There’s no doubt: Suppressed 300 Blackout Subsonic shooting is a TON of fun! When I think of close-quarters shooting with an AR-15, 300 Blackout subs are my go-to ammunition. The problem? These subsonic 300 Blackout loads require 30 caliber bullets in the 190-250 grain range which can get real expensive real quick! In this article […]
Tag: AR-15
PSA KS-47 7.62x39mm Pistol: Overview and Ballistics Comparison
When I saw the KS-47 Pistol from Palmetto State Armory, I thought to myself “now that looks fun!”. After some hands-on time with this 7.62x29mm pistol, I can say it’s a lot more than just fun! In this article I’ll give an overview of the KS-47 platform, give a guided tour of the 8.5″ pistol […]
My Suppressor Tax Stamp Nightmare Is Finally OVER!
Have you ever had an experience that was so frustrating it just about drove you to your wits’ end? Here’s the definition for that phrase: At wits’ end The idiom at wits’ end means to be very upset, or at the limits of one’s emotional or mental limitations. That pretty much describes how I felt […]
CMMG Endeavor 6.5 Creedmoor: From Unboxing to 1000 Yards
It’s always fun to try something new and different. And that’s exactly what I’ll cover in this article! I’ve shot AR-10s chambered for 308 Winchester many times, but haven’t yet shot a 6.5 Creedmoor AR-10, until now that is! CMMG Endeavor 300-Series 6.5 Creedmoor AR-10 CMMG is best known for their AR conversion kits (22LR), […]
TESTED: New TriggerTech AR Diamond 1.5lb – 4lb AR-15 Trigger
This year at the SHOT Show there was something that caught my eye at the TriggerTech booth- the all-new TriggerTech AR Diamond 1.5lb – 4.b trigger! Could this be the trigger I’ve been looking for to take my long-range AR to the next level? Read on! Starting Point: Geissele Automatics DMR National Match I’ve been […]
Results: 224 Valkyrie Starline Brass Torture Test
Reloading 224 Valkyrie is pretty much the same as reloading most other bottleneck rifle cartridges. However, there are some unique considerations when you’re dealing with a “hotrod” magnum cartridge like 224 Valkyrie. One of these considerations is brass life/longevity- namely the primer pockets. I’ve heard a lot of stories of 224 Valkyrie brass only lasting […]
224 Valkyrie: Hornady 88 grain ELD-M Load Development Success
224 Valkyrie is all about pushing heavy high-BC bullets to crazy-long ranges with an AR-15, or even a bolt gun. For 224 Valkyrie, I started working with a mid-weight bullets (Nosler 70 grain RDF), and have been working my way up in weight- and hope to top out at about 95 grains. While the Nosler […]
224 Valkyrie Hybrid Load Development/Validation
Load development is a very personal and sometimes even a controversial thing. Precision-minded shooters tend to adopt their own “obsessive” or “religious” rituals when it comes to finding the perfect load for their rifles. I like to read up and watch up (is that a term?) on what other people are doing for load development […]
224 Valkyrie at 600 Yards: Bolt -vs- AR with Unexpected Results
Do you ever get tired of shooting paper targets? I know I do! Sure, the engineer in me loves to shoot groups, analyze chronograph data, and “hone things in” – but there’s got to be a “purpose” for shooting, and my purpose extends well beyond punching holes in paper. And that’s where a good range […]
224 Valkyrie Remington 700 Build P8: Barrel Break In, First Groups, First Loads
Breaking in the barrel for a rifle you’ve built is a truly unique and exciting experience. Will the gun blow up? Will the rifle shoot well? Will my new trigger meet my expectations? It’s like sea trials for a new ship, but with a precision instrument. As I was finishing my Remington 700 224 Valkyrie […]
224 Valkyrie Remington 700 Build P7: AICS Magazine Conversion
When you go “off the script” (like building a 224 Valkyrie bolt-action rifle) you can expect some challenges. One such challenge with this kind of build is getting a reliable magazine configuration setup. A lot of guys have spent a lot of hours tinkering with magazines, springs, followers, lip geometry and more with a common […]
224 Valkyrie Remington 700 Build P6: KRG Bravo Stock, TriggerTech Special Trigger
All of the hard work I’ve put into this 224 Valkyrie Remington 700 build is about to come together, literally! With a complete barreled action assembly, it’s time to install our trigger, and then mate the stock and barreled action together. I can hardly wait to take this rifle to the range! And by the […]
224 Valkyrie Remington 700 Build P5: Custom Thread Protector
A threaded muzzle is great, but if you aren’t using a muzzle brake or suppressor, you’ll need something to protect the (fragile) threads! That’s where a thread protector comes in handy. One of the best ways to make a thread protector is with a cut-down section of barrel blank. Good thing I had this “extra” […]
224 Valkyrie Remington 700 Build P4: Muzzle Threading and Barrel Install
Here’s my philosophy: why not have a threaded muzzle? If you want to use a muzzle brake or a suppressor, you’re all set! If you don’t use a muzzle device, you put a thread protector on, and you’re good to go. So now that we’ve completed the breech-end barrel work, let’s move on to the […]
224 Valkyrie Remington 700 Build P3: Chambering and Machining
Sometimes you have to do a lot of “prep work” to get to the “fun work”. Well, after building out our build-sheet, and preparing and aligning the barrel, we’re now to the fun part of this build! That’s right, it’s time to start machining the tenon, and cutting the chamber! Series navigation: 224 Valkyrie Remington […]
224 Valkyrie Remington 700 Build P2: Barrel Prep and Alignment In the Lathe
How you secure your barrel in your lathe, and the attention to detail aligning the barrel’s bore to the lathe spindle axis will both have a big effect on the outcome of your barreling work. In this post, we’ll continue our 224 Valkyrie Remington 700 bolt-action rifle build with a focus on a few things: […]
224 Valkyrie Remington 700 Build P1: Planning the Build
I’ve always wanted to build a Remington 700 custom bolt-action rifle, and now is the time! As a part of the lager 224 Valkyrie project (two rifle builds, reloading, ballistics, …) this smaller collection of videos and articles will outline a complete Remington 700 build- from start to finish! Later, we’ll compare ballistics and accuracy […]
Quick Look: Lyman 68pc Master Gunsmith Took Kit
Gunsmithing is a lot of fun, but it’s a lot less fun when you don’t have the right tools (or can’t find your tools). Every professional or casual gunsmith therefore needs a good selection of tools, and a system of organization for those tools. So when I saw the new 68pc Master Gunsmith Tool Set […]
Accuracy Showdown: My AK -vs- My AR at 100 Yards
Ever since I mounted a scope on my Serbian N-PAP M70 AK-variant rifle, I wanted to see what this rifle could do at 100 yards. Yes, 100 yards is outside of the “sweet spot” for this rifle, but I still thought this would be fun! I thought to myself: “While I’m at it, let’s compare […]
223 -vs- 5.56: FACTS and MYTHS
If you’ve been on the internet long, undoubtedly you’ve read a lot of mis-information about 223 Remington and 5.56 NATO. If you’re like me, you also find it difficult to find answers and specifics related to these two cartridges and rifle chamberings. The 5.56 NATO chamber is “larger” than the 223 Remington chamber- but my […]
224 Valkyrie: Project Planning Update July 2018
“It’s better to take your time and do something right than to rush”. That’s what I keep telling myself. And these words are well suited to describe my in-progress 224 Valkyrie project. After the 224 announcement and reveal last October, I felt an urgent need to get hands-on with this cartridge “right away”. In hind […]
Lyman Borecam Digital Borescope: Overview and Comprehensive Test Drive
Have you ever wondered what’s going on inside your rifle’s barrel? Is the bore in good condition? Is the bore clean? You may have wondered the same things about your pistol barrels. Until recently, borescope tools have been beyond the reach of everyday gun owners- not now! Since Lyman has introduced the Borecam Digital Borescope, […]
Reloading the 22 Nosler: An Overview
This article is a conclusion of a multi-part series covering 22 Nosler from “start to finish”. I started with 22 Nosler by shooting a PRS match, and then worked through loads and fine-tuned my setup to get maximum performance, longevity, and reliability out of my loads. If you haven’t already, you’ll want to check out […]
22 Nosler Overview: Cartridge, Ballistics, AR-15 Conversion
Specialty cartridges for the AR-15 are nothing new. For decades, shooters and engineers have been continually experimenting with different cartridge designs and permutations with the goal of enhancing AR-15 performance in some way. The goals themselves are varied, each with a different scenario in mind. The 25-45 Sharps necks the 22 caliber .223 Remington cartridge […]
Ultimate Reloader Deal: Save on .223 and .308 Brass from Capital Cartridge
Do you have an AR-15 or AR-10 that needs a constant supply of ammunition? Or better yet, do you have both an AR-15 *and* and AR-10 that you shoot on a regular basis? It’s time to do some bulk loading of .223/5.56 and .308/7.61x51mm ammunition, that’s what I say! To make your rifle reloading easier, […]
