Primex

If you haven’t already seen it, there is a great story on the Primex company in the February issue ofShooting Times. In many industries, clothing and household appliances just to name two, there are many more retail brand names than there are factories actually producing the goods. In some cases, the singular difference between one brand of toaster and another is limited to the graphics of a company logo. In other cases, the difference may be proprietary features and a real difference in product performance. Primex produces gun powder in bulk for many brand name suppliers of smokeless powder, as well as to the military. In some cases the powder is incomplete in process, in others the powder may be formulated to the purchasing companies specifications.

What I found interesting about the article was the detailed explanation of the powder making process. No, the article will not tell you how to make smokeless powder, but it does do a great job of explaining: the history of several popular powder types, the generic steps and underwater environment of production, how powder gets it’s shape, color, burn rate and classification….. Interesting piece. I like Shooting Times and I’ve been reading it look enough to remember when it was a fold over newspaper format, and it could still get me booted out of study hall. It’s always filled with articles and information that can be put to use.

The return of Mr. T ?

I was digging around in the Burris site when I ran across their new product line, “Mr. T”, which includes a bright glow-in-the-dark gold plated scope listed as “Autumn Gold”, as in “Hey Chuck, what color is that scope ?”, in response, “Err….Autumn Gold there Bob.  Just seemed to go well with my new summer sky blue sling and sun orange camo jacket”. Mr. T. ? Outside of a bad Rocky movie, the “A Team” TV show that’s been gone (but not necessarily missed) for a long time, and a down on his luck actor who contracted cancer and slipped into oblivion,  what was the intended positive reference ? I’m sure there had to be a million names that would make us all feel better about the new titanium based products. I say keep the “Carbon Black” and Titanium Gray, although titanium isn’t really gray, but lose the Autumn Gold.

Scope Selection

Selecting a scope has become quite a chore. The .257 Ultra Lightweight is a very small rifle with a 26″ barrel, and a lot of long range potential. As a rifle that weighs a little over 6 lbs I’d like to keep the complete package small and light. Unfortunately, I don’t have a scope with longer range capability that weighs less than 1.5 lbs, is shorter than 15″, or has a smaller than 44mm – 50mm objective. There must be another way. I think part of my problem is a prejudice toward an unnecessarily large objective, that end up on a long scope, that end up as part of a heavy scope. Maybe the trick is just to maintain better objectivity and concentrate  while weeding through all of the tech tables. 

In a few product lines, weight has been reduced a great deal; frequently by over 40% in comparable but earlier models, but I’ve also noticed some of the very inexpensive scopes now have a very small clear lens area compared to the size of the objective glass, or soft material internal mounting hardware, or course scale of adjustment, and any number of buried specs that would be detrimental to field performance. One variable had an incredible short eye relief range, a 6′ 100 yard field of view and a minimum focus distance of 25 yards. There were even some scopes with 60mm bells and 38mm objective glass.

When I compare spec for spec, the Vari-X II is light, small and offers excellent optical performance. So why is it 45% lower in cost than a comparable model in the Vari-X III ? On the Burris front, I’m not sure why I can find retailers that carry the Fullfield II line, yet is really seems to be an improvement over the original Fullfield series. I think I need to settle down and pick up a decent variable with a sub 50mm objective lens, in the sub 20 ounce weight range, and under 13 inches. Naturally, I’ll end up with a 20x scope, 2 feet in length, with a new 80mm objective, that weighs in at 5 lbs.

Sling Selection

In addition to the oversized Hubble size optics on my guns, I seem to have fallen into the Cobra style carry sling abyss. Don’t know why, I virtually never carry a slinged rifle long enough to warrant a 3″ wide sheep skin shoulder strap. The extra width causes me to  jump on the case to close it when I’m packing up for the day, and I began to realize I stopped using the sling as a shooting aid, and actually remove it so it doesn’t bunch up under the rifle at the range. This next time around I’ll be looking for a more functional sling. It’s amazing how much versatility comes with a simple adjustable leather shooting sling, something you might have found on a 1903 Springfield. With a little practice, I bet I can reduce my demand for shooting sticks, cross sticks, a bipod and a lot of add on hardware. 

Soft Cases

For the longest time, the family inside joke was who could get the worst looking softcase. I think I won a few years ago with an imitation green cowhide, done in a nice pebble textured vinyl. Why the ugly cases ? The nicer the case, the more the care, to the point is we can get as concerned over the treatment of a several hundred dollar case as much as the stock and metal parts on a favorite rifle. I think as long as the case is strong enough to cushion typical external shock, breathes to prevent inside condensation and moisture collection, and has a zipper that won’t jam or rip after a few attempts at opening and closing, I’m pretty much all set. Besides, I think that green cowhide looks very realistic to another vinyl cow.

Brass, Bullets & Dies

I can’t escape the Weatherby offer of empty brass – there is no other reliable source. I would suppose, at $22 per box and half the cost of the .338-378, I should be excited. Norma is excellent brass, however, so what I’ll give up in high initial cost, I’ll make back in the increased number of times I’ll be able to reload each case. I was pleasantly surprised to see dies at normal prices, $25 per set, and there are bullet options I don’t typically get to see. I’m looking forward to this round of handloading projects.

Thanks
Joe