Hornady Introduces the 6 mm ARC

From Hornady

Hornady is proud to introduce the new 6mm ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge). Recently tested, selected and fielded by a specialized group within the U.S. Department of Defense for its multipurpose combat rifle program, the 6 mm ARC is a truly versatile cartridge that maximizes the potential of the AR-15 platform. The consumer offerings will feature bullets selected to deliver ideal performance for hunting, match shooting and personal protection applications.

“The 6 mm ARC began with a simple question: What can we do with today’s technology to maximize the performance of the AR-15 platform?” Hornady Ballistician Jayden Quinlan said. “We subsequently modeled and tested a variety of designs in different calibers until we were able to produce the most flexible cartridge possible within the limits of the AR-15 system.”

This new cartridge delivers less felt recoil than larger short-action-based cartridges, yet takes full advantage of modern, heavy for caliber 6mm bullets that provide excellent accuracy and ballistic performance at extended range.

“The 6 mm ARC does much of what larger cartridges can and everything that smaller cartridges can’t,” Quinlan said.

The 6 mm ARC delivers substantially better ballistics than the 5.56 NATO with similar recoil and yet delivers comparable ballistics to the venerable 308 Winchester with 30% less weight on both weapons system and ammunition.

The 6mm ARC will be available in the following product lines:

More information can be found at Hornady.com/6mmARC.

CMMG has already rolled out rifles in the chambering, and so has San Tan Tactical and Lantac.

Finding the right cartridge for long distance can be a challenge, but the experts I interviewed provided some sound advice.

Savage Arms Renegauge Waterfowl

From Savage Arms

Waterfowl hunters face demanding conditions. Savage Arms has risen to this challenge with their new 12 gauge: Renegauge Waterfowl. This semi-automatic sets a new standard for the fit and function of a hunting shotgun and is finished in Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blades camo.

“The Renegauge Waterfowl is proof of Savage’s commitment to American sportsmen and women,” Jessica Treglia, Sr. Brand Manager at Savage Arms, said. “We’ve been working on the gun for several years, making sure every aspect worked efficiently and reliably. Wingshooters go through hell to get the perfect shot, and these new Savages will deliver.”

Renegauge Waterfowl has oversized controls that allow shooters to operate the gun efficiently, even with gloved hands. The shotgun has been tested under rigorous real-world hunting conditions and the action will cycle any shells from 3” Magnums to 2 ¾” target rounds. The D.R.I.V. system ensures excess gas vents before it drives the bolt, resulting in consistent ejection, less felt recoil, and a blistering cyclic rate for follow-up shots.

Renegauge Waterfowl’s stock allows for both large and small adjustments to the fit of the gun. The stock has interchangeable recoil pads and cheek risers. It also comes with shims that help fine-tune minute adjustments. There are 20 different ways that Renegauge can be set up, giving each individual shooter complete control over how they interact with the gun. The stock can even be adjusted to accommodate seasonal changes in clothing density.

With the addition of the Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blades camouflage, Renegauge Waterfowl isn’t easily seen, yet the gun’s exceptional reliability and adaptability make this a clear win for wingshooters.

Features

• D.R.I.V. gas system

• Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blades Camo

• Adjustable stock for length of pull, comb height, and drop & cast

• One-piece, chrome plated action bar assembly

• Chrome plated reciprocating components

• Stock rod buffer to reduce felt recoil

• Fluted barrel with Melonite finish

• Carbon steel ventilated rib with red fiberoptic sight

• Competition-ready easy loading magazine port

• Oversized controls

• 3 interchangeable flush mount choke tubes (Beretta/Benelli) – IC, M, F

• Hard-sided carrying case

MSRP: 1,549

Galco Holsters for the Beretta APX

From Galco

Galco has introduced a wide range of extremely popular holsters for the Beretta APX, including the belt holster Corvus, Switchback and TacSlide. Premium IWB designs from the company include the bestselling KingTuk series, Paragon, Summer Comfort and the new QuickTuk Cloud.

Popularly-priced Carry Lite IWBs from the firm include the Stow-N-Go and Tuck-N-Go 2.0. Galco also offers women’s holster handbags, the versatile Underwraps 2.0 belly band, day planners and ammo carriers for the Beretta APX.

With holsters in every price range and multiple carry methods, Galco can help outfit owners of the Beretta APX with the highest-quality American-made holsters and accessories. Visit Galco’s website today and see the complete line!

New Riflescope Leveling Tool from Fix It Sticks

From FMJ Marketing

Fix It Sticks, an innovator of modular firearms maintenance tools and torque limiters, has introduced a new riflescope leveling tool, the Scope Jack. This clever new tool simplifies one of the most critical steps to properly mounting a riflescope, leveling the reticle.

The Scope Jack eliminates the need for plumb bobs, levels, lights and other tools while quickly and effectively leveling the scope to the rail in a matter of seconds. Made for rifles utilizing two-piece scope rings, a single-piece Picatinny rail and a scope with a flat bottom turret housing, the Scope Jack is portable and easily fits into most Fix It Sticks tool kits and cases.

Long range shooters know a level reticle is critical for accuracy particularly at extended ranges. Unfortunately leveling the reticle can be time consuming and inconvenient. Using the Scope Jack is quick and foolproof. There are no additional leveling aids necessary and the firearm does not even have to be level or on a level surface. With the scope mounted in the scope rings but able to rotate, simply mount the Scope Jack to the Picatinny rail under the scope with the leveling bar under the flat-bottomed turret housing. Then with any 1/4-inch drive rotate and lift the leveling bar until it engages and levels the scope in the rings. One feature that sets the Scope Jack apart from other methods is user can maintain pressure on the scope while applying proper torque to the fasteners. This keeps the optic level throughout the process.

The new Scope Jack is lightweight and portable. When used with Fix It Stick torque limiters mounting a scope properly torqued and leveled is easy to do in a matter of minutes. Made from 6061 T-6 aluminum and hard coat anodized matted black, the Scope Jack weighs a mere 0.84 oz and is now available with an MSRP of $44.

Blackhawk Introduces New No Fail Video Series

From Blackhawk

Blackhawk, a leader in law enforcement and tactical gear for over 20 years, announced today that it has launched the first episode in its brand new No Fail series. In each episode, Blackhawk tells the story of elite men and women and how their own No Fail Mission shaped them to become the people they are today.  

Episode one of the No Fail series, takes the viewer through the life of former Navy SEAL and owner of Kennedy Defense, Travis Kennedy. Kennedy completed two combat deployments in Afghanistan, and in episode one he opens up about the courage and heroism he witnessed as a Special Operations Combat Medic—and the No Fail spirit that drove him to never back down, even in the most dangerous situations.

“We chose to partner with Travis because he simply possesses the main quality that Blackhawk searches for—a humble warrior,” said Blackhawk’s Kendell Palmquist. “The relationship between Blackhawk and Travis means everything for the brand. This relationship represents the dawn of a new era for Blackhawk. We’re going back to our roots of working with top-tier operators and building the best quality products on the market so that we can do our part to better serve this community with what they need to stay safe.”

The release of the film on May 18 will be followed by a series of No Fail Tactic videos, in which Kennedy demonstrates combat techniques learned during his years as an elite special operator. Blackhawk’s Instagram followers will also have the opportunity to win exclusive No Fail Kits, featuring the actual Blackhawk products used in the film.

“I wanted to provide people with a sense of hope and motivation especially when faced with chaotic and hard situations,” Kennedy said. “My story is one amongst millions that so many Americans like myself have experienced. I hope that whoever listens to this story will be able to takeaway one piece and apply it to their lives for the better.”

Kennedy, who is now an official Blackhawk ambassador, explains that the partnership was a natural fit.

“For me, it was about the excellent reputation they had on providing quality gear to the SEAL teams, as well as the Blackhawk team and vision they have,” he said. “I wanted to be a part of a company that stood for something and was backed by people with the utmost integrity and motivation. A company starts with the people who are running it, and Blackhawk is a company that is about their team and providing excellent and reliable products to those who need it most.”

To view the first episode of this new series, go to blackhawk.com/videos

Travel After COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place Orders

Many of us are itching to travel after COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders are lifted and summer arrives. The outing may be just a few hours away, but criminals know everyone’s dying for a well-deserved escape, they have plans of their own.

The FBI’s 2013 Uniform Crime Report estimated there were 1,928,465 burglaries across the nation that year, and 74 percent of the time they occurred in a residence. Total loss to homeowners was $4.5 billion, for an average of $2,322 per crime.  

Some firearms are included in those figures, but the numbers highlight shooters’ dedication to securing their collections. The assessed value of office-style equipment, television/stereos/gaming systems, household goods, food and liquor, clothing, jewelry and precious metals stolen that year all exceeded that of the guns reported missing.

Today’s enthusiasts use safes, trigger locks, vaults and alarms, but law enforcement agencies also recommend some common-sense tips that can enhance home security while you’re away. Here are a few from the pros. 

Lived In Look

Nearly every department recommends making your home look occupied while you’re away. Newspapers stacked on the lawn, overstuffed mailbox and deliveries on the front porch are an invitations for trouble, but there’s a modern twist.

Authorities in Memphis, TN, warn, “Never cancel general deliveries such as mail, milk, newspapers and other services when leaving town or on vacation. But, don’t let those newspaper deliveries pile up, either.” A trusted friend should collect the bills and look around the house closely, because one burglar in San Diego admitted he, “…might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.”

Timers on two lights and a radio inside indicate occupancy, but San Diego’s Police Department adds, “Leave the bathroom light on with the door ajar to add to the impression that someone may be home.” Automatic yard lighting at night and motion-sensing floodlights are a consensus safety tip. 

Law enforcement in Fort Lauderdale advises having a neighbor use your trash can helps sell the ruse. If you trust someone with a key, Minneapolis authorities recommend, “Leave your drapes in the normal position. Have a neighbor close them at night and open them at daylight, or use sheers.”

Cut the lawn before you leave. Ask a neighbor to park in your driveway and return the favor later. “Set the bell on your telephone on low,” Minneapolis adds. “A loudly ringing, unanswered phone is a sign no one is home.”  

Social No No

The San Diego Police advise, “Never announce your vacation plans on Facebook, My Space, Twitter, or other social networking sites.” Philadelphia cautions, “Many burglars use these sites to identify ‘safe’ targets,” adding, “…at the very least, keep your location status off any public social-networking pages.”

Added Precautions

Lock the garage door and padlock it on the track inside. Request work staff to be cautious with customer inquiries about your whereabouts. Some law enforcement agencies will also check on the house, including Laramie, WY, and Fort Smith, AR, so it’s worth asking.  

Safes

Early last year, The Economist asked Liberty Safe’s Brandon Payne how many safes it was selling a day. His answer was a staggering 500, each made-to-the-customer’s specification. Coupled with the growth of other major manufacturers, it’s obvious modern gun owners are serious about their responsibility and are eager to make the required investment. In fact, a November 2012 Department of Justice (DOJ) Crime Data Brief found gun thefts dropped by nearly 50 percent from 2005 and 2010, despite the fact FBI NICs checks increased from 8,952,945 to 14,409,616 during the same period. The DOJ website says, “Longer trends from 1994 to 2010 show a 49 percent decline in the total number of victimizations involving the theft of at least one firearm.”

Another San Diego burglar has a warning for smaller vault owners, though. “I won’t have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But, I’ll take it with me if it’s not bolted down.”

Know Before You Go

If you’re traveling with a firearm, it’s also your duty to know the regulations at your destination and any stops along the way. Visit the NRA/ILA web page for detailed information before you go, including state-by-state reciprocity.

Federal’s Terminal Ascent Bullets for Handloads

From Federal Premium

Federal PremiumTerminal Ascent component bullets deliver unprecedented performance for hunters who handload. The bullets’ bonded construction fuels deep penetration on close targets, while the patented Slipstream polymer tip initiates expansion on long-range targets. The bullets’ long, sleek profile offers an extremely high ballistic coefficient (BC), and its AccuChannel groove technology improves accuracy and minimizes drag. Now available in a full selection bullet weights and diameters for handloading the most popular long-range cartridges. Shipments of this product have begun to arrive at dealers.

Terminal Ascent’s solid copper shank and bonded lead core retain weight for deep penetration and energy dump, delivering extremely effective wound channels and terminal performance. A large hollow cavity in the bullet nose, along with exterior jacket skiving, further aid expansion and penetration. Serrations allow petals to peel back on contact at velocities as low as 1,400 fps—speeds typically seen 1,200 yards downrange in the 200-grain 30-caliber loads.

“Terminal Ascent features grooving along the shank to improve accuracy across a range of rifles, while decreasing barrel wear and fouling,” said Federal Centerfire Product Director Mike Holm. “However, unlike conventional grooving, the AccuChannel’s highly technical shape accomplishes these goals with only a minimal increase in drag. No other bullet has this grooving technology.”

The bullet’s Slipstream Tip features patent-pending hollow-core technology. A small cavity runs the length of the shank all the way up to just below the point itself. That point breaks free upon impact, allowing fluid to enter the hollow core, where it generates pressure and easy expansion, even at low velocities. The Slipstream Tip’s hollow core sets it apart from all other polymer tips on the market—but it’s also unique in its high resistance to the elevated temperatures a bullet experiences during flight.

“In addition to the AccuChannel and Slipstream Tip, our engineers incorporated other important features to boost BC, delivering flat trajectories and less wind drift,” said Holm. “The result of all these design elements is both close-range and long-range terminal performance with both accuracy and reliability. And with that ability to expand at the lowest velocity of 1,400 fps, the bullet is sure to be a hit with shooters using shorter-barrel rifles or hunting handguns.”

Features & Benefits

  • Match-grade long-range accuracy in a bonded hunting bullet
  • Extremely high ballistic coefficient
  • Exclusive Slipstream polymer tip helps flatten trajectories and initiate low-velocity expansion
  • Less wind drift and drop
  • AccuChannel groove technology minimizes drag
  • Copper shank and bonded lead core retain weight for deep penetration at any range

Part No. / Description / MSRP

PB264TA1 / 264 cal., 130-grain component bullet, .263 G7 BC, 50-count / $52.99

PB277TA1 / 270 cal., 136-grain component bullet, .247 G7 BC, 50-count / $52.99

PB284TA1 / 7mm 155-grain component bullet, .300 G7 BC, 50-count / $54.99

PB308TA1 / 308 cal., 175-grain component bullet, .258 G7 BC, 50-count / $54.99

PB308TA2 / 308 cal., 200-grain component bullet, .304 G7 BC, 50-count / $54.99

Federal ammunition can be found at dealers nationwide or purchased online direct from Federal. For more information on all products from Federal or to shop online, visit www.federalpremium.com

 

5.11 and Sig Sauer Team Up for Inside the Blue Line Documentary (video)

From SIG Sauer

5.11, Inc. and SIG SAUER, Inc. are pleased to announce the launch of Inside the Blue Line, an original content series that presents the reality and evolving demands on law enforcement today. In this series the Manchester, New Hampshire Police Department granted unprecedented access to a film crew from Ironclad Media to follow officers on the front line and into the line of duty.

“The goal of our project was to give the public a greater appreciation for life behind the badge today,” said 5.11’s Chief Marketing Officer Debra Radcliff. “Watching these officers in action and learning about the challenges they face was a life-changing experience. We are honored to bring their stories to life.”

The official series is now live at insideblueline.com, and will be launched across 5.11 and SIG SAUER social media next week at the commencement of National Police Week on Monday, May 11, 2020. Additionally, the Inside the Blue Line video series is part of a robust campaign 5.11 is launching to commemorate National Police Week. Next week, 5.11 will start to sell the Honoring Those Who Serve patch with proceeds from the sale being donated to The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

“We are honored and excited to have partnered with 5.11 and the Manchester Police Department on this project,” said Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer & Executive Vice President, Commercial Sales, SIG Sauer. “SIG Sauer and 5.11 are aligned in our core mission—to serve and support law enforcement and the defense community with our products—which unites us as brands. This was an extraordinary project, and in these unprecedented times, we have a heightened awareness for the sacrifices that are being made by the law enforcement community and thank them for their service.”

William R. “Bill” Quimby: 1936-2018

William R. “Bill” Quimby, Tucson Citizen outdoor columnist for 27 years and publications director of Safari Club International for 16, died on June 20. His parents, Raimon and Ellen, preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jean, daughter Stephanie Quimby-Greene and two grandchildren.

Quimby was born in Tucson, Ariz., on Sept. 30, 1936, and obtained a marketing degree from the University of Arizona. He later founded Arizona Outdoor News, but closed it after starting work for the Tucson Citizen in 1963. There he earned Arizona’s Conservation Communicator of the Year award in 1973, making him the youngest person at the time to win the honor. His noteworthy work at the state’s oldest newspaper included a series of articles on the loss of public land, overgrazing and rings of criminals stealing and selling native American artifacts, pothunters so serious about protecting their lucrative heists that they threatened him at gunpoint during his research. In 2007 he was inducted into the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame.

He was an accomplished marksman, winning a variety of long-range shooting competitions, but his real passion was hunting. Quimby is among the few to take all 10 of Arizona’s big-game species, with the last—a once-in-a-lifetime desert bighorn sheep—coming after he’d broken his arm during the hunt, had the cast set to allow him to make the shot and did so with one hand.

As Safari Club International’s publications director from 1983 to 1999, he edited and published bi-monthly Safari magazine, monthly Safari Times, multiple volumes of “SCI Record Book of Trophy Animals,” “SCI World Bowhunting Record Book” and many others. He received the Peter Hathaway Capstick Literary Award in 2003. From 1989 to 2012, he moderated the organization’s longest-running convention seminar, “Your First African Safari.”

Quimby’s adventurous life provided an unusual background readers enjoyed and an expertise upon which authors relied. Somehow between taking 60 big game animals on six continents, he managed to edit, author and co-author a number of books during his career, including “Sixty Years a Hunter,” “Divine Assistance, The Best and The Last of The Golden Age of International Big Game Hunting,” “The Heck With It I’m Going Hunting,” a series on the exploits of famed hunter C.J. McElroy and others. In 2007 he wrote, “Memories from Greer, Tales Told of a Unique Arizona Village,” providing an inside glimpse into the small city where he maintained a cabin hideaway in Arizona’s mountains.

He had a contagious enthusiasm for the outdoors, particularly hunting and its role in conserving renewable wildlife resources. In particular, Quimby seemed to savor the uncertainty of every outdoor trip, an affliction perhaps caught during one of his early big-game hunts in Canada. After a float plane ride to a remote camp to pursue caribou there, his native guide showed up hours late, inebriated, declared his intention to canoe off in search of firewood and disappeared—for days. Quimby made multiple attempts to find the missing local, took a caribou during one of those trips to eat and somehow alerted Mounties. After locating his body miles away and determining the man had drowned in a drunken stupor, authorities threatened to issue Quimby a citation for hunting without a guide. The lack of food in camp, a plane that didn’t plan on coming back for a week and little firewood to heat the wall tent forced them to reconsider, though.

Behind the scenes, Quimby was also a skilled mentor, eagerly teaching the editing, writing and publishing crafts to members of his staff. The first day I worked for him as editor in chief of Safari Times he showed me the obituary he prepared for himself and told me to sit down and write mine. He explained it’s something all good journalists do. I still have mine, but unfortunately am unable to locate his. I’m certain this version doesn’t do the same justice to Bill Quimby’s accomplishments as his would have, but hope it comes close.

So long friend. Thank you for everything you did. Your writing convinced thousands to experience the outdoors first hand—one reader at a time—and ultimately come to understand the critical role hunting plays in conservation. That knowledge will serve the resource well and, with luck, ensure it thrives for generations to come.

Mission First Tactical E2ARMD4 Compensator

Mission First Tactical has rolled out its first line of muzzle devices. There’s five in all, and I’m in the process of getting good pictures to accompany my reviews. The one you see here is the Mission First Tactical E2ARMD4 Compensator.

I’m OK with the rim lit, on black version I took of the company’s new E2ARMD1. It provides a ton of detail at a glance, but editors and readers like different looks and feels. Add the fact that there’s little/no room for text and it’s not a lead photo candidate.

Finding appropriate elements to include and create a different look, especially for small item is often a challenge, though. In this case I had something different I thought I’d try.

Sandlblasting Media

My driveway here in Raeford, NC, is terrible. Pine trees neglected years before I moved in have turned it into a crumbling roller coaster ride. The differences in elevation show on topo maps. Water and dirt form in chronic swamps and I cannot afford to have it redone.

Added to the malady is the fact that UPS, USPS and FedEx arrive nearly every day with new gear I need to test for magazines. That’s a good thing in regard to work, but it’s rough on ailing asphalt.

Every spare moment I can muster is spent on my hands and knees trying to patch and level. Yes, I know it’s a short-term solution, but the cosmetic improvement is temporarily therapeutic.

I read somewhere that one contractor always adds fine silica sand in a ratio of one to three pounds per gallon of asphalt sealer for commercial locations. Traction is improved and allegedly longevity increased.

The jury’s still out on the spots where I’ve applied the mixture, but it is shiny. Sparkly when the sun hits it just right, in the spring, once the flowers are in bloom and my knees no longer ache—or so I’m telling myself. Delivery people now know me as the twinkly driveway guy. When an item’s arrival is running late, simply apply asphalt sealer and like magic before it’s dry a truck shows up with the package and I’m asked, “Is that still wet?”

I had some 40-80 grit, black silica sandblasting media around the house and thought I’d give it a try. Let me know if you think it works. It’s dry, by the way and somewhat appropriate considering the precision in modern machining and polishing.

Focus Stacking

This single image is actually more than a dozen combined, using focus stacking. A small item like the Mission First Tactical E2ARMD4 Compensator with my 100 mm Canon Macro lens would be largely out of focus without the technique. Even stopping down the lens won’t pull it all in at an oblique angle.

You’ll notice the bokeh in back, though. While taking the images I didn’t focus all the way to the background to preserve that effect. Doing so is a balancing act, so if you give it a try, be patient.

Mission First Tactical E2ARMD4 Compensator

I haven’t mounted and tested any of the three versions I was shipped to test yet. Photos come first to avoid having to clean things up later for the camera. It’s a timesaving thing, and there’s this insane driveway project I’m in the middle of.

I can say, however, if the Mission First Tactical E2ARMD4 Compensator performs half as good as the great of the company’s gear, it will be awesome. I cannot recommend the company’s products enough.

 

 

 

 

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