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January 18th, 2009
Some months ago, AccurateShooter.com ran a feature story on the new Rimfire Tactical discipline that has become hugely popular on the West Coast. A Rimfire Tactical comp is a challenging “fun match” using both bolt-action and semi-auto 22LR rifles at distances from 20 to 200 yards. You engage a wide variety of static and reactive targets, shooting from prone, kneeling, and standing positions. It’s fun, challenging, and affordable. Competing in Rimfire Tactical matches is also a great way to develop skills that carry over to centerfire shooting. By “cross-training” with rimfire 22s you get more “trigger time” and improve your wind-reading skills without spending a fortune on ammo or burning out your centerfire barrels.
As the Rimfire Tactical discipline evolves with more matches, and more participants, we’re learning what kind of hardware it takes to win. Thus far all sorts of rifles have turned in winning performances — Savage Mark IIs, CZs, “Souped-up” Ruger 10/22s, even Anschütz Silhouette and Biathlon rifles. What will prove to be the “Ultimate” Rimfire Tactical rifle? It just might be the impressive “Fusion” from Volquartsen Custom.
The Volquartsen Fusion has the right components for Rimfire Tactical. There’s a stiff, free-floating tubular shroud (like an AR15 spacegun). This provides a rigid support for the bipod, and works well when shooting from barriers. The action features an integrated Picatinny rail so you can easily swap optics from your centerfire tactical rifle to the Fusion. The trigger is clean and crisp — WAY better than the standard trigger on a Ruger 10/22. The rear stock section has a near-vertical style grip and a high comb that work great when shooting prone. An integral comp on the barrel allows quick and precise follow-up shots, which is important because many Rimfire Tactical “scenarios” are on the clock.
What’s also really cool about the Fusion is that you can swap barrels in under a minute with no special tools. So, you can shoot 22LR ammo in a tactical match, then switch to a 17 Mach 2 barrel to shoot varmints with the same rifle. (There is also a .17 HMR/.22 WMR model.) The switch-barrel design also allows the rifle to be broken down quickly and easily for compact storage. Watch the Video below. The last minute of the 3.5 minute video shows how easy it is to remove and swap barrels.
Fusion Take-Down VIDEO. Barrel Removal Starts at 2:25.
How much? The Fusion semi-auto, with BOTH .22LR and 17 Mach 2 Barrels, retails for $1,807.00. For more info, visit Volquartsen.com.
January 15th, 2009
On the day before the official opening of SHOT Show, members of the media were invited to the Orlando Sheriffs’ Range to “test-drive” some of the latest offerings from major manufacturers. As precision rifles are AccurateShooter.com’s primary focus, two new guns from Savage Arms drew the attention of our Asst. Editor (and resident “hot-shot”) Jason Baney. After meeting with Savage Chairman/CEO Ron Coburn, and Marketing Mgr. Bill Dermody, Jason got the chance to try out Savage’s new .308 Palma Rifle, and the radical new, metal-chassis model 10 BAS Tactical rifle.
The handsome Savage Palma Rifle features a gray laminated stock with triple pillars. It boasts an adjustable cheekpiece, and adjustable length of pull (LOP) via spacers. Fitted with the Savage Target action, 30″ stainless barrel, and (4 – 12 oz.) Accutrigger, the gun promises outstanding accuracy. As you can see on the second half of the video below, Jason shot a 1/2″ group at 200 yards with the Savage Palma Rifle. Jason said the stock was ergonomic and the gun balanced well even with the long tube. The Savage Palma Rifle action is drilled and tapped for top or side-mount peep sights, so it can be fitted with either iron sights or scope. Savage is taking orders right now. MSRP is $1798, but the “street price” will be quite a bit less.
Bold & Black — Savage 10 BAS Tactical Rifle
The new 10 BAS is a radical departure for Savage. This wild-looking new bolt-gun features a blackened aluminum modular chassis, top and side Picatinny rails, a detachable box magazine, and not one but TWO adjustable (and removeable) buttstock configurations. One buttstock is similar to an AR15-style collapsing stock, while the other (on the BAS ‘T’ model) features a myriad of adjustments, and a straight, flat keel section on the bottom to ride the bags.
On this T-version stock, the buttplate adjusts for length of pull (LOP) and cant angle and the cheek-piece adjusts both vertically and fore and aft using a rail and a rotary locking knob.
What’s our take on the radical 10 BAS rifle? For police and military applications, the rails offer great versatility. For tactical comps, we liked the ergonomic grip, 10-round detachable magazine, and the easily-adjustable LOP. The 10 BAS will initially be offered in .308 Winchester only. Based on the model 110 action, the 10 BAS comes with a 24″ barrel and a proprietary muzzle brake. It even accepts most AR15 buttstocks. We don’t know of any domestic manufacturer offering a “tactical” bolt gun with all the features found on the 10 BAS. We expect this rifle to cause quite a stir when SHOT Show doors open this morning.
Photos by J. Baney, copyright © 2009 AccurateShooter.com, All Rights Reserved.
August 5th, 2008
Zak Smith, an experienced practical/tactical shooter and 3-gun competitor, has prepared a video of the 2008 Steel Safari. This match is a unique test of practical shooting skills, conducted in “wild” field environments. Competitors must range and make shots at unknown distances, and sometimes at extreme angles. As you have to cover significant distances carrying rifle and gear, the match can also be a physical challenge. This is certainly no Benchrest match!
The Steel Safari demands a variety of practical rifle skills, including target recognition, range estimation, wind doping, trail skills, and marksmanship. Competitors must navigate through rugged terrain, then locate and range targets, and make first-round hits in often difficult field conditions. To learn more about the Steel Safari, visit Zak’s website, www.DemigodLLC.com, and read his MATCH REPORT.
Steel Safari Bloopers (Rifle Reliability) Video
If you enjoyed the match highlights video, you’ll also enjoy Zak’s “Bloopers” video. In this compilation from the Steel Safari, you’ll see a variety of firearm malfunctions in the field. Thankfully, none of the problems caused injury, but in this video you’ll see bolt actions that refused to feed or eject, or simply wouldn’t go bang. If you think bolt action rifles are fool-proof, this “bloopers reel” may change your opinion. Watch the video and you’ll see that even $4,000+ rifles sometimes give their owners fits.
August 2nd, 2008
McRee’s Precision, based in Post Falls, Idaho, has developed a modular metal stock system that has proven itself versatile, rugged, and capable of outstanding accuracy. There are three basic components in the system: center section (which holds the action), forearm, and buttstock. These three sections bolt together using hex-head fasteners torqued to 50 inch/pounds. A wide variety of configurations are available. Hunters and tactical shooters can choose a folding buttstock with narrow fore-end. Varminters may prefer a bag-riding assembly in the rear with raised or foam-covered cheek-piece. There is also a 3″-wide benchrest forearm. McRee-stocked guns have shown competitive accuracy in long-range matches.
The McRee Modular Stocks work well with calibers from 20 all the way to the big magnums and they have proven very popular with tactical and LEO shooters. Tactical stocks can be fitted with rails for mounting night-vision optics or other specialized gear. McRee currently produces stocks for the following actions: Rem 700 (long and short), Lawton 7000/7500 (long and short), Lawton 8000, Surgeon Short and XL, Savage Short action AccuTrigger, RPA Quadlite, 338 Xtreme (Xtreme Machine). While cost varies with the particular features, a basic McRee 3-part modular stock is priced competitively with name-brand fiberglass stocks.
For more info, visit McReesPrecision.net, call (509) 226-5057, or write McRee’s MultiServices, 9528 N. McGuire Road, Post Falls, ID 83854.
July 20th, 2008
Last week, the third annual Southern California Precision Rifle Competition (SCPRC) was held. This match takes place each year in July at the West End Gun Club, 20 minutes west of San Bernadino, CA. Match director Mark Archuleta, aka “Spaniard”, ran a great match, with a diverse and challenging course of fire. Mark reports: “This was our third SCPRC, and we had 34 shooters from all over the US.” Mark posted a match report in our FORUM with lots of photos. CLICK HERE to read Mark’s full report. Below are some pictorial highlights from the Match, with Mark’s commentary:
Vu Pham from Nor-Cal, shown below, hit both his cold bore shots on day 1 & 2. This year’s Day Two cold bore shot (CBS) reprised our 2006 CBS. There was a 3.5″ Clay pigeon set at about 325 yards, with roughly a 10° down angle. In 2006, 7 out of 22 shooters made the hit, this year 12 out of 34 shooters made the hit. Some folks don’t think that the 10°-15° slope makes a difference, but it does.
Below Phil demonstrates textbook bipod shooting: working the bolt, maintaining a solid cheek weld and keeping an eye on the next target. Good job Phil. [Editor’s Note: the “pucks” on the bipod legs are “PodPaws” from Zephyr Dynamics]
One of the stages was shot from a squatting position with rifle supported by saw-horses. This stage obviously favored the shorter guys.
The match included timed stages. The challenge was how to record times for multiple shooters. I purchased a timing system and did some modifications to it so each shooter had his own stop button. It worked great and I could shoot whole teams all at once. This made the lines move very fast. It’s will be a part of all my future matches, local and not so local. Below, just like on Jeopardy, Scott Cochran stops the clock.
At the request of Kurt Stone (LV Steel Targets), a standing stage was added. It’s not easy to shot a heavy tactical rifle off-hand! Here, representing the United States Marine Corp., is SSgt. Tony Palzkill — a real professional and a nice guy too.
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