FRI | JULY 12, 2019

Velocity Outdoor announced the launch of the 2nd generation Benjamin Fortitude, the latest   generation of  pre-charged pneumatic air rifles for hunters and shooters, in .177 and .22 calibers.
The Redding Instant Indicator Comparator Tool is now available in the 6 mm Creedmoor cartridge and the 224 Valkyrie. The tool allows for quick and precise comparison to determine headspace.
The 100th Annual National Smallbore Rifle Championships are less than a week away, but there is still time to be a part of history. Wa-Ke’-De rifle range in Bristol, IN, will once again host the Championships from July 17-28.

Hornady congratulates the performance of Team Hornady shooter Robert Brantley, who didn’t shoot any sighters, and used the Hornady 4DOF solver for a clean second place finish at the King of the Two Mile in Raton, New Mexico.
On Monday, July 15, 2019, Buck Knives will participate in the third annual Made in America Product Showcase at the White House. The company plans to showcase American-made knives and cutlery during the event.
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. announced the new AR-556 Pistol chambered in .300 Blackout. It features a 10.50" cold hammer-forged barrel with a 1:7" twist and pistol-length gas system to reliably function with both the lightest supersonic hunting rounds and heavy, subsonic rounds.

Springfield Armory announced new M-LOK compatible SAINT rifles chambered in 5.56mm NATO. These SAINT rifles now feature slim M-LOK compatible handguards from Bravo Company, with an internal aluminum heat shield.
O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc. announced the appointment of Douglas Bell as company President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective immediately. As President and COO, Bell will have responsibility for all the company’s operating units, and will report directly to Chief Executive Officer, Iver Mossberg.
Lapua is proud to announce their second USA Lapua Rimfire Test Center at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio. The new Lapua Rimfire Test Center will offer competitive shooters and consumers alike the opportunity to match individual lots of Lapua ammunition to their match rifles and pistols.

On Monday, July 15, 2019, Buck Knives will participate in the third annual Made in America Product Showcase at the White House.
Champion announces the signing of competitive shooter Robert Brantley to Champion’s Ambassador/Shooting Team. He will represent Champion at shooting competitions, training sessions and community appearances.
Heckler & Koch Defense Inc. is gearing up to deliver between 5,000 and 6,000 complete rifle weapon systems to the US Amy, which plans to deploy them as M110A1 Squad Designated Marksman Rifles

B&T USA announces a partnership with Davidson’s, one of the largest firearms distributors in the United States. The relationship will ensure greater distribution of B&T’s line of firearms to dealers, both box store and independent, throughout the country.
The VHS 3.0 brings a reshaping/redesign of the harness straps, replacement of harness screws with a key-hole harness fastener attachment, and the addition of an innovative new tie-down system. Galco’s original Vertical Holster System was field-proven across the globe from Afghanistan to America.
RISE Armament, a premier manufacturer and supplier of AR triggers, components, and firearms, is proud to announce that several members of its competitive shooting team tallied impressive finishes in recent events.

The Regulator Muzzle Brake from Matador Arms has adjustable ports, allowing shooters to manage muzzle blast and recoil without tools or downtime. When open, gases are forced forward, away from the shooter.
Eagle Industries is celebrating its all-new eCommerce website with the launch of a new video series titled “Eagle : BEYOND.” The series focuses on four top-tier military personnel who are taking their experience and training to the next level in their post-service lives.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is pleased to announce that Magpul has once again signed on to be the Platinum Sponsor of NSSF’s annual Import/Export Conference. Magpul is an American manufacturer of firearms parts and accessories, primarily for the modern sporting rifle market.

 

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the owner of the annual trade-only Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show, is pleased to announce several changes to its sponsorship and exhibits sales team.

Honor Defense has developed a new concept in firearm retailing that provides the ultimate in differentiation. Honor Defense has developed a “Design Center” where consumers can design their own pistol in the store.
SIG SAUER, Inc. announced the expansion of the Small Parts Shopper to the SIG SAUER P320 and P226 pistols on the SIG SAUER Web Store at sigsauer.com. The SIG SAUER Small Parts Shopper is now available for the P365, P320, and P226 pistols and the MCX.
Doug Koenig’s Championship Season returns to Pursuit Channel for its ninth season. With a new format allowing two guns per stage, Doug double downs and turns up the heat at the 2019 Safariland Expedition Multi-gun match at the Vegas Pro Gun Club in Las Vegas.
 

FEATURE

It’s been a strange year. That goes for our weather pattern, the socio-political picture, personal issues and just ‘feeling.’ Change is the constant. It happens whether or not one does anything. Like the weather; if you don’t like it, stand still.

It’ll change.

Due to weather and other competing issues, I’d not been shooting as in years past. I have nearly nothing in for test & evaluation – not a terrible feeling – and just need to work on skills. I do have some texts I’m examining, a few involving shooting skills and giving me places to go and things to try.

But it gave me time to open the safe and get out guns that had been seeing no use recently. It’s summer and summer is a good time for 22s. These are all 22s.

I have a Smith & Wesson Model 617 converted to a 22LR/22 Mag by the wizards in the Performance Center in 2009. It wasn’t an easy conversion; I’d gotten the complete 22 Magnum cylinder from Gun Parts Corporation, but it was also a matter of reconfiguring the forcing cone. They did this, polished and remarked the left side of the barrel with the inscription “22 M.R.F. CTG.” The original cylinder is marked “L.R.” and the spare cylinder is marked “MAG” on the rear face.

The gun weighs in at 45 ounces, making this a very hefty K-frame and it’s just short of a foot long. Nifty it is and it’d be just fine as a 22 LR only gun. I packed it along with the early issue – actually received far in advance of its release to the public – S&W SW22 Victory.

The Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory was a gun I’d installed an after-market barrel – the Volquartsen carbon fiber THM tension barrel – and a red dot sight, the C-More RTS2 upon. I’d fired the gun before and the average of groups from a variety of rounds clustered about 1 ½” at 25 yards.

Finally, I added a Ruger 10/22 Takedown. I’m late to the 10/22 – it’s only been around since the 1960s and I’ve only taken an interest in the last several years. It’s an incredibly practical little rifle, very handy and one I’ve shot far too little.

The one I have is stock as a stove, stainless steel with black synthetic furniture, a gold bead on the front sight and an ‘adjustable’ rear sight further back on the barrel. Light and trim at just over 4 ½ pounds, its 18 ½” barrel gives the whole rifle a length overall of just over three feet. It was issued with a carry bag and came with a scope base adapter and a 10-round rotary magazine.

Part of the 10/22’s appeal is the vast after-market for furniture, barrels, triggers and other accessories as well as the amount of support gear available from ShopRuger.com.

I assembled a selection of bulk and promotional 22 ammo -- Federal Lightning, Remington Thunder Bolt and Golden Bullet as well as Federal Premium Hunter Match. I’d not confirmed the zero on the rifle in some time and just hadn’t shot either handgun in far too long.

A hot, humid morning saw me laboring over the 25 yard distance to try to get some groups going. I found that correcting the zero on the M617 was a chore, but the gun was so well-mannered that I didn’t mind working it down. In the hands of a real shooter, it would be a sub 1.5” 25 yard gun – assuming the right ammo.

The SW22 Victory was cheating with the C-More optic and Volquartsen barrel. The trigger, factory set, was just a joy.

Getting the rifle assembled, I’d just intended to see where it was hitting. I settled on 25 yards – no optic and I’m starting to get “the blur” where the front sight used to be. It was of no matter; after finding the natural point of aim, making 25 yard hits was too easy. Getting reacquainted with the rifle was the matter of moments that were all too short. It’s a rifle that’ll be seeing more use soon, I hope.

If you’ve not gotten some summertime 22 shooting in, do so. The summer will be over before you know it.

- - Rich Grassi

SHOOTING WIRE
Event Calendar

SEPTEMBER 6-8
NRA Personal Protection Expo

Ft. Worth Convention Center, Ft. Worth, TX

www.NRAPersonalProtectionExpo.com

 
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