays 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific, 8:00 PM Central.
No Outdoor Channel on cable? Then you can subscribe to Stream the Broadcast on the internet.
This video shows highlights from the 2022 AG Cup, with many stages illustrated.
Arena Training Facility — 2300 Acres
The 2300-acre Arena Training Facility is a premier shooting facility with multiple shooting ranges from 50m to 2100m. Arena’s 1000-yard covered Known Distance range offers multiple benches, steel and paper targets out to 1000 yards. On Arena’s UKD (unknown distance) range shooters can engage steel out to 2300 yards. This 2100m UKD range boasts a 3-Story Shooting Tower, Air-Conditioned Shoot House, and multiple Positional Challenges.space.
Armaggedon Gear — Tactical Accessories Armageddon Gear, founded by former U.S. Army Ranger Tom Fuller, sells support bags, gun cases, slings, suppressor covers, scope covers, and a wide variety of other accessories popular with the PRS/NRL crowd. Armageddon Gear now provides products to the U.S. Military, Law Enforcement, as well as PRS/NRL competitors.
Armageddon Gear Game-Changer Bag
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This Week on Shooting USA – The 2024 SHOT Show
SHOT Show 2024 is featured on Shooting USA today on the Outdoor Channel. SHOT stands for “Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Tradeshow”. This is a huge event attracting over 2,500 exhibitors. This year was the biggest ever, with exhibits occupying 800,000+ square feet in the Venetian EXPO and Caesars Forum. If you watch just one episode of Shooting USA TV this year, this might well be a top choice. This episode has very good coverage of products from leading manufacturers including Colt, Smith & Wesson, Hogue, Hornady, Ruger, Mossberg and more. CLICK HERE for 3/6/24 SHOT Show episode highlights.
Shooting USA SHOW TIMES: This Shooting USA Episode airs Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific; 8:00 PM Central on the Outdoor Channel. If you miss the regular broadcast, you can stream the show online at any time on Vimeo for $0.99 per episode.
More SHOT Show 2024 Videos
Interested in more SHOT Show 2024 product coverage? Here are videos that cover new guns, plus the VelociRadar Chronograph and AMP Annealer displayed at SHOT Show 2024.
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Precision Rifle Series (PRS) Rimfire Finale on Shooting USA
This week Shooting USA showcases the PRS Rimfire Finale. This rimfire discipline is like Precision Rifle Series (PRS) centerfire competition, but shot with .22 LR rimfire rifles. Shooters can compete without the high cost of centerfire ammo and without the need for a 1000-yard range. The 2023 PRS Rimfire Finale, sponsored by Ruger, was held in Pennsylvania in October 2023. The big event drew over 200 competitors. SEE: PRS Rimfire Series Info.
Shooting USA SHOW TIMES: This Shooting USA Episode airs Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific; 8:00 PM Central. If you miss the regular broadcast, you can stream the show online at any time on Vimeo for $0.99 per episode.
PRS Rimfire Finale — Over 200 Competitors
The 2023 PRS Rimfire Series Finale drew over 200 competitors. The Finale Match was hosted last October by MKM Precision in Kennerdell, Pennsylvania. PRS and NRL tactical matches are among the fastest-growing competitive shooting disciplines. And rimfire tactical disciplines are actually growing even faster (than centerfire PRS/NRL) because .22 LR ammo is much cheaper than centerfire ammo, and there are many more ranges where rimfire matches can be held. PRS Rimfire offers the same kind of fun without the high cost of centerfire ammo and the time-consuming burden of hand-loading. Rimfire PRS also offers generally less expensive rifles, and a whole lot less recoil.
At the PRS Rimfire Finale in Pennsylvania match directors set out many unique courses of fire, and the target placements were certainly challenging. Many of the stages had cross-course target lay-outs. This makes wind-reading much more challenging, especially with the relatively slow, low-BC .22 LR cartridges used in PRS rimfire competition.
Tune in to Shooting USA TV on Wednesday, 2/14/24 to see the PRS Rimfire Finale. You’ll enjoy the coverage of this popular PRS rimfire sport, which we expect to grow significantly in 2024 and beyond. Notably, the National Rifle League (NRL) now conducts many more NRL22 matches than NRL centerfire matches. And competitors of course are drawn by the fun/challenge of a tactical match with much lower ammo costs — $0.10-$0.25/rd vs. $1.20/rd or more (counting brass, primer, bullets, powder, and barrel wear). And there are many more viable venues, because you don’t need a very big range to run a rimfire tactical match.
Getting Starting in PRS/NRL Rimfire Competition — The Rifle
Interested in getting started in PRS Rimfire competition? This MDT video explains the components you’ll need for a top-level .22 LR PRS rig.
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The NRL Precision Hunter Challenge features a multi-distance, walk-around shooting course similar in some ways to PRS/NRL, but limitations on weight and cost of equipment make this more affordable and more practical. This relatively new discipline is catching on — the 2023 NRL Hunter Challenge match, held June 16-18, 2023, in Price, Utah, drew nearly 150 competitors. Hornady was the title sponsor of the event.
Shooting USA SHOW TIMES:
The 2023 Hornady NRL Hunter Challenge is featured this week on Shooting USA television. This Shooting USA Episode airs Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific; 8:00 PM Central. If you miss the regular broadcast, you can stream the show online on Vimeo for $0.99 per episode.
Shooters from all over the country competed in 20 challenging stages. The course of fire consisted of 160 rounds with hiking between stages at the North Springs Shooting Complex. The Precision Hunter Challenge featured target distances from 200-850 yards, and angled shots between 0-10°. At the North Springs Shooting Complex, there were natural terrain obstacles and tree stands. Competitors had to navigate the terrain to establish their shooting positions — very much the opposite of a benchrest match!
“The NRL HUNTER Series is designed to help educate new and seasoned hunters about their skills, gear, and personal limitations. The Hornady Precision Hunter Challenge did just that!” said Travis Ishida, President of the NRL. “With a well-designed course of fire that was both challenging and fun, this match encompassed everything we are looking for. With over 50% new faces at this match the NRL HUNTER Series is growing faster than we ever imagined” he added. Verl Dallin, Match Director, added: “With the help of the staff and ROs, the Hornady Precision Hunter Match turned out simply fantastic”.
This video features highlights from the 2022 Hornady Precision Hunter Challenge:
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Bang Clang! The 2023 Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championship is featured on Shooting USA TV this week. The Shooting USA Steel Challenge episode runs August 23, 2023 on the Outdoor Channel. Show times are: Wednesdays, 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific, 8:00 PM Central. After those broadcast times, you can watch the show via Vimeo on Demand for $0.99 per episode.
This past April, the fastest speed shooters in the world showcased their skills at the Steel Challenge Championship at the CMP Talladega Marksmanship Complex in Alabama. The Steel Challenge course consists of eight 5-target close-range stages. This discipline has been called “drag racing with guns”. Draw and shoot 5 steel targets with time as your score. The shooter with the lowest overall time wins. This is a very popular event — when registration opened for the 2023 Steel Challenge, more than 700 slots filled in just 12 minutes.
The 2023 Steel Challenge at Talladega was featured this month on the NRA Shooting Sports USA site.
There are multiple pistol and revolver classes, both rimfire and centerfire, iron sights and optics. Increasing in popularity (and speed) are the rimfire rifle and pistol-caliber centerfire rifle classes. There are 13 gun classes in total, the most for any shooting championship. In the centerfire handgun match, the fastest times are posted by competitors using enhanced open guns with compensators and red-dot optics.
Here is a full length Shooting USA Steel Challenge Episode from 2017:
Shooting USA Video covers Course of Fire, Firearms Classes, and Target Layouts (1:20)
Definitely watch the 4-minute video (above) produced by Shooting USA. It explains the classes, shows the stages, and illustrates ALL the different gun classes, pistol AND rifle. You can also see some of the world’s fastest shooters including Jessie Harrison (1:47, 3:44) and Max Michel (3:48). Be amazed by the speed of semi-auto rimfire rifles — five targets hit in under two seconds!
The Steel Challenge was founded in 1981 by Mike Dalton and Mike Fichman, in Southern California. The two Mikes wanted an exciting alternative to paper targets and came up with the all-steel format. The Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championships have grown to one of the largest professional pistol competitions in America. In 2022, scores of competitors competed at the Talladega Marksmanship Park for glory and cash prizes. The Steel Challenge is governed by the Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA) that consists of eight standardized stages with three types of steel targets: small circle, big circle, and square. Here is a steel challenge layout in Germany.
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Shooting USA TV will feature a major U.S. Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) competition — the USPSA Production Class Nationals. Watch the broadcast at 9:00 pm Eastern/Pacific, 8:00 PM Central on the Outdoor Channel. SEE 
