Newcon Optik Laser RangeFinder from Canada

Newcon Optik, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, produces many optics products for the Canadian military including laser rangefinders, image stabilizers, and night-vision gear. Newcon Optik also sells a line of laser rangefinders for consumers. Newcon claims that its rangefinders offer performance comparable to Leica, but at a much lower cost. The Newcon Optik LRM2000 Pro is designed to function out to 2000 meters, with a “reliable, all-conditions range” of at least 1500 yards. The LRM2000 Pro sells for $499.95 at SWFA.com, making it considerably cheaper than comparable models from Leica and Swarovski.

AccurateShooter.com has not been able to field test the LRM2000 Pro ourselves. For that reason it was not included in our Review of Laser Rangefinders done in 2007. However, we’ve handled the unit at SHOT Show and there are many features we like. First, it has a selectable reticle, offering a choice between a small rectangle and a cross-hair. By contrast, the $890.00 Swarovski Laser-Guide only offers a rather large aiming circle. Some hunters have complained the Swaro’s reticle is just too big for deer-sized animals out past 600 yards or so.

FEATURES
1 - Measurement result
2 - Units of measurement (Yards, Meters, Mils, Degrees)
3 - Low battery indicator
4 - Over 100m indicator (LRM 2500, LRM 2500CI Models only)
5 - Laser active indicator
6 - Target quality indicator (optional)
7 - Reticle (cross or rectangular selectable)

We also like the Newcon Optik’s shape and ergonomics. Sized 4.72″ x 4.8″ x 2.36″, the Newcon is flat and easy to hold, with non-slip rubber grip sections on both left and right sides. You can hold the brick shape securely with two hands, horizontally, like using binoculars.

By contrast, Leica went to an ultra-compact, vertical design for its latest CRF1200 rangefinder. The CRF’s small size makes the Leica easy to carry, but it is more difficult to hold the Leica stable when precise aiming is needed. With the Newcon Optik, you can set it flat on top of a case or rucksack and it’s easier to maintain a solid grip. The LRM2000 Pro also offers a built-in digital compass, a nice feature for anyone in the outdoors.

In the video below, Alex Rudi of Newcon Optik explains the features of the LRM2000 Pro model:

CLICK HERE to watch NEWCON OPTIK VIDEO

How do the Newcon Optik rangefinders perform in the field? Do they live up to the claims of Leica-class performance? We invite our readers who own or use Newcon Optik rangefinders to add their comments.

CLICK HERE for LRM2000 PRO SPECS SHEET (.pdf file)

Shooting USA Features 2008 Shot Show This Week

This Wednesday night, May 7th, Shooting USA will reprise its 2008 SHOT Show Special. The hour-long broadcast on the Outdoor Channel will include footage shot on the floor of the SHOT Show in Las Vegas.

If you couldn’t attend SHOT Show yourself, this is “must-see” television. Over 2,000 gun, hunting, and outdoor product manufacturers showcased their products at the 2008 SHOT Show. Shooting USA’s camera team found many new exciting products to feature. In addition, Shooting USA covers the Firearms Media Range Day. Held the day before SHOT Show opened at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Range Day gave media members “hands-on” experiences with some of the latest pistols, rifles, and shotguns to hit the market.

Wednesday’s May 7th broadcast times for the Shooting USA Shot Show Special on the Outdoor Channel are:

Eastern Time: 4:30 PM, 8:30 PM
Central Time: 3:30 PM, 7:30 PM
Mountain Time: 2:30 PM, 6:30 PM, Midnight
Pacific Time: 1:30 PM, 5:30 PM, 11:00 PM

Hoppe Offers Dasher Tuning Tips

The 6mm Dasher is based on the 6mm BR cartridge with the shoulder blown forward about 0.100″ and “improved” to 40°. Case capacity is raised to about 41.0 grains. This allows the Dasher to drive 105-108gr bullets comfortably at 2970-3000 fps without over-stressing the brass.

Robert Hoppe is one of the top 600-yard shooters in the country. Last fall, shooting a 6 Dasher, Robert nailed a 0.5823″, 5-shot group. At the time it was the smallest group ever shot in 600-yard registered benchrest competition. Just last weekend, John Lewis shot even smaller with an IBS Heavy Gun, but Robert’s 0.5823″ still remains the NBRSA 600-yard record, and the smallest group ever shot at 600 by a 17-lb class rifle. Robert has been very successful in the 600-yard game, and he finished 5th recently at the NBRSA 600-yard competition. He knows how to wring the best accuracy out of the 6mm Dasher cartridge. Here Robert offers some tips on load development and tuning for the 6mm Dasher.

CLICK HERE to watch HOPPE VIDEO

Tilley’s 260 Ackley Improved

Forum member Ron Tilley finished fourth overall at the recent NBRSA 600-Yard Nationals. This was an impressive performance for a relative newcomer to the 600-yard game without “local knowledge” of the Sacramento range. The top 3 finishers, Jerry Tierney, Peter White, and Craig St. Claire, all have extensive experience shooting at Sacramento.

While many of the top shooters were using a 6mm in Light Gun (such as a 6 Dasher or 6-6.5×47), Ron campaigned a 260 Ackley Improved. This is based on a 260 Rem case, with the shoulder blown forward to 40 degrees. Improving the 260 Rem case adds just enough extra capacity to get the 140gr-class bullets into the 2900+ fps velocity window where they seem to perform best.

Ron starts with Lapua 243 cases, necked up to 6.5 mm. He was shooting 140gr Berger VLD bullets, pushed by Hodgdon H4831sc powder and Russian primers. Ron says this combination has been “very accurate right out of the gate.” Ron’s 2920 fps load delivers 5-shot groups in the high teens and low twos, with very low ES and SD. In the video interview below, Ron explains the merits of the 260 AI cartridge, and offers tips on case prep and loading for accuracy.

CLICK HERE to WATCH TILLEY VIDEO

Ron was shooting an eye-catching rifle. It featured a carbon fiber and wood Terry Leonard stock, BAT Action, and Nightforce scope. With all-premium components, Terry’s 260AI is a beautiful rig that shoots as good as it looks.

Davis Sets New 600-Yard IBS Record

This past weekend, Mike Davis set a new 600-yard, IBS score record of 50-2X (0.941″), shooting a 6 BRX that he built himself. Mike nailed the record at the Piedmont Gun Club using Danzac-coated Berger 105gr VLD bullets pushed by 33.5 grains of Varget and CCI 450s. His rifle had a 26″, 1:8.4″-twist Brux barrel, chambered for a no-turn 6 BRX, and a BAT RB/LP/RE action. Congrats to Mike on some great shooting. If you want to see how it was done, here’s a video of Mike shooting 5 rounds at “match pace” with his 6 BRX.

CLICK HERE to WATCH VIDEO (5 Shots in 18 Seconds)

A previous IBS score record was set by Larry Isenhour, also at Piedmont. In August 2007, Isenhour shot a beautiful 50-3X target but it was just slightly larger in group size — 0.944″ as certified. Because group size, not X-count, is the tie-breaker among equal “perfect” 50 scores, Mike Davis just grabbed the record by a few thousandths of an inch.

Mike offers this report: “Saturday, April 12, 2008, was Piedmont Gun Club’s second match of the year. Conditions looked grim. There was lightning in the distance and we were surrounded by black clouds. When the first shot went down range the wind was blowing pretty good. As the day progressed the wind worsened, and was switching terribly. I could tell by the end of the Heavy Gun class that the faster I could get all shots down range the better. I really concentrated on my aiming point, and trying to remain smooth and fast for Light Gun. The first target I shot in Light Gun class was the record target, 50-2X with a .941″ group. The two “X” shots were right on top of each other (see target). I had also cleaned the gun prior to this group. The second target had four shots under 1″ and the fifth shot went straight right approximately 3.5″, making this group a 4″ — I knew I had gotten caught in one of the switching wind conditions. I repeated the same steps for the remaining two targets, and it paid off. I won the Light Gun class for group with a 3″ Aggregate in wind that toppled over the wind flags and blew away our Easy-Up tent.”

Gun Specifications 6BRX no turn neck .112″ free bore BAT Model B RB/LP/RE 7.5″ round action, Jewell trigger HV BRUX barrel 1 in 8.4″ twist at 26″ in length Stock work and bedding by Mike Isenhour (cedar/curly maple/carbon fiber with weight system) Leupold 45x Competition w/a 3x Gene Davis optical booster mounted with BAT rings Farley front rest and a Protektor rear bag

Steel Challenge on Outdoor Channel Today

Michael Bane’s Shooting Gallery broadcasts highlights from the 2007 Steel Challenge today on the Outdoor Channel. The Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championships were founded in 1981 with 70 shooters competing for $20,000 in cash and prizes that first year. In the 26 years since, the match has grown to become one of the crown jewels of the shooting circuit and the premier professional pistol competition with more than 220 of the world’s fastest shooters competing for over $390,000 in cash and prizes in 2007. The 2007 event featured the Outdoor Channel/Sig Sauer 80-Second Challenge. The first shooter to break 80 seconds overall time on the 8-stage Steel Challenge course, the equivalent of the 4-minute mile, could take home a check for $30,000. The show airs April 16, 2008 at 8:00 pm Eastern time on the Outdoor Channel.

European Steel Challenge May 2-4 in Netherlands
In related news, the 2008 European Steel Challenge will be held May 2-4 at Winterswik, the Netherlands. Over 150 of Europe’s best competition pistol shooters will compete for the European Speed Shooting Championships and €25,000 Euros in prizes. Championships will be determined in the Women’s, Senior, Super Senior divisions and in several categories including Rimfire, Stock and Open class Pistol/Revolver — the Formula 1 category of the shooting sports. For more info, visit www.EuropeanSteelChallenge.nl, or contact Hans Wigger, firearms [at] firearms.nl .

6mmAR Varminter Field Test

Robert Whitley has produced a new video showcasing an AR15-based varminter chambered in the 6mmAR cartridge, a 6.5 Grendel necked down to 6mm (.243). In the video, Robert cycles through ten rounds (two magazines) loaded with Hornady 87-grain BTHP bullets (item 2442, 0.376 BC). The rifle features a custom 6mmAR upper with a side charging handle. Note the ease with which Robert operates the charging handle from the prone position. The 6mmAR cartridge allows an AR shooter to use high-BC 6mm projectiles with superior down-range energy. Robert offers complete uppers and other accessories. For more information and load data, visit 6mmAR.com.

CLICK HERE to WATCH VIDEO

6mmAR Case-Forming Video

A full-time lawyer, Robert Whitley is also an avid prone, Highpower, and cross-course shooter. Over the past two years, Robert has pioneered a cartridge for these disciplines (as well as long-range varminting) based on the 6.5mm Grendel necked down to 6mm. Robert calls the cartridge the “6mmAR”.

The 6mmAR cartridge has performed very well in AR-based comp guns, both with shorter bullets loaded to mag length, and 105-107gr bullets single-loaded. Robert has complete info about the 6mmAR on his website, 6mmAR.com, including recommended loads and field test results.

Though making 6mmAR brass from 6.5 Grendel brass is quite straight-forward and simple, Robert receives many questions about forming the brass, so he recently prepared a video. The two-minute video shows how quick and easy the brass-forming process can be:

Robert also builds and sells products for across-the-course shooters, including complete AR uppers, chambered in a variety of calibers, including 6mmAR. Jerry Tierney, 2005 NBRSA 1000-yard champion, has a 6mmAR upper built by Robert and Jerry says the upper “Absolutely shoots great. I love it.” In the past few months, Jerry has broken many NRA senior records with his new 6mmAR-chambered rifle.

CLICK HERE for Feature Article on 6mmAR and Robert Whitley (many photos)

CLICK HERE for 6mmAR LOAD DATA

New Badger Action Stirs Interest

Our report on the new M2008 custom action from Badger Ordnance created quite a stir. Badger’s Marty Bordson says his phone has been ringing off the hook. We provided details of the action in our March 1st Daily Bulletin. Marty told us that he’s recently tested a prototype action, placed in an Accuracy Int’l Chassis. Here’s a video of that test session:

We spoke to Marty today, and he wanted to explain a couple of points, addressing questions he’s received from callers. First, the bolt uses an M16 style extractor. Second, the Picatinny rail will be longer than the one shown in the prototype. The rail is attached to the action via four screws and two pins.

Marty said: “We originally considered milling the rail as an integral part of the receiver, but this way, the customer has a choice of flat or angled rail. And if you change your scope and need more elevation, you can change the rail to fit your new requirements.”

Many folks had questions about the extended “abutments” for the action screws. Marty explained that the abutments provide enhanced thread contact for the action screws. Marty noted that some factory actions have only four or five threads in actual contact with the action screws.

Stiller Precision Expands Shop, Will Offer New RBLP Action in Summer 2008

At SHOT Show, Jerry Stiller of Stiller Precision Firearms noted that his business grew rapidly in 2007, driven by the success of his Predator and Tac actions. These offer a Rem 700 style design, with improved tolerances and component quality. Jerry has doubled the square footage of his shop and added new machines and personnel to meet increased demand.

CLICK HERE to VIEW STILLER INTERVIEW

Jerry announced his plans to develop new actions in the months ahead. The first will be a specialized, single-shot, varmint action similar to the Predator, but “a little tighter” according to Jerry. It will be a Right-Bolt, Left-Port with a cone breach. Price should be comparable with the Predator action. “Hoped-for” release date will be mid-summer 2008. Later in 2008, Stiller Precision will introduce an all-new rimfire action similar to a Remington 40X. This will be followed by a Black Powder action.

Viper and Cobra Special–$50.00 off
If you call (972) 429-5000, and mention 6mmBR.com, Jerry has promised to offer $50.00 off existing Right-Bolt, Left-Port, Drop-Port, PPC-boltface Viper or Cobra actions. This discount is limited to the first TEN (10) Viper or Cobra orders. The discount is for this EXACT configuration only: PPC, Drop-Port, RBLP Viper or Cobra. The discounted price will be $900.00 including rings and trigger guard.

Fast-Cycling Blaser R93 Offers Easy Barrel Switching

The Blaser R93 is a unique rifle, employing a patented straight-pull bolt with radial locking system. Using a pivoting short-throw bolt handle, the bolt slides straight forward and back to feed and eject ammunition. It’s simple and fast. The Blaser R93 was designed as a modular system. This means the bolt can be changed from right-pull to left-pull in seconds, and barrels can be exchanged quickly and easily. This makes the R93 extremely versatile — invest in one action and stock and you can shoot a multitude of chamberings. Factory barrels in 28 different calibers are offered. In this video, Blaser’s Keith Lay demonstrates how a Blaser barrel can be switched in under a minute, with a simple T-handle wrench.

CLICK HERE to WATCH VIDEO

While most Blasers sold in America are hunting rifles with conventional-style stocks, Blaser also makes a model for CISM 300m competition, a tactical model, and long-range target model (LRS-2). These all feature an aluminum receiver block, synthetic sub-chassis with cantilevered fore-end, and larger-capacity magazine. The rear section of the stock has an adjustable cheekpiece and butt-plate. Shown in the video below is a Blaser R93 LRS-2 fitted with bipod and muzzle brake. Note the very low recoil of the 6mmBR cartridge when the braked gun is fired. Along with the 6BR chambering, the LRS-2 is offered in .223 Rem, 6.5×55, .308 Win, 300 Win Mag, and .338 Lapua Magnum.

CLICK HERE to WATCH BLASER LRS-2 VIDEO

One of the Blaser’s best features is the speed with which the bolt can be cycled. Just pull the bolt-handle back to open the action and eject the brass, then slide the bolt handle forward to close the bolt. Compared to a conventional bolt, the Blaser requires minimal hand movement. Once you get the hang of it, you can cycle the gun extremely fast. The video below show a hunter practicing with a .308. Watch how quickly the bolt cycles–and this shooter could probably shoot even faster if he maintained his cheek-weld.

CLICK to WATCH VIDEO