- Part 2

Shooting Off a Bipod

There is a lot of talk on the Internet about proper bipod technique; but, I have never found anything definitive. Some use a hard hold, while some use free recoil, and others use something in between. I shoot F/TR class in NRA high-power matches. In these matches you shoot strings of 15 to 20 rounds at a 1 minute of angle ten ring and a ½ minute of angle X-ring. I have found it is very hard to be consistent over this many shots.

Since there has been no definitive article that I have found on proper bipod hold I decided to do my own testing. Continue reading Shooting Off a Bipod

Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR

Alliants new Power Pro 2000 MR gunpowder. Also, shown are Wolf Primers and Hornady 30 cal 178g Amax's

Alliant’s New Power Pro 2000 MR. Could this take the 308 to the next level?

There has been a lot of talk lately about a new powder designed for 308 sized cases that Alliant has come out with. It is Power Pro 2000 MR. The MR designation standing for medium rifle. The buzz about this powder has stemmed from Alliant posting some load data on their website for this powder in the 308 Winchester with 180 grain bullets.

The data from their website shows 48.5 grains of Power Pro 2000 pushing a 180 grain Federal Fusion bullet at 2760 fps out of a 24 inch barrel. Anyone that is familiar with 308 ballistics knows this is about 160 fps faster than traditional 180 grain bullet loads for a 308. Alliant claims this powder will propel bullets out of a 308 at about 150 to 200 fps faster than traditional 308 velocities. They claim this powder will allow the hand loader to obtain velocities that in the past were only obtainable with factory loaded hyper velocity ammunition and still stay within SAMMI maximum pressure limits.

I finally got my hands on some to try out a few days ago. I wanted Continue reading Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR

Bullet Casting

This Article is not meant to be a comprehensive experts guide to bullet casting. It is meant to be a good guide for the beginner who is just getting started. I have been casting lead for about 10 years now. I had an odd job through college that involved casting lead weights for weighted physical fitness training vests. I casted 2.5 lbs. lead bars by ladling molten lead alloy into large four cavity molds. I estimate that I have casted at least 500,000 lbs of lead. Enough to cast 14 million 250 grain 44 mag bullets. It was my experience casting bullets that helped me get the job. Continue reading Bullet Casting

Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14×40 SF – Scope Review

The Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14 side focus scope was introduced in 2005 along with a totally new line of Buckmaster series scopes. Since their introduction the Nikon Buckmaster has become known as one of the best values in middle priced rifle scopes. I bought one last year that has a BDC reticule, which has holding points built into the reticule to allow for holdover out to 500 yards on a standard caliber and 600 yards on a magnum caliber. I have been impressed with the scope since the day I received it. Continue reading

Reloading For Semi-Automatic Rifles

About two years a go I decided to get my first semi-automatic rifle; an M1 Garand from the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). While I was waiting for my rifle, I began researching what I was going to feed it. I had ordered some M2 ball from the CMP but I wanted to use the rifle to begin shooting NRA High-power Matches and needed better accuracy over what I could expect from surplus ammo. I wanted to hand load my own ammunition to gain an edge without paying for match grade factory ammo.

As I started my research I found a lot of, for lack of a better word, “wives tales” about reloading for an M1 or any automatic rifle for that matter. I began to think there was some kind of black magic involved in reloading for a Garand and was wondering if I could ever hand load for it without blowing myself up with a slam-fire or ruining the operating rod from using the wrong powder. I heard things such as not to use your brass more than three times, don’t use slow burning powder, and not to use bullets weighing more than 165 grains. There was some truth to these things; but, not enough to merit the paranoia I found people had about reloading for a Garand. Continue reading Reloading For Semi-Automatic Rifles