Innholdsfortegnelse for August/September 2021 i Ballistic

Here we are with Ballistic’s fourth “Precision” edition, and the discipline of long-range precision shooting hasn’t even hit its peak. It simply continues to grow in popularity. As you’ll notice from our main cover (our subscribers cover got the gear-only treatment), we spent some quality time with former SEAL sniper and trainer Charlie Melton, who trained some of our most elite snipers in the War on Terror. Beginning on page 36, Charlie walks us through an abbreviated training session, helps us to shoot a mile and master moving targets, then sits down with us and chops it up in a revealing exclusive interview. Be sure to visit ballisticmag.com for companion video content. There is still much to unpack from the precision trunk of knowledge, and you’ll find out just how…

There is usually a right and wrong way to approach a new hobby, or in this case, discipline. I am not saying there is an absolute right, but there are more effective and efficient ways to approach such an undertaking. Good equipment and training can take out the doubt so that you are the most effective you can be. At that point, your own personal inability will be the only thing holding you back “BUILDING A GREAT BOLT GUN TAKES A LOT MORE TIME AND THOUGHT THAN PIECING TOGETHER AN AR-15.” Let’s talk about my background. I am a fairly new shooter; a year to be exact. My father was LAPD so I grew up helping him reload in the garage. I started out training heavily with handguns until May…

1. NIGHTFORCE TS-82: The TS-82 Xtreme High Definition is Nightforce’s top-dog optic and features an aluminum body, large precision and easy to use focus ring, and 82mm objective with razor-sharp resolution. This premium optic sports a premium price tag of $3,000. (nightforceoptics.com) 2. VORTEX VIPER HD: Shooters have come to know that Vortex will always bring incredible performance and a great value. The Viper HD 20-60x85 angled does just that with a price tag of $1,350. It has an HD optical system and other premium level features. It’s also built tough to handle hard use and the elements. (vortexoptics.com) 3. TRACT TORIC: Last year Tract introduced the Toric UHD 30x80 angled spotting scope. It features a 27-55 magnification range, SCHOTT HT glass and an ED lens. The Toric is a…

There are no layups in elk hunting. Sure, there’ll always be stories of that mythical hunter who steps out of the truck into the sunshine and drops an imperial bull elk on flat ground at 100 yards, but in that case, the exception proves the rule. For all the other mortals of the field, winds shift, snow falls, daylight fades or comes too late, and other hunters or predators wander through near-perfect scenarios just before a shot is available. And that’s if the elk, usually the cows, don’t outsmart you in the first place. But if hunting the majestic Rocky Mountain elk were not challenging, the pursuit would fail to be special. That said, having a rifle that can not only accurately deliver an ethically chosen lethal shot on a…

The hunter didn’t have far to go. He took a seat on his back porch steps in the predawn blackness. A cup of steamy coffee sat on the top step beside him to his right and a new .22 rifle to his left. As the moments ticked by, one, followed by two, and then three green walnuts met their demise as hungry bushytails’ staccato gnawing rained shards of walnut husks and shells through the overhead leaves in the nearby woods that began mere feet from the back steps. Moonless, pitch blackness finally surrendered. Cup empty, the hunter hefted the rifle and slid the bolt closed, chambering a round. A quick glance back over his shoulder, he smiled at the two fogged spots on the back door’s lower glass. Two Labrador…

When we sit around the fire, many times the conversation turns to guns, and, more specifically, rifles. The discussion centers around what each person would consider a great rifle. The criteria vary but usually center around the gun being lightweight, easy shooting, accurate and affordable. We’re not asking too much, are we? Recently, we have come to the conclusion that the team over at Browning was somehow listening in on our fireside chat and created the X-Bolt Max LR. You would be hard pressed to find a serious shooter that did not have a special place in their heart for Browning. The X-Bolt Max LR is the perfect bridge between the target shooting and hunting world. This rifle meets all our criteria with flying colors. In fact, Browning has gone…

Cost will always be a consideration if not a limitation for many who want to wade into the satisfying and sometimes murky waters of precision-everything. Actions, barrels, optics, bipods, ammo, training, matches, reloading components—it all adds up quickly and even at bargain prices, the sum total can cause sticker shock. While we feature a ton of higher priced products we are sensitive to this, and so is Sharps Bros. You may know them for their AR lowers that broke the status quo by featuring unique magwell designs with skulls, warriors and other unique bits. Soon you may know them for their bolt action products if this keeps up. Their Heatseeker chassis allows you to upgrade your factory (if not custom) rifle from its OEM stock configuration. In other words it’s…

KADRETM GLOVE $49* Built from a lightweight and breathable mesh and outfitted with a high-dexterity Ax Laredo palm, the Kadre gloves are fit for rough duty. The backhand features an integrated bump knuckle, while the uniquely patterned palm provides an unrivaled grip for pistol and rifle use. *INCLUDES MORALPHABETTM HOOK & LOOP LETTER PACK WARTORNTM VENTED GLOVE $35 The Wartorn Vented glove features a full perforated Coolskin™ material engineered for both durability and breathability. The stretch polyester backhand provides excellent fit, while an armored TPR knuckle provides coverage from things that go bump in the night. LEOTM VENTED DUTY GLOVE $35-39 Built for going hot, the LEO Vented Duty glove uses engineered laser perforation to reduce heat. In addition, a reinforced thumb valley reduces potential slide bite from pistols. The…

Tin America isn’t really as long as one might think, especially when couched in terms of its popularity as a hunting rifle. Since we have to start somewhere, I don’t think I’d get much argument when I say it started with the U. S. Army’s adoption of the M1903 Springfield. While it’s true that the Krag-Jorgensen chambered in .30-40 Krag had served as the U. S. martial arm since 1893 and was indeed a bolt action centerfire rifle, its magazine system was too weird to be representative of what we came to envision as the archetypal bolt-action rifle. THE EARLY DAYS To say the ’03 Springfield was heavily influenced by the Mauser would be an understatement, so much so that our government paid about $3 million to the Mauser people…

The Sharps Bros. Heatseeker for the Ruger American Short Action (calibers: 308 WIN, 6.5 Creedmoor) allows you to easily upgrade the traditional factory riflfle stock for improved versatility and a sleek, modern appearance. This 1lb, 3-ounce chassis is machined from billet (solid block) high-strength 6061-T6 aluminum and includes a 10 ounce, 14” handguard cut from a unique extrusion shape exclusive to Sharps Bros. Both the chassis body and handguard are finished in amatte black Cerakote. The handguard featuresMLOK slots on 4 sides for various attachment options (light, bipod, night vision, ARCA rail) and two quick disconnect fittings per side for sling attachments. Heatseeker’s standard AR15 grip interface is compatible with AR15 pistol grips, and the AR buffer interface allows you to further customize your riflfle with your preferred AR15 type…

ALWAYS GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. There are many incredible shooters out there, precision focused or otherwise. That being the case, there are a few that transcend the ranks in the shooting world. This happens not because they are specially gifted—a prodigy so to speak—but because of the experience they possess, typically garnered from hard work, hard knocks and refusing to quit. Charlie Melton is “one of those”—the few who have truly been through the gauntlet, executed, experienced, learned from and adapted to the situations and elements that many of us train for but will likely, and thankfully so, never face. Experienced is one word you could use to describe Charlie Melton, but that drops a veil of understatement over him and is almost insulting if not demeaning. Charlie…

AS A LONG-TIME 6.5MM FAN, the 6.5 PRC has always had some interest. Over the years, I have used the 6.5-284 Norma, .260 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor and a few others. Both the .260 Rem. and 6.5 Creedmoor remain favorites, and I’ve taken them to their ballistic limits. Having reached a mile with both, I can attest that it is a stretch and very difficult with factory ammunition. Even 1,300 to 1,500 yards is a bit of a chore, although possible. As the 6.5 SAUM became popular among PRS (Precision Rifles Series) shooters on longer courses, it started to pique my interest. Many were using it for long-range matches, especially where substantial wind was present. That fact that it was hard hitting using proven bullets for larger game at longer ranges…

How much should a good precision rifle cost? This inquiry comes around more frequently than a bad case of the farts on Taco Tuesday. It’s also a question that brings angst as I attempt to reply. Why? Because I don’t actually know how much a good precision rifle should cost. Seriously. I don’t know how much material costs. I have no idea about a particular company’s manufacturing costs—how much time it takes to effectively turn out a rifle while paying their bills, their employees and then turning a profit so that they can continue to operate. The better question is what are your expectations from a good precision rifle? And, we must get closer to matching the term “good” to actual end-user performance and ability. Somewhere in the back of…

With 2020 welcoming more new gun owners than ever before, we thought it would be a good idea to introduce two new offerings from revered rifle maker Savage while at the same time getting across the point that a target rifle and a hunting rifle are two very different pieces of equipment. This notion resonates deeply with me, as I cover this information several times a year within the first hour of the Basic Rifle Course at Renaissance Firearms Instruction. Truth be told, I was never properly informed on what designated one best for hunting and one best for target shooting, and until I put in a little research on the subject, I made a bad purchase or two. After all, they both shoot bullets, so why can’t both be…

SO MUCH OF WHAT WE FOCUS ON IN THE PRECISION REALM IS PERFORMANCE AND HOW TO IMPROVE IT. Shoot smaller groups, shoot farther distances, increase our consistency, find more stability, etc. It’s always about moving forward and helping ourselves to new levels. But, I believe there is one particular portion in precision shooting that we are not improving in. In fact, we are going backward, and to our own detriment. This is a fact, not an opinion. Our insistence on shooting these high-performing rifles unsuppressed (especially with muzzle brakes) is harming us. New data from credible studies show the negative effects that concussive impulses have on people, affecting cognitive function both long and short term. At higher levels these effects are permanent, while at lower levels the cumulative exposure yields…

How many times have you sworn to yourself that “on the next rifle,” you’re going to keep a log book with all the information that you collect? If you’re like me, then you’ve said it numerous times. Even if it’s not a new rifle, you might suddenly realize the importance of keeping up with the round count on the barrel, ammo and load data, and accuracy info. If you are more tech savvy, though, you have a better chance of collecting and keeping oodles of complex data with the Reactor Fusion module. This unit can replace the data log book for most precision shooters. REACTOR TIME The Fusion module is a small device featuring an accelerometer and GPS unit inside. Coupled with the Reactor app that you download, it gives…

The ultimate in custom AR receivers: Sharps Bros. Featured here are the The Jack, Hellbreaker, Livewire and Overthrow from Sharps Bros. All four receivers have aggressive looks, incredible craftsmanship, and details only found on high-end receivers. FEATURES INCLUDE: • Oversized integral trigger guards and beveled magazine flflares• A hard coat anodize finish per MIL-A-8625, the anodizing model for most military and aerospace products• Full compatibility with all mil-spec internal parts, aftermarket mil-spec upper receivers, PMags, Hexmag and other standard capacity magazines• Multi-caliber mark AVAILABLE AT WWW.SHARPSBROS.COM…

Most long-range and extreme long-range rifle shots have a very low percentage of accurate first-round impacts. Spotting is the skill set that could determine a successful hunt, saving a life or winning a gold medal on game day. Even if you have the most accurate rifle in the world combined with the best shooter in the world, you still need to be able to identify where the bullets impact to make corrections for an accurate follow-up shot if needed. Spotting is the most underrated skill in extreme long-range shooting, in my opinion. We use spotting skills in long-range hunting, competitive shooting, law enforcement, military and recreational shooting. Regardless of what discipline you’re involved in and what gear you’re using, the skill set and approach should be the same. You want…

IT hard to believe how quickly time zips by. It’s been four years since Vudoo launched the highly sought after, addictive V-22 action, allowing hardened precision shooters the opportunity to build and have a rifle chambered in .22 LR, and yet be compatible from a training aspect with whatever their current centerfire rifle is. The action lets you attach barrels of all profiles and lengths, drop it into a Remington 700-compatible chassis or stock of your choice and hit the range. The magazine was also dimensionally equivalent to the AICS pattern to maintain functional likeness as well. It only lacked the full length of throw of a centerfire bolt action. The action was heavy, too, made from steel and robust as can be, and you could also dry fire it…

The assembly line revolutionized the way we make stuff. Distilled to its essence, Henry Ford said you could accumulate a bunch of identical parts, formulate an efficient process and manufacture lots of very similar copies of very similar items at very reasonable cost. Old Henry quite literally changed the world. Henry Ford is the reason a typical American family can afford a Nissan Altima, a Ruger 10/22 has an MSRP of $309 and McDonalds throws in Happy Meal toys for free. Without Ford, there could be no Walmart. However, even this deep into the Information Age, if you want to own something truly exceptional, something reflective of your personality and character, something that will reliably perform shot after shot with breathtaking precision, that something still needs to be crafted by…

Primary Weapons Systems certainly needs no introduction. The team over at PWS, led by Dean Sylvester, have innovated their way to the top of many a firearm owner’s wish list. Imagine an insanely reliable gas piston-operated rifle mated to an equally accurate long-distance capable rifle. This is the quintessential definition of a desirable Designated Marksman’s Rifle (DMR). I’m hesitant to throw the overused “sniper rifle” term around, as that horse has been beaten to death. However, if you are looking for something worthy of that title, but that will also bag that trophy elk or buck, then perhaps your search is over. MEET THE BEAST The PWS MK218 MOD 1-M is truly a rifle all in its own class. This is due to the legendary three-position, long-stroke gas piston that…

Today there exists an ocean of parts and accessories, and the rifle has gone from custom to custom-ish if not “personalized,” mainly because custom work has mostly gone by the wayside as individuals often order barreled actions, then slap them into a chassis. With so much emphasis on barrels and actions—and rightfully so—it’s coming to light that the chassis might be an afterthought for many when, in fact, as I interact with a larger variety of complete rifles, I’m more and more convinced that the chassis (or stock) is equally important. Why? Consider this: The barreled action doesn’t need anything else in the rifle build to complete its duties. If you secure the action into some sort of mount or sled, which many ammo manufacturers do, you can fire it…

Competition is fierce amongst the manufacturers within the precision shooting circle. Never before has the consumer been front and center to so much development and so many product releases. The floodgates of new options and accessories have been opened whether it’s chassis, bipods and, of course, optics. Here are some optics worth a look. 1. LEUPOLD Leupold released the Mk5 HD roughly three years ago. And in an effort to bring an advantage to the shooter, they released a new reticle, the CCH. It’s a Christmas tree-type reticle featuring .25 Mil markers instead of the more common .20. It also featured moving target hold, but was pretty busy and received mixed reviews. Now they have the PR2. The PR2 reticle is a clean reticle, still featuring the .25 Mil subtensions.…