Category: Ammunition

The Hornady Lock-N-Load AP

Hornady makes reloading quick and easy with the Lock-N-Load® AP™ (Auto-Progressive) system. Set up the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP (Auto-Progressive) system and calibrate it for the shooter’s specific load, then start filling the ammo cans quickly and reliably. This professional grade system helps let shooters reload hundreds of rounds per hour.

This automatic indexing, 5-station progressive press features Hornady patented Lock-N-Load bushing system. Dies lock in place with a twist, secured by six locking lugs. To change calibers, twist the die counterclockwise, remove it, and insert the next preset Lock-N-Load die and bushing. Because they remain set in their Lock-N-Load bushings, the dies remain as set – in perfect, solid alignment.

Pull once, and the shell plate delivers five cases upward to their respective position in the process. The auto-indexing function moves the plate half a stage on the down stroke and half on the up stroke, making for ultra-smooth functioning compared to other presses that do all their indexing on the down stroke. Every pull of the handle delivers precise measures of powder, bullet seating, priming, and ejection, resulting in a perfectly loaded cartridge. Read more

Ammunition

Redding Reloading Equipment Adds New Die Set for the 300 HAM’R

Cortland, NY….. Redding Reloading Equipment adds a New 3-Die Set for the 300 HAM’R. A bottleneck cartridge based on a modified 223 Remington case necked up to 30-caliber. Using a 1.603-inch case the HAM’R is able to produce near 308 Winchester effectiveness with very moderate recoil, and available in numerous actions including the ever-popular modern sporting rifle platform. The 300 HAM’R cartridge will be equally at home in the field or on the range. Redding Die Sets provide the needed capability to produce high quality loadings for hunting and all shooting requirements.

Through its entire range, the Redding Reloading die and die set families exemplify quality and precision and have been designed, produced and tested at our facility in Upstate, New York.

Redding continues to add cartridges to it standard product lines as consumer demand and industry support grows. It is also important to note that Redding continues to produce truly “Custom” die sets as well. The Engineering Group at Redding requires only a chamber reamer drawing or 5 fired cases from the firearm in question to quote the production of dies for virtually any caliber and firearm. Prices are quoted on an individual basis depending upon the complexity of the chambering and any need for tooling. Those seeking dies for a truly unique or obsolete cartridge should contact the Redding Custom Die Center in the company’s Engineering Department. E-Mail: engineering1@redding-reloading.com> Read more

Ammunition

AmmoSquared Addresses Growing Demand for Alternative Assets

Nampa, ID – AmmoSquared Inc., the pioneer in online ammunition backed holdings, is answering the call from consumers seeking non-traditional ways to diversify their assets. The company offers a unique service by allowing customers to accumulate and store physical ammunition holdings off-site, providing an innovative way for individuals to build and protect tangible wealth while hedging against economic uncertainties.

As the global economy faces unprecedented challenges, many individuals are turning away from traditional asset accounts that can be vulnerable to fiat currency shocks such as stocks, bonds, and money market accounts. AmmoSquared’s ammunition-backed digital wallet offers a new approach for those concerned about the declining value of fiat currencies and the risks associated with conventional financial institutions.

“Ammunition is a physical, tangible asset that will never be worth zero,” says AmmoSquared CEO Dan Morton, “It’s more stable than cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which are still too volatile for most people to reliably use as an alternative store of value. Ammunition is more like gold, with intrinsic value based on the effort and cost of raw materials. It will never be worthless, nor will it vanish due to a tweet or hacker.” Read more

Ammunition

Hornady Security Ammo Cabinets

Grand Island, NE (April 25, 2023) – Given today’s ammo prices and product shortages, securing valuable personal assets makes sense. Assembled in the USA, these cabinets are a specialty security container for organizing and safeguarding ammo and much more—lock it up and protect these hard-earned investments with Hornady Security!

The all-metal Ammo Cabinet uses a barrel-key lock for enhanced security. These tamper-resistant containers restrict access to valuables like reloading tools and components, hunting and shooting gear, and anything else that requires secure storage.

The Ammo Cabinet designers optimized the layout to accommodate plastic ammo cans (3 included) or similar aftermarket products. Cabinets feature three adjustable shelves, with a 100-pound load capacity rating, totaling three 12” x 18” surfaces in the 40-inch-tall container. Also included are shelf/floor mats to protect the contents in storage. Read more

Ammunition

Speer Ammunition Awarded Ammunition Contract by the New York Police Department

LEWISTON, Idaho –– Speer Ammunition was recently awarded the New York Police Department (NYPD) 9mm duty and training handgun ammunition contract for Speer 124-grain Gold Dot. The duty handgun contract with the largest law enforcement agency in the United States will supply this agency for up to five years with an expected quantity of several million rounds.

“We are excited to report the NYPD once again chose Speer Gold Dot 9mm 124-grain +P as their ammunition of choice,” said Speer’s Senior Director of Law Enforcement Ammunition Sales, Hal Price. “The approximate 36,000 officers will use this ammunition exclusively for duty and training. We are proud of this contract win, and we are excited to have the opportunity to continue to work with the NYPD.” The partnership with Speer and NYPD, one of the country’s most recognizable, oldest, and prestigious law enforcement agencies, began in 2001. Read more

Ammunition

Straight Wall Cartridge Options Expand with 400 Legend

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

On May 15, 2012 a hearing in Michigan’s House of Representatives was held to determine if certain straight-wall cartridges would become legal for hunting deer in the southern portion of the state.  After writing a column in an attempt to persuade lawmakers to include all straight-wall cartridges in House Bill 5249, I received a phone call from a House member, who had sponsored the bill.  After a brief discussion, I was invited to speak at the hearing relative to ballistics.  Although it took another year, Michigan’s old shotgun zone would become transformed.

My, how things have changed.  The bill became law, but my favorite big-bore – the venerable .45-70 Government – would not be included, because its case length exceeded the new standard maximum of 1.8 inches.  What I didn’t realize at the time, was how firearm and ammunition manufacturers would develop new options for hunters in Midwestern states (including Michigan) that had adopted the new regulations – and, they’ve got a new one for us:  the 400 Legend.

According to Winchester, the 400 Legend ballistics make it an optimum choice for any hunter that wants a cartridge with moderate recoil and excellent terminal performance, particularly in hunting situations within 300 yards.  The 215-grain bullet leaves the muzzle at 2250 feet-per-second (fps) and when sighted in 1.8 inches high at 100 yards, it drops 4.9 inches at 200 yards.

But, 300 yards?  That’s pushing it, however, for two important reasons.  Energy (measured in foot pounds) drops below the long-time standard of 1,000 foot pounds for deer hunting at 770 pounds.  More importantly, it falls 26.4 inches low at that range.  Without a range-finding rifle scope – one that is matched to a specific caliber’s ballistics – 300 yard shots are simply unethical.

At the same time, however, the .450 Bushmaster, drops like a rock beyond 200 yards, as well, and is not a good choice for long range shots without appropriate optics.  Heck, that’s why these calibers were introduced in the first place – to limit range issues in more heavily populated areas.

The 400 Legend fits between the faster and lighter velocity of the 350 Legend and the heavier 450 Bushmaster and offers the following comparative examples:

  • Similar Energy as 450 Bushmaster with 20% Less Recoil
  • Over 20% More Energy than the 30-30 Winchester and 25% More Energy than 350 Legend, with Greater Penetration
  • 100% More Energy than a 12-Gauge Slug at 100 Yards
  • 55% Less Recoil than a 12-Gauge Slug

Winchester 400 Legend ammunition will begin shipping in July, while 400 Legend-chambered rifles will be offered in the coming year from Mossberg, Ruger, Savage Arms, Winchester Repeating Arms, CMMG, and more.

It is questionable if this new cartridge will have high demand from deer hunters, and therefore, if it will become successful, since so many of the other straight-wall cartridges are already in hunters’ hands.  However, there’s no doubt about its viability as another tool for the job.

Ammunition, Firearms

Between The Berms: Wildcattin’

By Paul Erhardt, Managing Editor, the Outdoor Wire Digital Network

Cards on the table…I know little to nothing about smallbore rifle competition. In fact, the full extent of my understanding of the sport is that it is based around a rifle chambered in .22LR.

Generally speaking I know there are other elements to the sport, additional gear needed, equipment you have to have, but what all those things are, I have no idea. Eventually, though, I found out…sorta.

There is a whole lot more to smallbore competition than a rifle, ammo and targets, and a visit to a match like the Western Wildcat will open your eyes to just how intricate a discipline this is. Photo by P. Erhardt

A friend of mine, Michele Medige, who works for Eley Ammunition and is a serious smallbore competitor herself, told me about the Western Wildcat match taking place at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility and recommended I check it out.

The official name of the event is ‘The 64th Annual Western Wildcat Smallbore 6400 NRA Conventional Prone and F-Class Regional.’ In other, fewer words, the Western Wildcat.

The only thing more complex than the official title of the event is the list of gear one needs to compete. This is not a cheap sport to jump into.

Sticker-shock might be the best way to describe the barrier to entry that keeps shooters from delving into smallbore. If you can survive the shock, you have a future in this sport. Read more

Ammunition, Firearms

Winchester Introduces New 400 Legend Straight-Walled Cartridge

EAST ALTON, IL — From the leader in ammunition innovation, Winchester introduces the 400 Legend, a new straight-walled cartridge with superior ballistics for both hunters and sport shooters. The 400 Legend ballistics make it an optimum choice for any hunter that wants a cartridge with moderate recoil and excellent terminal performance, particularly in hunting situations within 300 yards.

The straight-walled design of the 400 Legend qualifies it for use in several states that restrict bottle-necked cartridges for hunting. This heavy-hitting cartridge is optimum for deer, pig, black bear, and other big game with significant advantages in ballistics performance, recoil and penetration.

400 Legend Features & Benefits—

    • Similar Energy as 450 Bushmaster with 20% Less Recoil
    • Over 20% More Energy than the 30-30 Winchester and 25% More Energy than 350 Legend, with Greater Penetration
    • 100% More Energy than a 12-Gauge Slug at 100 Yards
    • 55% Less Recoil than a 12-Gauge Slug

Read more

Ammunition, Firearms

Bear Creek Arsenal Partners with Sierra Bullets to Offer Ammunition Online

Sanford, NC – Since 2013 Bear Creek Arsenal® has proudly provided American-made AR rifles, components, and accessories at phenomenal prices and quality. Now for the first time, customers can turn to Bear Creek Arsenal® for their ammunition needs as well.

Bear Creek Arsenal® is proud to announce its partnership with Sierra Bullets® to sell MatchKing®, BlitzKing®, and GameChanger® ammo in a variety of calibers. Sierra® has consistently been among the leaders in bullet accuracy for decades and their high performance at good prices makes them a perfect fit for Bear Creek Arsenal’s® products and customers.

.308 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30-06 Springfield, 300 AAC Blackout, .223 Remington, and 9mm Luger are all now available at bearcreekarsenal.com with more calibers to come! From rifles, pistols, complete uppers, lowers, optics, accessories, outdoor equipment, and now ammo, Bear Creek Arsenal® has you covered.

For more information please visit bearcreekarsenal.com

Ammunition

Turkey Hunting Ammo Options: Good and Expensive

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

The turkeys are back!  In my neck of the woods turkeys are numerous – that is until late fall when they perform their disappearing act.  I don’t know why they leave (or, where they go for that matter), but leave they do.  In any event, the generous hunting seasons begin in three weeks.

For most hunters it means shotguns with tight chokes and heavy payloads.  Traditional ammo has been improved immensely over the years.  In the ‘70s copper-plated lead pellets were the go-to choice in shotshells and still work well today.  In fact, the 12-gauge Winchester Long Beard shells in No. 4 to No. 6 shot with its unique buffering was and has been my chosen loads for years never having let me down.  And, I’m talking legitimate 50-yard lethality and beyond.  What more could a hunter desire?

Ammunition manufacturers have stepped up their offerings to include tungsten alloy shot.  In so doing, they’ve also stepped up the cost of drumsticks to some $10 per shot!  That’s right.  One 5-round box of Federal Premium Heavyweight TSS turkey ammunition in 12-gauge, non-toxic tungsten is going for $47.23.  Good thing my friends at Midway USA have marked it down from a list price of a whopping $74.99.  Step right up!  And, no wonder it’s available, too.  I’m wondering if solid gold might be more affordable.

It’s hard to argue with results, however.  Per pellet size, tungsten is heavier than lead and does not deform like lead.  These factors allow manufacturers to fill the hulls with much smaller shot which translates into more shot on target.  The baseline for performance in TSS shot is that 50-percent of the shells’ payload is within a 10-inch circle at 40 yards.

To effectively take a gobbler at a given range, a good load of anything must deliver at least 7 pellets in the head and neck region of a turkey; tungsten can do this easily at 40 yards, but how much energy will the tiny pellets produce when they arrives?  That is the question.

On a recent crow hunt, I carried a 12-gauge shotgun afield stoked with traditional 1 1/8-ounce of lead shot in No.9 size.  At one point in the hunt I took 5 crows in 5 shots with the tiny pellets, but some birds needed follow-up shots beyond 40 yards.  The energy simply was not sufficient at moderately long range.

The small pellets will naturally shed velocity quicker than larger pellets; as with any ammunition, there are trade-offs for every variation.  Even though pattern density is impressive for the smaller TSS shot, energy is questionable and may not be sufficient to be ethical beyond 20 yards.

In fact, Bryce Towsley in writing for American Hunter magazine points out the conundrum of the lighter TSS shot relative to turkey hunting.  He states, “My limited experience supports this with the TSS, as turkeys shot at distances beyond 40 yards with No. 9 TSS were not 100 percent kill rate and had to be dispatched.”  In conclusion, he states No. 7 TSS loads would be a better choice, but the best bet is to get closer.

At $6 to $10 per shot, I find TSS ammo cost prohibitive, when less expensive ammo can get the job done in fine fashion.  Availability is still an issue, so make sure to check retailers before assuming they’ll have whatever your preference is.

Ammunition, Hunting
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