Starting Another Section For The Blog.

Hello again,

I will be starting a section/post for my blog, it will be titled "This Week In Shooting and Reloading" from now on.

Hopefully I will be able to keep up with posting something I did in shooting or reloading each week. I would like to have all you readers comment on what you did during the week as well, something new, something you are trying out or something you like to do and just want to mention it.

To start of this new section, this week I picked up some Hodgdon Benchmark powder, never used it before, trying it in my .222, 22-250 and .243, so far I have loaded  5 each from starting load up in .5gr increments to just below max. I mounted a scope on a Savage Mark II as you can tell from my last review. Also tumbled some .243 brass that I used a week or so ago. Also have been catching up on some podcasts from the Firearms Radio Networks, those would be the Precision Rifle Podcast and the Reloading Podcast.

May review the benchmark powder in the near future.

Thanks again for checking out the blog, comment with what you have done this week as well,
Rex

Wheeler Engineering Level-Level-Level Crosshair Leveling kit

Hello again and thanks for checking out my blog.

I picked up the Wheeler Engineering crosshair leveling kit at my local supply shop this week, been wanting one to try and ended up putting a scope on a rifle this week so it worked out good.

This is the Level-Level-Level kit in the package.

If you can't see in the picture the smaller level goes on top of the scope, while the larger one fits in the receiver rails across the bolt slides. Both levels have magnets in them.

I first tried it on a Savage arms Mark II .22 cal with a thumbhole stock. The scope level worked as it should, but the receiver was a bit small for that level, so I was pulling the stock off to adjust the accu-trigger anyways, so I stuck it to the side of the trigger mechanism housing, I figured it would be close enough to level it off of. It worked great there. I tried the floor plate in front of the trigger guard but it seemed not to be as level as the trigger housing. You made need to find another place to level with on the action if you are leveling a 22 rimfire or 17 rimfire.

Second try went perfect, I leveled the scope on my short action Remington 700 varmint gun. Worked as it was suppose to.

The HS Precision stock sits just a bit higher than the action at the ejection port, so it was pushing the level up on the right side.  So I moved it back near the safety to remedy the problem.











This is a simple and easy kit to use for scope leveling. I like that it is simple an easy to use. If you are leveling a 22/17 cal rimfire as I noted above you may need to use a alternate place to get the action leveled correctly.

Thanks for checking out my blog and feel free to leave a comment.
Rex

Firearm-Shooting-Reloading Podcasts

Hello Everyone,

Well its 2015 in the age of electronics and gadgets, where a new thing today could be out dated tomorrow.

I was flipping through the newest Guns and Ammo magazine this weekend and started thinking about the different publications for the shooting community, as in Blogs, Magazines, Websites, Forums, Facebook and Podcast to name a few.

I'm lucky to live in a area that the local libraries carry books and magazines for shooting, reloading and gunsmithing. The library has multiple branches, so the possibilities are good on finding a shooting sports related book that is new or you haven't read yet.

Anyways back to the basis of this post, I decided to dig out my old Ipod touch my brother(Also avid shooter/reloader) sold to me. So I fired up the laptop, opened up Itunes, which hasn't been opened in years downloaded the updates and then on to my search for Shooting and reloading related podcasts.

Wow did this open up a whole new level for me. Way more podcast than I thought there would be.  Well I just did a basic search for firearms, which lead me to Firearms Radio Network, they have a variety of podcasts from the AR-15 rifle to Reloading and everything in between.

All of the Firearms Radio Networks podcast have Knowledgeable hosts and guests, they feature up and coming items, news from shows like SHOT, The NRA Convention and many more. The reloading podcast starts from the bottom and works its way up the ladder of steps in the reloading process, with a big emphasis on safety which should be number one in everyone's book. 

If you want to tune into some of there work at Firearms Radio Network here is the link to there website: http://firearmsradio.tv//

Lots of good information on firearms and related products on these podcasts for people to use right at your fingertips. Each week they're more and more coming out .

Thanks again for taking the time to read my blog, and please feel free to comment,
Rex

Hornady GS-1500 Scale

Hello Everyone.

Item for Review.

Today are product review as you can tell from the blog title will be the Hornady GS-1500 scale. I purchased this from a local store that I get my reloading components at. The reason behind this purchase was the size, I wanted a scale that was portable and compact just in case I needed to do some reloading in the field Whistle pig shooting or just at a range working up some loads.

Basic features.

The scale has a weight capacity of 100g, with graduation or 0.005g. Unit comes inside a nice cardboard box with a magnetic locking flap. The box has a felt lined area that hold the scale itself along with the pan and check weight. Check weight is 100g. Instructions are include and cover topics as Before use, Operation, Weighing, Calibration, Performance tips and troubleshooting. Uses two(2) AAA Battery's.

Scale, Pan and check weight in box

                 Scale cover open and items out of box

Product Review.

This unit comes with 2 AAA battery's include which is a plus, unless your like me and replace them with a quality battery from a known source(Duracell,Energizer,ETC.) Haven't tested different brands of battery's to see if they make a difference in accuracy.

Temperature seems to come into play for accuracy from what I've seen with this scale, it doesn't like when the temperature in the garage at my reloading bench is under 40F, neither do I. Wind and drafts will make the scale drift a little.

After being in a warm place and on a level surface, I perform the calibration of the scale as per instruction manual. I always weigh the check weight after the calibration to make sure it reads 100g and 0g when empty. After that I set powder pan on scale and press tare to zero out display.

I'm probably over doing it, but before each an every powder throw I am going to measure, I tare the pan then put the check weight in and check for a total of 100g, just to be on the safe side.

I really like the blue backlit display, really easy to read at most angles. Three button operation which is simple. In the manual it states this scale is not for trickling powder, I may try it just to see what happens, but that will be at a later date. I will add on to this post with results.

All in all this is a well built little scale, could be used on or off the reloading bench.  So far I have weighed bullets and powder with this scale, while using the tare button before each weigh.

Well this concludes the review for today, please feel free to comment on this product, if I may have missed something or just to leave some more helpful info for other readers.

Thanks for reading,
Rex

MTM Case-Gard K-Zone Shooting Rest

Hello all,

This is the MTM Case-Gard K-Zone shooting rest, I purchased this from a local shop last month 12/2014.

I received the MTM Case-Gard catalog earlier this year, after browsing the catalog and a few other options, I chose this product. Due to the fact I wanted just a basic rest that was easy to carry, adjustable, multipurpose, could double as a cleaning rest and a light gunsmiths rest.

After unpacking the rest, the front and rear pads/rests are in two pieces which you screw together, in the lower halves of the rests you can as a option add lead shot for weight, in which I did due to the fact I had some old lead waterfowl BB size shot which you can't use any more and that was a good use and home for the shot.

In the photos above, you see the retracted and extended rear rest.

In the photo above is the rest disassembled. The two rests on the left are what is filled with shot and there is a little storage area with lid in the center of rest.

Current rifles I used with this rest: Light Varmint, Heavy Bench and AR-15. Calibers used .222,.223,.243 have not used any large calibers as of this post.

While I used the rest at the range, I liked the amount of height I could get out of the front rest, I could go from shooting targets at 100yards, then raise it to shoot gongs at 200-400 yards easily and smooth. The adjustable front rest is easily adjusted with one hand with a left or right handed shooter(I shoot Left Handed.)

It has rubber feet in four places to keep the rest in one spot while firing. All adjustments can be locked down with threaded locking knobs.

The above picture shows the rear rest section, this is filled with shot. Below I will explain the marks on the rest.

So you can see the lines and calibers on the rest I marked, that is the spot that fits those rifles I used. I figured it would save me some time during setup, I can just adjust to the line for what rifle I am shooting. There is plenty of room for more on there I just happened to be using those two rifles the day I took the photos.

Also you can use just the front section with the rear rest removed for pistol use as well.

Please comment for any other info you would like or something I may have missed.

Thanks for checking it out,
Rex

A Little About Me.

Hello Everyone,

As you know from the Blog title my name is Rex and this is my Blog.

Well I live in the Pacific Northwest, and enjoy target shooting and reloading. I don't get enough time to go out big game hunting, a few occasions I will get out for some ground Sage rat and ground squirrel shooting, so I am sticking to what I get time to do more of for this blog.

I have wanted and been trying to get into some competition benchrest shooting for the fun and enjoyment, but haven't had the time. Maybe this new year will bring some new shooting disciplines. I have shot at and enjoyed the 50yard .22 rim fire matches at my old range in California.

Anytime on this blog feel free to ask questions, put in your input or recommend something you would like to have reviewed(If Feasible to do so.)

Thanks again for visiting,
Rex

Welcome To My Blog

01/01/2015

Welcome Folks,

Thank you for visiting my blog.

My plan for this blog in the future will be reviewing items related to target shooting and reloading.  I plan on reviewing items I purchase or recently received, they may not be the newest on the market or "Top of the Line," they will be just a review of how they work, including pictures or videos, there will be no negative aspect on the item, as you will find through out the web on various online stores reviews or comments.

Thank you again, hope you come back here,
Rex