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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Summer is coming soon, and temperatures are starting to heat up. We are already seeing unseasonably hot conditions in many areas of the country. You never want your barrels to get too hot, which can happen more quickly in summertime. Accuracy suffers when barrels over-heat, and excessive heat is not good for barrel life. So how do you monitor your barrel’s temperature? You can check if the barrel is “warm to the touch” — but that method is not particularly precise. There is a better way — using temperature-sensitive strips. McMaster.com (an industrial supply house) offers stick-on temp strips with values from 86° F to 140° F. A pack of ten (10) of these horizontal strips (item 59535K13) costs $14.49. That’s a mere $1.40 per barrel for strips — cheap insurance for your precious barrels. For best barrel life, you should try to keep your barrels under 120 degrees F.
NOTE: On the McMaster.com website, you’ll need to scroll down to the multi-use “Temperature Indicating Labels”. Then click on the horizontal label and select item 59535K13, as shown below.
Forum member Nomad47 says: “I have temperature strips (bought at McMaster-Carr) on all my barrels. I try not to shoot when the barrel gets to 122 degrees or higher[.]” Here are photos of the McMaster-Carr temp strips on Nomad47’s customized Savage.
Creedmoor Sports now offers handy Temp Strips, with 3-packs for $12.95. These have colored temp range markers so you can quickly see if your barrel is getting too hot. Creedmoor Sports notes: “The temperature range of 30-160° spaced in 10° increments fit most … shooting situations. The 1″-wide 6″-long LCD strip will provide many years of service. In general, we recommend that if a barrel begins to reach 140°, it is too hot and continuing to shoot at these temperatures accelerates barrel wear These barrel temperature strips use a 3M® adhesive and will stick to blued, parkerized and stainless barrels.”
Bad things can happen if your barrel gets too hot. First, with some barrels, the point of impact (POI) will shift or “walk” as the barrel heats up excessively. Second, even if the POI doesn’t change, the groups can open up dramatically when the barrel gets too hot. Third, if the barrel is very hot, the chamber will transfer heat to your loaded cartridge, which can lead to pressure issues. Finally, there’s considerable evidence that hot barrels wear out faster. This is a very real concern, particularly for varmint shooters who may shoot hundreds of rounds in a day. For this reason, many varminters switch among various guns, never letting a particular barrel get too hot.
Neconos.com offers BAR-L Temp Strips that visually display heat readings from 86 to 140 degrees. Think of these strips as compact, unbreakable thermometers that monitor barrel heating.
Put a strip on the side of the barrel and the barrel’s temp will be indicated by a stripe that changes from black to green. There is also a “general purpose” strip that reads to 196 degrees (see bottom row). The Benchrest model strip (86°F to 140°F) is in the middle. These Bar-L temp strips cost $9.00 each, or $25.00 for a 3-pack.
NOTE: These strips can be permanently fixed to the barrel with the heavy-duty clear plastic tape strip provided with the BAR-L Temp strip.
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Two years ago, Colt Mfg. Co. (“Colt”) introduced an impressive new rimfire revolver — the King Cobra Target 22 LR. Colt states: “From competition to plinking and small game hunting, this baby Cobra does it all and packs 10-rounds of .22 LR in its cylinder”. The King Cobra Target 22 LR is available with 4.25-inch and 6-inch barrel lengths, both with 1:16″ RH rifling twist. The 4.25″ and 6″ models each have a $999.00 MSRP.
The King Cobra Target 22 LR features USA-forged stainless steel construction. Designed and crafted for outstanding accuracy, new King Cobra Target 22 LR features a one-piece barrel/shroud with fiber optic front sight. The cylinder holds ten (10) rounds. The frame is fitted with an adjustable target rear sight and Hogue overmolded rubber grips.
This TFB Showtime episode examines the new .22 LR rimfire Colt King Cobra Target. The King Cobra Target 22 LR features a 10-shot cylinder, and the same adjustable target sights as the .357 Magnum version.
Last May, Justin Baldini, Colt’s VP of Product Strategy stated: “Shooting .22 LR is such an important part of shooting sports. It’s where we come to learn as a beginner; and where we return as seasoned shooters to cost-effectively enjoy more time at the range. We’re confident that new and old Colt fans will love what we’ve done with the new King Cobra 22 LR.”
All-American built, the King Cobra Target 22 LR should deliver exceptional accuracy and good reliability. Watch the video to see this rimfire revolver in action.
Commentary: We applaud Colt for introducing this new .22 LR wheelgun. Rimfire revolvers are great. This Editor owns a Smith & Wesson Model 617 ten-shot rimfire revolver that has easily fired more rounds than all his other handguns combined. A .22 LR revolver is great for training and fun for plinking. Like the Model 617, this Colt .22 LR wheelgun offers minimal recoil, great reliability, a nice sight radius, and affordable shooting. In addition, if you shoot single-action slow-fire, the trigger pull is light and crisp — better than the vast majority of semi-auto pistols. We think this new “Baby Snake” will be a great addition to any shooter’s collection.
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To succeed in long-range shooting matches, given the high level of competition these days, you’ll need solid wind-reading abilities. We’ve found an article by SFC Emil Praslick III, retired USAMU Service Rifle coach and U.S. Palma Team Coach, that can help you make better wind calls in competition.
Emil Praslick, now retired from the U.S. Army, is considered one of the best wind gurus in the United States, if not the world. During his service with the USAMU he authored an excellent two-part article on wind reading that is available on the CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program) website. Both articles contain helpful illustrations, and are “must-read” resources for any long-range shooter–not just Service Rifle and Highpower competitors.
Part One covers basic principles, tactics, and strategies, with a focus on the 200-yard stages. Emil writes: “There are as many dimensions to ‘wind reading’ as there are stages to High Power competition. Your tactical mindset, or philosophy, must be different for the 200 and 300 yard rapid-fire stages than it would be for the 600 yard slow-fire. In the slow-fire stages you have the ability to adjust windage from shot to shot, utilizing the location of the previous shot as an indicator. Additionally, a change to the existing conditions can be identified and adjusted for prior to shooting the next shot.”
In Part Two, Praslick provides more detailed explanations of the key principles of wind zeros, wind reading, and the Clock System for determining wind values: “The Value of the wind is as important as its speed when deciding the proper windage to place on the rifle. A 10 MPH wind from ’12 o-clock’ has No Value, hence it will not effect the flight of the bullet. A 10 MPH wind from ‘3 o’clock’, however, would be classified as Full Value. Failure to correct for a Full Value wind will surely result in a less than desirable result.”
Praslick also explains how to identify and evaluate MIRAGE:
Determine the accuracy of the mirage. Mirage is the reflection of light through layers of air that have different temperatures than the ground. These layers are blown by the wind and can be monitored to detect wind direction and speed.
Focus your scope midway between yourself and the target, this will make mirage appear more prominent. I must emphasize the importance of experience when using mirage as a wind-reading tool. The best way to become proficient in the use of mirage is to correlate its appearance to a known condition. Using this as a baseline, changes in mirage can be equated to changes in the value of the wind. Above all, you must practice this skill!
Click HERE for more excellent instructional articles by Emil Praslick and other USAMU Coaches and shooters.
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On Sunday, May 19th, The nationally-syndicated radio talk show, Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk, will broadcast a three-hour program live from the Ruger booth at the NRA Annual Meetings in Dallas, Texas. This show will be broadcast live on 270 radio stations nationwide. In addition, the show will be available via internet podcasts, plus you can live-stream with a mobile App.
The live broadcast will run from 1:00 to 4:00 pm Central Time. In addition to Ruger, Tom will showcase other gun and ammunition companies as well as Second Amendment activists. “It’s always great to do a live broadcast in the middle of thousands of Second Amendment supporters,” said show host Tom Gresham. “Doing it from the Ruger booth, talking about the history and the latest products from Ruger and Marlin, just makes it even more fun.”
The Gun Talk Program will feature new products from Ruger and Marlin.
“Gun Talk” is the most popular national radio show about guns, and it ranks #1 on Apple’s rankings of “hobbies” podcasts. CLICK HERE for the complete list of 270+ stations carrying Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk.
In its 28th year of national syndication, Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk® radio show airs live on more than 270 stations every week. Listen on a radio station near you or you can live stream through one of the available Apps. All Gun Talk shows can also be downloaded as podcasts at http://bit.ly/GTRpodcast. Gun Talk is also available on YouTube, Apple iTunes, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and https://guntalk.com.
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The First Shot, the CMP’s archived Online magazine, has an article by Spc. Tyrel Cooper of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU). In his article, Straight to the Rear, Spc. Cooper describes proper trigger hand and finger positions and how to best “break the shot”. This well-written article will help anyone who shoots off-hand, or who uses an AR or Spacegun-type rifle with a vertical pistol grip.
Cooper explains: “Trigger control is one of the two main principles of shooting that we teach. You can have the best position in the world with perfect sight alignment, but if you have bad trigger control, you have wasted all that effort that you put into your position and sight alignment.”
Photo Credit: CMP image from 2019 CMP 1000 Aggregate at Camp Perry.
Firing Hand Position and Finger Placement
“Good trigger control begins with a good firing hand position. Place your firing hand high on the pistol grip, with a good firm grip. Grip tension should be like giving someone a hand shake or holding a child’s hand while walking across a street. A good firm grip [helps you] move your trigger finger without moving your other fingers. Try this, hold out your firing hand with fingers extended; now try moving your trigger finger to the rear as if you were pulling the trigger. Unless you concentrate very hard on moving just your trigger finger, other fingers will move. Now make a fist as if you were grabbing a pistol grip, now you can move your trigger finger freely without introducing movement in the other fingers.”
“I’m sure you have heard advice to place the tip or the pad of your finger on the trigger. This is true if you have short stubby fingers and that’s where the index finger naturally rests, but if you have long fingers like myself you want more of your finger around the trigger…. By placing your finger where it naturally rests on the trigger you are ensuring that you are pulling the trigger straight to the rear, and this also allows you to get more leverage on the trigger.”
Rapid-Fire Trigger Technique
“Trigger control for the rapid-fire stage is different than it is for standing. You can actually take a little bit more time to break your shots in rapid fire because of the steadiness of a supported position. A good rapid fire shot process is: 1) drop down into position, 2) get your natural point of aim, 3) take up the first stage on your first shot, 4) break that shot smoothly and hold the trigger all the way to the rear through recoil, 4) once recoil has ceased, let the trigger out only far enough to reset the trigger (you should hear a metallic click of the trigger resetting) and continue by firing your second and succeeding shots.
By doing this, you already have most of the weight of the trigger taken up so the next shot is ready to go without having to take up all the weight of the trigger every single shot.”
Slow-Fire Prone Technique
“During the slow fire prone stage, you have even more time to break your shots, so you would use the slow–smooth method. You should have little or no hold movement at all, thus allowing you to acquire good sight alignment, a good sight picture and break the shot using slow and smooth trigger control. Again you want to hold that trigger all the way to the rear until recoil has ceased so you do not disturb the rifle, no matter what position you are shooting.”
Standing Trigger Technique
“When you are shooting standing have you noticed that the rifle never really stops moving? Well, this is where you would want fast and smooth trigger control. When I come down and start settling on the target, I take up the first stage of the trigger. Once I’m getting to the end of my firing process and the movement has slowed down, I manipulate the trigger fast, but smooth, to the rear when I see what I want to see in my sight picture. Over time, this will become a subconscious act; when your brain sees the sight picture, it will automatically tell your trigger finger to move instead of you having to tell yourself there it is, take it. Lots and lots of dry firing will help this process. To repeat, you want to be fast and smooth!”
In years past the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Facebook page regularly released reloading “how-to” articles each week. One “Handloading Hump Day” post covered bore-cleaning, specifically the use of pull-through style bore-snakes. Visit the USAMU Facebook page for other helpful tips.
Barrel Cleaning with Bore-Snakes
Today, we’ll shift from handloading to rifle bore cleaning and maintenance, with information courtesy of the USAMU’s Custom Firearms Shop. We recently had some inquiries about bore cleaning, and this seems a good opportunity to share. After all, even the best handloads won’t yield their full potential in a poorly-cleaned and maintained rifle.
NOTE: Hoppes claims a trademark on the term “BoreSnake” (one word, no hyphen). For this article, the USAMU has used the term in hyphenated form, two words. We believe the USAMU is referring to a Hoppes Brand Boresnake, not a different bore cleaning rope.
BORE-SNAKES: MIRACLE REPLACEMENT FOR THE CLEANING ROD?
The experiences of our both firearms test specialist and this writer have given no evidence that proper use of a clean bore-snake will damage a match barrel. Of course, one does not pull the bore-snake at an angle to the crown when removing it — pull it straight out, parallel to the bore’s direction, to prevent crown wear over time.
Bore-snakes are very useful for some applications (primarily a hasty, interim wipe-down). In [my] experience they cannot replace a thorough cleaning with a proper rod and brushes. While the experiment cited here involves rimfire, it may help illustrate. Several years ago, the writer used his new, personal Anschutz to investigate the bore-snake issue. It had been fired ~350 rds with match ammo and had had 3 typical rod/brush cleanings.
Next, starting with a clean bore, the writer fired 300 more rounds without cleaning in order to build up a “worst-case” fouling condition. Afterwards, the writer examined the bore with a Hawkeye bore scope. There was a uniform, grey film down the entire barrel, with some small, intermittent lead build-up at and just forward of the throat.
Some bore-cleaning rope products feature separate, detachable bronze brush and bore mop segments. This allows more usage options (e.g. mop only), and makes it easier to clean the brush elements:
A new bore-snake was then wet with solvent and pulled through the bore. The Hawkeye revealed that the grey fouling was gone, and much of the visible fouling at the throat was reduced. However, nine more passes with the bore-snake, checking after each with the Hawkeye, revealed no further improvement in cleaning. The writer then cleaned with two wet patches, observed, then one stroke of a new, wet bronze brush, and one wet patch to clean out residue.
The Hawkeye showed a significant reduction in fouling at the throat; it was virtually gone. A second pass with a wet bronze brush and a wet patch removed the remaining fouling. Scrubbing the bore further, checking to see how much fouling was removed, revealed no significant improvement. The reason for this test was to learn what’s needed to get (and keep) this Anschutz clean with minimal cleaning rod use — and thus, minimal risk of bore damage/wear. Leaving fouling in the bore promotes corrosion over time.
Obviously, this applies to a nice, smooth rimfire match barrel, using good, well lubed ammo. It doesn’t apply directly to the use of copper-jacketed bullets, which leave a stubborn fouling all their own. However, it does suggest that while the bore-snake can be helpful and a useful field-expedient, to truly clean a rifle barrel one will still need a good quality rod, bronze brush and solvents. [Editor: Add a good-fitting cleaning rod bore guide.]
SO, WHAT ABOUT BORE SNAKES FOR BARREL BREAK-IN?
The goal of barrel break-in is to fire each shot through a clean barrel, preventing copper buildup and allowing the bullets their best chance at burnishing sharp edges. Thus, it seems this purpose would be best served by one’s usual rods, brushes and rod guides.
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The Headrest Safe Slide, a removable metal safe mated to a custom vehicle headrest, has won a 2024 NRA Golden Bullseye Award. This safe can be used inside the vehicle securely, or it can be removed entirely from the companion headrest. The headrest safe can be opened in three ways: 1) biometric fingerprint or thumbprint; 2) passcode; or 3) manual metal key. This innovative mobile safe is produced by The Headrest Safe Co. LLC based in Alabama.
Price for the sliding model is $499.99 on Amazon. The safe is made from 18ga steel and the interior is protected with 1/2″ of foam rubber so you don’t scratch your handguns.
The Golden Bullseye Awards, now in their 22nd year, recognizes the firearm industry’s top products. The winners are selected by a veteran NRA Publications’ staff, representing more than a century of collective experience in the shooting and hunting industry. This year’s award ceremony will be held at the 2024 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Dallas, Texas, on Friday, May 17, 2024.
“We are humbled and honored to be recognized for this prestigious award,” said Louis Tuck, COO/CFO, The Headrest Safe Company. “We would like to thank the dedicated NRA publications’ editorial staffers who tested and evaluated hundreds of new products before making their 2024 Golden Bullseye selections.”
This video shows the basic Headrest Safe which has a locked, hinged access plate, but does not slide out.
Protect Against Vehicle Break-ins and Thefts
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in vehicle break-ins and “smash and grab” incidents. After busting windows to get into your car or truck, thieves know to check the glove box, under the seat, and the center console. The Headrest Safe provides secure, discrete protection for guns and valuables. With a quick-access biometric reader and keypad, you have rapid access to whatever is securely stored. For more information about The Slide Headrest Safe™ and the less expensive tilt-door headrest safe, visit www.theheadrestsafe.com.
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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.
⏺ Amazing price for 8-station Turret and Reloading Tools
The Brass Smith All-American Turret Press Reloading Kit has a great turret press plus all the key tools you need to get started in hand-loading. Along with the excellent 8-station turret press, this combo contains: Brass Smith Powder Measure, Pocket Touch 1500 Scale, Powder Trickler, Case Prep Multi-Tool, Universal Case Trimmer, Case Lube Kit, Loading Block, Magnum Bullet Puller, Primer Tray, E-ZEE Powder Funnel, and Lyman 50th Reloading Manual. This is a great deal for $429.99, $90 off the normal price.
2. Extreme Store — ZEISS LRP S5 3-18×50 F1 Scope and FREE 15×56 ZEISS Binoculars, $3699.00
⏺ Superb ZEISS FFP Scope with Bonus Binoculars worth $1800
Here’s an amazing deal on top-tier ZEISS Optics. For $3699.00 you get ZEISS LRP S5 3-18×50 F1 scope AND FREE 15×56 Binoculars. You read that right, with the scope purchase through May 15, 2024, you get the ZEISS Conquest 15×56 Binoculars for FREE. That’s an amazing deal — these ZEISS binocs sell separately for $1799.99! NOTE: If you want more magnification, you can get a similar “free binocs” combo deal for $3999.00 with the ZEISS LRP S5 F1 5-25×56 scope. Both the 3-18 and 5-25 LRP S5 models are truly great FFP riflescopes with superb glass and a massive amount of total elevation travel.
3. Amazon — RCBS Rebel Press, $239.99
⏺ Strong, smooth, quality press at significant discount
The RCBS Rebel Press (#ad) is a great basic single-stage press that can load nearly all popular rifle and pistol cartridges. The press features a large ram and compound leverage system for smooth and consistent operation, making it easy to use and ensuring very consistent case sizing and bullet seating. With the Rebel press spent primers conveniently (and reliably) eject right out of the bottom of the ram where you can place a trash bin. This is better than the older Rockchucker press with its awkward spent primer tray.
4. MidwayUSA — Tipton Gun Vise with Hex/Torx Set, $109.99
⏺ Excellent gun vise with impressive Hex/Torx Driver Set
You need to hold firearms securely while working on or cleaning them. We like the Tipton Best Gun Vise because it features front, center, and rear supports which are independently adjustable to fit virtually any gun. Two adjustable rear clamps accommodate large and small stocks alike, and an L-shaped center support can be used for break-open shotguns, ARs and similar guns. There is a great bonus right now. With this excellent gun vise you get a Wheeler 65-Piece Hex/Torx driver kit, which sells for $44.99 by itself. So that’s like getting the Best Gun Vise for just $65.00 — a steal.
5. Natchez — Weaver Scope Sale
⏺ Large variety of Weaver scopes at very low prices
If you need a good scope for a starter or backup rifle then consider the Weaver Classic Series scopes on sale now at Natchez. These Classic riflescopes are designed for hunters that demand a simple, lightweight optic with good low light performance at a very reasonable price. With this sale you save $70-$80 on a scope that can work well for deer hunting, varmint hunting, or target work.
6. Creedmoor Sports — High Power Shooting Hats, $21.95
⏺ High-quality hats with side panels improve vision
Are you tired of the sun being in your eyes while at a match or at the range? Then consider getting a Creedmoor Sports Shooting Hat. Very popular with Palma, Service Rifle, and Smallbore shooters, these hats help you aim with both iron sights and scopes. The adjustable brim flaps let you position either flap at fully open, partially open, or closed positions. That allows you to shade your eyes while still being able to watch conditions and wind flags. Many older shooters tell us these Creedmoor Shooting Hats really help their vision.
7. MidwayUSA — Leupold Mark 4 LR Tactical Scope, $649.99
⏺ 100 MOA elevation in SFP scope with 1/4 MOA clicks
Here’s a great value on a scope for long-range hunting or tactical use. The $649.99 sale price is $350 off the regular price — a 35% savings. This 4.5-14x56mm scope offers huge 100 MOA of elevation travel. NOTE: This is a Second Focal Plane optic so the reticle looks the same at all magnification levels. Many hunters prefer that as they use a LRF for rangefinding.
⏺ Very comprehensive set covers huge range of calibers
Successful and safe reloading requires knowing your base to ogive measurement. The AltitudeCraft Bullet Comparator Kit (#ad) allows you to get that key measurement for a huge range of bullet sizes. The AltitudeCraft bullet comparator kit has 14 precision inserts that fit a carrier that attaches easily to your calipers. This allows you to measure calibers from 0.17 to 0.45, so this one kit will cover the vast majority of popular rifle and pistol cartridge types.
9. Graf & Sons — Targets and Target Holders SALE
⏺ Wide selection of targets from 1″ to 12″ diameter
Do you get tired of shooting at standard targets? Check out the Targets and Target Holders at Graf’s. Both standard and splatter-target varieties are offered in a variety of sizes (diameters 1″ to 12″) and configurations. In addition you’ll find reactive targets, steel plates, spinners, and target holders all at attractive prices. Along with dozens of Birchwood Casey targets, there are also Caldwell and MTM targets.
10. Amazon — Hornady One Shot Case Lube, $19.99
⏺ One of the best spray-on case lubes available, now 33% off
Lubing brass before sizing can be a labor-intensive process. But with Hornady One Shot spray (#ad) you can do the job faster and easier. Clean and non-sticky, this lubricant is quick and easy to use. With Hornady One Shot spray you can lube an entire block of cases in one quick application. That saves considerable time when loading large quantities of ammunition.
As an Amazon affiliate, this site can earn revenues through sales commissions.
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Many notable shooters and YouTube hosts will appear at the 2024 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits being held in Dallas, Texas later this week. Among the many celebrity gun guys on hand are ace shooters Jerry Miculek and Max Michel, plus popular YouTube Content Creators 22 Plinkster, Hickok45, and Colion Noir.
If you will be attending the NRA Show in Dallas, make time on Saturday, May 18th to meet with one or more of these notable individuals. CLICK HERE for a full list of celebrities appearing during the NRA Show in Dallas. Most will appear on 5/18/24 at sponsor company booths in the Hutchinson Convention Center.
JERRY MICULEK
Smith & Wesson – Booth: 11956
Saturday, 5/18: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Jerry Miculek is an American professional speed and competition shooter on Team Smith & Wesson who holds over 100 national and world shooting titles, and multiple world records. Jerry is widely regarded as the one of the fastest shooters in the world, and the greatest wheelgun shooter in history.
MAX MICHEL
Galco Holsters – Booth: 8953
Saturday, 5/18: 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
This upcoming Saturday, champion professional shooter Max Michel will be available to meet with show attendees, sign photos (provided by Galco), and take pictures with fans. One of the fastest pistol shooters on the planet, Max is a leading competitive shooter, sponsored by SIG Sauer, Cabela’s, and Galco.
22PLINKSTER
The Kinetic Group- Booth: 8644
Saturday, 5/18: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
At booth #8644 on Saturday May 18th, YouTube host and trick shooter 22Plinkster will be in the CCI booth talking about shooting skills, amazing trick shots and how he fell in love with the world of rimfire shooting. 22Plinkster’s YouTube Channel, with 941,000 subscribers, is the most popular online video resource for rimfire firearms.
HICKOK45
Silencer Central – Booth: 10731
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Hickok45 is an avid firearms enthusiast with extensive knowledge of popular pistols, rifles, and shotguns. Hickok45’s hugely popular Youtube channel has 2700+ videos testing a huge variety of both contemporary and classic firearms. His comparison tests, shot on his own private shooting range, are very informative. His YouTube Channel now has 7.68 million subscribers!
COLION NOIR
Nosler – Booth: 9548
Saturday, 5/18: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
On Saturday you can meet Nosler Pro-Staffer Colion Noir, a well-known Second Amendment advocate. His very popular YouTube Channel, with 2.83 million subscribers, covers shooting sports, gun safety, and the importance of the Second Amendment. An attorney by trade, Noir provides valuable legal perspective to discussions related to the Second Amendment and has become a respected spokesperson for the shooting-sports community.
MAP for Hutchison Convention Center Area in Dallas
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We think all shooters should have a quality .22 LR rimfire pistol — something with a good trigger, ergonomic grip, and excellent accuracy out of the box. Right now, with the Walther P22 Target Model, you can get all those things for just $269.99 at CDNN Sports, a great deal.
Plus, if you order this pistol by June 30th, Walther will throw in 200 rounds of Federal .22 LR Punch ammo, which retails for $11/box of 50. This free ammunition deal is good for all Walther P22 .22 LR rimfire pistols. SEE FREE AMMO details.
So you save hundreds off the price of this nice pistol, plus get $44.00 worth of free ammo. That makes this one of the best rimfire handgun deals we’ve seen in a long time.
The P22 is a very nice rimfire handgun with a 5″ barrel plus a forward ported compensator. The ergonomic grip boasts an interchangeable backstrap. Walther states: “Best-in-class ergonomics, supported by interchangeable backstraps, establishes the P22 as one of the most comfortable handguns available today.” Compared to most other rimfire pistols in this class, the trigger is very good right out of the box with a light, crisp pull. We also like the ambidextrous controls. A rare feature for a rimfire, the P22 is covered by the Walther Legendary Lifetime Limited Warranty.
Video explains how to get 200 Rounds of Federal Punch .22 LR ammo when you purchase a new Walther P22 pistol or get 100 Rounds of Federal Punch .22 WMR ammo when you purchase a Walther WMP pistol during Walther’s Free Ammo Promotion running from May 1st through June 30th, 2024.
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Today’s Sunday GunDay story features Corbin Shell’s remarkable, record-setting .416 Barrett. With a 40″ Krieger barrel secured in a massive barrel block, this is definitely a big boomer!
Back in 2019, Forum member Corbin Shell set an Extreme Long Range (ELR) record. With no sighters or warm-up shots, Corbin put three (3) shots on a 36″ x 36″ steel plate at 2118 yards, establishing a Cold Bore ELR World Record (the best at the time). The range was verified with three rangefinders and the string was witnessed by 20+ shooters. In 2019 Applied Ballistics reported: “There is a new official ELR World Record. 2118 yards. 3 for 3 cold bore.” This was also recognized as a record by the FCSA (Fifty Caliber Shooting Association). NOTE: The ELR record has been bettered in more recent years, including a 2298-yard, 3-shot performance in 2020 by Randy Newton.*
This record was set at the ELR Southeast Shootout held at the Arena Training Facility in Blakely, Georgia, on March 2, 2019. The World Record attempt was made in compliance with all ELR Central Rules.
Corbin Shell (on right) stands next to Joe Burdick, match director. That’s three hits on 36″ x 36″ plate.
ELR Ain’t Cheap — $6.55 Cost per Shot
In 2019 Corbin told us: “Each round fired cost approximately $6.55. The breakdown is as follows: bullet $3.05, powder $0.80, primer $0.50, cartridge case $1.00 (based on five firings), barrel wear $1.20 per shot based on 1000 rounds of barrel life. Hitting steel at distance: PRICELESS!”
Editor’s NOTE: With the significant inflation we’ve seen in the past 5 years, with major increases in the cost of powder and primers, we bet today’s cost per shot would be closer to $9.00 per round fired with the same formula including barrel cost.
ELR Record .416 Barrett Rifle Components
Action: BAT .50 caliber EX, multi-flat, with hard coat finish, extra CheyTac bolt. Barrel: Krieger cut-rifled, .416 caliber, 40″ finish length, 1:9″ twist. Barrel Block: Doyle Anglin Dixie Gunworks, integral Picatinny rail. Muzzle Brake: Ryan Pierce 5-port magnum. Stock: Designed and fabricated by Doyle Anglin, Dixie Gunworks. Obeche laminate, Indian Blanket color scheme. 48″ long excluding butt hardware. Butt and Cheekpiece Hardware: Master Class/Alex Sitman, extended rods. Scope: Sightron SIII 6-24x50mm MOA reticle item #25127. 100 MOA elevation/windage. Bipod: Duplin Rifles by Clint Cooper. Weight: One pound, 2 ounces. Gunsmith: Rifle builder was Doyle Anglin, Dixie Gunworks, Winder, GA.
If you want to learn more about this record-setting rifle, Corbin has prepared a 6-page project history describing all the components and explaining how the rifle was constructed. This Build Document also contains a wealth of information about loading for the .416 Barrett cartridge.
Conditions During Record:
Corbin tells us: “This was shot in Blakely, Georgia at the Arena Training Facility in good Ole dense Southern air. Here are the atmospheric conditions when I shot: 70 degree temperature, 29.70-29.80 inches of mercury, 82% humidity, 1211 Density Altitude (DA).”
Corbin noted that the unique barrel block with rail helps with ELR Optics: “This custom-made barrel block is drilled length wise to reduce weight. It incorporates an integral Picatinny rail which… facilitates mounting of … the Tacom Charlie/Delta TARAC prism system, without the need to bridge mount.” Charlie/Delta TARAC units effectively offset the view that comes into the scope, providing up to 625 MOA elevation.
ELR Cold Bore Shot Record Rules
Congratulations to Corbin Shell for setting an ELR World Record in 2019. This record was shot under a very specific set of rules established by ELR Central and industry leaders. For more ELR record information, go to ELR Central Facebook Page. There you will see more recent ELR Record rifles.
* Prior to Corbin Shell’s performance with his monster .416 Barrett, David Tubb shot a 2200-yard, 3-shot group that has been recognized as a FCSA record. However, because David had made a same-day attempt, within minutes, with a different rifle, this did not comply with the ELR Central Rules. So, officially Corbin Shell was recognized as the ELR Central World Record Holder.
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