Tactical Shooters Compete at Ft. Benning 3-Gun Challenge

Some 220 competitors from across the country participated in the Third Annual Fort Benning Three-Gun Challenge. Held at Krilling Range from Nov. 30th through Dec. 2nd, this three-gun tactical match was hosted by the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit and supervised by the USAMU Action Shooting Team. The event was a major success, drawing many action shooting champions, with TV crews on hand to record the action. In the event, competitors used self-loading rifles (mostly AR types), semi-auto handguns, and shotguns. Most of the shotguns were self-loaders, using extended tubular magazines.

David Neth won the event, followed by Barry Dueck in second place and Kelly Neal in third. Neth, as well as two-thirds of the shooters, competed in “Tac Optics” division. There were 10 “Tac Irons” shooters, 33 in “Open Class” (including legendary Jerry Miculek), 15 in “Heavy Metal” (bigger calibers), and 7 in “Trooper” class. These classes correspond (for the most part) to the 3-gun categories under U.S. Practical Shooting Assn. (USPSA) Multi-Gun Rules

Three-gun competition is a relatively new development in USPSA competition. High on the “fun factor”, the sport has been growing rapidly. It combines the speed and target diversity of cowboy action shooting with the appeal of using modern magazine-fed firearms and shooter-friendly rifle optics. Three-gun matches also reward shooter fitness as most stages are “run and gun” involving movement from one shooting position to another. To succeed at three-gun, a shooter must be both fast and accurate. All stages are timed, and points are lost for every miss. Some stages can be accomplished without reloads, but other stages require reloads on the clock.

If there is one area where we think three-gunners will improve in the future, it is reloading. Stage times will fall as the competitors evolve more fluid reloads with less wasted motion, particularly with shotguns. Shown above is a video of Chris Tilley winning the “Patrol Boat” shotgun stage of this year’s Fort Benning event. Watch the video carefully. Right after the boat starts moving, you will see Chris do a multi-round tubular magazine reload. He stokes his scatter-gun in less than two seconds.

VIPs were in attendence, including NRA President John C. Sigler, Fort Benning Dep. Commanding General Col. Lloyd Miles, and Fort Benning Chief of Staff Col. David Ling. Three broadcast video teams covered the match: American Rifleman TV (Outdoor Channel), ShootingUSA TV (Outdoor Channel), and Extreme Marksman (History Channel). “Action Shooting is the fastest growing sport in America,” said USAMU Commander Lt. Col. Frank Muggeo. “Starting next year, Fort Campbell, KY., and Fort Bragg, NC, will also hold these types of events.”

ShootingUSA’s Gun Give-Away Contest

As part of its regular series of monthly contests, this month ShootingUSA.com will give away a new Smith & Wesson M&P 45acp semi-auto pistol to one of its readers. The M&P 45 has a Retail value of $679.00. All you have to do is fill out the Entry FORM on ShootingUSA’s website, and answer a simple question. (Hint the correct answer is in meters, not yards).

Tactical shooters will find plenty of good info on the ShootingUSA Website. Check out the Pro Tips section for training advice from some of America’s top shooters. Bill Davison of the TacPRO Shooting center offers advice on long-range rifle shooting and mildot ranging. You’ll find great tips on action pistol shooting from Nat’l Champ Doug Koenig and five members of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Team, including Steel Challenge Champ, K. C. Eusebio.

.408 CheyTac — Ultimate Long-Range Round?

The .408 CheyTac may well be the ultimate cartridge for long-range sniper use. It has better ballistics than a .338 Lapua, and, past 1000 yards, it retains more energy than even a 50 BMG round. That means a more effective hit… at ranges out to two miles. See the video below for a field test of the CheyTac.

For more information, read our review at TacShooter.com

Timney ‘Tactical’ Trigger for Rem-Style Actions

Some of our Forum readers, including folks in Australia, have had trouble sourcing the new Timney “Tactical” trigger. A nice product that adjusts from 4 to 10 ounces pull weight, this features a knurled Anschütz-style vertical trigger shoe that can adjust for angle (cant) and length of pull. The Timney Tactical trigger works with actions that employ a Remington-style trigger (slight fitting may be required).

Well guys, don’t fret, the Timney Tactical Trigger is in stock at MidwayUSA, priced at $104.99 (item #769137). You can also purchase it directly from TimneyTriggers.com for $134.95 (item #501T for Rem 700).

New 6.5 Creedmoor Cartridge from Hornady

Hornady has announced a new, 6.5mm cartridge designed for Across-the-Course and High Power shooters, and 3-gun competitors. (We think the new round may also prove very popular with hunters and tactical shooters.) Dubbed the 6.5 Creedmoor, the cartridge is smaller than a .260 Remington (.308-size case) but larger than the 6.5×47 Lapua. Measuring 1.920″ from base to mouth, 6.5 Creedmoor brass features a 30° shoulder and minimal body taper. Case capacity is “right around 53.0 grains of H20″ according to Hornady. The 6.5 Creedmoor uses a large rifle primer and large flash hole.

Hornady says its 6.5 Creedmoor is designed to operate at “standard” .308 Winchester pressures, for increased “barrel and case life”. The 6.5 Creedmoor factory ammo is loaded to “under 60,000 psi” according to Hornady engineers. That’s quite a bit less than the 62,000 psi SAAMI max pressure limit for the .308 Winchester, or the 63,090 rated max psi of the 6.5×47 Lapua. Compared to max-loaded 6XC or 6.5×47 cases, the lower-pressure 6.5 Creedmoor should, theoretically, provide good barrel life. Dennis DeMille, who has been testing the factory 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, reports that the factory ammo is “not on the ragged edge at all–pressures are ’sensible’, with excellent reliability as a result.”

6.5 Creedmoor Loaded Ammo Specifications

Bullet	COAL (max)	Powder	Grains	Primer	Velocity	PSI
120gr Amax	2.820″	H4350	43.5	LrgR	3020 fps	under 60,000
140gr Amax	2.820″	H4350	41.2	LrgR	2820 fps	under 60,000

The new cartridge looks speedy on paper. Hornady claims its factory-loaded 6.5 Creedmoor ammo will deliver 3,020 fps with the 120gr Amax and 2,820 fps with the 140gr Amax from a 28″ barrel. Those velocities are at the extreme high end of what we’ve seen a 6.5×47 Lapua deliver with 123gr and 139gr Scenars. In the 6.5×47, with handloads, it’s more realistic to expect 2950 fps with the 123-grainer, and about 2800 with the 139. Lapua’s factory-loaded 6.5×47 rounds are considerably slower. So, it appears the 6.5 Creedmoor will enjoy a slight velocity edge over 6.5×47 handloads, and a sizeable speed advantage over Lapua 6.5×47 factory ammo (with similar bullet weights).

BALLISTICS: 6.5 Creedmoor vs. .308 Win vs. .223 REM

Background of Cartridge
The new cartridge was conceptualized by Dave Emary, Hornady’s Senior Ballistician, and Dennis DeMille, General Manager of Creedmoor® Sports and two-time NRA National High Power Rifle Champion. Dave and Dennis wanted to provide factory-loaded ammo that would be 100% competitive with any High Power chambering, including the 6XC and 6.5×47 Lapua. The 6.5 Creedmoor was purpose-built for match rifles, including the Tubb 2000 and DPMS/Panther Arms LR Series. Its case is shorter than the 260 Remington, so you can load even the longest bullets into .308-Win length magazines. Pushing a 120gr Amax at 3000+ fps, the 6.5 Creedmoor offers a nice, flat trajectory plus good wind-bucking ability. Dennis Demille has used the prototype cartridge for many months now in a Tubb 2000 rifle. He says, the load is “moderate and very reliable. There have been no issues with stiff bolt lift or primer cratering.” The factory ammo runs “under 60,000 psi” according to Emary, and uses Hodgdon H4350 powder–43.5 grains with the 120 Amax and 41.2 grains with the 140 Amax.

Loaded 6.5 Creedmoor ammo is slated for release in January or February 2008 “at the latest”, according to Dave Emary. Ammo should be priced about $22 per box of 20 rounds, roughly the same as Hornady .308 Win match ammo. Brass, produced by Hornady in the USA, should be available by late spring. The new 120gr Amax bullet should be released very early next year.

DOWNLOAD 6.5 Creedmoor Illustrated Brochure

USAMU Team in 3-Gun Competition

If you want to see some serious “running and gunning”, check out this video of USAMU Squad members running a 3-gun course. Firarms used include 1911-based comp pistols, 12-gauge gas shotguns with extended mag tubes, and a variety of AR15-platform rifles and carbines. These guys shoot fast, AND accurately.

For more information on the Army Marksmanship Team, visit the USAMU Website. You’ll find more cool videos there.

Tikka 595 — “Poor Man’s Tactical”?

Think about the features you’d want in a bolt rifle for tactical/practical comps. How about a smooth-feeding, single-column 5-round detachable magazine? Fast, positive, side bolt release? Short, 70-degree bolt throw? Dove-tailed receiver top for secure, low-profile, and perfectly-aligned ring mounting? Smooth factory trigger adjustable to less than 2 pounds? Flat-bottomed receiver with integral recoil lug for secure bedding? Now how would you like to get all that for under $600.00? No, this isn’t a pipe dream. A late-model Tikka 595 offers all those features, plus respectable accuracy with a factory barrel. With the addition of a match-grade barrel, Tikka 595s can approach half-MOA accuracy.

Sadly, the Tikka 595 is no longer in production, but, with patience, you can find used examples on Gunbroker.com, AuctionArms.com, and at gunshows. These typically sell for around $500-600 for a bare rifle in a synthetic stock, but there are even better deals to be had if you shop around. Mac Tilton of MTGuns.com, just picked up a Tikka 7-08 for $350.00. The gun in the photos, a .308 Win with fluted barrel, recently sold for $650.00 on Gunbroker, including the Leupold 3-9X scope, rings, and four magazines. Sure, eventually you’d want to upgrade the optics, but the point is, for about the same cost as a trued Remington action, you can have a complete rifle that will get you in the game.

Tikka 595s come in a wide variety of calibers, with either .308 or .223 bolt faces. There are three sizes of magazines available–.223, 22-250, and .308-size. And get this — Tikka’s 22-250 magazines even feed 6BR cases reliably. Credit that to the single-stack design and short follower.

If the sporter-style stock isn’t “Tacti-cool” enough for you, Mac Tilton has bare Tikka Master Sporter stocks for sale. These nice walnut stocks offer a vertical pistol grip, deeper, stippled fore-end with rail, and an adjustable cheekpiece. McMillan and Robertson Composites also offer fiberglass stocks that can easily be adapted to the Tikka 595 action. You can find complete Tikka 595 Master Sporters for $850 and up, but the word is out, and prices are rising.

Updated PACT Infrared Chrono on Sale

Now that PACT offers an infrared Skyscreen option with its chronographs, we think the PACT is worthy of serious consideration. And now PACT is selling the PACT Professional XP chronograph (with IR kit) for $229.95, as a “Christmas Special”. That’s $40 off normal pricing and PACT throws in a FREE tripod to sweeten the deal.

Compared to other chronographs, the XP with infrared offers some very nice features:

Built-in Printer. (Every chrono should have one.)

PC interface for uploading data to your computer. (Serial cable standard, but you can easily buy a serial to USB adapter for use with laptops.)

Built-in ballistic computer. (The chrono has a bullet BC database and uses the BC, with your velocity data, to compute windage and elevation. Cool eh?)

With Infrared screen option, the PACT can be used indoors and is far less sensitive to tricky outdoor lighting.

Chron display unit has a nice big read-out with easy-to-use controls.

We’ve heard many good things about the competitive CED chronograph with Infrared Screens. The CED also offers a computer interface, and the CED control unit is more compact than the PACT’s control center/printer. But we really like the printing capability of the PACT, and its built-in ballistic program (with bullet database) comes in very handy. Once you have your velocity and zero at 100 yards, the PACT will calculate your come-ups for other yardages. It can even give you windage corrections. With the PACT, once you know your muzzle velocity, you can immediately start shooting at all ranges–you don’t need to drive home to work out your come-ups on the PC, or carry around a PDA with Exbal installed.

In addition to the Pro XP chrono with IR Kit, PACT is now selling Pro XP with standard (visible light) emitters, for $199.95 as part of the “Christmas Special.” This $199.95 price also includes a free tripod. We definitely recommend spending the extra 30 bucks for infrared capability–it’s well worth it.

World’s Fastest Shotgun–Winchester SX3

“Super X3″ — get used to that name, it’s synonomous with “superior rate of fire” in the shotgun game. In tactical competitions and 3-gun matches, rate of fire and accuracy are both keys to success. For years the recoil-operated Benelli M1 Super90 was considered the “ultimate” tactical shotgun because of its reliability, versatility, and rapid rate of fire. This editor has personally timed his Benelli M1 delivering 6 rounds in just under 1.5 seconds.

The Benelli is still a fantastic weapon, one favored by SWAT teams and tactical forces around the the world. But when it comes to sheer shotgunning speed, there is a new King of the Hill, and its name is Winchester. The Winchester Super X3, a gas-operated evolution of the popular Super X2, is now the undisputed rate-of-fire leader among scatterguns. Patrick Flanigan, a Winchester-sponsored pro shooter, has set a new benchmark for shotgun speed with his SX3. He fired 12 Win AA 12 gauge shells in 1.442 seconds, timed from first to last shot. Flanigan’s SX3 had no special mods other than an extended magazine. If you don’t believe it, watch the YouTube video.

Of course it takes exceptional skill to stay on target and pull the trigger 12 times in less than one and a half seconds, but Flanigan’s feat demonstrates the rapid-fire potential of the SX3. Consider this, 12 shells in 1.442 seconds is the equivalent of 499 rounds in 60 seconds. That’s close to the 550 round per minute rate of fire of the “Ma Deuce”, Browning M2 50-cal machine gun. Amazing!

Winchester does not yet offer the SX3 in “full tactical” trim like its co-hort, the Winchester Super X2 Practical Mark II. But given its performance, we know some “top guns” who will be fitting ghost rings and extended mag tubes to the SX3. Not only does the Super X3 have unrivaled firepower, but it offers relatively soft recoil due to its advanced “active valve” gas venting design. The SX3 also employs a back-bored barrel design for tighter patterns. For more info, visit Winchester Guns.

Manners T4 Tactical Stocks — Strong and Light.

Manners Stocks has released its new “T4″ series of tactical stocks. The new design features flats on the bottom of the fore-end and buttstock so the stock performs well from sandbag rests as well as from bipod. With outer shells composed of 35% aircraft-grade carbon fiber and 65% fiberglass, the Manners T4/T4A stocks are very light and very stiff. The T4 weighs just 2.7 pounds, while the T4A (with adjustable checkpiece) is 4.1 pounds.

Tom Manners tells us: “The T4A comes standard with an adjustable cheek using Terry Cross’s hardware. Both the T4 and T4A come standard with a fixed 1″ Pachmyer Decelerator pad. They can also be ordered with the optional butt spacer system and a Decel pad. The fore-end is about 2.50″ wide and will take barrels up to 1.350″ in diameter. The sides and bottom of the fore-end and the bottom of the butt behind the hook are parallel with the bore. This allows the stock to ride very straight and true if you want to use bags. We lengthened the pistol grip about 1/4″ longer compared to the Manners T2 stock.”

Manners stocks are built to a very high standard compared to most fiberglass stocks on the market. The geometry is consistent and the shells are free from voids and flaws. Manners stocks are all hand-laid with high-temp epoxy resins, placed under a vacuum, and heat cured for optimal resin to fabric weight ratio. Standard configuration stocks come fullly-inletted with a pillar set ready to install at time of bedding. Tactical stocks come painted with a durable, polyurethane enamel in black, OD green, coyote brown, dessert tan, or sand. A variety of camouflage patterns from Larson Tactical are also available at extra cost. The T4 costs $425.00, while the T4A (with Terry Cross adjustable cheek hardware) is $595.00.

Jason Slams Steel with 6.5×47 at ASC

Zak Smith isn’t the only kid on the block with a new 6.5×47 Lapua tactical rifle. Our 1K editor, Jason Baney, has built his own 6.5×47 tactical rig. It has a trued Rem 700 action, Krieger 8.5 twist 25″ barrel, AI CS detachable box magazine (DBM), Badger bottom metal, and a custom U.S. Optics 3.8-22×44 SN3 scope with a EREK elevation turret, MDMOA reticle, and left-handed windage knob. Even with limited load-testing time, Jason quickly found a tack-driving 2960 fps load with Lapua Scenar 123s and Reloader 15.

With that load, Jason recently competed in the Allegheny Sniper Challenge (ASC). Jason placed first in his squad, out-scoring some past and present military snipers. Jason said the load and gun performed flawlessly: “If I could hold it… the gun could hit it. No magazine issues whatsoever. This round is good to go in a mag-feeder.”

Click the above photo to see a VIDEO showing Jason hitting multiple metal targets in a timed, rapid-fire sequence at ASC. Note how much JB has to swing the rifle around and adjust for angle and elevation changes. In this stage, Jason had to engage seven targets from 200 to 600 yards, starting at 350, then moving out to 600 and back to 200. Jason says: “There was a 20 mph full-value crosswind running and we weren’t allowed to touch the scope. That’s a serious hold-off.” Jason was one of the few ASC shooters to “clean” this stage, hitting all targets. Running a tac gun in ASC is a far cry from shooting free recoil from the bench–something which Jason does pretty darn well too. But Jason says: “BR, Tactical, Varminting–They’re all about accuracy and they’re all fun.”

In the weeks ahead, when he’s not involved in Williamsport 1000-yard BR matches, Jason will be working up loads for this rifle, and a new 6mm/6.5mmx47 switch-barrel project gun AccurateShooter.com is developing. His next experiment is to try H4350 with the Berger 130s in the 6.5×47 Lapua. Reloader 15 shot bugholes with the 130s, but Jason felt that ambient temps affected his velocities too much.

Here’s a “glamour shot” of Jason’s 6.5×47 rifle in McMillan A5 stock, smithed by GA Precision. Click for BIG PHOTO.