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Winterizing or Prepping Your Gun For Winter Storage
This video shows you a discussion on prepping your firearm for winter storage. Handgunners check the text below for Handgun specific tips.

Winter 2009 - -(AmmoLand.com)- It’s the end of the season and you are ready to put your guns up for the winter, but before you relegate them to the safe till next season take time to do some planning and preventive maintenance.  The off season is the best time to tune up your equipment, plan changes to your equipment for the coming shooting season, do major repairs, and maybe purchase new equipment.

The first thing to do is break down all your equipment.  Take your gun completely apart including the grip and all small component assemblies.  Then do a detail strip and clean.   Also at this time inspect for broken parts, parts that are cracked, and parts that are worn to the point where they need to be replaced.

Following are some specific things to check for:   Click Here to read the entire article online…

Credits:
Brazos Custom Gunworks
Brownells.com

About:
Brownells is the world’s largest supplier of firearm parts, gunsmithing tools, equipment and accessories. Stocking more than 30,000 items, the company supplies gunsmiths, armorers and shooters worldwide. All of their products are backed by a 100% satisfaction, unconditional, lifetime guarantee. To place an order or for more information, call 800-741-0015 or visit brownells.com

Filed under: Expert Articles, Firearms by admin 3894Commentshttp://www.ammoland.com/2009/01/05/winterizing-your-gun/Winterizing+or+Prepping+Your+Gun+For+Winter+Storage+2009-01-06+00%3A33%3A49admin

EDGEFIELD, South Carolina - Tom Rodgers, founder of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), passed away Dec. 25 at the Edgefield County Hospital after a long battle with cancer. Rodgers, 64, was survived by his mother, his son Mark and two sisters.

As the NWTF ends its thirty-fifth anniversary celebration, it also remembers the man who started it all in Fredericksburg, Va.

”Tom is the reason the Federation is here, working daily to promote wildlife conservation and preserve North America’s hunting heritage,” said James Earl Kennamer, Ph.D., the NWTF’s chief conservation officer. ”The organization is reflecting on its rich history and honoring the man who started it all. He was a great friend personally, a great asset for wildlife and he’ll be greatly missed.”

Recently, Rodgers was honored with a one-of-a-kind Founder’s Award during a ceremony at NWTF headquarters in Edgefield.

”Tom’s influence on the conservation industry, on wildlife and hunters’ rights was immeasurable,” said George Thornton, NWTF CEO. ”Without him, the NWTF wouldn’t exist, and wild turkeys literally would not be where they are today. Knowing the man who created the NWTF and recognizing his contributions, which helped make NWTF one of the most dynamic and respected conservation organizations in North America, is truly an honor.”

When Rodgers founded the NWTF in 1973, there were only 1.3 million wild turkeys throughout North America. Since then, the number of wild turkeys has increased to more than 7 million birds thanks to state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF, its members and partners. Much of the restoration was achieved through trapping and transferring wild turkeys to suitable habitat - an idea conceived by Rodgers.

Since the 1950s, state and provincial wildlife agencies have moved more than 195,000 wild turkeys to suitable habitat across North America. Throughout its 35-year history, the NWTF has helped accelerate those efforts through the purchase of trapping equipment, transfer boxes, funding and the help of its volunteers.

”Tom hired me as the Federation’s director of research in 1980,” said Kennamer. ”Working alongside Tom in those early years and sharing his vision of a positive future for conservation and hunting for nearly three decades as part of the NWTF team has been a privilege.”

From Humble Beginnings

The NWTF started small. In 1969, Rodgers began his conservation career by writing a syndicated outdoor column about wild turkeys and smallmouth bass - his two favorite topics - for several Northern Virginia newspapers.

Rodgers began laying the groundwork for the Federation in 1971. He founded and named the NWTF and Turkey Call magazine, the NWTF’s flagship publication, in his hometown of Fredericksburg, Va., in 1973. Later that year, Rodgers moved the Federation’s headquarters to its permanent home in Edgefield, S.C., and co-founded the first NWTF state chapter with his friend Sam Crouch, Sr. in Edgefield soon after.

Rodgers invested $10,000 in the NWTF, becoming the conservation organization’s first donor and diamond life sponsor. Since then, the NWTF has helped raise and spend more than $279 million upholding hunting traditions and conserving nearly 14 million acres of wildlife habitat.

One effort that helped lift the organization off the ground was the creation of the NWTF Stamp and Print program, a fund raising tool that’s still being used by conservation organizations to this day. This program has raised millions of dollars for wildlife conservation.

After forming the NWTF and moving the organization to Edgefield, Rodgers served as the NWTF’s first president and executive vice president until his retirement in 1981. He also is credited with helping create the Federation’s reward program for turning in poachers and the official NWTF logo, which is still in use today.

Rodgers helped develop the International Quail Foundation in 1982 after leaving the NWTF, and served as head of the modern Quail Conservation Movement until 1986. The next year, he introduced Smallmouth Magazine and Smallmouth, Inc. He later became the first host of “The Dodge Everyday Sportsman” television show.

To a Bright Future

From starting with a cigar box full of membership applications to having nearly a half million members in the United States, Canada, Mexico and 14 other countries, the NWTF has come a long way.

Today, the NWTF continues to manage wild turkeys and other wildlife and upholds our hunting tradition. Keeping the hunting heritage alive has always been a focus of the NWTF through its JAKES/Xtreme JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship), Wheelin’ Sportsmen and Women in the Outdoors programs, which provide hands-on outdoor opportunities for thousands of youth, women and people with disabilities.

Two NWTF programs aim to increase the number of safe and ethical hunters in the field and provide more room to roam on public and private hunting lands.

”Through its Families Afield program, the NWTF works with sportsmen, elected officials and wildlife agency personnel to lift restrictions and allow young people and first-time hunters to try hunting with an adult mentor,” Thornton said. “It is also imperative that we support the next generation of hunters by making sure they have places to hunt. The NWTF’s More Places to Hunt program partners NWTF volunteers with landowners and state and federal agencies to help improve hunter access through land purchases, conservation easements and legislative action.”

The NWTF also is implementing its North American Wild Turkey Management Plan, which will build relationships between hunters, corporate partners NWTF volunteers, and federal, state and local wildlife agencies to continue conserving wild turkey habitat and generating more opportunities and places to hunt.

”All the NWTF has accomplished - from restoring wild turkeys and their habitat to defending our privileges to hunt - began with one great man’s extraordinary vision,” Thornton said. “His legacy will continue through the NWTF’s conservation efforts, outreach programs, thousands of volunteers and members for many years to come.

If you would like to become a member of Team NWTF, join a committee or start a chapter, please visit our Web site at www.nwtf.org or call us at 800-THE-NWTF.

Filed under: Conservation News, Expert Articles, Industry News by admin 3847Commentshttp://www.ammoland.com/2009/01/05/nwtf-founder-passes/NWTF+Founder+Passes+After+Battle+with+Cancer2009-01-05+19%3A50%3A08admin

Fulton Armory Peerless NM M14 Rifle .308

Classification: Long Guns
Category: Rifles
Model Name: Peerless NM M14 Rifle
Manufacturer: Fulton Armory
Model Number: 14 Rifle

GunReports.com - -(AmmoLand.com)- To the basic rifle price ($2,500) must be added the prices for the gorgeous McMillan M3A stock ($600), the ARMS steel scope mount ($150), extended rail ($100), bipod ($70), swivel package ($100), and a leather sling ($50). There was also a Krieger barrel ($200). The total package, less scope but with mount and rings, came to $3,770. With the Leupold scope, the tag would be about $4,620 as tested. We got our prices out of the maker’s catalog and may have missed a few things, so it’s best to contact Fulton for an exact quote on your needs. We had the loan of some scopes with state-of-art add-ons set up specifically for the M14 that bear close scrutiny.

Serious potential users of this rifle need to know of the existence of these amazing systems. These included the Leupold 3.5-10X Long Range Tactical Mil-Dot scope (about $850) with Night Quest PVS-14 Third Generation NV (night vision) WeaponSight, $3,400, and laser IR (infra-red) source for seeing things at least 500 yards away in zero-light conditions. Fulton can probably supply all the night-vision equipment you might need, as well as every imaginable part and accessory for the M14 rifle, for the Garand, M1 Carbine, AR-15, and for several other rifles. Please note that some products are available only to law-enforcement or military personnel.

Fulton’s Peerless rifle was easily the most impressive-looking of this test trio. When we pulled it out of its box, we were struck by its purposeful beauty. Everything about the rifle was flat black except for the exposed Krieger stainless barrel, which was in the white, with a decent but not glaring polish. The McMillan M3A stock felt just great. Its pistol grip was acutely angled to give near-perfect trigger control. The forend and pistol-grip areas were roughened to act like checkering. The ambidextrous, adjustable cheek piece gave soft comfort to the face. The length of pull was adjustable by means of inserts, and the butt was backed by a rubber pad that gripped the clothing to keep the rifle in place. Even the sling swivels were to some extent ambidextrous.

There were very useful QD sling-attach points on the left side of the stock, and also two more standard-type swivels beneath the stock. Lefties would be completely at home with this setup. Although the rifle had a national-match front sight and what appeared to be a standard rear aperture, the scope mount interfered with them and we didn’t try them. The rifle also had a modified mil-spec muzzle brake without bayonet lug.

The rifle was built with some GI parts, and came with NM gas cylinder and spring guide, polished gas piston, recoil buffer, match-trigger mods, and a delightful book, The M14 Owner’s Guide, by Duff and Miller. This hand-build rifle included a 30-day money-back guarantee if the customer does not like anything — anything at all — about the rifle, and a lifetime warranty on manufacturing defects. With its Krieger barrel, the rifle was guaranteed to shoot under 1 MOA. Fulton used its new rear-lugged match receiver for this rifle, the receiver now being made specifically for Fulton Armory to owner Clint McKee’s exact specifications. Fulton also has a new standard M14 receiver for all its normal M14 configurations. The rear lug was secured to the stock by a bolt passing upward through the stock just above the trigger group.

With the bipod and big (beneath the forend) barrel, this was a heavy rifle. Without scope, it weighed 14.2 pounds. The static balance was right at the front of the receiver. Even with the night-vision scope, 3.5-10X Leupold, and infra-red laser mounted, the rifle’s fine balance belied its rather great weight of 17.2 pounds, and we felt like we could do good work with it

Courtesy, Gun Tests

The knob on the left side of the scope permitted focusing to individual eyes. We liked the long rail and the QD scope mounts. We didn’t try the iron sights.

offhand, as long as our arms held out. The trigger pull was two-stage, taking just over three pounds for the first stage, and breaking absolutely cleanly at 4.9 pounds with great consistency, something we rarely see on test rifles.

We found we could not shoot the rifle with the night-vision device attached in bright daylight (with the scope cover closed), but could do so on heavily overcast days. However, everything was rendered in green, not the best setup for day-to-day use. Removing the NV scope required about a second, flipping open the clamp device and pocketing the tiny (though costly) Night Quest PVS-14 scope.

The scope mount was the Swan ARMS M21/M14 setup, which, if not as stout as the Brookfield, seemed to be at least in the same ballpark for strength. It was made of steel, and had a support screw that bore against the front action ring, similar to the Brookfield setup. The mount bolted to the receiver, again like the Brookfield. The bolt required a 3/8-inch wrench, not just a screwdriver. Atop this mount was an extended rail, the aluminum Swan “Sleeve,” which ran halfway up the forend cover. It gave instant mounting options to a vast variety of M14/M21 accessories. It also extended the mounting stance of the Leupold scope, which attached via ARMS QD clamps and steel rings. This scope setup was versatile, strong, adaptable for quick changes, and effective for this particular rifle. The scope setup would be ideal on any sniper rifle, we felt, but on the M14 platform it seemed to make a whole lot of sense. The downside is that the complete rifle and all the NV scope stuff would have a price tag close to ten grand.

We do not think this scope setup, with laser IR and night vision, would be useful to most hunters, unless they were after specific dangerous predators and had to hunt them at night. Law enforcement and military personnel would be well served, however.

We fired the rifles (all three) with two types of match ammunition by Federal and Winchester, and included a 150-grain Barnes X-Bullet load by PMC Eldorado. The Fulton Peerless shot about as predicted. It was a 1 MOA rifle with Federal Gold Medal Match ammunition, and not far off with the other two types. Our best group was 0.5 inch with PMC Eldorado, though that averaged 1.2 inch for all shots. Worst average groups were with Winchester Supreme Competition, at 1.5 inch on average. We noted a distinct improvement in grouping ability the more we fired this brand-new rifle, so expect things would get better as everything settles in. The rifle was crisp in its action, and smoothed up to be even slicker after a few shots.

The thumbscrew that supported the rising cheek piece was reluctant to stay tight unless we really snugged it, something to be aware of. Another thing we noted about all three rifles was that the mag wells were very tight on the mag sides. The mags didn’t go in nearly as easily as they do on one of our shooters’ personal M14, which doesn’t have a match stock. It would seem all three makers don’t want the magazine to shake as the bullet leaves.

There was a feel in firing the Fulton Peerless that the other rifles didn’t have, which we find difficult to put into words. It may have come from the sound of the bolt closing in its locking recesses, or the buffer, or the way the parts all worked in precise unison, or the composition or makeup of the stock itself. But we liked the feel of this rifle immensely. It looked great, was comfortable, was clearly set up by shooters for shooters, and did everything we expected of it.

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Smith & Wesson 625-8

• Classification:Handguns
• Category:Revolvers
• Model Name:625-8 45 ACP
• Manufacturer:Smith & Wesson
• Model Number:160935

GunReports.com - -(AmmoLand.com)- The basic 625 revolver was introduced in 1989, and has largely retained its basic design, it’s a stainless-steel N-frame revolver with full-lug 5-inch barrel, adjustable sights and a tall plain Patridge blade up front. However, the input of competitive shooters and the rules under which they compete has reportedly fostered the arrival of the “dash-eight” model 625.

Organizations that govern this style of handgun competition include the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA), the International Practical Shooting Conference (IPSC), the International Confederation of Revolver Enthusiasts (ICORE), and the International Defensive Pistol Association, or IDPA.

The change to the shorter 4-inch barrel makes the 625-8 legal for IDPA, which prefers that shooters use what is generally considered to be standard carry equipment. Interest in revolver shooting has recently prompted the USPSA and IPSC to change the reward for winning from merely a single “High Revolver” trophy to Division status, wherein awards are given for several classes based on relative ability.

Much to the dismay of seven- and eight-shot revolver shooters, the latest rules declare that no more than six shots can be fired without a reload. This is where the new model 625-8 comes in. With so many reloads required per course of fire, the gun that gives you the best chance of winning is the one that can be refilled the fastest. A look at the cylinder of the 625-8, which is mostly open chambers, should tell you which gun that is. Indeed, with the use of full moon clips and attributes such as a cartridge that is tapered, short, heavy and topped with a smooth round surface, it is no wonder the 625 has proven to be the revolver of choice for competition.

Still, revolver expert Jerry Miculek opines that this new model has been improved, with several subtle changes making the gun more competitive in the Practical Shooting arena. Miculek is beyond question the Courtesy, Gun Tests The cylinder has been shortened (black arrows), so the bullet spends less time before engaging the rifling. The barrel and forcing cone have been extended across the cylinder gap (white arrows).

fastest double-action shooter of his time or, probably ever. He said he had been after Smith & Wesson for years to make several changes, including:

- The rifling of the 625-8 is designed for lead bullets.

- The cylinder has been shortened, so the bullet spends less time before engaging the rifling. This also reduces “torque-over,” the jolt from starting and stopping the motion of the cylinder.

- The interior dimension below the top-strap has not been altered, but the barrel and forcing cone have been extended across the cylinder gap.

- The target sights are still in place, and there is still plenty of sight radius despite the shorter barrel and long front-sight blade.

In our hands, we noticed the dash-eight steers from target to target noticeably faster than 5- and 6-inch models. The last time we tested a 625 variant (November 2000), it too was a 4-inch model, but without the full underlug. The extra material directly under the barrel is worth 5 ounces of recoil control.

The most recent production Smith & Wesson revolvers, including the 625-8, feature a key-operated lock on the left side of the frame that freezes the gun’s action. We’d also like to point out that moon-clip revolvers such as the 625 and the Taurus 455 should encourage their owners to put in play another safe practice. That is, storing the gun and ammunition separately. Should the need arise these revolvers can be charged much faster than other revolvers, even with the use of speedloaders that are either slower to use or less secure than moon clips.

In our choice of test cartridges, we almost forgot about the 625-8’s alleged preference for lead. But then we were not overly impressed with performance from the 230-grain jacketed rounds nor with the way it handled the +P Cor-Bon ammunition. So we decided to try a handload consisting of Hodgdon’s Clays powder and the 230-grain roundnosed lead (RNL) bullet from GAT, (800) 640-7145, Courtesy, Gun Tests The 625-8 comes only with half-moon clips. We recommend you chamfer the cylinders. The arrows point to where the edges need to be broken.

X0093. Even when loading a selection of well-used brass with mixed headstamp, we dumped 25 shots into a group measuring under three inches from the bench at 25 yards.

Recoil with the lead bullets was significantly reduced due to less friction compared to the jacketed 230-grain rounds from Federal. Winchester’s 185-grain FMJ round was the best of the jacketed trio, averaging 2.8 inches for five five-shot groups, however. The best individual group firing this round measured only 1.2 inches. But our 25-shot lead target displayed a 1-inch gaping hole that we estimate was home to 10 to 15 separate hits.

We felt the double-action trigger was heavier than it needed to be, even taking into account that in some smaller hands, the big N frame can make the hands work a little harder. But Smith & Wesson revolvers respond so well to trigger work that we feel a heavy stock trigger is not an issue, especially if the action is smooth and consistent, which in this case it was.

To our surprise the 625-8 comes only with half-moon clips, so we weren’t able to demonstrate any lightning fast reloads. Full-moon clips and a tool for stripping the spent cases can be purchased through . If you want to have some real fun, we recommend you spring for chamfering the cylinders, which typically costs about $40. This breaks the edge of the chambers to help the rounds funnel even more quickly into place. Next, go to a Practical Shooting match and join in.
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