Ballisticの August/September 2020 Precision の目次

Welcome to our third annual Ballistic Precision Edition. In the past year, we’ve learned that the precision-shooting scene is a locomotive that is only building steam. We have more involvement from shooters of all walks of life. We have shooters crossing disciplines to partake in precision shooting both casually and competitively. We’ve learned that the product development has only just begun and continues to bring new, and more importantly, useful products to the space. Technology continues to have a huge impact on precision shooting as well, and education and learning should never stop. This issue’s content echoes the above observations. We’ll show you how this space is growing with a look into the NRL .22, a competitive arena that welcomes all comers by allowing an open and affordable alternative to…

If you’re going to do it, do it right. It’s an old adage, but it only becomes more relevant as time passes. Firearm companies have more capabilities than ever before thanks to new design and manufacturing processes. Greater efficiency is possible as well. With this, it should mean a better product for the end user, right? Unfortunately even with today’s modernization, it’s not always the case. But fear not, for there is one rifle company that refuses to do anything less than to perfection. That company is Gunwerks. I was on record at least a year ago saying that I believed Gunwerks is the best all-around rifle company in the precision space right now. Everything the company turns out is top notch, with no holds barred to top-tier spec. It…

Photos By Sean Utley THE PRECISION RIFLE community is continually looking for improvements. This isn’t stock racing, this is formula cars and sports prototypes. Every piece of the rifle is picked over for added performance, decreased time during use, smoother function, lower recoil and better ballistics. Some brief history on the last 10 years of precision rifle matches is in order. Ten years ago, the 6.5 Creedmoor was the newest kid on the block, the 6.5s were starting to catch on and the .308 Winchester still made up a substantial amount of the field at every match. Today the .308 has its own class, the 6.5s are for those concerned about barrel life and the 6mm lineup is ever more crowded. Wildcats upon wildcats are more prevalent, and there seems to…

The Savage Axis has long symbolized exactly how much gun you could get for your money. For many years, hunters and target shooters have turned to this rifle line to merely enter a sport. However, quite often it becomes the only rifle they ever buy. While this has satisfied many casual gun owners, it left out the most discriminating demographic—the precision marksman. For the longest time, accuracy was determined by how much money you threw at the gun itself. Yet, that is simply not the case with today’s modern machinery and competitive marketplace. Understanding this metric, Savage packed every bit of accuracy it could into a $950 (MSRP) delivered package in the Axis II Precision. RIFLE DETAILS I first laid eyes on the Axis II Precision at the 2020 SHOT…

My day job is in the firearms industry, so naturally that leads me to several trade shows per year. To the average firearm buff, this sounds like a dream come true, and while it is, the shows tend to blend together after a certain point. Walking up and down the aisles, you don’t see much that stops you in your tracks. While attending a recent NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits, I had a “stop me in my tracks” moment when I came across the Christensen Arms Modern Precision Rifle. MODERN TO THE MAX The best adjective I can come up with for the rifle is “high tech.” The cheekpiece, handguard and barrel are all carbon fiber. The tight weave of the fibers catches the light just right, and it’s mesmerizing.…

There are two camps within the precision shooting space—shooters who run suppressors and shooters who run muzzle brakes. There are few that dabble in both camps because the stakes are high within the shooter’s mind. All want the lowest amount of recoil possible from their rifle, and muzzle brakes provide the best option in minimized recoil, there is no way around that. Suppressors are good for some recoil reduction, but it’s typically when compared to a rifle without a muzzle brake at all. After many years shooting suppressors on precision rifles, I still contend that suppressors don’t necessarily reduce recoil. I actually think they do a better job of convincing us that the recoil impulse is lessened because of the decrease in concussion. The lack of explosion and pressure waves…

No matter what advancements or trends might come in precision rifles, there are some types of rifles that will always hold an allure. Since the days of the release of the McMillan A5 stock when we were putting ultra-heavy barreled actions inside them, the tactical/military-style rifle has grabbed and held our attention. But why? Maybe it’s because we believe there is a specific reason for its existence, a mission, perhaps a moment of execution as precise as the rifle itself. Maybe it’s the beefy “get work done” appearance of the modern tactical rifle. All bolt-action rifles have the same core—a barreled action inside a stock or chassis right? But with the tactical rifle it always appears a bit more involved than that. The tactical rifle has changed almost across the board.…

With the popularity of precision rifles at an all-time high, opportunities to participate abound. You can focus on one of several sectors of the discipline to get your fix, but what if you want to go beyond just your casual shooting with friends, family or by yourself? This is where joining competitive factions can be fun and rewarding. There is an inherent issue involved with going down the path of increased involvement: increased cost. And if you’re looking to compete, it can quickly become an insanely expensive, not to mention time-consuming, endeavor. Alas, there might be an option that will let you explore your skill limits and be affordable and, dare I say, The National Rifle League is a not-for-profit organization created to serve the precision shooting community by helping…

One of the most fun things about long-range shooting is that the targets aren’t afraid to mock you. Stand on one end of the range and look across the terrain to distant steel plates. It’s almost as though you can feel the targets calling you out, “Here we are. What are you going to do about it?” As soon as I saw the home range for the Leupold Optics Academy (LOA) in Madras, Oregon, I was overtaken by this feeling of challenge and opportunity. Madras is in central Oregon where the terrain is high desert that could easily pass for any number of my favorite places in Wyoming, Colorado or several other mountain-west states. Hidden in a beautiful valley not too far from town is the home range of the…

“The object of this class is to get you to the point of making consistent hits on an MOA target at 1,000 yards.” Those were the opening words spoken by Don Fraley at the beginning of Advanced Weapons Technology’s Long Range Class held in downtown Russell, Kentucky. With his understated approach that embodied an “under-promise and over-deliver” mindset, little did I know how much I would actually learn during my next four days under the tutelage of the former Special Forces soldier, Kentucky State Police sniper and Carlos Hathcock’s Top Gun Award winner. In my part of the country, there are hills everywhere, so there’s not much call for long-distance shots. Consequently, most of my rifle shooting is kept within a couple hundred yards and is of a more practical/tactical…

Shooting past a mile is not something you can take lightly. It is called Extreme Long Range (ELR) and is the tip of the spear of rifle technology and rifleman skills. At this new shooting sport, the challenges you face while engaging your targets are more complex, more extreme and more frustrating, and many times ELR shooters miss more than they hit. I have been teaching snipers for decades, and since 2017 also teaching civilians at the Steyr Academy, and I am absolutely sure that just by following some simple steps based on proven techniques and paying close attention to details, every shooter can hit targets at very long distances. After some months, our advanced shooters will have mastered the marksmanship and ballistics, and be capable of coldbore hits at…

Before the advent of affordable rangefinders, range was determined using an instrument of measure, like the reticle in your optic. Given two “knowns” we can solve for the third (Algebra). The reticle provided one known, a mathematical scale. Given a known target size, you can then determine range. Some competitions require its use, and military units still practice it. Newer reticles can be used for holds (wind and elevation). Instead of dialing, you reference lines in the reticle—milliradians (mil) or minutes of angle (MOA). Good scopes are precise, even if you might not be. Using this method is fast and becoming popular in the military. Determine range, read the wind, hold in the scope and press the trigger. It works using this method out to 800 meters. You can also…

ULFHEDNAR GUNCOVER WITH BACKPACK STRAPS Ulfhednar is an equipment and clothing company based in Norway. Named after wolf-skin wearing Viking warriors of the past, the craftsmen there understand the importance of manufacturing high quality gear that can withstand harsh climates. Hard cases are good protection for precision rifles, but not generally appropriate for field use. That is where a product like the Guncover case comes into play. With four large exterior pockets, the shell is made from water-resistant Cordura. The interior is heavily padded, has straps to secure your rifle and is lined with a rubberized material that keeps the weather out and the contents from shifting within. The Molle system on the removable, padded waist belt gives you options for adding storage. (ulfhednar.no/opticsplanet.com) GUNWERKS REVIC EXO SIGHT In addition…

If you are at the least remotely interested in pursuing the precision-shooting lifestyle, you’re going to have to get comfortable with a couple of facts. Fact one: It’s going to cost you some money. There’s no way around it—shooting precision rifles takes your dollars and turns them into vaporware. Fact two: In order to feel like you’re getting something in return for all those dollars becoming dust, you’ll want to pursue knowledge. That way you can improve and feel better about your efforts. Online searches will take you to many different teachers, but one you might want to seek out with intention is a guy by the name of Phillip Velayo. He is without a doubt an impressive instructor, truly passionate about sharing the knowledge he’s garnered over many years…

There will always be an ongoing battle between bolt runners and gas gunners concerning which one is the most accurate, practical or best overall. This could come down to simply a matter of opinion, but facts always trump opinion, especially in precision shooting, right? Well maybe not. For instance, many of us adhere to the principle that a low standard deviation (SD) in a load that groups well will make it far superior in accuracy, especially at extended distances. That said, there are many knowledgeable shooters who don’t believe this and will fight you over it. They’ll say an SD of 15 or more is perfectly suitable for extended ranges. Let’s face it, when we think of tack-drivers, we often think of bolt-action rifles first. But truth is, if it…

On a couple of occasions in my career I’ve been part of large optics evaluations where many models of numerous makes of several sizes of optics have been present for evaluation under just about every illumination condition available. During my visit to the Leupold Optics Academy in the spring of 2019, we did a mini-session of such an evaluation one morning from pre-dawn through morning daylight. Several resolution-test boards with color-bar charts were arranged throughout the rifle range among steel and three-dimensional animal targets. These gave us consistent means of evaluating optics at varying distances as the light increased through the morning and would prove to be a useful tool in comparing scopes. Present were riflescopes ranging from value-priced models through several of the most expensive scopes on the market.…

As a quintessential precision rifle fanboy and evaluator, I often find myself in turmoil over the array of available products and how they best represent or fit into a shooter’s needs. Often, I feel there is a tiny shooter on one shoulder dressed in what represents an angelic theme. This shooter whispers sweet nothings into my electronic muffs and preaches the word of high-quality, top-tier rifle systems and accessories. “These are the best,” she sweetly sings. When questioned about price and affordability, the tiny being gently places her hand on my chin, making sure we are eye to eye, before she says, “Worry not, for it does not matter the cost, when you are getting exactly what you want.” She speaks a powerful truth. On the other shoulder is another…

Would I cause consternation, even disbelief, by stating one of the best-kept secrets in the way of precision rifles is of Italian origin from a company with a history of firearm craftsmanship stretching back hundreds of years. Before you leap to a conclusion, I am not referring to Beretta, but rather Sabatti. The current corporation that is the focus of this article officially opened its doors in 1960. However, Sabatti can trace its involvement in firearm design/production back 400-plus years. A review of both the company’s U.S. and Italian websites shows a diverse product line, including exquisitely made side-by-side African dangerous game rifles, semi-automatic .22 LRs, over/under shotguns, hunting bolt actions, competition/match precision rifles and, most recently, the Sabatti Tactical Rifle (STR) Overwatch tactical bolt action. Sabatti labels the Overwatch as…

A common misconception when buying a precision rifle off the shelf is that it is a turn-key affair, ready to mount an optic before ringing steel at multiple football fields away. That could not be further from the truth. As a precision shooter, your rifle should be an extension of your body. When all aspects are operating in unison, that’s where the magic happens. From the mystical one-hole, 100-yard, five-shot group to the unicorn silver-dollar grouping at a grand, it all starts with rifle setup and fitment. Obviously, there are other factors to consider, but this article is about fitting your rifle to your body. Before we dive into the how, let’s first understand the why and for what application we are applying this little nugget of information. This isn’t…

CHRISTENSEN ARMS RANGER 22 The Ranger 22 is a new .22 LR offering from Christensen Arms. It features an aluminum receiver with a steel recoil lug insert. It comes outfitted with a Christensen Arms CF barrel and a sub-MOA guarantee at 50 yards. The stock is made from carbon-fiber composite, helping keep the weight at 5.1 pounds. It also features a Remington 700-style trigger. (christensenarms.com) The .22 LR has always been an important rifle and caliber. Many new shooters learned on these platforms. Thanks to organizations like NRL22, the .22 LR is more significant than ever before, graduating from a fun pastime plinker to a serious competitive tool. Here are some rimfire offerings worth consideration. BERGARA BXR AND B-14 TRAINER Bergara has two models worthy of a look for .22…