Starline Brass offers a series of videos with helpful reloading tips. Focused primarily on pistol cartridges, these short videos can help anyone get started with metallic cartridge reloading. If you load pistol rounds on a progressive, this video series is particularly helpful. The on-camera host is Hunter Pilant, son of Carroll Pilant of Sierra Bullets.
Preventing Double Charges
Tip: Use a bulky powder that fills your case more than half way with a correct charge. This will overfill the case if it is double-charged, making it very difficult to seat a bullet.
Tumble New Brass Before Loading the First Time
Tip: Tumble new pistol cartridge brass in used media for 30 minutes before loading for the first time. This will add enough graphite (carbon residue) to smooth case entry into dies. You can also lube the case mouths with graphite, or use spray lube.
Powder Through Expander — How to Eliminate Hang-ups
Tip: When loading pistol brass with a progressive press, sometime the powder-through expander is hard to remove, especially with short cases. There are two fixes — first, try deburring the inside of the case mouth on your cases. Second, the radius of the powder through expander plug can be modified to smooth entry and exit (see photo). Starline will do this modification for free.
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To celebrate its 45th year in business, Creedmoor Sports is running a big SALE — 45 Days of Deals. For the past month, Creedmoor Sports has marked its 45th Anniversary by discounting a wide variety of products including scopes, reloading presses, dies, shooting accessories, competition sights, shooting coats, hats, plus bullets and brass.
CLICK HERE to see all the current sale items. If you are looking for brass, many types of quality Peterson, ADG and Starline brass are on sale now. The 45 Days of Deals will conclude soon — so don’t hesitate if you see an item you want. NOTE: The Sale landing page only displays 12 items by default. You can speed your search by clicking the control to display 36 items per page. In total, 78 items are on sale.
Among our picks for the best deals are: 1) $119.95 Shooting Coat; 2) American Bullet Co. .308 Win Ammo; 3) Black Hills .223 Rem Ammo; and 4) Vertex Electronic Earplugs.
Featured Products from Creedmoor Sports 45 Days of Deals:
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Starline Brass offers a series of videos with helpful reloading tips. Focused primarily on pistol cartridges, these short videos can help anyone get started with metallic cartridge reloading. If you load pistol rounds on a progressive, this video series is particularly helpful. The on-camera host is Hunter Pilant, son of Carroll Pilant of Sierra Bullets.
Preventing Double Charges
Tip: Use a bulky powder that fills your case more than half way with a correct charge. This will overfill the case if it is double-charged, making it very difficult to seat a bullet.
Tumble New Brass Before Loading the First Time
Tip: Tumble new pistol cartridge brass in used media for 30 minutes before loading for the first time. This will add enough graphite (carbon residue) to smooth case entry into dies. You can also lube the case mouths with graphite, or use spray lube.
Powder Through Expander — How to Eliminate Hang-ups
Tip: When loading pistol brass with a progressive press, sometime the powder-through expander is hard to remove, especially with short cases. There are two fixes — first, try deburring the inside of the case mouth on your cases. Second, the radius of the powder through expander plug can be modified to smooth entry and exit (see photo). Starline will do this modification for free.
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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.
⏺ With free scope and factory rebate, it’s like getting rifle for $150!
Everyone should have a handy rimfire rifle. This Winchester Wildcat Xpert bolt-action .22 LR rifle is a great trainer for a young family member. And it’s also a fun plinker for shooters of any age. Right now, with the $25 Winchester Factory Rebate, this Wildcat Xpert is just $249.99 complete with a Weaver 3-9x40mm scope and rings ($274.99 before rebate). That’s a steal on a good rifle with a nice trigger and button-rifled barrel. If you prefer a semi-auto, you can get the self-loading Winchester Wildcat for $194.99 after rebate. This has the same stock, but different action, and it does NOT come with a scope.
2. Precision Reloading — Powder Sale on Many Brands
⏺ Large selection of popular powders in stock with discounted prices
Need powder for reloading your rifle or pistol ammo? There’s a good sale right now at Precision Reloading with popular powders up to 15% OFF. Chose among Hodgdon, Alliant, Vihtavuori, IMR, Accurate, and Winchester powders. Some hard-to-find rifle powders, such as H4831SC, Reloder 16, and VV N540 are IN STOCK now at good prices. Pistol powders are on sale too, such as Hodgdon Titegroup at just $24.41 per pound! But you need to order right away. This sale ends at 11:59 pm on August 8, 2023.
3. KYGUNCO — Savage 64 Precision Rimfire Rifle, $249.99
⏺ Great deal on good starter rifle for NRL22
Want to get started in NRL22, America’s fastest-growing type of rifle competition? Here’s a bargain-priced .22 LR rifle in a modern chassis. The Savage 64 Precision FDE features a semi-automatic action in a chassis with M-LOK slots and an ergonomic pistol grip. The heavy barrel has a threaded muzzle for easy attachment of brake, tuner, or suppressor. This is a good starting rifle for NRL22 — the semi-auto action allows fast follow-up shots. Get this rifle on sale now for $249.99.
4. Midsouth — Frankford Tumbler Lite + Depriming Tool, $119.99
⏺ Depriming Tool and Tumbler Work Great, save $45 with COMBO
The Frankford Arsenal Depriming Tool and Tumbler Lite are both excellent products. With the hand depriming tool you can knock out primers while watching TV. Spent primers are collected in the removable clear catch tube — so no mess on your press or loading bench. The Tumbler Lite is great for tumbling with liquid media to get your cases bright and shiny. Right now you can save $45 by getting the $119.99 Combo Pack from Midsouth.
5. EuroOptic — Leupold Spotting Scope and LRF Sale
⏺ Save $100 on quality Leupold Spotting Scopes and Rangefinders
Right now Leupold is offering $100.00 “instant savings” on SX-4 HD Spotting Scopes and RX-Fulldraw 5 Laser Rangefinders. You save immediately when you order — no rebate forms to fill out. This $100 savings is offered at multiple vendors including EuroOptic, Brownells, Sportsman’s Warehouse, and MidwayUSA. We recommend EuroOptic as it offers free shipping with orders over $250.00 plus excellent customer service.
6. Precision Reloading — Rifle and Pistol Primers on Sale
⏺ Quality primers for ARs and rifles at attractive price
Top-quality primers are still pricey and in very high demand. Thankfully, Precision Reloading has a large supply of Federal, CCI, and Remington primers in stock at competitive prices. And yes the popular CCI 450 and CCI BR-4 primers are in stock. AR shooters should check out the Winchester #41 small rifle primers which work great in ARs and bolt guns. These #41 primers are just $79.99/1000 while supplies last.
7. Midsouth — Starline Pistol Brass in Stock
⏺ Excellent pistol brass for popular cartridge types, good value
Starline offers some of the best pistol brass you can buy — all made here in the USA. Right now Midsouth has a big inventory of Starline brass IN STOCK at attractive prices. If you need hard-to-find brass, such as .357 Sig or .45 ACP +P, Starline has that. And prices are attractive. For example, Starline’s regular 9mm Luger brass is just $21.99 per 100 cases at Midsouth.
8. Amazon — Midland-EX37VP Radio Kit (Set of 2), $49.99
⏺ Quality Walkie-Talkies with good range and special Emergency functions
Having a good 2-way communication system is vital when hunting or wilderness hiking. And a pair of walkie-talkies really helps during shooting practices when a buddy goes downrange to set targets. A very good 2-Way radio system is the Midland-EX37VP E+Ready Emergency Two-Way Radio Kit. These walkie-talkies have a 26 mile range and feature 22 FRS (Family Radio Service) channels, along with channel scan. With this kit you get vital E+Ready Emergency functionality, plus NOAA weather alerts.
9. Amazon — KRATE AR500 Steel Targets, $16.99 and Up
⏺ Tough AR500 steel gongs, excellent user reviews, lifetime warranty
KRATE offers quality, durable AR500 steel targets, starting at just $16.99 for a 4″ Gong. KRATE AR500 targets have a lifetime warranty, and have earned good user reviews. These Tactical AR500 Steel Gongs are 3/8″ thick and come in various sizes set up for hanging chains (sold separately). And get this, right now if you spend at least $25, your Gongs ship for FREE! Along with Gong targets, KRATE also sells AR500 steel silhouette targets through Amazon.
10. Amazon — Large Digital Display Timer, $13.95
⏺ Use in Matches — Count-Down or Count-UP, handy big buttons
If you shoot in a discipline with time limits, or you time your firing strings during practice, having a reliable and easy-to-read timer is critical. One of our favorite timers is this very affordable Digital Display Timer with both count-up and count-down functions. It boasts an easy-to-read display and LARGE buttons making it perfect for F-Class, Palma, and other matches. This timer comes with both a built-in stand AND a strong magnet so you can position the timer conveniently.
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Starline Brass offers a series of videos with helpful reloading tips. Focused primarily on pistol cartridges, these short videos can help anyone get started with metallic cartridge reloading. If you load pistol rounds on a progressive, this video series is particularly helpful. The on-camera host is Hunter Pilant, son of Carroll Pilant of Sierra Bullets.
Preventing Double Charges
Tip: Use a bulky powder that fills your case more than half way with a correct charge. This will overfill the case if it is double-charged, making it very difficult to seat a bullet.
Tumble New Brass Before Loading the First Time
Tip: Tumble new pistol cartridge brass in used media for 30 minutes before loading for the first time. This will add enough graphite (carbon residue) to smooth case entry into dies. You can also lube the case mouths with graphite, or use spray lube.
Powder Through Expander — How to Eliminate Hang-ups
Tip: When loading pistol brass with a progressive press, sometime the powder-through expander is hard to remove, especially with short cases. There are two fixes — first, try deburring the inside of the case mouth on your cases. Second, the radius of the powder through expander plug can be modified to smooth entry and exit (see photo). Starline will do this modification for free.
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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.
⏺ Versatile, affordable — great for ARs and sighting-in hunting rifles
Here’s a versatile, affordable tripod-style shooting rest. The Caldwell Precision Adjustable Turret Rest offers quick horizontal and vertical adjustment making it great for target shooting as well as varminting from a bench. Amazon user ‘Jet Mech 1′ reports “…it’s REALLY solid! Solid steel legs and everything is heavy duty. It’s really compact. Easily fits in the smallest car trunk. It holds your firearm very securely. The tilt and pan is super smooth and precise. This is the perfect platform for an AR-style rifle but works equally well for just about anything.” This is a great deal — the same unit is $114.99 on Amazon
2. Bruno Shooters Supply — McMillan Stocks now $100 OFF
⏺ Great savings on quality McMillan Fiberglass stocks
McMillan stocks are world-renowned for hunting, tactical, and competition applications. We found a rare deal on McMillan stocks over at Bruno’s. Find one that works for your needs and save $100 instantly. Bruno’s has 60+ McMillan stocks available now for $100 off. There are many stock varieties — benchrest, hunting, tactical, F-Class.
3. Precision Reloading — Starline .223 Rem Brass, $31.20/100
⏺ Excellent deal on quality .223 Rem brass
If you need some new .223 Remington brass consider grabbing some American-made Starline .223 Rem brass. This quality brass is good for hunting, varminting, and competition in bolt guns and ARs. If loaded to 5.56 pressures keep in mind you need to use firearms labeled for use with 5.56mm.
4. KYGUNCO — Savage Mark II FV-SR .22 LR Rifle, $259.99
⏺ Inexpensive rimfire rig for NRL22 or plinking
With NRL22 and other fun disciplines, .22 LR rimfire shooting is more popular than ever. A good, low-cost .22 LR rifle option is the Savage Mark II FV-SR. The Mark II FV-SR offers a 16.5″ fluted heavy barrel, factory scope rail, 5-round mag, and user-adjustable AccuTrigger. This Savage Mark II FV-SR is also available complete with a Vortex 3-9x40mm scope and rings for $369.99 at KYGUNCO.
⏺ Well-made, durable case that will fit long match rifles
This is an outstanding, rugged, well-padded fabric rifle case at a very good price. We can definitely recommend this Bulldog 54″ Black Long Range Rifle Cases. It features heavy-duty zippers, side storage bags, and plenty of space for your scope. With a 54″ OAL, this case will hold a Palma or F-Class match rifle with a long barrel. It’s pretty rare that we go to a match and don’t see some of these big Bulldog cases — they are popular.
You can never have enough plinking ammo for your .223 Rem rifles. With this deal, get 1000 rds of American Eagle .223 Rem ammo for $649.99 — just 65 cents per round. American Eagle rifle ammunition offers consistent, accurate performance at a price that’s perfect for high-volume shooting. This ammo has quality bullets, reloadable brass cases, and dependable Federal primers.
7. Natchez — CCI Blazer .40 S&W Ammo, $19.95
⏺ Very competitive price on quality .40 S&W ammo
Do you need .40 S&W ammo but don’t want to pay a high price? We found a great deal on CCI Blazer .40 S&W aluminum case ammunition for under $20 a box (50 rounds). This .40 S&W Blazer ammo features high-quality Speer bullets. NOTE: The aluminum cases are NON-reloadable. If you prefer reloadable, brass-cased ammo, Brownells has CCI Blazer Brass 165gr .40 S&W ammo on sale at $26.99 for 50 rounds.
⏺ Parts and bushing kit helps turret presses run smoothly
If you have a Lyman, RCBS, or Redding turret press, we recommend you get one of these Creedmoor Turret Press Upgrade Kits. These kits, which reduce wear and improve “feel”, install on the press with simple hand tools. The kit includes Self-Adhesive Teflon pads that reduce friction between the Turret Head and the Press Body, Brass Shim that allows the bushing to ride on a smooth surface, and spring and ball that improve the press lock-up, giving a firmer lock and reducing play in the press head. There is a specific kit for three turret press types: Lyman, RCBS, and Redding T-7.
9. Amazon — S2Delta Tactical Squeeze Bag, $26.99
⏺ Versatile Support Bag is popular with shooters
For hunters and tactical shooters, a versatile Squeezebag provides rear support when shooting from bipod, or can be used in the front as a fore-arm rest on a support. The S2Delta Tactical Rear Squeeze Bag is a nice design that can do multiple tasks, and has a useful carry strap. This Squeezebag has a removable internal case that’s easy to fill with various types of media (sand, plastic pellets, etc.). Grab one in coyote tan, camo, or OD green for just $26.99 on Amazon.
10. Amazon — MTM Universal Loading Tray, $5.99
⏺ Good, versatile loading tray at significantly reduced price
Handloaders need versatile, high-quality loading trays. These two-sided MTM trays can handle just about any cartridge you reload. Priced at just $5.99, the MTM Universal Ammo Loading Tray holds 50 cartridge cases. These two-sided trays will fit all common handgun cartridges and almost all rifle cartridges .17 through .458 Winchester, including the “fat” WSM, WSSM, and Ultra Mags. These trays are also sold by Midsouth for $7.51.
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Sierra Bullets has released very complete load data for the popular 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge. This medium-sized cartridge has become one of the most popular chamberings for tactical and PRS shooters. The 6.5 Creedmoor combines excellent accuracy, good mag-feeding, good barrel life, moderate recoil, and reasonable component cost. That’s why this cartridge has caught on quickly.
Developed in 2007 by Dennis DeMille and Dave Emary, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a shortened and improved 30 TC cartridge case that was inspired by the .308 Winchester design. This short action design was created to maximize case capacity and a wide range of loading lengths, while still fitting in standard short action magazines. With the correct twist barrel, the versatile 6.5 Creedmoor can take advantage of the wide range of bullet weights available in 6.5 mm (i.e. .264 caliber). Reloaders should keep in mind that the 6.5 Creedmoor works best with medium to medium-slow powders such as H4350, Varget, Win 760, and RE-17. The light recoil and adaptability of the efficient 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge has already proven itself in high power, precision rifle series and benchrest competitions. Couple that with respectable barrel life and its intrinsic accuracy potential and you have a recipe for success which should insure its legacy for decades to come.
Here are three tables from the Sierra Bullets Reloading Manual (5th Edition). IMPORTANT — This is just a sample!! Sierra has load data for many other 6.5mm bullet types, including FB, Spitzer, SBT, HPBT, and Tipped MK from 85 grains to 142 grains. To view ALL 6.5 Creedmoor DATA, CLICK HERE.
INDICATES MAXIMUM LOAD – USE CAUTION
LOADS LESS THAN MINIMUM CHARGES SHOWN ARE NOT RECOMMENDED.
INDICATES MAXIMUM LOAD – USE CAUTION
LOADS LESS THAN MINIMUM CHARGES SHOWN ARE NOT RECOMMENDED.
INDICATES MAXIMUM LOAD – USE CAUTION
LOADS LESS THAN MINIMUM CHARGES SHOWN ARE NOT RECOMMENDED.
Two More Great 6.5 Creedmoor Reloading Resouces
Want More 6.5 Creedmoor Load Info? View Starline’s 6.5 Creedmoor Guide by Gavin Gear:
PRB 6mm Creedmoor and 6.5 Creedmoor Load Survey
The Precision Rifle Blog compiled Load Data from PRS Competitors, for both 6mm Creedmoor and 6.5 Creedmoor. This is a good place to start. PRB surveyed the match loads for “173 of the top-ranked precision rifle shooters in the country”. CLICK HERE.
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The .224 Valkyrie is the “trendy” cartridge now for AR shooters looking for better long-range performance than the standard .223 Rem (5.56×45) can provide. With the right bullets and load, the .224 Valkyrie offers significantly less drop and drift at long range. The .224 Valkyrie is basically a 6.8 SPC case necked down to .22-caliber. You can use your existing AR15 lower, but you will need a dedicated .224 Valkyrie upper, or at the minimum a new barrel, modified bolt with proper bolt face, and 6.8-compliant mags.
Valkyrie fans say this efficient cartridge offers performance rivaling a 22-250 in a smaller case. The Social Regressive YouTube channel explains: “There are two key reasons why the 224 Valkyrie is unique and desirable. First, it is specifically designed to fit the limitations of the AR-15 platform. It does so even when loaded with gigantic bullets, like the 90-grain SMK that Federal announced. The .22-250 Rem is too long and too fat to work in the AR-15 platform; it needs an AR-10 bolt and magazine.”
Valkyrie Video Fest — Five Informative Videos
Here are five videos featuring the .224 Valkyrie cartridge and rifle options. We think the two applications that make most sense for this new cartridge are: 1) PRS Gas Gun matches (Open Class) — you get 6.5 Creedmoor ballistic performance with much less recoil for faster shot transitions; and 2) Long-Range (400+ yards) varminting — you get performance similar to a 22-250 in a cartridge that works with your existing AR15 lower. That will really help with those long shots on P-dogs.
In this video Gavin Gear test the .224 Valkyrie cartridge in both AR and bolt-action rifles. Using a drone to capture images of shots on target, Gavin produces some impressively small groups at 600 yards. This shows that the .224 Valkyrie has serious accuracy potential when the load is right.
In this 37-minute video on the “IraqVeteran8888″ channel, Chad tests a .224 Valkyrie rifle with various ammo, including 90gr handloads. The test addresses the pros and cons of this new cartridge, explaining the need to have realistic expectations, and a barrel with twist rate suitable for your bullet choices. This is a long video, but worth watching if you are contemplating building or buying a .224 Valkyrie.
This follow-up IraqVet888 video focuses on reloading for the .224 Valkyrie. Chad addresses a multitude of issues including: powder selection, bullet options, brass longevity and primer pocket uniforming. If you own a .224 Valkyrie and hand-load for the rifle, you should watch this video.
Here Gavin Gear tests Starline’s new .224 Valkyrie brass, seeing how well it stands up to repeated firings. Gavin checked for primer pocket stretching and found that 50% of the cases went 8 or more firings before the primer pockets grew too much. However a few cases did need to be retired after four firings. Gavin notes: “Brass longevity is one of the key considerations for loading 224 Valkyrie, so I thought I would put my Starline 224 Valkyrie cases to the test! Be sure to read the full Brass Test article for more insights.
The .224 Valkyrie has been marketed as a low-recoil round that can stay supersonic to 1300 yards and beyond (with 90gr Sierra MatchKings). Here a Sniper’s Hide duo shots an AR-platform .224 Valkyrie at distances out to 1550+ yards. To be honest, the accuracy wasn’t that impressive. However this test confirms that the .224 Valkyrie does launch the long, heavy projectiles at high enough velocities to prove superior to the standard .223 Rem. Frank Galli (aka “Lowlight”) teams up with Brian Whalen of Colorado Precision Rifle at the Blue Steel Ranch in New Mexico.
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SHOT SHOW Edition: For this week, we are doing something a bit different. Rather than showcasing discounted Deals of the Week, for this Monday, we’re featuring new-for-2018 products that will be on display at SHOT Show in Las Vegas. We have selected new products that, we believe, offer excellent inherent value even without special discounts. You may not be able to purchase all these items right away, but expect them at major vendors by early spring.
1. Lapua .300 Norma Magnum and .338 Norma Magnum Brass
A recent development based on the .338 Norma Magnum necked down to .30 caliber, the .300 Norma Magnum was adopted as the U.S. Military’s Advanced Sniper Cartridge “for extra long ranges beyond 1500 meters”. In addition to its military duties, the 300 Norma is sure to find favor with Long Range competitive shooters and hunters. We are excited to see this impressive new offering added to Lapua’s line of outstanding cartridge brass. Along with the .300 Norma, Lapua will also produce the .338 Norma Magnum parent cartridge. That .338 NM was developed by J. Sloan and D. Kiff as a long-range sporting cartridge, based on the .416 Rigby case. Norma adopted and standardized the .338 Norma Magnum through CIP certification in 2010.
2. New T1x Rimfire Rifle from Tikka
Tikka is introducing a new Rimfire rifle, the Tikka T1x. It features a medium-contour 20″ barrel with threaded muzzle, 10-round detachable magazine, and a smooth bolt throw. This will be offered in Both .22 LR and .17 HMR. The rifle boasts the feel and balance of Tikka’s centerfire line, so this can serve as a nice small-bore option for fans of Tikka hunting rifles. MSRP for the T1X is $499.00. There has been considerable shooter interest in this new Tikka which should provide competition to the CZ line of European rimfire rifles. The pricing is more than a Ruger or Savage, but much less than an Anschutz.
3. New Savage 110 Models with Adjustable Stocks
For 2018, Savage’s model 110 line-up boasts higher-quality, user-adjustable stocks. The all-new AccuFit system allows shooters to customize length of pull and comb height. The new AccuStock features a rigid chassis embedded in the stock. Savage has a full line of revamped 110s with these enhanced stocks. For example, the Savage 110 Long Range Hunter shown here features a 26″ barrel with brake, and is offered in six calibers: 6.5 Creedmoor, .260 Rem, .308 Win, 300 WSM, and .338 Federal.
4. Starline 6mm and 6.5mm Creedmoor Rifle Brass, $50/100
Starline Brass has recently added the 6.5/6mm family of cartridges to the company’s growing line of rifle cases. Starline is now producing 6.5 Creedmoor in both Large Primer pocket and Small Primer pocket versions. It also offers 6mm Creedmoor, and 6.5 Grendel. This brass will be pretty affordable, starting out at $125 for 250 cases (that works out to just $50 per hundred). Starline already sells other popular rifle brass, including .223 Rem, .243 Win, .260 Rem, and .308 Win. While this Starline brass won’t rival Lapua Brass, it may be suitable for tactical competitors who must run stages where it is impractical to recover your brass.
Lyman is releasing a beefy All-American Turret Press with eight (8) stations. That’s one more than the Redding T-7 Turret Press, and two more stations than the six-station RCBS Turret Press. With the Lyman’s EIGHT stations you can hold sizing AND seating dies for four different rifle cartridges. With eight stations available — there are countless options. Rigidity is very important with a turret press — if you have too much “give” of flex with the turret head you may get inconsistent results when bumping shoulders using full-length dies. With a heavy cast-iron frame and turret head, Lyman says its new Turret Press is “the most rugged” on the market. We like the front-mount priming system which can easily be operated with your free hand, whether you mount the press arm on the left or the right. You can purchase this press for $199.99 from MidwayUSA.
6. Ruger — Ruger Precision Rimfire, $399.99
The Ruger Precision Rimfire .22 LR rifle is so new that few vendors have them yet. But you CAN pre-order one now for $399.99 from Sportsmans Outdoor Superstore (MSRP: $529.00). For PRS shooters and Ruger Precision Rifle owners, this may be an ideal rimfire cross-trainer, with ergonomics and balance like their centerfire rig. This PRS-style .22 LR rig has some very interesting features, including adjustable bolt throw that lets shooters change from a rimfire 1.5″ bolt throw to a short-action centerfire 3″ bolt throw, reducing the chance of short-stroking your bolt in competition. The Ruger Marksman trigger adjusts from 2.25 to 5.0 pounds.
7. Vortex — New Affordable Viper HD Spotting Scopes
High-end performance at a mid-range price — the new-for-2018 Vortex Viper® HD Spotting Scopes offer impressive clarity, resolution, and color fidelity at an affordable price. The new 20-60x85mm model has a $1099.99 MSRP. That’s half the price of some other top-quality spotting scopes. The 15-45x65mm models have an $849.99 MSRP. These spotters feature HD lenses and helical-style focus. For conventience, the attachment collar allows the entire spotter to rotate. Designed for durability, the Viper HD spotter is has rubber armor, and exterior lenses are protected by ArmorTek — an ultra-hard, scratch-resistant compound that repels oil, dirt, and fingerprints. Both sizes are offered in straight and angled versions. And like all Vortex products, the Viper HD Spotting Scopes are covered by a lifetime, unconditional, no-fault, transferable, VIP Warranty.
8. MTM Cleaning Rod Case, $25.00 Street Price
Here’s a cool new product that will make it easier to stow and/or transport your precious cleaning rods. Sure you can tuck a single rod in a gun case, but what if you want to carry a variety of rods to the range? This case holds up to four (4) rods securely, and keeps solvent residues off your fine firearms. MTM’s new Gun Cleaning Rod Case is capable of storing four rifle or shotgun cleaning rods up to 47″ long. Each rod is held in an individual slot and there are foam inserts on either end, making transportation secure and rattle-free. You don’t have to worry about the rods banging into each other. We like the fact that MTM has cleverly included multi-sized “corrals” to hold patches from large to small. Plus there is plenty of room to hold jags and brushes.
9. Mossberg MVP Precision in 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Win
The Mossberg MVP Precision looks good. It has all-new chassis with a longer fore-end up front and a fully-adjustable LUTH-AR MBA-3 stock in the back. Every rifle comes with an LBA trigger, and 20″ or 24″ threaded and free-floated medium bull barrels are standard. The action features an oversize bolt handle with a Picatinny rail on top. Available chamberings include the 6.5 Creedmoor (no surprise) and 7.62×51 (.308 Win). Mossberg will also offer combo packages fitted with Vortex Viper HS-T riflescope. Mossberg has not announced an MSRP for the new MVP Precision. However, we expect this new rifle to have a street price around $1300.00, competitive with the Ruger Precision Rifle.
ScopeSlicker NX is a weather-resistant scope cover that includes two built-in lens cloths. This smartly-designed socpe protector features two retaining bands that keep it on the scope, while providing quick access by flipping each end up to view through the scope. ScopeSlicker NX is made from premium neoprene for abrasion and impact protection. The slim-fitting neoprene cover is available in a variety of hi-resolution patterns, and fits a wide range of common scope sizes.
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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. CDNN — Savage Model 11/111 with Scope $349.99 after Rebate
Looking for a good basic hunting rifle, complete with optic? This Savage Special is hard to beat. Right now you can buy a Savage Hunter XP Model 11 (short action) or Model 111 (long action) for just $449.99 complete with 3-9x40mm Bushnell scope. But it gets even better — Savage Arms is offering a $100.00 Mail-In Rebate that lowers your net cost to a mere $349.99. That’s right — get Savage hunting rig, complete with scope, in your choice of 15 chamberings, for just $349.99.
Available Model 11 chamberings: .243 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, .260 Rem, 7mm-08, .270 WSM, .308 Win, .300 WSM, .338 Federal
Available Model 111 chamberings: .25-06, 6.5-284 Norma, .270 Win, 7mm Rem Mag, .30-06, .300 Win Mag, .338 Win Mag
2. Grafs.com — Hornady Auto Charge, $179.99 + Free Range Bag
Here’s an excellent promo from our friends at Grafs.com. Hornady’s versatile Lock-N-Load Auto Charge™ Powder Scale and Dispenser is on sale for $179.99. And now for a limited time you get a FREE deluxe range bag ($43.99 value) with the purchase of the Hornady Scale/Dispenser. This is a good unit with a nice keypad. NOTE: You can also get the FREE Range Bag when you buy the Hornady Case Prep Center at Grafs.com for $419.99. That’s pretty pricey — getting Scale/Dispenser with the Range Bag is the better deal.
3. Natchez — Rock Chucker Supreme Reloading Kit, $249.99
Everything you see above can be yours for just $249.99, a great deal. Right now, Natchez is selling the Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit for $249.99. That’s a great deal considering all the hardware you get. Heck, the Rock Chucker press alone is worth $150.00+. Considering all you get, this is a heck of a deal. The Natchez price is $70-$90 cheaper than many other vendors. For example, MidwayUSA’s price is $329.99 for this same kit!
4. MidwayUSA — 1500 Rounds Norma Tac-22 Ammo, $136.99
Check out those groups. That’s impressive accuracy at 50 yards. You’d expect to pay $10.00 or more per box for rimfire ammo that can shoot this well. But you can now get the Norma Tac-22 for just $4.56 per box at MidwayUSA in this package deal — 1500 rounds in Ammo Can for $136.99. This works out to just nine cents a round for good .22 LR rimfire ammo which has proved quite accurate in both bolt-action and semi-auto rimfire rifles. NOTE: The target photos come from Champion Shooters Supply, which may have gotten an exceptional lot. This vendor tells us: “We have found this to run very well in Ruger rifles, handguns, and target pistols. These are 5-shot groups at 50 yards with an Anschutz 1913 rifle. This is an incredible value.”
5. Bruno’s Everything Sale — Ends Monday, August 7 at 11:59 PM
Bullets, brass, powder, optics, dies, tools, stocks, barrels, actions — all this and more is on sale at Bruno Shooters Supply right now. You’ll find savings on pretty much everything Bruno’s sells (except MAP-price items). But you have to act quickly. This storewide sale ends TODAY, August 7th at 11:59 PM. You snooze, you loose. NOTE: You don’t need a special discount code — the sale prices are already shown online, good for today (8/7/2017) only.
6. EuroOptic.com — Huge Savings on All Sightron Scopes
EuroOptic is moving to a larger facility. To ease the transition, EuroOptic needs to reduce its large Sightron Optics inventory. Accordingly, Sightrons are marked down with very large price reductions. Our source at EuroOptic says: “All IN STOCK Sightrons are reduced to liquidate — these are going fast at these prices.” There are some great deals here for folks looking for medium-magnification tactical and hunting scopes. Along with riflescopes, Sightron spotting scopes are also on sale.
7. CDNN — Browning Stainless Buck Mark, $279.99 After Rebate
Everyone needs a good .22 LR rimfire handgun, and the Browning Buck Mark is a classic. This stainless, bull barrel version is marked down this week to $329.99. That’s a very good deal, but you can save even more with Browning’s $50 Rebate. Buck Marks, with their excellent triggers and great ergonomics, are fun to shoot and VERY accurate. This is a pistol you can keep for a life-time. Browning says: “Every Buck Mark starts out as a solid piece of aircraft-grade 7075 aluminum alloy, and then is CNC-machined to exacting tolerances. The crisp single-action trigger, hand reamed chamber, target crowned barrel and finely adjustable target sights mean the Buck Mark comes ready for fun straight from the box.” There is also a blued Buck Mark version priced at $289.99 (or $239.99 after Rebate).
8. Midsouth — All Starline Pistol Brass 15% Off
Among pistol brass options, Starline is some of the best stuff you can buy. Strong and consistent, Starline is a good choice for stout cartridges such as the 10mm Auto, .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .500 S&W. We also like Starline for our .45 ACP loads. Right now you can get significant savings on Starline’s entire stock of cartridge brass (both regular and nickle-plated). Midsouth is running a 15% Off Starling Sale now through 8/8/2017. Take advantage of these 15% Off Savings before the sale ends on Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at 11:59 PM.
9. Amazon — Neiko Digital Calipers, $16.79
Even if you have a good set of calipers, you may want to get one of these Neiko 01407A Digital Calipers. The #1 best-selling digital caliper on Amazon.com, this Neiko tool features a large LCD Screen and measures up to 6.0 inches. With 2850+ customer reviews, this product has earned an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. It’s hard to go wrong for $16.79, even if you just use these as a spare set for measuring group sizes and case trim lengths.
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Need cartridge brass for your rifles and pistols? You can save ten percent (10%) on all brass now at Grafs.com. Graf’s most popular brands are on sale, including: Lapua, Norma, Nosler, Hornady, Weatherby and Starline. The brass sale ends on July 26, 2017 at 11:59 pm CT. Grafs.com has cartridge brass for more than 200 caliber/cartridge types. CLICK HERE for all rifle cartridge brass offerings at Grafs.com.
NEW: Starline Rifle Brass
You’re probably familiar with Starline’s excellent pistol cases, but did you know that Starline now produces bottleneck rifle cartridge brass as well? In the past year, Starline Brass has introduced a line of bottleneck rifle brass including .223 Rem, .243 Win, .300 BLK, 6.8 SPC, .308 Win, .338 Federal, and .358 Win. And yes, Starline offers 6.5 Creedmoor brass in both large primer and small primer version. Unfortunately, Grafs.com does not yet stock Starline’s 6.5 CM brass, but Graf’s does have Lapua, Norma, Nosler, and Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor brass.
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Starline Brass offers a series of videos with helpful reloading tips. Focused primarily on pistol cartridges, these short videos can help anyone get started with metallic cartridge reloading. If you load pistol rounds on a progressive, this video series is particularly helpful. The on-camera host is Hunter Pilant, son of Carroll Pilant of Sierra Bullets.
Preventing Double Charges
Tip: Use a bulky powder that fills your case more than half way with a correct charge. This will overfill the case if it is double-charged, making it very difficult to seat a bullet.
Tumble New Brass Before Loading the First Time
Tip: Tumble new pistol cartridge brass in used media for 30 minutes before loading for the first time. This will add enough graphite (carbon residue) to smooth case entry into dies. You can also lube the case mouths with graphite, or use spray lube.
Powder Through Expander — How to Eliminate Hang-ups
Tip: When loading pistol brass with a progressive press, sometime the powder-through expander is hard to remove, especially with short cases. There are two fixes — first, try deburring the inside of the case mouth on your cases. Second, the radius of the powder through expander plug can be modified to smooth entry and exit (see photo). Starline will do this modification for free.
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Developed in 2007 by Dennis DeMille and Dave Emary, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a shortened and improved 30 TC cartridge case that was inspired by the .308 Winchester design. This short action design was created to maximize case capacity and a wide range of loading lengths, while still fitting in standard short action magazines. With the correct twist barrel, the versatile 6.5 Creedmoor can take advantage of the wide range of bullet weights available in 6.5 mm (i.e. .264 caliber). Reloaders should keep in mind that the 6.5 Creedmoor works best with medium to medium-slow powders such as H4350, Varget, Win 760, and RE-17. The light recoil and adaptability of the efficient 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge has already proven itself in high power, precision rifle series and benchrest competitions. Couple that with respectable barrel life and its intrinsic accuracy potential and you have a recipe for success which should insure its legacy for decades to come.
