Archive for the 'Ammunition' Category

Thanks for the fine and informative video Tim, and no, I don’t underestimate the .22 WMR. In fact, I love that round and think it’s very special. I especially like the chronograph data from different length barrels.

And reading the comments forced me to go back and look at the CZ models again. I knew they had some sweet .22 WMR rifles, but I think I see CZ 457 Hunter Veil in my future.

BLUF: 6.5 Creedmoor.

It’s nice to see the 7mm PRC up and coming, although my single complaint about this cartridge after having shot it is that you don’t have the ammunition selection – yet. Nosler, Hornady, and Federal make it.

There are a whole lot of unanswered questions. The reason for this is obvious: something foul is afoot. I don’t claim to know who took the shot, or from what angle, or with what caliber weapon, or for what reason.

But here are the things I know with an extremely high degree of certainty. Charlie Kirk was not shot with a 30-06 rifle. His head would have been decapitated from his body if he had been. If you follow my X account you would know I have said this from the beginning. My belief hasn’t changed. The deer you’re getting ready to shoot this fall wouldn’t survive your high powered rifle shots (30-06, 300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm PRC) if they were wearing AR500 armor plates.

Here is something else I know with a high degree of certainty. That kid whom they blamed didn’t take down a rifle, stow parts of it in a backpack (that by the way wouldn’t be able to fully enclose the parts anyway), reconfigure it on any building, change his clothes, take a shot, disassemble the rifle again and stow it in a backpack, and drop in anywhere.

Here is something I know with probable certainty (by that I mean more probable than not). That kid they’re blaming didn’t take the kill shot. He may have played a role in some part of the events of that day, up to and including being a scapegoat or patsy, but he didn’t kill Charlie Kirk. I also know with probably certainty that there is no medium in the body in the vicinity in which he was shot that would cause a deflection away from a close exit.

Someone else did. I have absolutely no confidence whatsoever that we will ever know the truth. But if I were on a jury, with the current narrative (the kid shot Charlie with a 30-06 round and the bullet didn’t leave the body, i.e., there was no exit wound, rather, the bullet stopped just under his skin), I would never convict him. It’s sinful to convict men of crimes because you don’t like them.

These videos came out several months ago. Unfortunately, the first one can’t be embedded, only linked. The second one is below.

First Video on .444 Marlin

Outdoor Life.

The sky-high cost of ammunition during the Covid pandemic shortages have mercifully declined. While ammunition probably feels a lot more expensive than it used to, many prices really have dropped from the all-time, eye-popping peak during the ammo shortage in 2021 and 2022.

That’s the good news. The bad news, as most hunters and shooters have already noticed, is that ammo remains pricier than we’re used to paying. That’s for a few reasons. First, the price of raw materials to make ammunition have generally increased. We’re also several years into a global propellant shortage. While tariffs haven’t yet contributed to high prices for most American-made ammo, they’ve caused price spikes in some segments of the market.

The war in Ukraine has had an awful effect on powder availability and pricing. I don’t expect this to go away. Plan accordingly. Actually, I planned a long time ago.

Task & Purpose.

An Army infantry officer has made a series of criticisms of the Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon rifle, which is meant to replace the M4A1 carbine.

The Army introduced the XM7 rifle and XM250 light machine gun — both of which chamber a 6.8mm round — partly due to concerns that modern body armor could stop the 5.56mm rounds fired by the M4A1 and M249. The bigger round is also meant to give the XM7 an increased range based on lessons from Afghanistan.

But Army Capt. Braden Trent presented his research into the XM7 at the Modern Day Marine exhibition in Washington, D.C. — research he claims shows that the rifle is inferior to the M4A1.

As part of his research, Trent said he visited the 1st Brigade Combat Team “Bastogne,” 101st Airborne Division, which was the first active-duty Army unit to receive the XM7. Trent said he interviewed more than 150 soldiers and disassembled 23 XM7 rifles.

His 52-page report on the subject, which included testing with experts, ballistic research, and input from soldiers, concluded that the XM7 is “unfit for use as a modern service rifle,” Trent said on April 29 during his presentation at Modern Day Marine.

Trent said his research has shown that soldiers equipped with the XM7 in a live-fire exercise quickly run out of ammunition because its magazine only holds 20 rounds. He also said that gouges and scratches can form in the barrel after firing more than 2,000 rounds, the rifle’s weight makes it hard for soldiers to maneuver.

[ … ]

“The XM7 is a tactically outdated service rifle that would be better classified as a designated marksman rifle, if that,” Trent said during his presentation. “This rifle is a mechanically unsound design that will not hold up to sustained combat on a peer-on-peer conflict.”

Designated marksman rifles come in all sizes and calibers, including 5.56mm, .308, etc. The round isn’t relevant for consideration of a DM rifle (although barrel length is).

We discussed the solution to this problem many times: the 6mm ARC, which would involve a change of barrels, a change of BCGs, and a change of magazines.

The 6mm ARC would easily let shooters reach out and touch targets 600 meters away or further, while letting the DMs use other rifles.

But some general or group of generals got wealthy “consulting” to Sig on this boondoggle, not to mention the cash flowing into Sig.

Tim Sundles.

I’m still waiting for Tim to acknowledge the 450 SMC (which he may not since that cartridge is made by Double Tap).

Always informative, always educational. Always fun.

Hmm …

I wonder if sticky fired casings is one challenge with making a 500 S&W lever action rifle? I don’t care. I still want one, Smith & Wesson.

At American Hunter.

While I profess to know a lot about firearms, I didn’t know there was a 10mm magnum round, which is different from the 10mm round. I would probably spring for this wheel gun, except for the price: $3,309.

That’s enough for a nice custom 1911, or two thirds of that will get you a Springfield Armory TRP full size 1911. To me, after looking at the tested results for the ammunition, I just don’t see that much to be gained over the .45 ACP+P, and in fact, I don’t see anything at all to be gained over the 450 SMC from Double Tap.

To each his own. If you like 10mm and are willing to spend the money, this may be a nice field option for dangerous game defense.