Sierra Adds a 150 grain HPBT

It’s a MatchKing® bullet actually introduced in October 2017 but is certainly being featured at the 2018 SHOT Show.  The popularity of 6.5 cartridges like the Creedmoor, 6.5×47 Lapua and 6.5×284 in all its numerous iterations will insure the sales of a new match bullet for Sierra.  At the time of this writing it appears Sierra is the only major bullet producer that offers a 150 grain bullet for the 6.5 bore.  This bullet will be best suited for cartridges with more case capacity, the 6.5-06 or the 6.5-284 will probably utilize it best.

MatchKing 6.5mm 150 grain HPBT (#1755).  Has a sleek 27 caliber elongated ogive and a final meplat reducing operation (pointing) to provide an increased ballistic coefficient (claiming over .700) for optimal wind resistance and velocity retention.  To ensure precise bullet to bore alignment, a unique bearing surface to ogive junction uses the same 1.5 degree angle commonly found in many match rifle chamber throats.  There is an interesting subject for a test; does matching the shape of the throat and bullet change the accuracy of any given bullet?

MatchKing® and Tipped MatchKing® bullets are not recommended for most hunting applications. Especially when we are talking about game animals of any size.  Match bullets are designed for accuracy and bucking wind over long range, but they are not designed to reliably expand.  Sierra makes GameKing® bullets for Hunters.

According to Sierra this bullet requires a barrel twist rate of 1 turn in 7.5” or faster.

 

 

Miller Precision Arms, Guardian, 300 Winchester Magnum AR

Brandon Miller of MPA has been a busy guy.  He has his 300 Win. Mag. on an AR platform ready to offer to the public.  Miller Precision announced this new rifle on July 4th, 2012 in celebration of freedom.  At the time of this writing they are the only company that has a functioning rifle of this type.  Best of all the MPA rifle is an AR, this means not training with a new system.    This rifle is a natural for military use, or what a great way to play the High Power game, F class anyone?

Miller Precision Arms Brings New Muzzle Brake to the Market.

Normally when I am asked about muzzle brakes I tell guys they all work about the same.  Reducing felt recoil by about 30%. That is not the case with this brake, Brandon Miller pictured at left with his design has totally rethought the concept of recoil reduction and muzzle brakes.

Brandon calls his new brake the “Hammerhead”.  He has already scaled the design up for larger calibers, so they will be available for heavy recoiling rifle very soon.

I had a chance to test fire this brake at a range in Oklahoma.  This new design keeps the crosshairs/sights on target at all times.  Recoil from the test gun in 5.56 Nato was straight back and so slight that if not for the sound it would be hard to believe this was a center fire rifle.  Percentage wise I would guess recoil is down by ninety % or more.

Shooters sitting beside you at the range will not like you much, but this brake is for fast shooting, not bench work.  Competitive shooters will eat this new design up.  I would go so far as to say that if you don’t have one, the shooters who do, will leave you in the dust.  It’s not often that I am impressed by a product the way I was with this one.  I would not hesitate to recommend or sell this new offering from Miller Precision Arms.

Here is a great place to print targets.

Lots of different targets to choose from. Something for every discipline.

www.reloadbench.com/pdf.html

1911 AUTO POCKETSMITH IIG

What a great too for your shooting box.  Ever been and the range and needed to make a quick repair or adjustment, only to find you don’t have any tools with you.  This is the kind of tool that I would put in my shooting box and just leave there so it will always be handy when I need it at the range.

Caspian Arms all-in-one, stainless steel pocket tool that has all the tools needed to service your 1911 at the range . Stainless steel, fold-open design has a bushing wrench, pliers, and wire cutter. Additional tools in the handles are 3/32″ and 5/32″ Allen wrenches, three screwdriver bits with assist tabs for easy grasp when swinging out of handle, mainspring housing pin punch, file, and an easy-open knife with half-serrated, half-straight blade. Scratch-resistant, matte black hardcoat finish for exceptional durability,with grip panels of rugged G10 fiberglass composite with checkered surface pattern for a firm grasp. Comes with a custom fit nylon belt pouch too.

I’m not big on all-in-one tools but this one really caught my attention, every 1911 owner should have one in his field kit.

Specifications; 4-1⁄8″ (10.5cm) OAL folded; 6½” (16.5cm) OAL extended.

Available from http://www.brownells.com/

 

Ammunition Accountability Legislation

Ammunition Accountability Legislation… Sounds like a good idea right? Like most anti-gun laws the name is misleading. The plan is to make guns illegal through the back door. In the summer of 2008 when the Heller v. Washington D.C. decision was handed down by the Supreme Court the liberals knew they had to take a new route because the have lost on the issue of the Second Amendment, and private ownership.

Remember how Obama said that he wasn’t going to take your guns? Well, it seems that his allies in the anti-gun world have no problem with taking your ammo! The bill that is being pushed in 18 states (including Illinois and Indiana) requires all ammunition to be encoded by the manufacture a data base of all ammunition sales. So they will know how much you buy and what calibers. If it passes nobody can sell any ammunition afterwards unless the ammunition is coded.

Any privately held unencoded ammunition must be destroyed as a part of this proposed law. (Including hand loaded ammo.) They will also charge a .05 cent tax on every round so every box of ammo you buy will go up at least $2.50 or more! That is just to start, how long do you think it will take for that tax to rise to the point that plinking and soon hunting are simply too expensive for the average person to participate in. If they can deprive you of ammo they do not need to take your gun!

This legislation was active in 18 state legislatures in 2008 and will be reintroduced in 2009, call you state legislators and tell them to fight this bill when it pops up, don’t even let it out of commitee! The Following states considered this bill in 2008; Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington.

To find more about the anti-gun group that is sponsoring this legislation and the specific legislation for each state, go to: http://ammunitionaccountability.org/Legislation.htm

Explanation of the technology: http://ammunitionaccountability.org/Technology.htm

New Match Ammo for M1 Garand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have only shot a couple of matches with Garands over the years but it was a ton of fun.  Now Hornady is offering match grade ammo designed for use with the M1 Garand.  They chose powders that should provide long life for the barrel and gas system on these work horse rifles.  After years of either reloading or relying on military surplus ammo, competitors now have another option for good quality ammunition.

Loaded with 168 grain A-Max bullets with a muzzle velocity near 2700 feet per second, this might be pretty good ammo for new match shooters to learn on.  For more information on the M1 Garand and matches check out the Civiliam Marksmanship Program.

Shooting Range Grant Program Created by NSSF

NEWTOWN, Conn. — The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has announced a new program designed to help local public and private ranges increase participation in the shooting sports.

The Range Partnership Grant Program is making available a total of $250,000 per year for projects that specifically address one or more of the following objectives: recruitment of new shooters, reactivation of lapsed shooters and increased opportunities for active shooters to try another discipline. The NSSF is especially interested in new, creative approaches to these challenges.

“This program was inspired by the success of our Hunting Heritage Partnership grant program, which funds recruitment and retention efforts conducted by state wildlife agencies,” commented NSSF Senior Vice President Chris Dolnack. “We are confident that this concept will also work for shooting ranges.”

Eligible organizations are limited to public or private ranges and clubs, or educational institutions with hunting or shooting sports curriculums and faculty.

Grant guidelines and applications are available at www.rangeinfo.org/grants. 

300 Olin Express/300 Ackley (300 H&H Improved)

In some recent research I ran onto a magazine article from 1965 that stated that Western Cartridge Co. loaded the 300 Ackley Magnum as the 300 Olin Express for the Army Marksmanship unit.  That unit came into existence in 1956, the article went on to say that the Wimbledon Cup was won at least once with the 300 Ackley.

I located a list for folks who won the Wimbledon Cup at Camp Perry over the years, but it did not include the rifles or calibers used for this 1000 yard, 20 shot match.

Two questions for you readers:

1. any knowledge of the 300 Ackley, or the 300 Olin Express loaded by Western Cartridge?
2. Corroborating data, has the 300 Ackley ever won the Wimbledon Cup?  When? by Who?

I will look forward to your comments.

 

Book has recently been published, “P.O. Ackley, America’s Gunsmith” Fred Zeglin, author of this authoritative work located some good information related to the above post. However, it does not appear that the 300 Ackley ever won the cup.

Web resource for P.O. Ackley:   https://ackleyimproved.com

Get the Ball Rolling!

Before somone feels the need to write and ask I thoght I should simply tell the story.  The picture at the top of the Blog is a before and after for some of my work.  This rifle is based on a model 71/84 Mauser action, it has a tubular magazine under the barrel.  Original caliber was 11mm Mauser, it is now a 45-70.  Minamal feeding work was required to make it work.

The stock pattern is my own design, the dimensions were modernized so that the irons sights are easy to use and it points very naturally.  Styling was based on original sporters made with this action by Mauser.  The Manlicher pattern however is my own design, the magazine is hidden inside the stock and retained by the front sling swivel.  A pistol grip was added as the classic designs were all straight grip.

If your interested in more information on the 71/84, Ludwig Olson wrote a book “Mauser Bolt Rifles” that has some pictures, specifications and best of all the various sporters are shown along with the military version of the rifle.  This book is available from www.brownells.com.