eBAY Bans Sales of Gun Parts and Reloading Components

On July 30th, internet auction site eBay announced it will change its current policies regarding sales/auctions of gun parts and reloading components. Currently, one cannot sell firearms on eBay, nor live ammunition, nor a variety of “black-listed” gun accessories such as high-capacity magazines. Now, eBay will prohibit the sale of “any firearm part that is required for the firing of a gun.” This will include brass, bullets, and barrels. The new policy was announced by Matt Halprin, eBay Vice President:

“In mid-August, we will be updating our Firearms, Weapons and Knives Policy to place more restrictions around gun-related items. Once these changes take effect, we will prohibit listings of any firearm part that is required for the firing of a gun. This includes items like bullet tips [sic], brass casings and shells, barrels, slides, cylinders, magazines, firing pins, trigger assemblies, etc. Please read the Firearms, Weapons and Knives Policy for more details on our current policy.

As you may know, eBay does not allow the listing of any items which are regulated by individual states or the federal government; however, there are still a large number of firearm-related parts that are legal and are widely available in retail stores. These items have also historically been allowed on eBay.

After learning that some items purchased on eBay may have been used in the tragedy at Virginia Tech in April 2007, we felt that revisiting our policies was not only necessary, but the right thing to do. After much consideration, the Trust & Safety policy team – along with our executive leaders at eBay Inc. – have made the decision to further restrict more of these items than federal and state regulations require. This new update… brings our policies in the U.S. and Canada in closer alignment with our existing policies in other markets around the globe.”

IBS Group Nationals Underway

The International Benchrest Shooters (IBS) Nationals kicked off July 30th in St. Louis. The event, which draws top 100/200 yard shooters from around the nation, continues through August 4th. Hosting the Nationals this year, is the Benchrest Rifle Club of St. Louis, 2045 Kohn Rd, Wright City, Missouri.

IBS 100/200 Score Nationals are also held this month, August 18-19, at the Canastota Conservation Club, Warners Road
Canastota, New York. The IBS 200/300 Score Nationals follow a month later, September 22-23, at the Thurmont Conservation & Sportsman’s Club, 11617 Hunt Club Rd., Thurmont, Maryland. For more info about these IBS events, visit the IBS website and click “Featured Events”.

Shown below are the top shooters from last year’s 2006 IBS 100/200 Group Nationals held at Canastota. Top row (L to R) are Rob Sarbrough, Mike Ratigan, Joe Krupa and Russ Boop. Wayne Campbell is in front. Photo courtesy IBS.

Long Range Shooting Simulation

ShooterReady.com offers an excellent computer simulation that lets you “shoot” three different calibers at virtual ranges out to 2000 yards–complete with sound effects and realistic scenery. You view the target through a 10-20x zoom scope and adjust windage and elevation as with a real scope. A FREE Online Demo is available that lets you practice with a 175gr .308, and also Windrunner .338 and .50 BMG. Atmospheric conditions and range distance change with each stage, so there is plenty of challenge. Warning–if you’re at work, this can be addictive once you get the hang of it.

You can practice Mil Dot ranging on 3 targets: A 12″ X 12″ swinging plate, a 30″ X 18″ knock-down plate, and a regulation 72″ X 19″ knock down plate. Each caliber has 70 range exercises, plus an advanced stage with 25 timed hold-offs, and moving targets.

The CD also includes “Interactive Classrooms” that teach you how to use Mil-Dot scopes and how to use a range card. The presentation on reading Mils and calculating target distances is very well done. It is much easier to learn interactively than by just reading a static manual. Below is a screenshot from the Mil-Dot Ranging “Classroom”.

Trust us, you can learn a great deal from the Free Demo. This is not just a shooter video game. The demo offers a variety of scenarios–enough to keep you occupied for quite some time. If you want to learn more, the full CD, with hundreds of scenarios, and five bonus stages, costs $39.95 from ShooterReady.com.

NRA Starts Competition Endowment

In conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the NRA National Rifle and Pistol Championships at Camp Perry, NRA President John C. Sigler (at right) is initiating a Competitive Shooting and National Championships Endowment.

An endowment is a permanent fund or savings account that produces investment income. The permanent fund is never touched - only a portion of the fund’s interest is used for qualified programs. The balance is then reinvested to ensure the fund’s growth, thus providing a source of income in perpetuity. “Competitive shooting is at the core of NRA’s mission,” Sigler commented. “This endowment will help provide permanent funding necessary to ensure continued operation and growth of national-championship level competition, and enhance shooting participation wherever feasible.”

“NRA sanctions about 10,000 tournaments a year and conducts more than 50 National Championships,” Sigler continued. “It is essential that we not only protect our current programs but expand the opportunities for Americans to find new, fun ways to exercise their Second Amendment rights.”

Commenting on the endowment, Mike Krei, NRA’s Director of Competitive Shooting, said, “This initiative is a major step toward securing the long-term growth of NRA competitive shooting events. Serious competitive shooters who want a way to give something back to the sport in perpetuity will find no better option than this endowment.”

To donate to the NRA Competition Endowment, contact Frank Cerutti, Director of NRA Strategic Giving, at (703) 267-1571 or fcerutti@nrahq.org. Donations to some programs within this endowment may qualify as charitable gifts for tax purposes. Gifts may be made in cash, stocks or other assets, and pledged over time or as an estate gift.

Folding Magnifiers for Reloaders

What is the most-used piece of equipment on this editor’s reloading bench? No it’s not my Rock-Chucker press, or even my calipers. The one item in near-constant use is a small, folding magnifying glass. Mine folds into a square case and offers 4X viewing with an 8X bifocal insert. With this handy tool I can inspect case mouths for burrs, check primer pockets, and look for flaws on bullet jackets. I also use the magnifier to see rifling marks on bullets seated into the rifling, or check my bolt for galling. The number of uses is nearly endless.

Folding magnifiers are so handy yet inexpensive that you should own a couple spares (including one in the range box). I bought my magnifier in a book-store, but you can also find them on the web at Edmund Scientifics and WidgetSupply.com starting at just $1.97.

Shipping Guns and Gun Parts

Gunsmith Nat Lambeth (”RustyStud” on our Shooters’ Forum) offers the following advice for readers who need to ship rifles or major gun components (actions, barrels etc.) to gunsmiths or repair facilities.

“You have several options when shipping your guns to and from a Gunsmith. I’ve tried them all and had problems with them all. Here are some pointers:

1. Always package your unloaded firearm so that it is not loose and can’t work itself loose during transport. I recommend, at minimum, you use a hardcase inside a cardboard box. You can order a hard case from any of the 6mmBR.com website catalog advertisers. It will come in a nice cardboard box. Just open the end and slide it out. Put your gun in the plastic hard case (after oiling the metal parts) and slide it back into the box. Then tape and relabel the box. Make sure marking on the box does NOT identify the contents as a gun. (You may be required to identify the contents to the shipping company or U.S. Postal Service clerk however.) For a very expensive gun, consider using a wood shipping crate. I will be making some shipping cases from plywood and foam line them. I will have to charge my customer a deposit and when they return the shipping crate I will return their deposit.

2. Pack individual components carefully, and enclose them in separate bubble wrap (or styrofoam) if there is any chance the parts can contact one another. Your editor had an experience where the finish of a fine, blued handgun was ruined because the repair facility had placed old, replaced trigger parts loosely in a foam-lined case with the handgun. During shipping these spare parts worked back and forth, gouging and scratching the pistol.

3. Confirm the recipient’s address BEFORE you ship. Individuals and businesses change locations all the time. Don’t assume an address you used a few months ago is still valid. It’s tempting to use old addresses that are pre-configured in the UPS or Fedex web-based shipping programs, but you should always confirm address validity prior to shipping.

4. Always put the sender’s and recipient’s telephone number on the outside of the box with the address. I have neighbors call me all the time saying I have a box that was delivered to them by mistake. If there is any way the label could be torn off or ripped, write the number on the cardboard with a felt pen.

5. Always send your packages insured for full replacement value. Take time-dated pictures of the contents before you ship. (This is yet one more reason to get an inexpensive digital camera, such as the Canon 550.) If you’re shipping a firearm with special collectors’ value, deluxe wood, or engraving, be sure you have detailed, high-quality photos of the item so you can prove its worth.

6. Always send firearms and expensive components “Adult Signature Required” if by FedEx, UPS, or DHL. If they are sent via U.S. Postal Service, send them restricted delivery. This insures a tracking number and verification they got to their destination. If you ship USPS, it’s not a bad idea to pay a little extra for the green return receipt. That’s one more piece of evidence that works in your favor if the recipient claims non-delivery. The green card also reminds the carrier to confirm the address.

7. Keep all your shipping documentation for a year after the package has been received. There could be a unseen damage that turns up several months down the road. This illustrates the importance of carefully inspecting items you receive immediately. Don’t let a box sit around for days before you open it.

8. Handguns are by law required to be sent by common carrier (unless you are an FFL holder). Most of the common carriers have their own rules requiring overnight or next day delivery. Long guns can be sent by ground and you can use the U.S. Postal Service. Companies such as FEDEX and UPS may try to stick you with a higher cost shipping bill by claiming that rifles and shotguns must go next day or air. That is not true. Long guns can be shipped via ground. Do check local laws however–California has special rules regarding ARs and registered “assault weapons”.

9. Keep an eye on your gun by monitoring the tracking number. You can do this online with FEDEX, UPS, and USPS. If your package does not reach its intended destination, when it is supposed to be there, then initiate a traceright away. Don’t wait.

When Something Goes Wrong–Filing Claims
In my experience it takes from 7 days to 10 months to get a settlement on a claim. Don’t hesitate to take a shipper to small claims court if necessary. If the shipper gives you the run-around, filing a small claims action may be the best $40.00 you can spend. It only costs $40.00 to start a small claims action and the subpoena is another $5 bucks. Usually sending a subpoena to an officer will result in a rapid settlement. It is cheaper for the carrier to settle than have their corporate bigwig stuck in some small claims action. Realize the carrier usually is not the insurer.

I have had two claims within the last 10 weeks and neither has been settled yet. In both cases the barelled action was double-boxed ,and in one case it was also inside a piece of schedule 80 PVC pipe and was broken. The other was in a double-walled cardboard box. The action was bent at the action barrel juncture, it now looks like a boomerang. The muzzle was pushed through six layers of double wall corrugated box.

I quit using UPS over a year ago. Depending on how FEDEX settles these last two claims, I’ll decide whether I use their services again. Your editor prefers FEDEX as he has found that they paid non-delivery claims swiftly and at full value. One thing for sure, if you use USPS you have the Postal Inspectors and the BATF looking for your gun if it is lost.”

Timney Trigger Sale at LockStock.com

Lock, Stock & Barrel is currently selling Timney triggers at 25% off normal retail. Triggers are available for most popular actions including Browning, CZ, Mauser, Remington, Ruger, Sako, Springfield, and Winchester. We are impressed with Timney’s new Rem 700 “Tactical” trigger (item TM501T). This Rem Tactical trigger adjusts from 4 to 10 ounces pull weight. It features a knurled Anschutz-style vertical trigger shoe that can adjust for angle (cant) and length of pull. The trigger housing is machined from solid steel, and all contact surfaces are CNC-machined steel that has been hardened, surface ground, and polished. Timney’s Rem 700 Tactical trigger is now just $86.06 at LockStock.com. That’s a great deal. The same trigger sells for $134.95 on Timney’s Online Store, TimneyTriggers.com.

Timney also offers two new AR-15 triggers. The AR-15 Competition trigger is a true drop-in replacement for the standard fire-control system that uses your rifle’s original hammer/trigger pins. Timney claims the trigger module can be installed in ten minutes. It comes in 3- or 4-lb versions and features a crisp, one-stage pull. MSRP is $194.95, and a skeletonized version (shown below) retails for $234.95. Lock, Stock & Barrel does not list the new AR-15 trigger in inventory, but you can call for pricing, (800) 228-7925.

Advice for Acculab 123 Scale Users

Some of our forum members have observed issues with the Acculab VIC-123, an 0.001g precision electronic balance made by Sartorius. The two main complaints seem to be sensitivity to drafts, and instability of zero, causing weight read-outs to “drift” over time. We have seen the latter problem in less expensive scales such as the PACT. (Read PACT report).

Forum member Ronemus, who lists his profession as “instrumentation scientist”, offers the following advice:

“It is necessary to isolate the scale from drafts and vibrations. Laboratory scales with this sort of resolution (.001g) generally have a housing around the pan with sliding doors for access and vibration isolators in the feet. Those scales cost thousands of dollars, and some features must be cut to reach a price we’re willing to pay. Unfortunately, the instruction manuals accompanying our scales generally aren’t very good at spelling out the steps necessary to have then operate to our satisfaction.

A small draft (one you can barely feel) can easily shift the reading a few tenths of a grain, so some sort of enclosure is needed. I use a cardboard file box with one end cut out, so 3 sides and the top remain, and that’s good enough for 0.1 gr (6 mg) stability; however, that may not be sufficient for 0.01 gr.

For stable zeros it’s necessary to warm up for at least a few hours (they’re generally left on continuously to avoid drift) and keep the room temperature fairly constant (within a few degrees).

Inexpensive scales are also susceptible to electrical noise, either riding the power line or through the air. Power line noise can be eliminated with a good filtered power strip (I recommend a Tripp-Lite Iso-Bar), not just a surge suppressor. Cordless and cell phones, fluorescent lights, wireless computer networks, baby monitors, etc. can cause problems at short range, so they should be kept away from the scale as much as possible.”

Finding Older Posts in the Bulletin

We now have hundreds of entries in our Daily Bulletin. A few readers have told us: “I read something in the Bulletin last week, but now I can’t find it. Where did it go?”

Don’t worry. Every Bulletin entry is archived, and each is listed by one or more categories as well. You can search for a past entry by keyword, or just click on a category. If you want to watch a video again, just click on “Videos”. If you saw a review of a scope, click on “Optics”, or do a word search such as “Nikon” or “reticle”. The “Articles” item at the top of the list will bring up posts that link to a longer feature article on this site or elsewhere.

Once you get the hang of it, you should find it easy to find stuff using the navigation tools. The search is fast and effective. The illustration below shows how to use the navigation tools, found at the upper right of this page.

Gun Glossaries Explain Tech Terms

Confused about the meaning of a term such as “meplat”, “magnaflux” or “obturate”? Need to know the OAL of an unusual Wildcat such as the .218 Donaldson Wasp? Well CCI and MidwayUSA offer handy answers on the web. CCI’s Shooters’ Glossary is a very complete collection of gun-related and reloading terms. MidwayUSA’s GunTEC Dictionary contains short descriptions of hundreds of cartridges, plus definitions of thousands of shooting-related words and phrases. How many of you knew that “Maggie’s Drawers” is “a colloquial term used for the red flag once used by pit workers to signal a missed shot at high-power rifle competitions”?

Consulting the dictionary, we learned that “Magnus Force” was not a Tom Selleck TV show. Rather, “Magnus Force is the movement of a bullet in the direction it is rotating (and downward) due to the lower air pressure surrounding it. The low pressure pocket is caused by the effect of the bullet’s fast rotation on the surrounding air.” MidwayUSA’s GunTEC dictionary even includes short “bios” of notable firearms inventors and marksmen, including J.M. Browning, Fredrich von Martini, and Peter Paul Mauser. A serious shooting buff could spend hours browsing the GunTEC dictionary, learning new facts (and a ton of obscure trivia.)

NSSF’s New Online Product Database

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) announced the launch of its new online NSSF Marketplace Buyers Guide. Available on NSSF’s Web sites, this directory allows shooters to quickly locate specific products and services by keyword or category. The NSSF Marketplace employs a powerful search engine that continually indexes the Web sites of all companies represented in the directory.

The Marketplace has both keyword-search capability and dozens of links for specific product categories such as ammunition, optics, cleaning gear, and guide services. Click on “Optics/Electronics”, for example, and a page appears with linked subcategories for Scopes, GPS units, Rangefinders, Eyewear, Binoculars and more.

The NSSF Marketplace also offers a downloadable desktop search application. If you install this, you can search for products and services directly from a small search window on your desktop. The NSSF Marketplace also includes a Request for Information (RFI) tool, enabling users to contact a group of suppliers with one click of a button. The buyers guide can be found on www.nssf.org and other association-supported sites, including www.huntandshoot.org, www.wingshootingusa.org, www.wheretoshoot.org, www.huntinfo.org and www.stepoutside.org.